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Warner: A Realistic Assessment
Posted on 10/22/09 at 8:18 pm
Posted on 10/22/09 at 8:18 pm
While undefeated Alabama and Florida work hard to complete their unblemished seasons, the overall race for the Southeastern Conference championship remains wide-open, as there are still many key stretch games to be played. Moreover, teams like LSU, with only one conference loss to the nation's top-ranked team, still control their own destiny in terms of playing in Atlanta and potentially for the national championship at year's end, as the BCS computer polls perennially love the strength of the nation's toughest conference.
In this exclusive piece for TigerDroppings.com, the cyberspace gift from God to die-hard SEC Fans, we'll assess winners and losers at this season midway point, taking particular stock in postseason expectations. Furthermore, we'll take our regular armchair quarterback tour of the conference and speak frankly on the developing LSU Tiger Football situation and its direction under Les Miles.
Winners
Tim Tebow, the Florida Gators and Alabama are the big SEC winners at this point. Tebow is on track to win a miraculous third national title and second Heisman Trophy, as well as the inside track at a future run for Governor of Florida, his own reality show and the U.S. Presidency.
The Gators are on the nation's longest win streak and have a reasonably doable schedule remaining until the SEC Championship Game. Only South Carolina looms predictably large on the horizon for the Gators, who should be undefeated in their SEC Championship defense in Atlanta.
The Crimson Tide is winning with defense and a surprisingly solid running game, led by sophomore running back Mark Ingram, who ran for 250 yards against South Carolina in a 20-6 victory. Tide fans are frustrated that lukewarm quarterback Greg McElroy cannot get the ball to Julio Jones, their stud sophomore wide receiver. But when you're running with the effectiveness they've lately demonstrated, who cares about the passing game, right?
Losers
Lane Kiffin, Urban Myer and Houston Nutt are the big SEC losers at this point. While Kiffin regained a little swagger with the thrashing of Georgia, he's still yet to live up to anywhere near the hype he created coming into being Tennessee's head football coach. Despite the improvement, a bowl game is still as uncertain as Kiffin's long-term future, for the 3-3 (1-2) Vols.
Urban Myer is a big loser because of the butterfly/Eskimo kiss he placed on Tebow's facemask in Tiger Stadium a couple of weeks ago. It was one of those surreal, indelible, certainly vintage college football moments. It was one, in retrospect, that I could have done without. I have watched the clip repeatedly, and I really do not know what to say about it. After watching it three or four times I felt I needed another opinion. I called my wife over and we watched the DVR recording in super slow motion. She aptly described it, "downright creepy." I agree. I hope what I think about him and Tim is not true.
Houston Nutt has gone from hero to apparent zero in Oxford, his snake oil no longer selling as well as it once did when he had bona fide first-rounders starting on both lines and a quarterback that was ready for the Wheaties box as a first-year SEC starter. This year Ole Miss doesn't push people around-they are getting pushed around-by the SEC big boys, and Jevan Snead looks like the Waterboy instead of the poster boy.
Expectations
Before the season I predicted two regular-season losses for the Tigers, and spoke of a possible third loss to Florida in the SECCG. While the biggest unfortunate surprise has been the poor play of the offensive line, Jordan Jefferson's lack of big-game experience coupled with a poorly-devised and executed offensive scheme against the Gators resulted in the Tigers losing an epic defensive struggle against arguably the greatest college football player in SEC history and certainly one of the most decorated. So while playing the nation's number-one ranked team and number-one ranked defense and the nation's best field general in Tim Tebow, LSU fell short. Things could be much worse.
The Russell Shepard Factor
Oddly, Shepard was heralded a year ago as the next Tim Tebow. However, the Lone Star freshman has yet to yield the playing time or results that the Heisman leader did as a first-year player when he helped the Gators in a secondary quarterback role behind Chris Leak, en route to a national championship. For whatever reason, Shepard has not yet fully arrived. Tiger fans have to wonder how heated the competition really is between Shepard and Jefferson, and if Miles or Crowton have intentions of eventually making Shepard the starter. Realistically, at this point, it is difficult seeing Jefferson as the lone starter for the remainder of his eligibility, with total respect going to Russell Shepard for that thought.
It was revealed only within the last few news days that Shepard was suffering from the flu during the Florida game. Prior to that revelation by the LSU staff, it appeared that Coach Crowton and Coach Miles had little faith in the upstart freshman phenom, whose rare talents many have duly noted. To his detriment, Shepard has put the ball on the ground, and has at times noticeably struggled with his offensive command. Nevertheless, he remains, like Tim Tebow, one of the highest touted Parade All-Americans LSU has landed in years. He is a phenomenal talent, and must be used by the staff. Russell Shepard must see the field for the Tigers to reach their full potential. With all due respect to Jordan Jefferson, I believe his forthcoming time as LSU's "full-time" quarterback is limited. From this point forward the Tigers will be forced to only increase Shepard's snaps, as his yard-per-touch average fully warrants it and it is also fairly easy to see that LSU has a quarterback problem. Shepard or even Jarrett Lee, are the only possible answers at this juncture. My guess is the staff will go with superior talent.
