Ali was easily the player of the game for us today. He cemented himself as a mid-first round talent (depending on the draft order.) The 4th and 1 was actually the worst call I've ever seen. It almost looked like a busted play, and got the first only because KW took off like a bullet to the first down marker. Anybody have insight on why our defense was this gassed early? Steltz and Dorsey were clearly hurt, and Beckwith hasn't been practicing (presumably, due to injury.) The ineptitude of the offense in the first half killed LSU this game. You have to outscore Arkansas and we left a boatload of points (and opportunities) on the field in the first half. How big of a dog house have they constructed for Perrilloux? Refusing to have him play in the first half was inexcusable (YET AGAIN.) But I guess it was Senior Day.
I'll probably get flamed by the SabanFan and SabanFan wannabes of this board, but I have a friend, Greg, from San Jose, Ca. that is a die hard Oregon Duck fan. When he heard that Crowton came to LSU, he told me to get ready. I was like, "Huh?" He said that if LSU has valuable RBs, they will be underutilized for the sake of throwing the ball, no matter who the QB is or who you have at RB. Needless to say, he has been right. Greg was glad to see Crowton go. Look at what Oregon did in it's first year with Crowton gone. I'm just frustrated with how this year has panned out. Yeah, yeah... it's only two losses and we are always banged up from the world's toughest schedule ever :dis:, but with this talent, we should have beaten KY and Arkansas - neither teams are ranked anymore. Do we use the tough schedule excuse every year? South Carolina, Kentucky, Arkansas, Auburn, and Alabama are no longer ranked. Considering how they look now, we should have killed a couple of them, especially given all the hype this team received. The only teams LSU has played that are still ranked are VT and Florida. Georgia has played a pretty good schedule, and see how strong they look. Moreno is the next McFadden and LSU can't handle that again. BUT, I'll take a 10-2 season, despite having to "settle" for an SEC title only. We could have and should have had both.
I don't buy your friend's assessment. It doesn't translate this season, that's for sure. LSU is averaging over 220 yards on the ground, and only 230 in the air. If that ain't balanced (and actually tilted towards the running game), then I am missing something. Please enlighten me. Georgia has 2 losses just like us. I think a lot of their fans are doing the "what if" game as well since they are now oh so close to the NC game, but will probably not get there. Under Crowton, we are averaging 40 points and 450 yards offense. The best ever at LSU. Ever. You are looking for blame on the wrong side of the ball, my friend.
The point is this... screw balance. Who the flip cares if it is 50/50? Williams, Scott and Murphy have been underutilized all season. With this talent, we should be the ones running all over people, but we just throw and go 7/22 in the first half, which ultimately leads to a tired out defense. Forget the field position that was flushed down the crapper in the first quarter for the sake of throwing a ton of overthrown passes.
We started the season running a lot and everybody started to say that it was a vanilla offense...This team is at their best when they have balance...Today they threw the football a lot early and it hurt us...Against BAMA and Auburn, we couldn't run the football and the passing game bailed us out.
I don't think there's really THAT much difference in talent on any SEC team...well, except maybe Ole Miss, and they have that running back with four names....Ben Jarvis Green-Ellis, yeah that's it. Don't forget that when you are highly ranked EVERY team you play works extra hard to beat you. Especially with Appalachian State spiking everyone's koolaid this year. However, it does appear to me that our run defense went to he11 when Alexander was lost for the season and Dorsey was hurt against Auburn. He hasn't been a force since that game. All heart, and a vocal leader, but a shadow of his former self on the Dline. And still he played as much as he could and gave it everything. Hats off to you, big man. You'll be missed when you go off the NFL. Both the SEC and NC would have been unreal. But I can't be too disappointed if the Tigers win the SEC. We'll see about that next week. At least they have one extra day to rest. They sure look like they needed it. ldskule:
Did you see those running plays in the first half with Hester and Williams? Egad, it was pathetic. I would have been pissed had we not thrown 22 times. Unfortunately Flynn was not on his game in the first half. So I don't question the play calling, execution was just simply pitiful. I do agree that Scott needed to get many more touches. I think he had a good run and a couple of good pass receptions. Just don't know why he wasn't given the rock more, especially in the first half when Hester just wasn't getting it going.
It's as if we have a rule in our play book that stats all running plays must be between the tackles unless the runner is Holiday. For goodness sake, don't run into the pile every run play!
So, when you are highly ranked, you don't play extra hard to kill everyone to prove you deserve to be number 1 at home, on senior day? I'm not trying to pick a fight, it's just tough to realize that this chance to win the NC again may not come for a couple more years, and LSU let it go...
