Well, considering your comments, I thought I better keep it remarkably simple. To keep it even simpler, Crowton was here for 4 years and our offense stunk. Period, bottom line. I do not personally believe it was Miles limiting Crowton, just the opposite, Miles let him have the reins too long, and was finally having to supercede him late in the year this past season. Crowton went through more highly rated players than he should have been allowed with pitiful production to show for it. The WR position is a microcosm of his ineptness, but you could say the same for the QB production, and the RB production (CS and KW underwhelmed in 2009, and KW for his LSU career and is now starting for the Redskins), etc. While I very much realize the star system is not perfect, I was trying to highlight the fact that our 3 starting WRs this year all had a 5 star rating coming out of HS. While they have had flashes of good performances, none have been stellar thusfar, and TTs career is done (sucks for him that he happened to coincide with GC all 4 years). Is this from being overrated, all 3? Many 5 stars do not live up to their expectations, Al Woods, for example, and some 3 stars mature or overachieve, the infamous Hester. I understand that fully. But 3 five stars at one position in one stretch of a certain OCs tenure? If it is not obvious to you, then you have been watching something very different. Are there other factors? Sure, but none more pertinent or more impacting than that inept spread offense that had no identity and featured no one. You can blame it on the o-line, RPs departure, ZLee not showing up, RS learning a new position, etc, etc, etc. How many more top rated players does one OC need to be successful? He did not do it with the players he had, he was too complicated, and had inept end results. That's it. It is that simple. How much do you want to bet that over the next 1-2 years that all of a sudden, these highly rated players are going to be coming out of their shell and realizing their potential? But, that would just be happenstance, I suppose, or maybe I am just too simplistic or uneducated to understand the complexities of this amazing conundrum.
And shockingly enough, he finished 3rd on the team in receiving yardage and tied for 2nd in catches. Unheard of. For all the people closing the book on his career, please remember that he was a sophomore playing a new position. Still plenty of time to make his mark at LSU.
I'm not closing the book on his career, but seriously, look at the depth at that position. He has alot of work to do, because Boone, Wright, and Landry are going to be breathing down his neck in the spring and fall.
I know that, but CBS didn't. They always showed Shep as the starter, but not Rueben, even though we knew that if LSU started out with two receivers on the field, it was TT and RR.
what do you expect from the network who brought us verne and gary, who in turn brought us "pete patterson".:rolleye33:
I would bet that there is a real possibility Shepard drops to 4th maybe even 5th receiver this season.
I'll take that bet. You're a reasonable and good poster. Be careful not to fall for the old adage that he who is on the bench is better than he that seeith the field. It ain't always so. Just because Boone and Wright showed some flashes, and Landry showed out at the UA game doesn't mean they're more worthy of playing time than Shep. After all, Shep threw a 98 yd TD pass in the UA game. :shock: So many whined and whined about Ford not seeing the field, especially when he had the occasional opportunity and reeled off some nice runs. I bet after the Cotton, they're all on Ware's jock...even though he wasn't the one they were crying for all season...as Ridley was racking up 1,000+ yds. Sparacino, anyone? I do hope you're right about them "breathing down his neck" in the fall. Competition is what makes them all better players.
I'm not going off of what Boone or Wright has shown so far, I'm going off what Shep has shown so far. I still would have him play tailback. Seems like a natural at that position. He is great on the edge, isn't afraid of contact, and playing tailback is alot easier than wide receiver, less stuff to have to remember. Playing tailback is more reactionary, receiver is more technical. I just haven't seen anything out of the kid that makes me believe that he is going to be a legit wide receiver. He is going to have to work his arse off to be a consistent slot guy in my opinion. I'm not saying it's going to happen, but it wouldn't surprise me if Shep dropped some spots on the roster in the receiver category.
I would be surprised. I mean we don't know how this offense is going to be set-up yet, but we can speculate the slot receiver will be very important in motion, on quick throws, etc. I don't think Boone, Wright, Williams, or even Landry for that matter, are in the mold of a true slot guy. Although I don't profess to know they're abilities, I thought all those guys were in the mold of the more prototypical split end/flanker type guys. If we're talking slot, who's his competition? Chris Tolliver? Jakhari Gore? I think Shep will really shine under the right tutelage before his days in P&G are done.
The only reason I said it wouldn't surprise me, is because it's obvious that Shepard has had a tough time figuring out what he is supposed to do. He looks lost at times. Anyone can play in the slot, doesn't matter how tall they are. I like the kid, but he still has alot of work to do. And it wouldn't be a shocker in my opinion if he gets passed up on the depth chart, that could be just me, but what do I know. By the way, I hope he does end up being a great slot receiver. We need a guy who can catch the ball over the middle and not be afraid of taking shots, and I will give him credit, he damn sure isn't afraid of taking a hit.
