The way-too obvious way to succeed on offense

It's been a while since i've posted, and I haven't been patrolling the board, so maybe it's been covered, but I haven't seen much talk about it: Play-Action

I don't know where or how to verify this, but I would bet that LSU has easily run the fewest play fakes to date in all of college football.

I kept hearing talk from fans about how Mettenberger sucks and about how our receivers can't get any separation, but with the exception of long third downs from shotgun, just about every passing play we run starts with the QB behind center and just dropping back, and given that we've probably never run a draw on a play like this, we're making it way too easy for defenses to know what we're doing.



It's basic offensive strategy that, especially in conjunction with an effective running game, calling play-action passes is effecting in manufacturing separation FOR your receivers, especially against talented DB's. One half-step bite by a safety or corner can spring a receiver free, thus making it easier to complete passes and gain YAC. Sounds simple, right? So why don't we do it?



For that matter, we rarely run any counters or other misdirection plays; we rely far too much on personnel and barely any on creative or even, as said, simple ways to create passing and running lanes. We treat some basic misdirection plays as trick plays, and we reserve their use to only fourth down and other critical in-game situations, such as that very effective wildcat pitch against A&M.

Not to mention, just a little bit of balance would go a long way toward making our excellent run game that much more effective, especially againts an opponent like Alabama. (see 2nd half vs. Florida)

I've even heard people say that we were saving all our play-action passing plays all year for 'Bama. Seriously?

I know our receivers have dropped some open passes, but effective, untelegraphed playcalling is the only way to generated some rhythm and confidence in our passing game - starting with our quarterback, and we've survived so far, but it has to start now.