re: Beginning of End or New Lease On Life

I tend to agree that some issues are systemic. Moreover, I don't recall, excluding Mack Brown's Vince Young run, a high profile coach, at a high profile university righting the ship once it it started taking on water. I am old enough to remember the end of the Charlie Mac years. This has a similar feel, I must admit. Talented players, flawed coaching, etc. That said, I still think Miles has some magic left. Plus, our true sophomores are stupidly talented.

TL; DR below - LSU doesn't even show the pattern of mediocrity, it's actually getting better and looking like a future powerhouse, and Mac was the 70s.

Where is it taking on water though? You mean the one year in the past 5 where LSU didn't win 10 games? You do remember that Miles was a high profile coach after his first 3 years right? He went 34-6, won a national championship, 2 SEC champ appearances 1 SEC title, 2 division titles, 2 BCS bowl wins, and 3 bowl wins by at least 14 points against national and historical powerhouses in Miami (#9), Notre Dame (#11) and Ohio State (#1).

He then kicked off Perriloux, we went the ridiculous Co-coordinater route on defense, and had to start an FCS or Ivy league level QB in Hatch and redshirt and true freshmen QBs. The 2008 recruiting class was ranked outside of the top 10 and we lost 7 draft picks from 2007. The 2008 recruits that had the best careers were; Patrick Peterson, Brandon Taylor, Jordan Jefferson, Ryan Baker, and then low ranked 3 star trenches guys like DE Edwards and OL Lonergan and Hurst. Nothing WOW outside of Peterson.

We went 8-5, 9-4 and then people started talking the hot seat nonsense. In 2009, we grabbed the #1 or #2 class, depending on which service you looked on, hired a new DC, and went on to rip off 4 straight 10+ win seasons including a national championship appearance and SEC title.

Now after going 8-5 rightfully so considering we lost a squad of NFL defensive players in 2013 and then a squad of NFL offensive players in 2014. We now bring back the most starters we've had in a long time (18th in the country on the national meter), we've collected a #2 and #5 class the past 2 years with the likely #1 class next year. We FINALLY have a QB coach. Anybody that thought he was going to be a magic bullet and all you had to do is shoot him in the direction of young inexperienced high school spread system QBs that had 1) no experienced WRs and mediocre pass blocking 2) learning the pro style offense 3) playing in the SEC West, needed to face reality. This is the year when you will see the turn around, and next year, the true fruits of his labor. Upgrades at DL and LB recruiting and coaching, finally a QB coach after going from 2007-2012 without one, and a loaded roster of ridiculously talented athletes that already showed breakouts last year, and new ones that will this year. And do you see what's coming down the pipe with guys like Feleipe Franks and the defensive haul???

LSU is going on a run, a HUGE run. I'm talking dynasty mode.

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Beginning of End or New Lease On Life

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What is the more likely outcome and why?

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New Lease On Life and here is why

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Miles is coming off of an 8-5 season. During the offseason, LSU has lost the Chief...and replaced him with Steele (arguably a downgrade). It has added Coach O, unquestionably an upgrade.

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Chavis was a cancer and 3rd Chavis cost us more than once. Chavis also cost Tennesse multiple games throughout his career there. So even though Steele is a question mark, it is better than a known cancer. Coach O is also bringing the energy back to the defense that it hasn't had since TM7 was booted from the team.

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LSU has lost Bain, Valentine and LMFAO. Three players expected to contribute at the thinnest position on the roster, excluding QB.

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That does sting, but if a player doesn't want to be here or is a troublemaker it is better they aren't here. Attitude and/or off the field distractions destroying a lockerroom is the last thing you want in a year like this.

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LSU has arguably the most dynamic player in the conference in LF7. It has a budding All American in Jamal Adams. LSU has maybe the best receiving corp in the SEC.

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LSU has potential at QB in Harris, but not enough separation to name him starter...even though Jennings has been arrested and suspended.

