We Are a Good, But Not Great, Team

by Richard Pittman on Oct 27, 2008 6:30 AM CDT in Football Comment 14 comments

We just have to face facts this year. We are a team in transition. Gone are the veteran quarterbacks and in is the rookie. Gone are the veteran defensive backs and in are the untested and inexperienced underclassmen. Gone is Ali Highsmith (I never would have thought he'd be missed so much) and in is a less athletic linebacker. Most of these problems will correct themselves over time, but until then we are going to have to live with mistakes.

We are, still, a good team. We beat Auburn. We beat Mississippi State. We beat South Carolina. It's just that when we've faced the really good teams, our weaknesses have been exploited to a much greater degree. I think the lesser teams of the SEC will continue to be vulnerable to us, but right now we just can't compete with the best of the SEC if they're playing at the top of their games. Next year may be different.

As for the present, I think the game against Tulane presents us with a wonderful opportunity to try some different things. Les Miles famously prefers to play upperclassmen over younger players, but some of the upperclassmen are underperforming and some of the kids have been outstanding in limited action.

Freshman safety Karnell Hatcher has been quite good when he's gotten into the game. Let him split time with Curtis Taylor and see what he can do. Freshman linebacker Ryan Baker has been a missile on kickoff coverage. Let him get some time at weakside linebacker and see if he can be more involved in the play than Perry Riley has been. Drake Nevis has been the most disruptive defensive tackle on the roster, but he seems to rarely play when the other guys are healthy. He should rotate with Ricky Jean-Francois on the other side of Charles Alexander and Marlon Favorite to give us that constant combination of run-stuffer and play-disrupter.

I really think it's time for this team to try different things. While we are kind of forced to live with mistakes from our quarterback, why on earth should we live with juniors and seniors who are underperforming? It benefits neither the present nor the future.

I am particularly disappointed in Perry Riley, who before the season started I expected to be an outstanding outside linebacker. It just hasn't worked out that way. He's been OK, but he simply does not seem to have All-SEC upside. Ryan Baker does seem to have that upside. As long as our program doesn't slow him down the way it seems have slowed down Darry Beckwith (who I swear was better as a sophomore than he is now), Ryan Baker will have a brilliant career at LSU. Let it start now.

Karnell Hatcher has been a great surprise. I expected he would likely redshirt, but he has not only played quite a bit, he's the 2nd string free safety, and has made good plays whenever he's gotten in the game. I was particularly impressed with his authoritative tackle of Knowshon Moreno. My first thought in seeing him throw Moreno to the ground was, "I have never seen Curtis Taylor tackle someone like that, and this kid did it to one of the best backs in the country." Taylor has made high-profile mistakes, but even worse, he really hasn't done anything on the field. Why not see what the kid can do? We don't play another team with a really fearsome passing game until we get Arkansas to close out the season, so what's the harm?

I just think that with the team not really having a shot at the national championship, and with certain weaknesses being exposed time and again, it is time to look into easing some of the underperforming players out of the lineup. After all, what exactly has Perry Riley done to deserve the benefit of the doubt?

This is not to pick on Riley and Taylor. Those are two guys who have spent a lot of time in the system without ever once doing anything to bring any kind of shame or embarrassment to the program. They've been solid citizens, Riley for 3 years and Taylor for 5 years. They're also both 1000x better athletes than I have ever been or will ever be. When their playing days are done, I will remember them fondly, as Tigers. But there's no charity in this game. The best player plays, and if you get your chance and don't perform up to standards, someone will be there to take your spot.

I think it's time to start looking around.

0 recs | Comment 14 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

With our defense, it seems like EVERY team has their best game against us. Not counting UF and UGA (b/c both are great teams anyway), MSU and AU moved the ball on us a good bit. USC moved the ball on us in the first quarter. Those 3 teams aren’t exactly offensive juggernauts and our defense made them look brilliant. Seeing as to how we’ve had the same problems over the last half of last season and save for one half against USC, that they’ve worsened worries me. No adjustments have been made yet so I don’t have any reason to think that the coaches are going to magically start now.

by amiznit on Oct 27, 2008 7:45 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Agree that Beckwith isn't what he was,

but his injury may not have completely healed up, and sometimes a guy will try to come back a little too quickly. He just hasn’t been the same since, so there my have been more to it than we are aware of.

I don’t know that I would call Arkansas’ passing game “fearsome”, but our secondary could make them look that way if we continue on our present course.

by artiger on Oct 27, 2008 9:38 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Totally Agree

I would also like to see if the docs can perform a miracle cure on on Jordan Jefferson’s shoulder and get him some reps this year. It might prevent us having to burn Russell Shepard’s redshirt next year, and it’s not like Lee’s getting better. He doesn’t seem to be any better about staring down his primary receiver. I’m not expecting JJ to turn things around or even to be any appreciably better than Lee/Hatch, but it would be nice to see him prepped for next year.

by The Bengal on Oct 27, 2008 9:41 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I don’t really think Jeff’s shoulder is an issue. It’s more than likely just an excuse to apply for a medical RS at the end of the season.

by amiznit on Oct 27, 2008 10:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry, that was thickly veiled sarcasm.

I don’t think anyone believes JJ’s shoulder is really injured.

by The Bengal on Oct 27, 2008 11:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh ok … went right over my head.

by amiznit on Oct 27, 2008 1:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

LSU

It has been two days now since the Tigers defeat at the hands of Georgia Bulldogs.
I believe it was more of a self inflicted whooping too. I dont like to be negative, yet It seems difficult not to be such when certain problems keep happening. In my mind there are three major areas of concern.

