Um... What did you expect this season?

Certainly this loss bums me out. And, yes, sometimes it's not just the loss but "how" you lose. No doubt at the end of this season there will be questions asked about the coaching staff and certain personnel.

BUT, ask me at the beginning of the season what folks expect out of this team wins and losses, and reasonable people would probably have said, what? 10-2? I said 9-3.

Come-on. RS FR quarterbacks have growing pains. Hatch is no Matt Flynn. Lee's inexperience is certainly showing. New players in the secondary and linebackers. New coaches calling defensive plays.

Florida and GA had experienced QBs coming back (as does 'Bama :dis. There's a reason why there's the up and down of teams year to year. This is also why the Big 12 is particularly good this year. Their top teams have all of the QBs back. That inexperience has certainly cost us these two games.

That goes for players and coaches. Let's not be both unrealistic and classless folks. If the team doesn't improve over the season, I think you've got a beef b/c the coaches aren't getting better and adapting. But losing to GA (who let's not forget was preseason #1) and Florida at the swamp, were expected... at least by me.

 

I expected the quarterbacks to have growing pains even though one concern about Lee is he does'nt seem to be improving, seems to be making the same mistakes over and over again.
I did'nt expect the defense to be one of the worst defenses in the conference.

 

Good post. I think most of the rational contributors to this board would agree.

What wasn't expected was allowing 50+ points in two games, although it wasn't completely on the defense in both cases.

Who knows how the game with Bama turns out -- 9-3 is nothing to be ashamed of. You've got to think we ought to be able to win 4 of the next 5.

:geauxtige

 

I expected better defensive line play, which has been a major disappointment, but other than that I'm right there with you. In that regard, here's hoping that JaMarkus McFarland, along with Chris Davenport, comes on board. Glenn Dorsey can't be replaced, but an effort needs to be made.

 

Good post HornLand. I picked us 9-3, and we're on track. I would have picked us 9-3 even if RP was still on the team, BTW. My main concern was the D, as you say. Agree Lee will look better with another year of experience. Stafford had his growing pains, but really looks sharp now.

 

I and a lot others expected us to be very good this year, Yes, losing to Florida was kinda expected but not by that much. Playing Georgia at home I expected to have a chance to win, not to get blown out like we did. I thought we would beat Alabama - not now, no way we beat them. thats three losses & Ole Miss is gonna be tough. we are no longer a great team, not even close.. that is a disappointment. We should be better than we are... that defense scares me, will it be worse next year??

 

I expected 9-3 or 10-2 this year, and lots of growing pains by our QB.

But, I did NOT expect "Pick Six", or so many blown coverages or so many missed tackles.

We don't appear to be as nasty on Defense as previous years.

D looks sloppy, unprepared and unorganized.


:crystal::geaux::crystal::geaux::crystal:

 

Great original post here. Good to keep the big picture in mind. The "how" we are losing against these quality teams is the tough part, and the details in play calling on both sides concern me. Definitely CLM has some decisions to make at the end of the season, but you are right we are young, and young at key positions. Here is to hoping that the "way" we lost these games does not negatively impact some of the big recruits were are trying to coax, and that our talent level does not suffer in the long run so that we do improve and rebuild!

 

In some ways, I do agree that the most surprising thing is our defense. I definitely saw some of the little things that add up. Blown tackles on Moreno. Relying too much on the front four and being lax in the back. Some of the discipline on secondary coverage just not there. But, again.... these are 4 and 5 star all-american kids true, but kids just starting for the first time.

But the point I want to make is you can't underestimate this... "FLOW". Sometimes I get the sense that Miles' and Crowton's teams are "rhythm" teams. They expect to run certain things, follow a gameplan, and then the game throws them a wrench. Not saying that's an enlightening concept. But, it makes you realize what fine a line it is between a championship team and a team that is just a good bowl team. That's the difference between Florida or GA being SEC East champ last year, and that's the difference between LSU last year and this year. When Lee throws two picks that accounts for the difference in the score. But, if the Tigers aren't down the entire game (against GA, against FL) b/c they have some early 3 and outs and can't get it going, I bet you the defense looks a lot better.

If folks really want to point some fingers, what about the offensive line? That was supposed to be our stalwart experience this year. Did their breakdowns lead to some Lee hurried passes? They were supposed to be able to handle the GA d line.

I guess it's easy to blame the defense in this game, and certainly where the film will show mistakes, those will be called out by this staff. But, when the rhythm's not there against a great team, you can't just expect defense to play 80% of the time and stop everything.

 

Well.. honestly i did not expect to beat florida, georgia i thought we stood a chance. But i didn't expect us to be in the NC chase again after losing a butt load of talent due to graduation/NFL draft. But next year our D should be more solid and Jarret Lee will mature. Im perfectly content with going to a decent bowl game and finishing the season with 10 wins.
:geauxtige