If LSU gave it their all, and lost close games i'd be happy simply because we gave it our all, the loss would be disappointing of course... but to call this team a work in progress is just short sighted seeing as how we've been saying the same thing since the start of the '08 season... at which point do we grow up and finally fix the mistakes that are plaguing our team? Excuses are like ***holes, but at some point you have to put up or shut up.
We lost a ton of talent between 2006 and 2007. You don't just reload that easily. 2008 was a lost year due to the QB debacle. 2009 was a passable year by normal fans standards, aside from disappointing finishes vs. Ole Miss and in the bowl game. I think that "work in progress" is a negative term when really it shouldn't be. We're not fully ready at all 22 positions, we're just not. Our defense is young and Chavis is still implementing his system, getting "his guys" in there if you will. Our offense has 1 vet WR and two all-world sophomores, a fairly experienced QB, but barely any depth to speak of on the line. Our backs are question marks too due to past injuries (Murphy, Ridley), ball security (Ridley) and youth (Ford, Blue, Gore, Ware, etc.). You have to be a complete team to really dominate the SEC, and for circumstances both within and outside of Les Miles' control, we're still putting all the pieces together. It takes 3-4 great recruiting classes and perfect luck with attrition, injuries and whatever else to have a run like we had in 2003 or 2007. Those teams were senior-laden and full of NFL players. Known commodities going into the year. We were preseason #2 in 2007. There just isn't that same level of talent and/or experience here yet. It's coming, but it's not there yet. At least not at all 22.
I'm surprised no one has mentioned the QB who departed the campus in 2008. That certainly had an influence on the 2008 season.
I fully see your point, but it seems like while the rest of our division and conference gets better we stay the same or regress. We've had 2 full seasons since or last NC, and now 1 game into our 3rd... and things are the same. There's more going on at LSU then the things you've menetioned. We have a junior QB who's struggled since his first start, while other teams true freshman QBs are tearing up the field. Something isn't right.
Sure would've bene nice to see what Garret could've done before he left... according to all things I read his arm was insane and he was a big dood. It's ashame.
3 seasons without a NC sure is tough. There's some poor 2 year old out there wondering if he'll ever see Tiger national title in his lifetime. If you're this anxious over 2 years between titles, how did you survive 1958-2003?