1. Offensive coaching…If I am a offensive coordinator and quarterback coach and I know i have a very young and inexperienced quarterback…why in the world would I call a pass play as my first play of the game? The poor kid is nervous to begin with, yet in one of the biggest games of the year against one the the toughest quality teams in the SEC…Im gonna make this young fella throw a pass on the first play? Here is a novel thought…why not let the young quarterback hand the ball off for several plays….oh wait that would make too much sense….we have a running back who averages perhaps 5 to six yards per carry. Two runs and maybe a first down….3 at most and the worst thing which might happen would be we would Punt. My point here is give Jarret lee some time…knowing he is young and nervous…to settle in and get over his butterflies. Florida was also a prime example….3rd play of the game there was a pass play called…..another interception. I also believe that everyone has including young and old quarterbacks alike bad days…three interceptions with consequenses of 17 points directly associated with those mistakes….perhaps would constitute a not so good of a day…maybe the quarterback coach/offensive coordinator might consider…either pulling the young fella or maybe using our running backs more with knowing the young kid is having a tough time.

2. Defensive Co- Coordinators- I just dont understand why Coach Miles wouldnt hire a well respected…experienced Defensive Coordinator? I like both defensive coaches….Mallory and Peveto….. They are probably very good linebacker coach…and special team coach. They are not good defensive coordinators..together or otherwise.
I dont like being so HARSH here ..but mercy Coach Miles….were you trying to save LSU some monies by not hiring a proven and respected Defensive guru? We lose Pelini we …should have hired a proven man for the job…..you cannot throw young players on to the field and just say get the man with the ball. This year it seems we are not always able to adjust our defensive schemes during our games. We need a proven defensive guru to teach our young fellas how to play on the defensive side of the ball…..we certainly have the talent….we just lack proven leadership.

3. Young Players on both sides of the ball- Inexperienced players will make mistakes…we all know this…..sometimes its big time and seldom ….and sometimes its small yet repetitive……and if it is repetitive I think it should be the coaches job to rectify the situation and try another player at that position…..and yes I agree its up to the players to play the game….yet if they are having a rough go of it during the game it should be the responsibilty of the coaches ..no matter what side the ball…to make the adjustment.
Yes….I do not wish to harm the egos of these young fellas by pulling them out the the game yet the player having the rough day needs to understand that winning involves quality performances by 11 players on either side of the ball. one misque can alter the outcome of the game. Quarterback or cornerback….throwing interceptions or just missing throws by several yards or conerbacks always seeming out of position or worse…..falling down……(has anyone noticed one particular player?).

I do believe life goes on after my college football year is over and yes I have a passion for LSU that perhaps places me in the Fan-atical side of Sec football….perhaps I do want to win too often….yet I dont think Im too far out of line with my expectations for at least a competent day on the football field with a quality SEC opponent.
I think our coaching of these young hearts and minds need to be tweaked and looked at considerably closer….the players are only as good as the coaching that they have. LSU needs a proven defensive Coordinator and I think Gary Crowton is a very good Offensive Coodinator who we need and we should keep…yet he needs to pay closer attention to who is having a good day or a bad day…..adjust to that….and make some play adjustments for the young quarterbacks.
E.C. Inabed

by E.C. Inabed on Oct 27, 2008 9:46 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Not trying to pick on you EC

But I find the writing style of run-on sentences separated by ellipses to be unreadable. I’m sure you have some great points in your post, but I stopped reading it about halfway through the first paragraph. It’s just too hard to follow the thoughts in that format.

by The Bengal on Oct 27, 2008 11:23 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

It is a little hard to follow.

When you are an Alabama fan you have to hate Auburn, I hate Tennessee because i want to.

by bammer on Oct 27, 2008 1:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

English Major

Bengal

I appreciate the imput. I do not claim to be a English major. Please feel free anytime in the future to not read my comments. I joined this web site to see if other folks see certain issues concerning our LSU football team as I see them. I did not know all writing submitted had to be approved grammatically by Bengal and bammer. Goodness gracious.

E.C. Inabed

by E.C. Inabed on Oct 28, 2008 6:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

1st point is very good.

Why put Lee in an obvious pass play on the first play from scrimmage? I know we don’t want to be predictable, and I love Crowton, but that seems a little dumb. Maybe they were overly optimistic in Lee’s development. I don’t know, but I doubt they will open up the first offensive series against Alabama with that play call.

by nepomo on Oct 27, 2008 4:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't have a problem with the call

A little dink down to the tight end ( I think he was throwing to Dickson on that play) is normally about as safe a pass as you can call and it instantly prevents the defense from stacking the box. It’s also theoretically better to let him get his first pass off in a low pressure situation than second or third and long. The problem was he locked in on his primary receiver, lost sight of the linebacker, and let it fly.

I think it was a good call, it was just terrible execution.

by The Bengal on Oct 27, 2008 4:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Defensive Coaches

It has been my experience that it never works to have two people in charge of whatever you are doing; even if they are both excellent at what they do. You have to have one guy at the top. In our case, when we lost Pelini, we also lost the guy who was coaching the defensive backs if I remember correctly. Maybe we lost more than we thought.

by TigerForever on Oct 28, 2008 2:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs