LSU QBmageddon: How are you even reading this right now?
by Paul Crewe on Aug 17, 2010 1:12 AM CDT
in Football
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PrintNo seriously. How has your face not completely melted off after the Chernobyl-like explosion that occurred in Baton Rouge just a few hours ago. Surely the football team, nay the entire university has completely evaporated in lieu of Zach Lee signing a MLB contract with everyone's favorite team with a dysfunctional owner, the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Wait what? So LSU still has a football team? They will return to practice tomorrow? No shit? I thought for sure this was the very end of LSU football. The world is surely collapsing, right? This is the part when Bruce Willis steals your oxygen supply and goes on a suicide mission to detonate a bomb that will surely obliterate the entire planet. Baton Rouge is a modern-day Megiddo, and all you mortals are damned for all eternity for your many, many sins.
Or, maybe everything will be... alright? Or maybe not. Somehow, all at once, this is some fucked up repugnant shit and we're here to do two things...
Really, I'm just like Mel Brooks. "I don't know what to say, so I'll just say what's on my heart...Baboom! Baboom! Baboom!"
Okay, enough nonsense. Let's just try to sort this out:
1) This completely fucking sucks.
2) This does not mean the end of LSU.
3) This makes LSU extremely thin at QB.
4) This doesn't mean a young QB will suck in 2012.
5) Who the hell is Barrett Bailey?
Now, in detail:
1) This completely fucking sucks.
LSU (Les Miles) put all their eggs in the Zach Lee basket and it didn't pay off. I suppose the rationale to not finding another QB last class was the presence of Barrett Bailey, but that's not exactly thrilling to anyone. Allowing (more like instructing) Chris Garrett to walk, puts the team woefully thin at QB. Heaven forbid Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee go down with injury this year (I just ran and knocked on every piece of wood in my apartment).
2) This does not mean the end of LSU
No, I think LSU will be okay.
3) This makes LSU extremely thin at QB.
There's little confidence in the QB situation to begin with, and losing the future hope at the position only acts as a self-fulfilling prophecy. Now, beyond Jefferson and Lee, our third option is a walk-on with an outside chance that one of our many talented athletes can take snaps and run around like crazy and maybe throw it once our twice.
Miles mucked this up. No two ways about it. I don't think Chris Garrett was the option, and despite complaints from people saying, "Why didn't we wait to split with Garrett?", I don't think that's a plausible question. We couldn't string Garrett along for weeks based on the decision of another player. Regardless, I don't think Chris is a D1 type of player either way, so if he would have been our starting QB in 2012, we'd have been in trouble (my opinion).
4) This doesn't mean a young QB will suck in 2012.
As of right now, we'd enter the 2012 season with a competition between Barrett Bailey and Stephen Rivers for the starting QB. Bailey would be a Junior and Rivers a redshirt Freshman or true Sophomore. Yikes. We will get another QB in the fold this season, and perhaps even a third, JUCO guy, to re-establish depth at the position.
When you talk about young QBs, people will automatically default to the struggles of Lee and Jefferson, but the truth is, no two situations are ever alike. Just because we have to start a young QB doesn't mean we are destined for failure. Sometimes a player is truly unique and special. Sam Bradford was about as highly regarded as Stephen Rivers coming out of HS. I think that turned out OKAY. And don't take this as me saying Rivers is the next coming of Tebow who was the first coming of Jesus. I'm just saying that things can change in our favor fast.
5) Who the hell is Barrett Bailey?
He's your third-string QB who passed some decent D1 offers to walk-on to LSU. Due to developments, you will be seeing a "Better know a Freshman" Barrett Bailey piece later today. Then we can talk about Barrett Bailey.
Ultimately though, relax. For some reason, everyone had convinced themselves that Lee would be at LSU (despite the fact that signing with the Dodgers loomed as a very real possibility). Does it suck? Hell yes. Am I worried? Sure. But it could be worse. Check out Florida's QB situation right now. If Brantley goes down, they are on to a true freshman project. Ick. These things happen. Was it mishandled? I think so. But what can you do...?
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What was Miles reasoning for not going with another QB
in the last class? Were they telling Lee that he was their guy and pulled off the rest just to keep him happy?
They tried...
And I think they felt wasting a schollie on a risky prospect was not as smart as just keeping Barrett Bailey as your back-up plan.
Rivals...
Only lists Zach Lee and Jesse Scroggins as people we offered.
We recruited Jake Heaps, before he committed to Washington.
Recruited Connor Wood before he committed to Texas.
Recruited Nick Montana a little bit.
We even recruited Javia Hall, who ended up at UTEP at the very end there, probably trying to convince him to walk on.
Honestly, if you guys think we are in bad shape, check out Florida.
They have Brantley and then… two 3-star projects that are both freshmen (with one likely making a move to another position). They will be extremely green at the position in two years with the possibility of a redshirt freshman Jeff Driskell being their starter.
I'm not worried about the teams worse off than us or equally as screwed
I’m worried about the amount of teams better off than us.
Who is that though?
In terms of this season? Alabama’s depth chart is filled out with redshirt and true freshmen. Florida’s has 2 true freshmen (and one is a walk-on). Georgia’s a freshman and a converted WR. Ole Miss has Massoli, but they got him all of 2 weeks ago. Maybe Arkansas with Tyler Wilson as the backup?
Now, 2012, you’re talking about the depth chart getting scarier.
by Billy Gomila on Aug 17, 2010 3:22 PM CDT up reply actions
So what's the problem in attracting a QB?
Is it Miles? Is it Crowton?
Second question, could young Rivers be an answer?
Well, last year's offense certainly didn't help
But the thing is, LSU’s never been a quarterback glamor program when you look at history. Louisiana’s produced three top-shelf quarterback recruits in the last 10 years — John David Booty, Robert Lane and Ryan Perrilloux. Booty went to USC, Lane was essentially passed on by Nick Saban (clearly the right move when you look at how his career turned out at Ole Miss) and then there’s Perrilloux.
The only relatively big-name recruits LSU’s pulled were from East Texas (Flynn and the 2 Lees) and Mobile (Jamarcus). And in Jamarcus’ case, Jimbo Fisher had basically been recruiting him since he was in 8th grade.
Whenever you have to rely on national recruiting to pull in a player at any position, you’re putting yourself in a tougher spot.
by Billy Gomila on Aug 17, 2010 2:38 PM CDT up reply actions
shouldn't have to go too far
your comment reminded me of an article in si a while back. texas high schools are practically supplying the whole country with starting qb’s, no reason lsu can’t attract one of more of those.
by gerry dorsey on Aug 17, 2010 5:26 PM CDT up reply actions
haha...
i realize that. i guess my point is that there are MORE than a few right next door, so you’re not required to “rely on national recruiting” for that position. if anything, texas is supplying the nation…from florida state to stanford and everywhere in between.
by gerry dorsey on Aug 17, 2010 8:15 PM CDT up reply actions
Well, supposedly
They’re in good shape with a kid out of Houston for 2012. Improving on last year’s offense can only help…
by Billy Gomila on Aug 17, 2010 8:22 PM CDT up reply actions
I'm done with excuses.
I get the fact that LA hasn’t produced a 5 star QB every year. But please don’t play the woe is the team from LA card. We pretty much have zero competition for in state talent. I get that a year may go by where we strike out. That’s recruiting. But the fact that this staff has recruited ONE quality QB in 6 years of signing classes (Jefferson) is pretty astonishing.
When we are looking up at teams like Auburn and Arkansas in the standings this year, I’m sure they’ll be feeling real sorry for us with our pity party about our lack of in-state QB talent. Go ask Chizik how hard it is to convince QBs to go play in a cow pasture. But he does it.
by LSU Jonno on Aug 18, 2010 8:02 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Re-writing history
While things haven’t worked out, it certainly hasn’t been because of failing to recruit QB’s. It’s the failure to keep them. Perrilloux and Lee were both highly rated QB’s (as was Shep, but I never believed he was a QB for an instant).
You simply can’t argue we have struck out in recruiting QB’s. It’s been keeping QB’s on campus that we’ve had problems. Miles has signed 7 QB’s in 6 years… that should have been enough. It wasn’t.
Fake Pundit. Real Fan.
And The Valley Shook!
Understand.
I should have been more clear. We have struck out in recruiting productive QB’s.
I know that we have actually brought belly buttons to LSU. But only one of those guys has been productive.
