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Message
What we need to improve to be unstoppable in 2012.
Posted on 1/24/12 at 4:34 pm
Posted on 1/24/12 at 4:34 pm
This list is in no particular order of importance, just a general summary.
1) Pass rush from the front 4
At times, they wreak havoc, but at other moments, they were virtually non-existent. Much of our pressure came from cleverly designed and properly executed blitz packages, which typically resulted in a man coming free to get the QB. Rarely did our DEs or DTs simply "beat their guy" to get sacks or even create pressure. Vs. Bama is a prime example of this... McCarron had all day, and our pass rush was neutralized after they stonewalled our blitz attempts. Freak Johnson could drastically improve this.
2) QB Play
Regardless of your stance on who should have been playing, etc. etc. etc., I think we should all agree QB play needs to improve. Lee was efficient, but not dynamic. JJ was neither.
If Mettenberger can be more than efficient, even dynamic, we could be really dangerous on offense with our stable of RBs.
3) LB Play
If our defense had a major weakness this year, it was this. Now we lose 3 of our major contributors (debatable as to how much of a "loss" they are). Regardless, they were majorly exposed in the MNC for being poor in coverage. This must improve or teams will go after it again.
4) WR Play in the passing game
Our WRs, even Randle at times, were inconsistent throughout the year. Shep needs to emerge and realize his potential. OBJ needs to keep progressing. Landry needs to own the slot. Boone needs to show off his talent. Wright needs to become a big-bodied RZ threat.
5) Second CB needs to emerge/more creative with Mathieu
Mathieu is going to keep his role as a roaming playmaker playing mostly in the nickel, but teams like Alabama are already showing how to limit his effectiveness (motion him into coverage, stone wall him on blitz pickups). Mathieu himself said Mo locking down one side of the field allowed him to roam and play wild. We need Simon to do that with the other guy being competent.
Who will step into that CB2 spot? Jalen Collins? David Jenkins?
6) RT Play
Hurst seemed to take a stepback in 2011, with a particularly awful game against Bama. Open that position up to competition. Give La'El Collins a chance to unseat him. Competition breeds improvement.
7) Who will play TE?
Mitch Joseph was an unsung hero for this squad, but he did a very good job sealing the edge on running plays. Peterson doesn't seem like much of a loss. Clement is back, but can he be a two-way TE? Who steps up to be the main blocking TE? Do you try an OL there in big sets? Can lil Edwards or lil Dickson get the job done? Does Nic Jacobs get in the action? Is Dillon Gordon going to be ready?
8) Find a 2nd safety
Reid will hold down one spot admirably, we know that. But who plays the other? Will Loston finally attain his potential? Has Ronald Martin taken over the reigns already? Brandon Taylor may not have been the most talented player, but he was a very heady safety that gave us a lot of protection in the back end and did a good job coming up in run support (generally). Can someone fill that role of just being stable?
Some will say playcalling, but I think most of it was fine until the Alabama game. I do think Mettenberger will allow us to open the passing game up in ways we couldn't with Lee/JJ's various weaknesses. He's got a better arm than either. Assuming he progresses, he always showed a more natural pocket presence in the spring game last year, as well as nice hands on ball fakes, etc.
1) Pass rush from the front 4
At times, they wreak havoc, but at other moments, they were virtually non-existent. Much of our pressure came from cleverly designed and properly executed blitz packages, which typically resulted in a man coming free to get the QB. Rarely did our DEs or DTs simply "beat their guy" to get sacks or even create pressure. Vs. Bama is a prime example of this... McCarron had all day, and our pass rush was neutralized after they stonewalled our blitz attempts. Freak Johnson could drastically improve this.
2) QB Play
Regardless of your stance on who should have been playing, etc. etc. etc., I think we should all agree QB play needs to improve. Lee was efficient, but not dynamic. JJ was neither.
If Mettenberger can be more than efficient, even dynamic, we could be really dangerous on offense with our stable of RBs.
3) LB Play
If our defense had a major weakness this year, it was this. Now we lose 3 of our major contributors (debatable as to how much of a "loss" they are). Regardless, they were majorly exposed in the MNC for being poor in coverage. This must improve or teams will go after it again.