In fairness to Jordan Jefferson, he has played well enough for the Tigers to win in all games except one. He is not a failure. However, one has to wonder his future as the starting Tiger quarterback with the lively Shepard nipping at his heels. Moreover, one has to wonder of Shepard's ultimate and true role within the Tiger offense, and whether or not he really is the avowed "future" of the LSU offense.
Gary Crowton
The Florida defense that held LSU to 3 points returned eleven starters from a national championship team. As many as eight players on the Gator team have been tagged as NFL locks. Some of these guys don't even start for the Gators, which is clear evidence of their unfair depth. Nevertheless, when LSU struggled to move the ball effectively on this group everyone deplored Crowton and his alleged micromanager, Les Miles. It had to be their fault. It had to be somebody's fault, other than the players, that is. That is because everyone that listens to talk radio believes that LSU has more talent than anyone and everyone on their schedule and that the Tigers should win every game by three or more touchdowns. If not, Gary Crowton's head deserves to roll-especially after a three-point outing against the number one defense in America.
It is obvious that LSU's offense has not yet put it all together and played a complete game. Offensive line problems probably outweigh any other except for maybe quarterback, but coaching is certainly a concern given the lack of flow and rhythm in the play calling and the execution of those called plays. One of Crowton's bigger problems is the many options he has given the plethora of skilled talent at his disposal. The embarrassment of riches in talent he possesses appears to have him befudd
In this exclusive piece for TigerDroppings.com, the cyberspace gift from God to die-hard SEC Fans, we'll assess winners and losers at this season midway point, taking particular stock in postseason expectations. Furthermore, we'll take our regular armchair quarterback tour of the conference and speak frankly on the developing LSU Tiger Football situation and its direction under Les Miles.
Winners
Tim Tebow, the Florida Gators and Alabama are the big SEC winners at this point. Tebow is on track to win a miraculous third national title and second Heisman Trophy, as well as the inside track at a future run for Governor of Florida, his own reality show and the U.S. Presidency.
The Gators are on the nation's longest win streak and have a reasonably doable schedule remaining until the SEC Championship Game. Only South Carolina looms predictably large on the horizon for the Gators, who should be undefeated in their SEC Championship defense in Atlanta.
The Crimson Tide is winning with defense and a surprisingly solid running game, led by sophomore running back Mark Ingram, who ran for 250 yards against South Carolina in a 20-6 victory. Tide fans are frustrated that lukewarm quarterback Greg McElroy cannot get the ball to Julio Jones, their stud sophomore wide receiver. But when you're running with the effectiveness they've lately demonstrated, who cares about the passing game, right?
Losers
Lane Kiffin, Urban Myer and Houston Nutt are the big SEC losers at this point. While Kiffin regained a little swagger with the thrashing of Georgia, he's still yet to live up to anywhere near the hype he created coming into being Tennessee's head football coach. Despite the improvement, a bowl game is still as uncertain as Kiffin's long-term future, for the 3-3 (1-2) Vols.
Urban Myer is a big loser because of the butterfly/Eskimo kiss he placed on Tebow's facemask in Tiger Stadium a couple of weeks ago. It was one of those surreal, indelible, certainly vintage college football moments. It was one, in retrospect, that I could have done without. I have watched the clip repeatedly, and I really do not know what to say about it. After watching it three or four times I felt I needed another opinion. I called my wife over and we watched the DVR recording in super slow motion. She aptly described it, "downright creepy." I agree. I hope what I think about him and Tim is not true.
Houston Nutt has gone from hero to apparent zero in Oxford, his snake oil no longer selling as well as it once did when he had bona fide first-rounders starting on both lines and a quarterback that was ready for the Wheaties box as a first-year SEC starter. This year Ole Miss doesn't push people around-they are getting pushed around-by the SEC big boys, and Jevan Snead looks like the Waterboy instead of the poster boy.
Expectations
Before the season I predicted two regular-season losses for the Tigers, and spoke of a possible third loss to Florida in the SECCG. While the biggest unfortunate surprise has been the poor play of the offensive line, Jordan Jefferson's lack of big-game experience coupled with a poorly-devised and executed offensive scheme against the Gators resulted in the Tigers losing an epic defensive struggle against arguably the greatest college football player in SEC history and certainly one of the most decorated. So while playing the nation's number-one ranked team and number-one ranked defense and the nation's best field general in Tim Tebow, LSU fell short. Things could be much worse.
