Piecing Together a Season

Far too much credit is given to Saban for Miles’ coached teams in ‘05, ’06 and ’07. Not that Saban’s impact on LSU should be minimized in any way, but neither should Miles’ successes be casually swept under the rug and labeled “Saban’s players.”

And maybe, just maybe, the 2010 team is the sweet reminder of that very principle that our fanbase needed. Football is a game and a fun one at that. Why shouldn’t it be enjoyed?

I have been critical of Miles in the past, and I probably will be again in the future, but I see two seasons that are indelibly Miles-induced successes. The 2005 season was a triumph for Miles. I really don’t think Miles’ predecessor, who is a terrific coach in his own right, would have been as successful in 2005 as Miles was. That was a tough season off the field, and Miles’ personality I think helped carry us to a very solid season when a 7-5 or 6-6 season would not have surprised many people.

And of course, this year. It hasn’t always been pretty, and frankly we’ve gotten kind of lucky (I try not to bring up the Tennessee game when I’m talking about this season). But through it, this team has shown the personality of its coach, and it has succeeded. It has, as you say, never given up on a game. It has persevered through a lot of artificial adversity and just keeps playing.

I don’t know how much longer Miles will coach here. I suppose he bought himself at least next season and the season after by the success of this season (though you can never underestimate how fickle these things can be) if he wants them.

The funniest thing about Les’ detractors within the fan base, is the way the narrative never changes, regardless of results. No matter how many times he kicks the ball, the goal posts always get moved back.

Yesterday on the radio I heard a caller say that no matter how many games Miles wins, he’ll never want him. He doesn’t think he’s a good coach, and he’s a poor representative of the university (???!!!). And my immediate thought was, “Really? No matter what?”

If somebody said “I don’t care how many games Nick Saban/Urban Meyer/(insert name of coach) wins, I’ll never think he’s a good coach,” people would justifiably call them an idiot. But people hold Miles to a different standard. And I think that’s bullshit.

That, more than anything, is what bothers me about the Humanoids.

as I had said in one of the from where you come from series post, and this season is right up there. The reason for the 01 season was the long struggle for a Championship and respect culminating with the victory of UT—again, I remember CPFulmer and his players looking at that game as a formality before they would fly off to the Rose Bowl.

This season was just as satisfying because the team fought through all the negativity—even when they won, and found ways to win in what a lot people thought would be the start of another downturn in Tiger football. I remember how a FSU blogger responded to one of my comments with back in July on Black Shoe Diaries, "BYU is the 7th best team FSU plays this year and people in Tallahassee realize it is a process.

In the SEC, with the kind of money LSU has, and the talent base in a state all to himself, losing 7 games in 2 years is not going to cut it. Particularly this year when they are picked to finish 4th in the west by many.

LSU reminds me a lot of FSU in the middle part of the decade. LSU has a lot of talent that they are squandering, like we did. They are weak along the lines, like we were (their top OL was recently given a grade of “undraftable!”). They are not recruiting well along the lines the last 2 years compared to how they did under Saban. They have no offensive identity. They can’t run the ball even pounding it at people much anymore. They have incredible athletes who can pull out a win any time you don’t expect it (like we could).

I could go on, but I think you get the point (or will).

Ponder lacks arm strength? Think again.

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by Bud Elliott on Jun 29, 2010 11:53 PM PDT up reply actions"

The post is here, http://www.blackshoediaries.com/2010/6/29/1542949/penn-state-recruiting-at-some

I am not calling him out even or making an attempt to say I told you so (which no doubt if things would not have gone so well we would have plenty of that trollish I told you so going on), it is just an example of how a lot of people assumed this season would go for the Tigers/coaches. I was cautiously optimistic we would get back to being able to run the ball (CLM stressed that we would) and the D would improve even more after the second year under CJC. We have a lot of good players on both sides of the ball coming back—credit CLM recruiting and a very good class coming in. With QB experience coming back also, the future looks bright. Roast the pigs! Geaux Tigers!

