What I don't undersand about your post is that you do realize the defense has been on the field more than our offense? Our opponents are averaging about 20 more offensive plays than we are a game. Our defense is our MVP this year. Show me a team that gives up that many more offensive plays a game and I'll show you a team that isn't normally a 3 loss team. These threads are crazy! While I acknowledge the role that Les Miles and the coaches played in this loss I will also point out that they weren't the ones who got sacked on that last drive. You can't afford to take a sack in that situation, its all on JJ! The game was over at that point. BTW Nick Saban also lost to UAB and Ole Miss when he was here.
You have to know more about football than this. Its on the coaches, because you already know his tendencies for holding the ball too long, added with a sore ankle, and poor offensive line pass protection, why would they call a pass. There is no reason to call a passing play in that situation, especially not one where one it calls for a 5 step drop. Run the ball or throw on a slant pattern or tight end in the middle of the field.
I thought they should have run the ball myself and try the fg but its kinda like you said, poor offensive line play but not just pass protection. We haven't run the ball well all year. Maybe we ran the ball better in this game but I don't remember strangely. I only remember the last drive?:huh: Regardless of the coaches, the players should also know you can't afford to take a sack in that situation. I would agree though that everything seems to point at coaches the last few years!:insane:
I agree. There is plenty enough blame to go around. I think calling that close to the endzone was a mistake, but JJ got sacked on third down. That one is on him. As HC, Miles will take the blame, but he wasn't the only one who messed up at some point in the game.
You are right, he has to be aware that he cant take a sack on that play, but the pressure came from his back side at the second before he was going to throw the ball. But you are right, he freaks out when he's in the pocket that long, like somebody throwing water on a cat. However, you do run the ball twice even if you only get 5 yards out of 2 running plays that puts you 5 yards closer in field goal range.
:geaux: That the pressure came from the back side is all the more telling. That's on LT Ciron Black's side and he just has not had the type of year everyone thought he would have and he hasn't played at the same level that he did the previous three years. This was his year to step up and be a leader and anchor the O-Line and it just didn't happen. Could end up hurting his draft status as a result. And your analogy of JJ acting like a cat after someone threw water on it is exactly the case. He freaks out a lot when no one's open. Makes me wonder why they (the staff) don't provide him more options of dumping the ball off to the TE or an RB out of the backfield or something. Or maybe they are there/open and he just doesn't see them. Don't know but it's a problem that experience will hopefully correct. :LSU231:
Pocket awareness comes with experience, its a quick decision that needs to be made and thats something that can be coached. But at this point you do everything you can to put your QB in a position to make better decisions, throwing the ball wasnt one of them.
It seems the d has had trouble getting off the field at times this year especially on third down. The run d has been spotty at best and certainly the last 3 games has not been good.
:geaux: Dumping the ball off or throwing it away could or would have been a better option than taking a sack. But as I said, and agree with you, he will hopefully get better with pocket awareness through experience. :LSU231:
