What are we to think about Zach Mettenberger? I can't speak for everyone, but a lot of people had high hopes for him this year. I know I did. He had plenty of time to develop during the early season "soft" schedule, and for a while I thought we were seeing steady improvement. But now, 7 games in, he seems to be regressing. Is this regression simply a product of the injury plagued offensive line, receivers with hands of stone, coupled with a head coach and offensive coordinator who seemingly hate throwing the football? Or, is Mett's ceiling a lot lower than we thought it was? Does the Stephen Rivers era start next year? Thoughts?
I think your thoughts in the final paragraph all are legit reasons for his slow progression. I think he took a step forward in the Florida game in the fumbling dept. He got rocked a bunch of times and held on. Same against USC. I think the coaches have to do a better job of calling pass plays that ZM can complete. I loved the way we started against USC, especially that side armed throw to Spencer Ware on the screen. He also throws outs very well, and is pretty damn accurate on the deep ball. It's the middle he has trouble with. Also he hasn't really shown the ability to look off receivers and go through his progressions, as he seems to lock on to 1 target. I do feel that if he lays an egg against A&M then what better way to completely shit on Nick Saban's game planning, then to come off the bye with someone other than ZM behind center.
I know playcalling is a dead horse, but it's all I could think of watching us in the red zone against SC. He's struggling for a host of reasons, but in that area of the field Stud, for whatever reason, just won't put him in a position to make a play. What is the point of running that 3 TE/1 WR set and trying to throw a fade to a single target who A. doesn't have a height advantage on the corner and B. can't get the needed separation?
Why do we refuse to utilize play action passing? In the second half of the USC game, when the running game got going, I was waiting for the play action pass....and it never came. I just don't get it. It looked like Miles was afraid to let him throw.
I think there are a few reasons they won't let him throw in the red zone. Turnovers obviously, some will say they let him throw the fade but that is the safest pass play you can call around the goal line. Only problem is that it rarely works. I also think the coaching staff is trying to protect him from himself. They don't want this to turn LSU fans into rabid lunatics like we all turned into in 2008 with Jarrett Lee. Another thing is its not only ZM who you gotta worry about in the red zone, it's our receivers having one bounce off their hands into a defenders mitts and them running one back the distance. As far as the play action passing I completely agree. And they did try it once but ZM held on too long. I don't think we will see any difference because that's not who we are. We are about controlling time possession, running the football, short passes, keeping our defense fresh. If we can't master that we have no business airing it out.
Great points. The memories of Jarrett Lee's first season should not be a distant memory to anyone. I think it all boils down to cautious coaching and every other point noted on this board with OL, WR, injuires etc. I still think that Zach is a great talent and his performance to this point, especially given the multitude of obstacles, could have been a lot worse. At some point you do need to put all this behind you and move forward. I think the team and staff took a step last Saturday. I thought they played a quality game against a ranked, quality opponent. They controlled the game, owned time of possession, and nullified some of their top playmakers. Oh and we played two freshman on the right side of the OL. Not bad progress in my opinion. Let's see if they build on this momentum against A&M (glad to have this rivalry back ...). Confidence is a beautiful thing. And if these guys start believing in themselves it could really open up a lot of things for them. Who knows, maybe even the playbook.
It's not like Mett is an isolated case. Miles sucks at developing QB's. In fact it's more accurate to say he can't cause he hasn't. No one expected much from J Jefferson but J. Lee came with high expectations too. Rivers and Randall should be heading for the hills by now.
I get that they don't have confidence in him in the red zone. What I don't get is wasting plays like that fade and jump pass where he's put in a situation with little-to-no chance to succeed, further derailing his confidence. At some point the staff will have to stop playing scared in the passing game if they want a chance to develop something resembling a respectable offense. At some point we're going to find ourselves in a 2-score hole that ball control won't get us out of.
