I think this really sums it up and why people are frustrated. What is the old saying "the definition of an idiot is to do the same thing over and over and expect a different result". I don't see why Shep & RR have to know every play in Crowton's book to see the field. Can't they just give them a relatively small subset and get them on the field to execute those plays? At least then they are on the field and we are getting the benefit of their playmaking abilities.
My son actually got to watch him play a couple of games after Gustav. They went stay with some family that lived in Texas, and he says he does have a live arm. In the games he watched Shepherd had as many throwing yards as running. I don't know if that translates into a SEC calibur QB, but if you brought him in to play we should be playing him somewhere. I also thought a RS, Holiday, and JJ in the backfield would give defenses something to think about. Three runners, 2 of them QB's, someone would have to stay in to watch them. IDK is seems to me Les is partial to seniority.
Or not play him. That is the biggest head scratcher for me right now, does anyone know why Shep didn't see the field one time????
So that's reason enough to not play him one single time against Florida? BS Shep has proven he gains positive yards when given the chane, something we could have used against UF.
I think I saw Shepard on the sideline holding up a "WTF?" poster board with an arrow pointing down toward himself after that series of calls inside the 10 on Saturday when we didn't make it in the end zone. Look, Shep doesn't even need to be a QB right now, but put him out there and let him do something. Let him run it, throw a screen pass to him, run a reverse or a fake reverse... Do something with him! As much as I want to see Saban and Bama lose, I will say that one thing I always loved about Saban is that he believed in getting his best talent on the field (he'd fit them wherever he could even if they were freshman). I remember them talking about him questioning the playing time of Skyler Green. The offensive coaches were saying that he hadn't really learned the plays enough to get in the games. Saban said to teach him one play and put him in. Sure enough, they taught him that jailbreak screen, put him in and ran it against Arkansas and he took it to the house. That's what can happen when you use your talent. And Green went on to be a major component of that national championship team a year later. When Shepard has lined up at QB to run it, he has looked really good. All this stuff about mistakes is BS. Mistakes are gonna happen. We have guys on the OL that have been flagged on consecutive plays this year and a D-line that was flagged for offsides penalties five times during the first half. They still played, right? And they're not even freshmen. Shepard said he is willing to do anything early on, but I GUARANTEE you that at some point in his college career, he wants to be the QB. The guy only started playing QB in his sophomore year in high school, so he's obviously a fast learner. He just hasn't been doing it that long compared to other QBs. And he can play college QB. I remember the ESPN recruiting report saying that he has a lot of good passing qualities to go with his running ability. I'm sure there are many things that he'll have to learn in the passing game, but that's why they pay the coaches tons of money. Most people told Pat White that he wouldn't play QB in college. Tell me how that turned out. When you have someone that is that athletic, you form the offense around them. If we keep struggling on O, then start grooming the guy to run the spread or something similar. He would be excellent in that style of offense and I think it would be tough to stop. Apparently it works if you have an athletic QB.
He was used. He fumbled. That's the one thing that will surely get you benched under Les. It ain't just Shepard. He's new and still paying his dues and earning the right to play for LSU. No one anointed him savior. I want Shepard to get more touches, too, but not responsibility for the offense. That would be five straight untested starting quarterbacks in two years. Zero continuity for LSU. No, we have two experienced sophomore quarterbacks to rely on this year. Steady but low-scoring Jordan Jefferson and the impetuous but high-scoring Jarrett Lee. LSU is dead last in total offense in the SEC and one of the worst in the nation at #109. We cannot stay in the top-10 and take advantage of four of the best receivers in the country without picking up the passing game, and I mean now. I think we need to see Lee in the game versus Auburn throwing passes, not Shep running draws. Save the hot freshman for a really unexpected change-up inside the red zone when we really need a spark. That's exactly how they played Tebow as a freshman.
IMO, there were plans to get him involved in the early cupcake games, but we never dominated enough in those games to get him involved like everyone would like, and when he got chances, he fumbled, etc. It's also the reason that Lee didn't get any playing time. We were basically fighting for our lives in every game this season. No chances to get underclassmen and non-starters involved.
The last game he had to call timeout twice because he was confused by the play call/formation. The QB is the last person that can be confused about a formation. That aside, I would have liked to see him in the game regardless of our offensive success or failure. I think he has the minerals to handle the pressure. Crowton will have to change his thought patterns to be sure and gain some focus. No identity for this offense. Miles is far from perfect and makes plenty of mistakes throughout the year, but holding Crowton back is not one of them. For all of you that immediately pinpoint Miles as to why we run a certain play, or do not play someone enough, you should read msg boards less and talk to the actual players more. If anything, he doesn't step in enough, when he feels someone should play or things should be different. And if you don't know any players to talk to, the difference between our defense last year and this year should provide ample evidence. He hires his coordinators and expects them to do their job. As to Shepard being disgusted and some posters alluding to the possibility that he might transfer...:rofl:
I agree with all this. I wasn't suggesting Shepard be put in to run the offense. That would be a disaster waiting to happen. I do think he needs touches though considering we burned his red shirt.
Considered holding off on this but some people are saying that the rumors of Shepard being disgruntled not true: He has said in public that he is staying positive, but that he doesn't understand why he's not getting snaps. Allegedly at one point, he made a comment along the lines of "Please pray that I'm not about to make the biggest mistake of my life," (pretty clear that he was upset and considering transfering, IF IT WERE TRUE) but I've found no record of such a comment. I do, however, have first-hand knowledge of him wondering if the reason he's not starting is because he's not expecting enough of himself or if the coaches are expecting too much. He doesn't know who to blame but he obviously feels like he is doing the best he can and wants to be playing (and was probably told that he would be playing more). Whatever the case is, there is some discontent but if what we think we know of Shep is true, then he's not going anywhere till he's got a diploma or he's drafted.