The Russell Shepard Factor
Oddly, Shepard was heralded a year ago as the next Tim Tebow. However, the Lone Star freshman has yet to yield the playing time or results that the Heisman leader did as a first-year player when he helped the Gators in a secondary quarterback role behind Chris Leak, en route to a national championship. For whatever reason, Shepard has not yet fully arrived. Tiger fans have to wonder how heated the competition really is between Shepard and Jefferson, and if Miles or Crowton have intentions of eventually making Shepard the starter. Realistically, at this point, it is difficult seeing Jefferson as the lone starter for the remainder of his eligibility, with total respect going to Russell Shepard for that thought.
It was revealed only within the last few news days that Shepard was suffering from the flu during the Florida game. Prior to that revelation by the LSU staff, it appeared that Coach Crowton and Coach Miles had little faith in the upstart freshman phenom, whose rare talents many have duly noted. To his detriment, Shepard has put the ball on the ground, and has at times noticeably struggled with his offensive command. Nevertheless, he remains, like Tim Tebow, one of the highest touted Parade All-Americans LSU has landed in years. He is a phenomenal talent, and must be used by the staff. Russell Shepard must see the field for the Tigers to reach their full potential. With all due respect to Jordan Jefferson, I believe his forthcoming time as LSU's "full-time" quarterback is limited. From this point forward the Tigers will be forced to only increase Shepard's snaps, as his yard-per-touch average fully warrants it and it is also fairly easy to see that LSU has a quarterback problem. Shepard or even Jarrett Lee, are the only possible answers at this juncture. My guess is the staff will go with superior talent.
In fairness to Jordan Jefferson, he has played well enough for the Tigers to win in all games except one. He is not a failure. However, one has to wonder his future as the starting Tiger quarterback with the lively Shepard nipping at his heels. Moreover, one has to wonder of Shepard's ultimate and true role within the Tiger offense, and whether or not he really is the avowed "future" of the LSU offense.
Gary Crowton
The Florida defense that held LSU to 3 points returned eleven starters from a national championship team. As many as eight players on the Gator team have been tagged as NFL locks. Some of these guys don't even start for the Gators, which is clear evidence of their unfair depth. Nevertheless, when LSU struggled to move the ball effectively on this group everyone deplored Crowton and his alleged micromanager, Les Miles. It had to be their fault. It had to be somebody's fault, other than the players, that is. That is because everyone that listens to talk radio believes that LSU has more talent than anyone and everyone on their schedule and that the Tigers should win every game by three or more touchdowns. If not, Gary Crowton's head deserves to roll-especially after a three-point outing against the number one defense in America.
It is obvious that LSU's offense has not yet put it all together and played a complete game. Offensive line problems probably outweigh any other except for maybe quarterback, but coaching is certainly a concern given the lack of flow and rhythm in the play calling and the execution of those called plays. One of Crowton's bigger problems is the many options he has given the plethora of skilled talent at his disposal. The embarrassment of riches in talent he possesses appears to have him befudd
Posted on 10/22/09 at 8:27 pm to Chris Warner
Sounds like some realistic assessments. I really hope your prediction for the Auburn-LSU game is correct.
Posted on 10/22/09 at 8:37 pm to Chris Warner
quote:
Urban Myer is a big loser because of the butterfly/Eskimo kiss he placed on Tebow's facemask in Tiger Stadium a couple of weeks ago. It was one of those surreal, indelible, certainly vintage college football moments. It was one, in retrospect, that I could have done without. I have watched the clip repeatedly, and I really do not know what to say about it. After watching it three or four times I felt I needed another opinion. I called my wife over and we watched the DVR recording in super slow motion. She aptly described it, "downright creepy." I agree. I hope what I think about him and Tim is not true.
Are you seriously suggesting that Tebow and Meyer are lovers or somesuch? You lose all credibility with that odd, unseemly, homophobic paragraph.
It's one thing for an anonymous poster to make a joke at Meyer's expense, quite another when such a theory is advanced by someone who holds himself out as a professional writer.
Just a weird, unnecessary addition to that piece.
Posted on 10/22/09 at 8:37 pm to Chris Warner
very nice! good work!
Posted on 10/22/09 at 9:15 pm to Chris Warner
quote:
Urban Myer is a big loser because of the butterfly/Eskimo kiss he placed on Tebow's facemask in Tiger Stadium a couple of weeks ago. It was one of those surreal, indelible, certainly vintage college football moments. It was one, in retrospect, that I could have done without. I have watched the clip repeatedly, and I really do not know what to say about it. After watching it three or four times I felt I needed another opinion. I called my wife over and we watched the DVR recording in super slow motion. She aptly described it, "downright creepy." I agree. I hope what I think about him and Tim is not true.
