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AlaTiger 
LSU Fan
Alabama
Member since Aug 2006
9987 posts
| By Mid-Season, LSU only had 8 of 22 starters back from the BCSNCG (Posted on 1/25/13 at 9:08 am)
I don't think anyone was aware of the depletion of our roster from 1/9/12 and how it affected us this past season. Mett wasn't ready until later in the year. We didn't have receivers that could get open, the OLine was new, and we still almost beat Alabama. After the Bama loss the team lost motivation obviously. By the bowl game, you had 10 guys who knew they were going pro and the team was flat.
The whole season was a cluster of injuries, suspensions, lack of cohesion and motivation, and a hang over from the best season/worst loss in LSU history. The dismissal of Mathieu was devastating.
Still, the team won 10 games, was one play away from winning 11, and was one first down away from playing in the SECCG with a shot at the BCS. Pretty remarkable, really.
Now, we bring in a stellar recruiting class and have a very talented team. 14 starters return with a host of young, talented guys ready to step up. Expectations are low because people are looking at what we lost. But, you have to look under the surface. LSU will be better next year and will compete for a national championship again. No doubt in my mind.
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cajunjj
LSU Fan
Madison, AL
Member since May 2008
5755 posts
| re: By Mid-Season, LSU only had 8 of 22 starters back from the BCSNCG (Posted on 1/25/13 at 9:14 am to AlaTiger)
Man I hope u are right. With our schedule we really need to step up. If we had Bama's schedule no problem. When u play only 2 teams a year, Baton Rouge Hi would be in the race!  
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Brbengal
LSU Fan
Baton Rouge
Member since Jul 2004
530 posts
 Online
| re: By Mid-Season, LSU only had 8 of 22 starters back from the BCSNCG (Posted on 1/25/13 at 9:14 am to AlaTiger)
IMO, it's next year's tough schedule that's responsible for a lot of the skepticism.
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Gizmeaux
LSU Fan
Texas
Member since Dec 2009
3856 posts
| re: By Mid-Season, LSU only had 8 of 22 starters back from the BCSNCG (Posted on 1/25/13 at 9:15 am to AlaTiger)
I expect next year to be alot like 2011.
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LouisianaLonghorn
LSU Fan
Austin, Texas
Member since Jan 2006
4485 posts
| re: By Mid-Season, LSU only had 8 of 22 starters back from the BCSNCG (Posted on 1/25/13 at 9:18 am to AlaTiger)
quote:
The whole season was a cluster of injuries, suspensions, lack of cohesion and motivation, and a hang over from the best season/worst loss in LSU history.
Some of the absolute worst play calling I've ever seen sure didn't help matters either.
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plstunter01
LSU Fan
westwego
Member since Feb 2010
22 posts
| re: By Mid-Season, LSU only had 8 of 22 starters back from the BCSNCG (Posted on 1/25/13 at 9:20 am to Gizmeaux)
People also forget we lost Vinson and Jenkins also before the season started as well.
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Lonnie4LSU
LSU Fan
Baton Rouge
Member since Aug 2008
5167 posts
| re: By Mid-Season, LSU only had 8 of 22 starters back from the BCSNCG (Posted on 1/25/13 at 9:22 am to AlaTiger)
quote:
The whole season was a cluster of injuries, suspensions, lack of cohesion and motivation, and a hang over from the best season/worst loss in LSU history. The dismissal of Mathieu was devastating.
LSU being in the running for the west till the final weekend of the regular season, with the OL injuries and loss of Mathieu, was a surprise to me.
When you realize we were a D stop in the final minute of the Bama game from winning the west after the player losses we suffered from the end of spring practice, you have to proud of how the LSU team competed.
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AlaTiger
LSU Fan
Alabama
Member since Aug 2006
9987 posts
| re: By Mid-Season, LSU only had 8 of 22 starters back from the BCSNCG (Posted on 1/25/13 at 9:28 am to Lonnie4LSU)
I think that losing the bowl game really clouded things. Clemson played their guts out. It was a program defining win. LSU acted like they were asleep and made mistake after mistake. Clemson beat us outright and they get credit, but I think what happened there has nothing to do with next year.
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fjohns1
LSU Fan
Member since Oct 2011
1275 posts
| re: By Mid-Season, LSU only had 8 of 22 starters back from the BCSNCG (Posted on 1/25/13 at 9:34 am to AlaTiger)
I'm glad they gone
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stho381
LSU Fan
Lafayette, LA
Member since Jan 2012
2276 posts
| re: By Mid-Season, LSU only had 8 of 22 starters back from the BCSNCG (Posted on 1/25/13 at 9:50 am to AlaTiger)
quote:
I don't think anyone was aware of the depletion of our roster from 1/9/12 and how it affected us this past season.
i think alot of people are aware, but blind hatred of our coach prevents them from accepting it.
The blocking was the key. Mett got knocked out in game 1 and it wasn't because he held the ball too long. it was because of a CB blitz that wasn't picked up.
Missed blocks, non-gelled OL, and dropped passes = rough 1st half of the season. After the OL got situated during the SCar game, LSU started playing much better.
This post was edited on 1/25 at 9:51 am
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jhhingle
LSU Fan
New Orleans
Member since Oct 2007
1202 posts
| re: By Mid-Season, LSU only had 8 of 22 starters back from the BCSNCG (Posted on 1/25/13 at 9:54 am to stho381)
quote:
but blind hatred of our coach prevents them from accepting it.