4) WR Play in the passing game
Our WRs, even Randle at times, were inconsistent throughout the year. Shep needs to emerge and realize his potential. OBJ needs to keep progressing. Landry needs to own the slot. Boone needs to show off his talent. Wright needs to become a big-bodied RZ threat.
5) Second CB needs to emerge/more creative with Mathieu
Mathieu is going to keep his role as a roaming playmaker playing mostly in the nickel, but teams like Alabama are already showing how to limit his effectiveness (motion him into coverage, stone wall him on blitz pickups). Mathieu himself said Mo locking down one side of the field allowed him to roam and play wild. We need Simon to do that with the other guy being competent.
Who will step into that CB2 spot? Jalen Collins? David Jenkins?
6) RT Play
Hurst seemed to take a stepback in 2011, with a particularly awful game against Bama. Open that position up to competition. Give La'El Collins a chance to unseat him. Competition breeds improvement.
7) Who will play TE?
Mitch Joseph was an unsung hero for this squad, but he did a very good job sealing the edge on running plays. Peterson doesn't seem like much of a loss. Clement is back, but can he be a two-way TE? Who steps up to be the main blocking TE? Do you try an OL there in big sets? Can lil Edwards or lil Dickson get the job done? Does Nic Jacobs get in the action? Is Dillon Gordon going to be ready?
8) Find a 2nd safety
Reid will hold down one spot admirably, we know that. But who plays the other? Will Loston finally attain his potential? Has Ronald Martin taken over the reigns already? Brandon Taylor may not have been the most talented player, but he was a very heady safety that gave us a lot of protection in the back end and did a good job coming up in run support (generally). Can someone fill that role of just being stable?
Some will say playcalling, but I think most of it was fine until the Alabama game. I do think Mettenberger will allow us to open the passing game up in ways we couldn't with Lee/JJ's various weaknesses. He's got a better arm than either. Assuming he progresses, he always showed a more natural pocket presence in the spring game last year, as well as nice hands on ball fakes, etc.
This post was edited on 1/24/12 at 4:37 pm
Posted on 1/24/12 at 4:37 pm to OBUDan
Damn -- you make it sound as though we SUCK.
I don't disagree that we need quality play out of our OL, DL, DBs. RBs, QBs, and so on.
About the only thing you didn't say was that we need Brad Wing to learn how to punt the damn ball.
LOL
Come on man... trust our coaches and players a little bit ... they will work hard and hopefully have ANOTHER excellent season like the one that just ended.
I don't disagree that we need quality play out of our OL, DL, DBs. RBs, QBs, and so on.
About the only thing you didn't say was that we need Brad Wing to learn how to punt the damn ball.
LOL
Come on man... trust our coaches and players a little bit ... they will work hard and hopefully have ANOTHER excellent season like the one that just ended.
Posted on 1/24/12 at 4:38 pm to OBUDan
Our front four pass rush was awesome.
Posted on 1/24/12 at 4:39 pm to LSU91MBA
quote:
Damn -- you make it sound as though we SUCK.
Didn't mean to.
quote:
Come on man... trust our coaches and players a little bit ... they will work hard and hopefully have ANOTHER excellent season like the one that just ended.
I trust them plenty. I'm just discussing what we need to see improved for next year. I didn't say it wouldn't happen.
Posted on 1/24/12 at 4:41 pm to Stingray
quote:
Our front four pass rush was awesome.
I disagree. I'd say at least half of Mingo's sacks (if not more) came directly from Mathieu/Brooks blitzing and getting picked up so he could come free and use his speed to run down the QB.
That's not bad, per se. But we need guys who can simply beat their man up front and get to the QB without needing an exotic package.
Posted on 1/24/12 at 4:46 pm to OBUDan
quote:
Bama is a prime example of this... McCarron had all day, and our pass rush was neutralized
Not bad points overall, but this is not what I remember from the game (haven't been able to re-watch).
My recollection is that we did a decent job of getting pressure, but McCarron was just very good at avoiding it, throwing quickly, dumping off, throwing on the run, etc. I was left with the impression that he (and his receivers) played a heck of a game. Maybe I'm not remembering correctly.
Posted on 1/24/12 at 4:46 pm to Stingray
Beat Alabama at home. End/thread.
Posted on 1/24/12 at 4:49 pm to taf
quote:
Not bad points overall, but this is not what I remember from the game (haven't been able to re-watch).
