Florida game thoughts
We were outplayed and outcoached. I was bummed after the Auburn loss, but generally happy with our effort. This time I just feel sick. While Florida deserves plenty of credit, we certainly made life easy for them. 5 turnovers, including one at the goal line after a 17 play drive. A defense that folded on a length-of-the-field drive going into the half that gave them a 14-7 lead and momentum, when even marginal execution on our part would have reversed that. I've been a Les Miles supporter this year, but this was just a god awful performance.
Special teams play was indescribably bad. An illegal formation penalty on a punt, which has plagued this team out of that odd two-level punt formation, negated a punt that was downed at the 1; a shanked punt followed, for a net 27 yard gain for UF. A muffed punt by Chevis Jackson that enabled Florida to get right back into it after we scored to go up 7-0 and had completed a great defensive stand. A muff/fumble on the opening kickoff to the second half that resulted in a safety. A blocked punt on our first drive of the second half.
Playcalling was absurd. Down 16 in the 3rd quarter and we kept trying to run the ball; meanwhile the star running back we thought we had - Charles Scott - curiously never saw the field. Where the short passing game that began to work effectively in the fourth quarter had been the rest of the game is beyond me.
JaMarcus just wasn't on. Followed the goal line fumble with the poor decision to throw it deep to LaFell in double coverage; that ball got picked. Florida answered with a TD to close out the half, sparked by a 3rd-and-15 conversion early in the drive in which LaRon Landry missed a sure tackle in an effort to get a huge hit. His second pick wasn't his fault after a Florida DB popped it up out of Dwayne Bowe's hands. His third, however, was well behind Bowe and killed our last chance at a comeback. Russell will leave LSU having never accomplished much of anything at the Swamp.
Till today, it seemed most of the questions about this team had been answered pretty well this season (with the exception of a running game). Now that's all up in the air, with another huge one that will hang over this team until Les wins an SEC title - whether he can ever coach this team to victory in a big SEC game. Right now the answer certainly appears to be no.
0 recs |
4 comments
|
Comments
JR
The only pick that was JR's fault was the long one, and that one doesn't bug me too much. All qb's throw interceptions occasionally, and it's a lot harder to be accurate when you're throwing that far down the field. It wasn't that much worse than a punt, really.
The only thing that really bugs me about JR's game Saturday was the fumble on the 1 yard line. No excuse for that. Then again, there's no excuse for that lame ass formation he was in, either. Should've stayed in the shotgun.
by TigerSmack on Oct 9, 2006 11:54 AM CDT reply actions
Passing Game
And what was more atrocious about special teams is that LSU ended up 5th in Div I-A in net punting last year...formation changes in '06...now we're dead last in SEC - with the same punter. LSU needs a Special Teams coach...or Miles needs to wake up and see the glaring problems that exist and fix them like yesterday.
by 4EverLSU on Oct 9, 2006 8:21 PM CDT reply actions
punt
by TigerSmack on Oct 9, 2006 8:58 PM CDT reply actions
Punt formation, JR, etc.
Re JR - I didn't bother watching the replay but if he got hit, then I'm with you, it's not on him. That said, I don't think it's on Bowe at all. If a ball is behind an in-stride receiver, you can't penalize him for only being athletic enough to turn around in midair and stretch out enough to get both hands on it, but not actually catch it. I think a lot of receivers wouldn't have even gotten their hands on that ball, but that's just me.

by 

















