If he only gets touches at receiver, then no. We can't expect more than that. But, the staff claims he will used by Percy Harvin. Harvin was used as a running back more than a receiver. It is easier to ensure that a RB will receive touches, more than a WR. Thats why the number goes up. These are Harvins touches by career: Rushing Receiving 2006 41 34 2007 83 59 2008 70 40
Very true. I just wonder how many touches at RB we will actually see. The problem with that is that every time he lines up in the backfield, everybody in the stadium is going to be able to guess the play, unless our play calling this year gets more creative. Percy Harvin's running game benefited greatly from the Tebow threat. But hey, if he really can get Percy Harvin type numbers, I'll be ok with that! :thumb:
This is true. It really shows you how awesome he is to be able to get 6.2 yards per carry when the defense knows what is coming. Which is why creative play calling will only increase his yds/carry. If he adds the threat of the forward pass, defenses won't know what to do.
Well, based on the spring game, RS still looks to be a hybrid player; WR first, but also a guy they can line up as a setback in the shotgun and run draw plays, and take direct snaps in the Wildcat. A lot more opportunities for touches than a conventional receiver, ala D-Bowe or LaFell. To answer King's question, I wasn't including possible special teams touches in my thinking, but I could see him used that way. I was dead set against it when it was suggested in this forum 12 months ago, but that was when I was thinking the team had long term plans for RS as a quarterback. The plans have obviously changed.
I really have a lot of hope that Billy Gonzalez can transform Russell Shepard from the matchup nightmare we all know he can be into an actual lethal x-factor player on the field this fall. Shepard didn't get enough snaps nor enough varied formations last season to really become an effective matchup problem for the defense, but with a whole spring to feature him in the offense should provide a slew of additional opportunities that involve him in the game. Russell's such an electrifying player that he'll make every snap that he's in the game count either actually getting the ball or making the defense so acutely aware of where he is that it takes pressure off the other players to then step up and make plays.
I have a good feeling about Billy Gonzales too. He seems like a no nonsense kind of coach who will get in a player's face for lack of execution or effort. I think our receivers will be well coached and well disciplined. With the natural ability of Shepard, Toliver, and Randle; combined with Gonzales' coaching should make the receivers a bright spot for the team this year. :tigereye:
Crowton remains the X-factor in all of this. If Les relegates him to figurehead status until he gets the go-ahead to give him the ax, while Gonzalez does the actual leg work, then LSU has a shot at having a scary offense. If Crowton is still calling most of the shots, then I wouldn't hold my breath.
True enough. I think the thing that concerns me most of all about Crowton has been the development of the quarterbacks under him. If Jordan can somehow find it in him to have more performances as he had in the Peach Bowl against Georgia Tech then we should be in good hands. I think the lack of a consistent running game last season really handicapped Jordan, and he didn't do enough at times. The good thing is he doesn't turn the ball over much. Hopefully the dynamic weapons we have with Ford and Ridley at RB, along with Shep, Randle, and Toliver at WR with some pretty good TEs will allow for a more creative offense. I just hope Crowton and Billy can find an offensive philosophy and stick to it. Let's really run the ball down their throats, throw in some end arounds and slip screens, and utilize routes where Jordan can roll outside the pocket and find guys to help against the pass rush..
I'd settle for tailoring an offense around the team's available players and their strengths, not vice-versa. While Perrilloux's situation really hurt the QB spot, it's not like Jarrett Lee and Jordan Jefferson were scrubs coming out of HS. In 2 years someone with Crowton's genius reputation should have been able to develop one of those players into an SEC-caliber QB, and at the moment we have zero. Crowton's offense is based around a QB that can do a little bit of everything to throw defenses off balance. Power run from a 2 TE set on 1st down and call a 4/5 WR set on 2nd. With an undeveloped QB that offense goes from being jack-of-all-trades to master-of-none and 3rd and long situations. Fix the obvious things first, like abandoning most of these hare-brained option plays with JJ, and less of these shotgun draws that go nowhere fast because the OL can't block a HS front 7. Also, with a QB with issues hanging onto the ball too long, give him a dump-off receiver or RB instead of leaving him on an island. JJ wants to make plays with his feet when receivers are bottled up, so let him do it. When that internal clock gets to 0, throw the ball away or take off.
I agree with all of this. I think Crowton can be a dynamic play caller with a good offensive line and a good, veteran QB. However, he is completely incompetent with a bad offensive line and scared quarterback. He kept putting JJ in situations where he would fail. I think a big key to JJ's success will be the matchup problems DeAngelo Peterson provides. Last year, we failed to have a safety valve for JJ. We need TEs running short and intermediate routes and RBs in the flats when the receivers are covered or when there is pressure.