Oh no excuses
Just pointing out the challenges. But every school has its challenges in recruiting — it’s the staff’s job deal with those challenges and right now you can absolutely say this staff isn’t getting the job done re: recruiting quarterbacks.
by Billy Gomila on Aug 18, 2010 9:09 AM CDT up reply actions
And OL
Les does a decent job getting both groups on campus but can’t keep them here for one reason or another.
Hopefully the 2011 class
Will shore things up for a few years — haven’t had a great group of linemen in-state since the 01-04 years really.
by Billy Gomila on Aug 18, 2010 10:38 AM CDT up reply actions
Russell Shepard
is our 3rd QB and I have no worries.
by TigerTex on Aug 17, 2010 6:43 AM CDT via mobile reply actions
At this point who gives a shit about football?
We have Jefferson and Lee at QB, then Rivers Jr. We’ll be fine. Meanwhile, our starting rotation is Fri: TBD, Sat: TBD, Sun: TBD
Don't Panic.
by 4.0 Point Stance on Aug 17, 2010 8:20 AM CDT reply actions
Let me add I have no ill will to Ranaudo or Lee
Given those offers, I’d have signed too.
Don't Panic.
by 4.0 Point Stance on Aug 17, 2010 8:24 AM CDT up reply actions
Absolutely
They handled the process open and honestly and maximized their earnings. Lucas LeBlanc, now him I’m not quite as happy about. There’s no reason to give interviews like he gave last week if you’re really not going to sign.
by Billy Gomila on Aug 17, 2010 8:41 AM CDT up reply actions
Agreed
The disaster is for the baseball team, not the football team. Gausman turned down a reported $1.5 million and is immediately our ace. Ross is gone, but I don’t think Bradshaw signed with an MLB team so he should be back. Meaning our rotation is, cover your eyes here:
FRI: Gausman
SAT: Bradshaw
SUN: Alsup or Jones/Eads (one of the freshmen)
We are woefully thin at pitcher with the additional losses of Matulis, Mormann, Booooo-geois, and Rittiner. And yeah, I’m not in the least bit mad at Lee or Ranaudo for deciding they want to get paid millions of dollars instead of pitching for free.
Fake Pundit. Real Fan.
And The Valley Shook!
SB Nation Minor League Thread
They’re signing day thread has some good info in the comments section on Gausman. Seems to be somewhat of a split opinion on him, but some informative stuff. Signing Deadline Thread.
People seem to forget that Gausman’s stock was slipping quite a bit in the months leading up to the draft while Lee’s stock was very high.
Lee was 29th in BA’s top 200 while Gausman was 50th.
I had Lee at 13th in my final ranking while Gausman wasn’t in my top 50.
Dodger fans should be just as interested in Gausman. Quite a few scouts prefer him to Lee.
he was throwing high-90’s smoke this summer.
and yet still very hittable. the results never really matched his stuff with him.
by Big McLargeHuge on Aug 17, 2010 10:40 AM CDT up reply actions
When it comes to 2010
This changes nothing about this team or what it has to do. It doesn’t change Les Miles’ situation relative to his job security or anything like that. Win and everything will smell better. Bottom line.
by Billy Gomila on Aug 17, 2010 9:19 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
I don’t think Chris is a D1 type of player either way
So you think Miles was foolish for signing him in the first place? Or Miles was so desperate for QB depth he just took anything?
I don't think it was desperation
Sometimes the situation doesn’t work out, and when it comes to evaluating quarterbacks you don’t have a lot of margin for error.
by Billy Gomila on Aug 17, 2010 2:40 PM CDT up reply actions
Neither
It was just a bad evaluation. They watched the kid and saw he had tools and thought he could translate to a D1 QB. After a year and a half of working it became apparent that he didn’t have the goods.
LSU missed on Chris Garrett just like Bama missed on Star Jackson, for example.
The difference is
…Bama’s plan B for Star Jackson was AJ McCarron (Rivals 100 player) and plan C is Phillip Sims (Rivals 100 player and 2nd rated QB recruit in the country, in a down year for QBs) and now plan D is Ely.