Think maybe more frustration with the play calling or lack thereof then blind hatred with say 90% of fans (includes this one)!
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AlaTiger
LSU Fan
Alabama
Member since Aug 2006
9987 posts
| re: By Mid-Season, LSU only had 8 of 22 starters back from the BCSNCG (Posted on 1/25/13 at 10:10 am to jhhingle)
The play calling was not horrible. Once we started with the play action passing, it opened up a lot of things. The execution is what really hurt us. Missed blocking assignments, deep balls that were overthrown, dropped passes, etc.
Connect on a few of those deep passes where the receiver was open, pick up a few blitzes, catch some passes and the whole offense gets untracked.
If we don't have a true freshman against that screen pass versus Alabama, we snuff that out too. We missed TM7 badly.
So many things went wrong this year that I really cannot blame on the coaches. Yes, they made mistakes but they are only human. Every coach in America makes mistakes, including Saban. It is just that every mistake that Les makes gets blown out of complete proportion.
I am not complaining about a 10-2 regular season in the SEC. That is ridiculous where we never got blown out and were just a couple of plays away from playing in the SECCG.
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jhhingle
LSU Fan
New Orleans
Member since Oct 2007
1202 posts
| re: By Mid-Season, LSU only had 8 of 22 starters back from the BCSNCG (Posted on 1/25/13 at 10:22 am to AlaTiger)
85th Total Offense is the result; 58th Scoring Offense.
Interesting to note for you statistic guru's the BCSNC participants were 31st(Gumps), 54th(Irish) T.O.; 12th (Gumps), 78th(Irish)S.O.
Goes to show stats are sometimes worthless!
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OTIS2
LSU Fan
NoLA
Member since Jul 2008
18469 posts
| re: By Mid-Season, LSU only had 8 of 22 starters back from the BCSNCG (Posted on 1/25/13 at 10:26 am to AlaTiger)
Solid post. The loss of TM7 was indeed devastating to the team, I believe.
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djrunner
LSU Fan
Baton Rouge
Member since Jun 2010
841 posts
| re: By Mid-Season, LSU only had 8 of 22 starters back from the BCSNCG (Posted on 1/25/13 at 10:37 am to AlaTiger)
Great post.
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Lonnie4LSU
LSU Fan
Baton Rouge
Member since Aug 2008
5167 posts
| re: By Mid-Season, LSU only had 8 of 22 starters back from the BCSNCG (Posted on 1/25/13 at 10:57 am to jhhingle)
quote:
Think maybe more frustration with the play calling or lack thereof then blind hatred with say 90% of fans (includes this one)!
Well, fans have the advantage of 20/20 hindsight and the play callers don't.
I'm pretty sure of the staff knew that Bama was going to be able to drive the ball 75 yds in under a min. after not being able to do squat in the whole 2nd half vs. the LSU D, they would have passed more in LSU 2nd to last drive.
If the staff had known Mett was gonna miss a wide open R 10 yds away from him on 2nd and 2 in the bowl, they would have run the ball.
I'm not happy with our offense/passing game anymore than any other LSU fan, but play calling results have as much to do with execution on the field as calls from the coaching booth. imo
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ibldprplgld
LSU Fan
Nola
Member since Feb 2008
2863 posts
| re: By Mid-Season, LSU only had 8 of 22 starters back from the BCSNCG (Posted on 1/25/13 at 11:16 am to AlaTiger)
I'm looking forward to 2013 more and more. LSU is getting little respect nationally and is therefore flying under the radar. I like it!
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kwtiger70
LSU Fan
Houston
Member since Feb 2010
57 posts
| re: By Mid-Season, LSU only had 8 of 22 starters back from the BCSNCG (Posted on 1/25/13 at 11:17 am to AlaTiger)
Agree with you 100 per cent. some people dont realize that a couple of plays can make the difference in each game, When you have a play maker like Mathieu, he could make those plays that could turn a game, this team did not have someone step up on a consistent basis to make those plays, but they still performed well. If LSU can get it s young players ready for next season, they will play very well. Other teams have their own issues also, for instance i don't think Pachall will be able to stay clean for TCU to start the season.
Some fans need to get real with their expectations of LSU, screaming to fire coaches for no good reason doesnt accomplish anything. Consistency in coaches and a program is one of the main things recruits look at when choosing a school
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weptiger
LSU Fan
Hunt Valley, Maryland
Member since Feb 2007
328 posts
| re: By Mid-Season, LSU only had 8 of 22 starters back from the BCSNCG (Posted on 1/25/13 at 11:40 am to kwtiger70)
Strong original and subsequent posts. I don't think the staff got enough recognition for navigating these waters pretty successfully. A lot of folk here on the negative rant like to dog pile Les and others, but quite often the opinions are unrealistic or
uniformed.
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1984Tiger
LSU Fan
North Carolina
Member since Apr 2006
4758 posts
| re: By Mid-Season, LSU only had 8 of 22 starters back from the BCSNCG (Posted on 1/25/13 at 11:43 am to Brbengal)
quote:
it's next year's tough schedule that's responsible for a lot of the skepticism.
No ... it's the hatred for all things Miles. LSU could play a schedule against the bottom feeders of all of the major conference and there are bozos on this site that would predict a 7 win season.
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