I most certainly remember the losing seasons. The ups and downs of the Hallman and DiNardo eras. I can handle some losses but what I dont like is the fact LSU isnt improving. For me thats the scary part, thats what makes me wonder if Miles isnt content or whatever the problem may be. The team lacks the fundamentals and arent coached up like in years past. These last two years LSU has taken HUGE steps backwards, rather than forwards as a program. Miles isnt the coach he was 2-3 years ago. Thats where my concern and problem lies. If LSU is going to lose I dont mind if the other team is truly better. I can certainly handle a loss to UF, they are a better team. I think LSU is more talented than Bama or Ole Miss. Id expect to lose one or two games because of being on the road. Personally I feel this team is too talented to be lose 4-5 games again this year. Its time the kids start getting coached up again and we quit killing ourselves. I know its not all on Miles, the players have to get that killer instinct but again, you follow your leader. We need the HAT back, not Big Ten Miles.
4-0 and we're talking about firing the coach? Really? I seem to recall a game vs. South Carolina (1993?) where a guy with a rat tail sticking out the back of his helmet beat LSU in the pouring rain. THAT'S a fireable offense; going 4-0 is not. Coaches coach, players play. It's just that simple. That's not to say I'm satisfied with where the team is right now - way too many stupid mistakes. But the coaches can not control what players actually do or fail to do on the field. OK, granted, much of that stems from lack of discipline or focus, which can be attributed to coaching. But I've seen it time and time again (luckily not from my guys) - you train and train and train to keep your finger off the trigger, keep your weapon on safe until you're ready to fire, and all of a sudden BAM! Some nitwit lets one fly. It's ingrained into your guys' heads to the point it should be second nature, and someone still does it. Many of the mistakes made vs. MSU can be attributed to the individual players responsible. Dropping two snaps (extra point, field goal), snapping the ball over the punter's head (again), etc. For as much as Chad Jones may have saved the game for LSU, he is also partly responsible for having LSU have to make the goal-line stand to begin with. IF he hadn't fielded the ball at the 3 yard line or whatever it was, THEN LSU would not have been pinned at their own goal. IF he wouldn't have snapped the ball over the punter's head, THEN State would not have been given the ball at the 1. IF/THEN, IF/THEN... Coaches need to tighten up on the fundamentals, players need to maintain focus. As jacked up as their performance has been, I do not feel like last year with this team. There's still plenty of ball left to be played. All that aside, here's the ugly truth many don't want to accept: Nick Saban was a better "fit" for LSU than Miles not necessarily because he knows more than Miles, but because he knew how to bottomline LSU fans. Miles isn't like that, it's not in his personality; that's why he's very careful about what he says. Like unruly school kids, sometimes we fans just need to be bottomlined. Everyone needs it from time to time-it's what keeps us grounded.
While I think some of your points have validity, the only reason they are even being mentioned is b/c of a lack of perceived dominance by us, the fans. I mean they aren't even losing, and these are the type of points we typically make after losses. I will say that point #2 is a bit of an overstatement. Your assumption that CLM cannot judge talent is based on the level of the line play so far in just 4 games. I think if his comment were that this group has the "potential" to be the "best I have ever coached", maybe that would sit better with you and others, and be a more accurate account of the situation. I think, as others have pointed out, that while we have I think 2 SRs and 1 JR, the other 12+ lineman are FR or SOs, if I remember the other post correctly. We have to give the O-line time to gel and get some experience before we can jump to conclusions that CLM cannot judge talent. In fact, recruiting indexes would say otherwise given his classes consistently high rankings over the last 4-5 years. Regarding point #3, I agree with you. This to me is the biggest "coaching" problem that we have and is completely correctable, so that gives me lots of hope. Regarding #4, we have new def. coaches for approx. 9 mos. so far. Give them a chance to improve the LB area. That is nothing new and will take some time to improve. My final comments are that, like others, I am a bit disappointed, too, about our lackluster play thusfar, but not to the point where I do not appreciate that we are 4-0 overall, 2-0 in SEC play, have not had major injuries at key spots, and all of this despite not putting together a full half of what we are capable, much less a full game. I am not concerned to the point of last years effort/outcomes, and am actually fairly optimistic that our play will continue to improve. The key, to me, is improved offensive play calling and line play. Everything else will fall into place, I believe!!!
People need to stop looking at the picture in front of them and broaden their vision a bit. It's a classic case of "can't see the forest for the trees". All too often over the years, we've heard fans complaining about how LSU can't keep a coach around for a long time, like your Paternos, your Bowdens, etc.. The majority of the people on this forum, as well as the fanbase, agree that Miles is the kind of guy they want here for a long time. He's a good man and he runs a good football program. The players are held in high standards both on and off the field and more times than not, we look at our players and say "He's a good kid who's going to go far in life, NFL or not".. The problem is, people are quick to forget (or ignore) that having a coach that sticks around town and truly embraces the school, doesn't mean he's going to have a double-digit winning season each and every year. The success he had when he got here is exactly what's coming back around to bite him in the arse because our fans are so spoiled now. You have up years, you have down years. It's the name of the game and it will never change... NEVER. ALL schools go through this from time to time and it makes me wonder how anyone like JoePa, Bowden, etc. come back each year with fans being so damned short sighted... So here we sit, on CLM's 5th year with an SEC Championship, a National Championship, a couple of outstanding recruiting years, an 80+ % winning record, undefeated out of conference record, undefeated in bowl games, and some of you are calling for him to leave? :huh: :rolleye33: I'm just as frustrated at the team's performance this year and last as anyone, but some of you are just freakin out of your mother-lovin dope smokin' hippy minds, figuratively speaking of course. Just because we want (and expect) them to be the end-all, be-all of the college football world doesn't mean they will. They actually play the games for a reason, and it's not just to entertain the masses of fickle fans. :geaux: :tigereye: PS - after posting this, Miles better not make me look like a jackass! :lol:
I can't believe I just read through like 8 pages of this crap. I couldn't stomach the rest. This thing is very simple from where I sit. We're struggling but its not the end of the world. We're 4-0 and at this point a win is a win. I think its pretty pathetic that so-called fans feel this is the way to address struggling line play. And basically that's what this boils down to. Let's look at the thread starters proposed solution. Fire Les Miles and hire some chump from the Big Least conference. Yeah, that's a good idea. Let's completely set our program back like 2 years. What do you think is going to happen when this guy comes in. He's gonna hire all new staff and our guys are going to be learning a new system. Plus, will all our current players fit the new coaches system? It may completely alter the way we recruit. I'm sure 2 or 3 sub .500 seasons under new coaching is going to make you really happy. In conclusion, my fellow LSU fans, take heart. No one said we could win a NC every year. I for one as am pleased with the way our current coach has handled himself. And he's brought us results. Thanks Les! Bews flash! Every team is going to struggle at some point. Does that mean the answer is to wipe the slate clean and start over just because we believe the coach isn't animated enough? Wow! Well, to all of you standing on top of a building toes on the edge preparing to jump, BACK AWAY! We'll be fine. Give the team time to gel. If there are shortcomings they will be dealt with.
First off.. did we have any drop-off in performance upon hiring Miles after Saban left? No. Why would you expect a drop-off in performance this time around? Gruden or Kelly would be excellent hires, IMO (Del Rio too).