I truely believe there are fans of LSU , and most of the media , that feel Miles is not a good coach. I think Miles continued winning especially after “Saban’s recruits” were gone in 2007 really makes those fans and media types really mad. Those fans and media types will never like Miles period. No matter if the man wins 10 straight National Championships will they give him credit. It will be well Miles is lucky LSU is talented , or Miles is lucky this that or the other. Those fans that say no matter how many wins Miles has as coach of LSU i do not want him as coach of LSU are quite frankly not fans period. If you are a fan of a team or program you want that team or program to succeed and if Miles is winning at LSU we are succeeding point blank period end of discussion. They do not know Miles as a person to have a real reason to truly hate him. They have personal prejudices that make them hate him this much. Same goes with the media that do not like him.
The Miles detractors point to an 8-5 season and a 9-4 season as a follow up. Well lets break those seasons down. 2008 we lost out #1 quarterback the qb that was supposed to lead us for the next two years. The quarterback even the media thought was so strong and talented LSU would be competing for a National Championship. Also a second thing happened that season instead of trying to buy out a good DC from a big school Miles though the Co-Coordinators would be able to pull it off defensively since his Offense should be set at that time and honestly it was not a bad call at the time. Why waste money chasing a big name coordinator when you might have a good up and coming one on the staff. He banked they would not to too bad a job to hurt too much with the Offense we had coming back and since they had worked under Pelini he thought they could run the same system. Remember when this decision was made the QB was still on the team and everyone thought he would be great. Once our qb was kicked off the team we had basically one bench warmer and two young Freshmen Qb’s on the roster. The bench warmer proved not worthy and yes got hurt although i think it is clear he was at the bottom of the depth chart once we were forced to play the freshmen. Miles went with the redshirt Freshman 4 star Lee and Lee had his moments yet his freshmen inexperience led to a lot of interceptions. Yes even now he throws off his back foot yet you have to agree the majority of his interceptions were throwing the ball into coverage. JJ stepped in late and lit it up as a true freshman in the bowl game. Which i do believe led to most fans thinking we should have been better the following year. 2009 that team really did turn it around. Look at it in 2008 we lost in bad blowouts. 2009 our defense was much better we took care of the ball we just did not run the ball well at all. That was due to the offensive line attrition we had gone through the previous 3 years. Look it up we lost a lot of offensive linemen to injury and being dismissed. All three of 2009’s regular season losses were close enough that one or two plays would have swung the game in LSU’s favor and LSU could have won. Yet the detractors place all the blame on those two years on Miles.
 Another thing the detractors point to is the Offensive struggles the last two years. I agree the Offense has struggled yet 2009’s lack of a run game was due to the before mentioned attrition. This years passing game has been woeful i admit. What caused that? Well look at 2009 JJ had stats on par with Alabama’s qb. So the talent was there coming in. In the off season the fans criticized JJ and poo poo’ed anyone that tried to talk about his completion percentage and TD-INT ratio for 2009. They only focused on he looked lost and took way too many sacks. Well he was still 19 that year would you look confident at 19 starting in the SEC behind a shaky Offensive line? I truly feel the criticism he had going into the season by fans and even members of the media did affect him. The first half of the UNC game we had the same JJ we had in Alabama and Ole Miss games. He was slinging and having fun. LSU was on the way to a blowout. Then LSU went into coast mode you can blame the whole staff for that and Les Miles. I will not defend going into coast mode after one half. In coast mode they played alot of underclassmen on Offense and Defense which led to UNC coming back. When LSU had to turn it back on we did not. Jefferson did not have terrible games he had the UNC coast game and a Vandy game where he really did not have to throw to be honest. Yes he was 8-20 for 96 yards yet look at the throws there were several drops in that game as well. I also think Miles was proving against a 2009 defensive unit that was one of the SEC’s best and was returning a majority of starters that LSU could run the ball. The Mississippi State game is the most embarrassing games as a fan i have ever seen and it has nothing to do with performance on the field. I am talking about the booing of a kid who is playing qb for LSU the team our fans supposedly support. That was disgraceful and hurt JJ’s season more. Here LSU was in a fight with a very good team that later became ranked and our fans are booing him when we are winning. The whole season Miles and JJ have been put down by supposed fans even though they were winning. JJ I am 100% sure was affected by the negativity the booing and the fans putting him down. He even made a plea for the fans to stop and give him a chance.
  This LSU team and this coach is one every real fan should be proud of. The people who proclaim to be fans but do not know how to support a team and coach can all go to hell with Ole Miss and the Media

To all those that said i was chugging the koolaid at multiple sites when i said LSU could beat any team with their Defense and running game when i defended LSU after Vandy and then again after Tennessee i want to say one thing.

 Koolaid tastes real good let me tell you!!!!!!!!!!