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Serious question, how the f**k is Miles suppose to name Harris the starter before camp begins? He is not suppose to have any contact with the players other than disciplinary actions, so how would he expect to name Harris the starter? Don't you want him to atleast sit down with Harris before telling him that he is the starter? Plus iron sharpens iron and competition brings out the best in a player, so as long as there is a starter in place (doesn't have to be announced) 7-10 days before the 1st game and we are good to go.

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The SECw is the toughest it has ever been, perhaps.

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Iron sharpens iron and this is what the players and the coaches signed up for. It was also stacked in 2011 and we made it just fine then. Plus I see the SEC West being a let-down this year. MSU is going to fall back to 8 wins, OM is going to be a 7-9 win team, Arky is getting better but they are not there yet and A&M has a major lack of talent on defense and a DC that gave away leads with the most talent any DC could ever want. They better hope their offense gets them a min of a 14 pt lead going into the 4th or they will lose. Bama is vulnerable and their schedule is tough early (#18 Wisconsin, #15 Ole Miss, #9 UGA and #20 Arkansas in the first half of the season) Bama could very easily have 1 or 2 losses by the time they play us and Auburn in Nov. I have zero clue as to how Auburn will be so I won't offer a prediction on them.

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Go 10-2 and win a major bowl...things could be headed towards elite status headed into 2016.

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If Harris/Jennings play well we go 11-1 and if Harris/Jennings plays average we go 10-2 and if they play bad we go 9-3.

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2011

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You mean this....

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bullshite, there are plenty of examples of true freshmen struggling at QB and doing fine. Russell redshirted as a freshman and shared time with one of the worst QB's in LSU history his RS-FR year. He then went on the be one of the top QB's in the schools history.

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Matthew Stafford
TR FR - 52.7% 1749 yards 6.8 ypa 7 TDs 13 ints
TR SO - 55.7% 2532 yards 7.3 ypa 19 TDs 10 ints
TR JR - 61.4% 3456 yards 9.0 ypa 25 TDs 10 ints

Jamarcus Russell
RS FR - 50.7% 1053 yards 7.3 ypa 9 TDs 4 ints
RS SO - 60.5% 2443 yards 7.9 ypa 15 TDs 9 ints
RS JR - 67.8% 3129 yards 9.1 ypa 28 TDs 8 ints

More Recent

Zach Mettenberger
RS JR - 58.8% 2609 yards 7.4 ypa 7 TDs 12 ints
RS SR - 64.9% 3082 yards 10.4 ypa 22 TDs 8 ints

Garrett Grayson
(putting both together because he started 9 straight games from year one to year 2 before being injured)
RS FR RS SO - 56.3% 1488 yards 6.9 ypa 9 TDs 9 ints
RS JR 5th year - 62.1% 3696 yards 7.7 ypa 23 TDs 11 ints
RS SR 6th year - 64.4% 4006 yards 9.5 ypa 32 TDs 7 ints

Dak Prescott
RS SO - 58.4% 1940 yards 7.3 ypa 10 TDs 7 ints
RS JR - 61.6% 3449 yards 8.7 ypa 27 TDs 11 ints
RS SR - ???

Brandon Allen
RS SO - 49.6% 1552 yards 6.0 ypa 13 TDs 10 ints
RS JR - 56% 2285 yards 6.7 ypa 20 TDs 5 ints
RS SR - ???

^^^^^
This. It all boils down to coaching. Rivals continue to upgrade their coaching staff, while Miles does not. An upgrade at a position coach does not compensate for downgrades at the coordinator positions.

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I'm not saying Steele will be a disaster, but where was all this disparaging Chavis talk when his job change was in the rumor stage?

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Exactly

Same story just different year. Always wait for next year.

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An upgrade at a position coach does not compensate for downgrades at the coordinator positions.

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You haven't see Steele's defense at LSU yet. How can any rational person conclude that he is a downgrade?