I admit, I haven't rewatched either (too painful), and was watching in a bar, so maybe I'm misremembering myself.
I just know I felt like AJ had all day, and we didn't get a sack until late, late in the game. They also showed a reel on how well Richardson had stone-walled Mathieu all night on the blitz.
Posted on 1/24/12 at 4:52 pm to gjackx
QB and LB were known "issues" going in.
13-1 seems pretty darn good, in hindsight.
I would have taken an SEC championship and a shot at the title, going in.
I suspect 98% of TD readers would have, too.
13-1 seems pretty darn good, in hindsight.
I would have taken an SEC championship and a shot at the title, going in.
I suspect 98% of TD readers would have, too.
Posted on 1/24/12 at 4:54 pm to ottothewise
Agreed. Regardless of the ending, the season was awesome.
I look forward to more fun next year.
I look forward to more fun next year.
Posted on 1/24/12 at 5:33 pm to OBUDan
Improved QB play has got to be on the top of the list, IMHO, b/c the defense has and will continue to be much, much better than average. If the offense can consistently put pressure on the opposing defense and score points, the rest of the scheme comes together effectively. To those that say that's what happened this year, it isn't b/c Jefferson and Lee were one dimensional in their own skill sets, i.e. Jefferson could run but not pass consistantly and Lee could pass (most of the time) but not run effectively. For those who question my interest, I am both an Alabama and LSU supporter and I believe I have that right to be because if my daughter had not died in a traffic accident in 7/2010, while attending freshman orientation I'd have been sending what little $ I have to LSU.
Posted on 1/24/12 at 5:37 pm to SouthernB
You're alright with me.
Sorry for your loss.
Sorry for your loss.
Posted on 1/24/12 at 5:39 pm to OBUDan
Good post overall. I disagree about the pass rush though. LSU didn't get as many sacks as they could have had potentially, but if Big Sam and Keke didn't get to the QB, Brockers and Bennie were caving in the pocket and splitting double teams. Pressure doesn't always mean sacks.
It will be interesting if Hurst can hold down RT or can La'el can push to usurp that position. That will be fun to watch in the offseason.
It will be interesting if Hurst can hold down RT or can La'el can push to usurp that position. That will be fun to watch in the offseason.
This post was edited on 1/24/12 at 5:40 pm
Posted on 1/24/12 at 5:54 pm to OBUDan
Better offensive play calling
Posted on 1/24/12 at 5:55 pm to OBUDan
I agree with most of this except our pass rush.
Yes, they disappeared at times but the only times I truly remember this was WVU(early in the year) and Bama. That is it. Outside that, the front four consistently got pressure. They should be improved this year too with a extra year of progression. Don't think anybody could argue we had the best front four in CFB last year. Next year with Brockers out, it still should be the best front four...
And I'll still stick to my guns, Montgomery has been our best dlineman and will remain so. He is a great run stopper AND pass rusher. Mingo is a awesome pass rusher but showed considerably improvement in his run stuffing abilities this year. Especially against Bama. Logan is the unsung hero and could arguably be said as good as Brockers...
Freak will probably give the middle of the line more pass rush than we had last year.
Yes, they disappeared at times but the only times I truly remember this was WVU(early in the year) and Bama. That is it. Outside that, the front four consistently got pressure. They should be improved this year too with a extra year of progression. Don't think anybody could argue we had the best front four in CFB last year. Next year with Brockers out, it still should be the best front four...
And I'll still stick to my guns, Montgomery has been our best dlineman and will remain so. He is a great run stopper AND pass rusher. Mingo is a awesome pass rusher but showed considerably improvement in his run stuffing abilities this year. Especially against Bama. Logan is the unsung hero and could arguably be said as good as Brockers...
Freak will probably give the middle of the line more pass rush than we had last year.
This post was edited on 1/24/12 at 5:57 pm
Posted on 1/24/12 at 6:50 pm to Uncle JackD
quote:
Play calling
That was the main problem. The talent was there to make it a toss up game. It was the coaching that made the difference for the national championship.
Posted on 1/24/12 at 7:03 pm to OBUDan
Simple. Execute a passing game. That's it. Make teams/Bama back off and respect our passing threat. That is ALL we lacked Nov. 9th . Hitting the wide open receivers LSU had crossing the middle would have backed that Def. Up.... a.d opened up the running game.
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