Our Plan B for Chris Garrett was the Dodgers first round draft pick. And our new plan B is ??? about to enter his senior year in highschool. Great planning. This may all work out in our favor and we may all look back on this day and laugh. But the cards aren’t in our favor. We are sitting at the table with a bunch of garbage hoping we catch a flush on the river.
Unfortunately, Bama’s sitting at the same table with two pair hoping to catch a full house on the river.
by LSU Jonno on Aug 18, 2010 8:21 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
You're jumping the gun
Until we are in a position where JJ and JL are gone, it’s too early to tar and feather the man because of a lack of a backup plan. I agree that he should’ve been better prepared, but we’re pretty ahead of the curve in criticizing him for this. It’s 2010. We’re talking 2012. Let’s see what the season and 2011 recruiting class brings. It will be an essential one for the program.
by Big McLargeHuge on Aug 18, 2010 9:40 AM CDT up reply actions
No back up plan?
The Dodgers actually paying Zach Lee $5.25 million was incredibly unlikely. At the time of the pick, most baseball insiders believed there was virtually no chance of the Dodgers signing Lee. What were the odds the dodgers finally opened their checkbooks and way overpayed for a draft pick?
This was a pretty unlikely outcome. I’m shocked the Dodgers went so far over slot.
Fake Pundit. Real Fan.
And The Valley Shook!
I'm not jumping the gun. Freshman phenom QB's don't grow on trees.
It takes several years to fix QB problems. You’ve got to stock up for the future. This pretty much gaurantees that 2012 will be a rebuilding year, and not a reloading year. You are correct that we may snag another QB this year or next, but that still puts us with a lot of inexperience at the QB position in 2012.
Rebuilding vs. Reloading
Not to deny the whole QB issue, but allow me to digress and say that "we don’t rebuild, we reload" is the single biggest line of fanboy bullshit in all of this sport.
Everybody rebuilds. It’s just a matter of when and the degree to which that rebuild affects you. Two prime examples are USC of last year (which had a pretty experienced team but was rebuilding at QB and that cost them at times), and Florida in 2007 (totally new secondary that got shelled), which had a great offense but couldn’t stop anybody with a pulse.
Hell, Alabama is rebuilding on defense this year — the question is whether or not the rest of the conference can take advantage of that reality (or whether or not Bama’s offensive strengths can offset it).
by Billy Gomila on Aug 18, 2010 4:24 PM CDT up reply actions
There is a difference starting the year with a True Freshman (Matt Barkley) and starting the year with a RS Junior (Booty). One is a major rebuilding project, and the other leads his team to two rose bowls in a row.
We can parse words all day, but we’ll be entering a major rebuilding project at QB instead of starting with some maturity and system experience.
I disagree
disclaimer: I know very little about football.
I think Miles had to have known that Mr. Lee would go baseball pro this year or next year. Who wouldn’t? It would be stupid to turn that down. My conspiracy theory is that Miles is under pressure to “fix the QB problem” from the LSU AD. The AD mentions that he’d be a fool to pass up Mr. Lee, so MIles, under obligation does everything he can to clear all the obstacles – move Sheppard to WR, pink slip Chris Garrett. And knowing MIles, he probably thinks what the heck there’s a small chance “I’ll get him”.
The backup plan? Move Sheppard back to QB. It’s probably a fine plan. Though he won’t do it immediately, he’ll bide his time to shop the market. He’ll see if Bailey sticks too. He really did need to clear out some of the congestion as I’ve read of many recruits shopping LSU. I don’t think for a second there’s been mismanagment by MIles.
In the end, I believe LSU can achieve success with whomever is put in QB.
Is it time to reconsider on Zack Oliver?
He is 6’ 3" 220 and is rated high by ESPN and we did not get Ely and now Lee is gone. http://insider.espn.go.com/ncf/recruiting/tracker/prospects?pos=QB&state=null&status=null&toggle=null&season=2011&set=0&sortBy=null&action=upsell&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fncf%2frecruiting%2ftracker%2fprospects%3fpos%3dQB%26state%3dnull%26status%3dnull%26toggle%3dnull%26season%3d2011%26set%3d0%26sortBy%3dnull He is a verbal to NU, but I’m sure if LSU made an offer, he would certainly consider it because he always wanted to come here. I see Brissett out of Florida has LSU on considering list. Is he a possibility?
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