re: Jay blew this year.

quote:

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Jay needs to reset this offseason. His "just keep grinding" mentality ain't going to get it done with every team he has.

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I think that's somewhat fair. Just like this team playing tight this year is also probably fair. Reading between the lines, I think something is off with this team's chemistry. It's a chicken or egg thing for sure, but I'm not sure this team really even likes each other. That could be due to the struggles or the struggles could be due to it. I also think some apathy has set in with some of the players who were major contributors last year. Once they realized they weren't good enough to repeat, I think some lost a little fire. Not that they quit working, just that maybe it became more about them individually and preparing for their professional careers. And I don't think they have the leaders like last year to pull them all together.

I don't think he had much choice, but he probably counted on some freshmen to be more ready and some sophomores to take much bigger jumps than they were probably ready for. And I don't get the sense that Jay is very warm and fuzzy, pat-you-on-your arse kinda guy. He seems to be extremely honest with the players. Which works well with some. But not all. But he has a standard and demands excellence, and I just don't think he's in the clubhouse hugging Thatcher Hurd or Paxton Kling telling them "It'll be ok." And his expectations puts a lot of pressure on guys. And if they're the kind that need that pat on the arse instead of a kick in it, it can really affect their play. Like the other guy mentioned, these guys look tight a lot.

But that also comes from not just being the defending NC, but is even more magnified by putting on the "LSU" uniform. Some people embrace it, and it makes them better, others it can make wilt a bit. Especially the younger ones. But though he probably understands the "reasons," I don't think he has much patience for "excuses."

You can tell when he pulls a pitcher who is struggling with confidence after a bad outing. Like Loer and Hurd, who I think he pulled Sunday back to back (Loer I think threw to 2 hitters, Hurd, don't think either recorded an out). Hurd looked like he needed a hug from his Momma walking off that field, but there didn't appear to be any "That's ok, Big Guy. You'll get em next time." I'm not even sure he said a word to them, just stood there like "Get the frick off my mound."

I don't think he's a big yeller either, probably doesn't chew a lot of arse (although he may with his assistants. I'm sure they appreciate him, like him personally, and are happy to have worked for him as long as they have, but it seems like he probably demands a lot of them and is not a whole lot of fun to work for). But you don't have to chew a lot of arse. Don't have to be a cheerleader either. His style can work. Clearly. It has proven to. But every team is different, with a different collection of different personalities. So, he'll have to either learn to be a bit more flexible or really vet the personalities of his recruits, trying to fill the roster with guys who can handle and even thrive with his style.

Either way, I think he's really smart and will learn from this season and adapt. He's still a really young coach. He's never been the defending NC before. And he's obviously never been the defending NC at LSU before either, which I think is likely harder than any other school in America. Fans have completely unrealistic expectations and maybe he did too. Maybe he overrated the talent on this team. But he is never going to punt on a season, so he kept demanding that excellence. And when he didn't get it, he just started throwing every shite imaginable up against the wall, and that uncertainty added pressure and a lot of these guys aren't handing it well and not playing up to their potential.

Or maybe we just aren't that talented, and this is the best coaching job he's ever done. In which case, roster building would be the fairer criticism of him. Regardless, I think he'll learn, adapt, and adjust and be just fine moving forward. These kind of seasons will wind up being the anomalies and outliers. I have faith he'll get it turned around and will have a really good team next year that has a chance at Omaha and probably be competing to win it all again by '26.