LSU 2012 Season Review and Grade: Part I of III

LSU, 4-0 (1-0)
No.3 AP

Crazy that 1/3 of the season is over. So yeah, the AU game left a whole lot to be desired. But you HAVE to put things in perspective and look at the whole body of work to make some conclusions about this team.

QB - Zach is a really accurate "pocket passer". He has great velocity on the ball. He has tools to be a solid efficient passer in the SEC for this Power-Run system. But he does need to catch up to the speed of the game. I have not seen the fire in the belly yet. If he wants to be a "pocket" guy his footwork in the pocket HAS to be faster, or he will get nailed time after time. This is why his decision making is average, which right now is what is keeping him a serviceable QB and not a playmaker. GRADE: B-

RB - This was the most impressive group coming in to the season and they have not disappointed. They are to me the most dominant unit so far on the field, even running into 8-9 in the box. Blue runs with great lean, speed, power and balance, his injury is unfortunate. Ware and Hilliard have been explosive which is great to see from traditional power guys. Ford has excellent speed on the edge and still runs with good vision. The pass blocking has been okay, but better than it was last year. All are excellent pass receivers, and that is what I think this offense can really KILL people with if they make it a focal part of the passing game. GRADE: A+

FB/TE - Not the flashiest units on the field, but still very good. J.C Copeland has been an animal, and will only get better. He is fun to watch. His offensive skills have impressed me a lot. The TE's are step behind the FB but have been fantastic in pass blocking, and people should really watch these guys. Clement is improving his blocking, although bone headed penalties against AU are inexcusable. Jacobs blocking is efficient as well. Don't expect many if any passes thrown their way though.
FB GRADE: A TE GRADE: B

OL - Wow, have I been sorely disappointed in this group. I have had more WTF moments with this unit more than any other, especially the tackles, which was supposed to be the strength of the line. Faulk's injury will cost us big time, book it. Josh D. is NOT the answer, and I think it will take a loss or an injury to Zach M, for there to be any change there. Alex Hurst is a liability in pass blocking so far, but I don't know if that is due to stone feet or injury. Still, the OT run blocking has been solid. I think the interior linemen have been fantastic, Collins, Williford, and Lonergan have shown the ability to be dominant, especially Collins. The have handled the interior pass rush pretty well. Still what concerns me about the whole unit, is how "run only" dimensional they look to be. They look so freaking SLOW in forming a pass protection wall, and at some point in the season they will not have the run push against the stronger and faster defensive fronts in the SEC. 1/9/12 showed how they can be whipped. GRADE: C+

WR - Well, I don't know how else to say this, but I think we are average at WR. But I have optimism we can be better. A lot of factors above go in to the efficiency of the WR. Good running game, inexperience QB, and bad pass protection doesn't bode well for great numbers. Yet they are not helping themselves by not catching the ball. You HAVE to CATCH the BALL. Les will not throw it, book it. Landry is the most complete WR, Boone is the most dependable, and Beckham has the most explosive playmaking potential. The jury is still out on James Wright, but I have confidence in his athletic ability to be strong over the middle. Shep ain't got it, I mean what else can you say? He can get separation on deep routes but that's about it. Yet, I think this unit can grow to be above average, but not a championship level clutch group. And that's okay for this offense. GRADE: C+

DL - The RB and DL is 1A and 1B as far as the units go. The DE's are as good as advertised, Sam99 and Mingo are probably are possibly the best tandem in the SEC so far, with the boys at South Carolina not too far behind (Clowney takes plays off Sam99 doesn't). Edwards and Rascoe are the best DE's coming off the bench in the League, period. This group will continue to produce the more we face less spread teams, except for Arky (we will murder those pantie wearers). DT has improved game to game. Johnson and Logan are studs. Johnson looks like he can be one of the best we have had, physically dominating and athletic. Downs is a backup who is starting out of seniority. He leaves some to be desire for me. Ferguson is huge. That lower body of his and leverage his possesses will continue to get better and take over opponents running game as a backup. The pass rush as whole is the ONLY aspect of this team i have seen get exceptionally better from game one till now. These guys are a load, and will carry this team into November. GRADE: A

LB - Biggest over achievers of the Tiger 2012 team. Minter has amazing closing speed on the ball. He will make an ALL-SEC team this year. Barrow has improved way beyond my expectations especially in coverage. Muncie is a backup who is playing as a starter because of Tahj Jones being out. He is playing very well, but it is obvious he doesn't posses the same physical ability as the other guys, but he is what we got. We shall see how he holds up this season. Debo Jones will be ALL SEC before he leaves campus, book it. He is a playmaker and in my opinion needs to be on the field as much as he can. The other youngsters are good, but they will have to wait to the latter part of the year to be any sort of factor in the game plan. The unit has shown at times they can get gashed over the middle, but stiffer competition will expose the true ceiling of this group. GRADE: B+

DB/S - Well no Honey Badger makes this unit go from dominant-game changing to just dominant. The two Jalens have had the most eyes on them and so far have been very good, but definitely not complete shut-down guys yet and it is not their fault. These young guys are talented but will get burned over the course of the season, book it. The DL will mask their inexperience as long as they can get pressure. Simon is great but has blown coverage a few times. The dominant passing D stats don't lie at the talent, but that will be tested even more. We shall see. The Safety's can be elite but have really not played focused. Reid is not having the type of year he wants in coverage, but I think he will be fine. Right now Loston is not 5 star material but probably in fairness to him he has never been. Ronald Martin/Micah Eugene might be the present instead of the future. Both of those young guys are extremely athletic and play with more speed than Loston. Still this group is way above average, and has potential to grow into being dominant. Again, time will tell as competition increases. GRADE: B+

ST - Wing, Hairston and Alleman, are some of the best in the league and are playing like it except for a few hiccups. Defending and receiving punt returns having been giving me a heart attack as of late. Not sure why that has been so shaky as of late. KR is kinda a moot point with the new rules, but Ford looks mighty good there. Overall this unit is still very good once again, and will only improve. This unit gives, especially Wing, gives us the ability to take control of the game at any point against anyone we play.


Coaching - Ehh, same old same old. Nothing new here. It is still Les Miles/Stud vanilla run-conservtive and John Chavis dominant D, and that will never change! So as long as we win it WONT EVER CHANGE! That's all. GRADE: B+

OVERALL: B+

Part II Coming Soon.

Towson
@Florida
SCarolina
@T A&M