This piece of tape is irrelevant when it comes to winning games. In fact, if Miles did the same to Jefferson (after winning the game of course), I wonder how many Tiger fans would be claiming "homo." Who gives a shi* about what other teams are doing, we should be focusing on the play of our own.
Posted on 10/22/09 at 9:26 pm to Chris Warner
Chris, are you the guy who used to go on Baton Rouge sports talk shows and criticize the hiring of Mark Emmert? Calling him a carpet bagger,etc.
Posted on 10/22/09 at 10:26 pm to Chris Warner
quote:
Chris Warner
Were you at the outlet mall in Gulf Shores a couple months back? I'm pretty sure my buddy and I met you and talked with you for a few minutes.
Posted on 10/22/09 at 10:31 pm to Chris Warner
Thanks Chris - Finally some decent analysis.
I'll take Warner over Dubois. Can we get this guy to do the daily posts?
I'll take Warner over Dubois. Can we get this guy to do the daily posts?
Posted on 10/22/09 at 11:29 pm to Chris Warner
quote:
Ole Miss 17
Hogs 42
WOW!
Forget taking Arkansas and a touchdown,
You are saying take a 1-3 SEC team on the road to win by 3 touchdowns+
Posted on 10/23/09 at 4:54 am to Chris Warner
Good stuff. I'm a little less optimistic about Shephard's readiness to contribute in 2009, but otherwise a spot on analysis.
Posted on 10/23/09 at 5:36 am to Chris Warner
This:
And this:
If you want journalism, read Dubois.
If you want LSU's version of Rush Limbaugh - extremely biased, mean-spirited and prone to low blows to anyone not wearing Purple and Gold - read Warner.
Chicken's smart though, as both of these styles have large audiences here.
quote:
Dubois is a sportswriter. Warner is a clown.
And this:
quote:
Even if it was tongue in cheek a professional would not submit something like this.
If you want journalism, read Dubois.
If you want LSU's version of Rush Limbaugh - extremely biased, mean-spirited and prone to low blows to anyone not wearing Purple and Gold - read Warner.
Chicken's smart though, as both of these styles have large audiences here.
Posted on 10/23/09 at 8:10 am to Chris Warner
quote:
Ole Miss 17
Hogs 42
I think you just lost all credibility there.
Posted on 10/23/09 at 8:44 am to Chris Warner
quote:
There is absolutely no love lost between the Arkansas fan base and Houston Nutt. In fact, Nutt is deplored in the Natural State for the way he mishandled an extra-marital affair and then ran off to coach one of their competing Western Division schools.
I think there is much more behind their hatred than him leaving for Ole Miss.
The Arkypig fans I know of would have gladly packed his shite for him to leave to go to another SEC west team because they knew that team would be getting a terrible coach and a douchebag of a person
Posted on 10/23/09 at 8:56 am to Chris Warner
Chris, Where have you been all season? Good stuff. You can give a light hearted assessment to the state of affairs better than anyone else on this rant. Most rantards on TD take themselves way to serious. And they usually don't kneaux all that they think they kneaux!
Posted on 10/23/09 at 10:13 am to Chris Warner
quote:
The Crimson Tide is winning with defense and a surprisingly solid running game, led by sophomore running back Mark Ingram, who ran for 250 yards against South Carolina in a 20-6 victory. Tide fans are frustrated that lukewarm quarterback Greg McElroy cannot get the ball to Julio Jones, their stud sophomore wide receiver. But when you're running with the effectiveness they've lately demonstrated, who cares about the passing game, right?
As long as little Nicki can run the ball like that, he won't give his first year starting quarterback a chance to throw the ball. That's Nick Saban philosophy all the way and some of the same things LSU fans complained about when he was coach here......that and going super conservative once you get a comfortable lead, especially when your defense is dominating the opponent.
Posted on 10/23/09 at 1:16 pm to Chris Warner
All you criticizers are ridiculous. Take it for what it's worth, enjoy it, and move on.
Posted on 10/23/09 at 3:58 pm to Chris Warner
quote:
Are you seriously suggesting that Tebow and Meyer are lovers or somesuch? You lose all credibility with that odd, unseemly, homophobic paragraph. It's one thing for an anonymous poster to make a joke at Meyer's expense, quite another when such a theory is advanced by someone who holds himself out as a professional writer. Just a weird, unnecessary addition to that piece.
Agree, also this is the same shite we have all been hearing....NEXT!!
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