re: "Throw the Damn Ball" - Matt Hayes

quote:

---

the game plan last night is exactly what it will take to beat Bama, if you think you're going to beat them by airing it out, you're nuts.

---

I don't think that's what he's saying. He's just saying you need to have a comfortably good passing game going into the Bama game (and to beat them). Although, everything is not just about the Bama game and in the SEC you always have to be ready.

What Miles is doing with this team is awesome. You can't argue with his record. But people are gonna focus on the passing game because LSU finished 106th last year in passing (one slot ahead of Ole Miss). And as great as our running game was last year, it took unbelievable punt returns from TM to turn the Arkansas game and SEC Championship Game around. He ain't around this year.

Now, obviously, it looks like Mett is much better than anything we had last year. But people are going to want to make that a distant memory. LSU is 92nd in passing after two games this year. The efficiency is much better, but when you have a stud at QB (at least that's what everybody thinks), people are going to want to see him a little more. I think 25 throws per game is reasonable for someone with a ton of talent. You want to build his confidence even more so that he has basically done it all when he goes into the big games.

If you're gonna do a HB pass while you're up big, you might as well throw it long with your inexperienced QB. Besides, he was averaging almost 11-yards per attempt. That still beats the running game (as awesome as it was)... If the WRs would have held onto the ball a little more, it would have been an even bigger number. But I think our WRs will be real good.

Mett needs more practice than the RBs. We know what they can do. Our WRs need more practice too (obviously). These are the games when you can get the best practice in. Mett will get a good viewing of different defensive looks on passing plays during games that he probably won't always get at practice due to different coaching styles. They ran about 30 times on that 2nd half drive before LSU got into 3rd and long and was basically forced to throw for the first time. Mett did and it was at 30+ yard TD. I think they can manage things a little better than that.

Also, coaches will use that against LSU in recruiting these big passing prospects. They'll say LSU will not let you showcase your talents, etc. I just think they can find a better balance there and it could make LSU completely explosive. The bottom line is that based on the last few seasons, the passing game needs the most practice out of anything. But it's only the 2nd game so there isn't too much to complain about.