re: Don't fret, LSU fans...this run by Alabama will end soon...

Two things I have is to clean up the sloppiness that has plagued his offenses for the past years.

Defense - Has to improve on tackling.

quote:

---

Question: What do you think are the 2 or 3 major changes that Les needs to make to catch up to Alabama and keep ahead of Auburn, Ole Miss and Texas A&M?

---

1. Reconstruct the front seven dominance, while retaining the excellent stable of DBs over the past few years. Defensive rebuilding shouldn't look like it has in 2013.

2. A QB that is a capable passer, mobile enough to avoid the rush, and smart enough to make good decisions with the ball - Mett was close, but Cam got him too late.

3. Keep Cam for at least 3 or 4 more seasons.

Hon. Mention - Get back the physical dominance where we were getting stronger while the other team got weaker - we did that in 2011 and were successful, effectively with 0 consistency at the QB position. Imagine that defense with 2013's offense (Ole Miss game notwithstanding)...

quote:

---

Saban won't be there forever.

---

I know, but part of me wants him there when(if) LSU tunrs it around.

Revenge against Bama would be much sweeter if it happens while Saban is still the coach.

...but it will never happen

Good post, Chicken.

Maybe it will, but LSU will continue down hill as well. Alabama has always will be better than LSU historically.

I'm not going to say that there is 2 or 3 certain things that need to be changed but I do know that Les is recruiting a lot of 3 and "to the league" type players. I think he needs to instill a mindset in the locker room of doing the right thing and having a relentless work ethic. I think he needs to figure out how to change some players minds about entering the draft (i.e. Hill, Landry, Collins). This would be the best recruitment per say he has had in all of his years he's been here. It is just simply impossible to beat the Bama's of the world with immature freshmen on both sides of the ball that just can't make the plays a junior or senior experienced player would make.

quote:

---

What do you think are the 2 or 3 major changes that Les needs to make to catch up to Alabama and keep ahead of Auburn, Ole Miss and Texas A&M?

---

Thanks for the words of encouragement. I'm hoping you're on target, even though I hate to think Saban has to move or retire before LSU can catch Bama. It's just that seems like it's the reality we're facing.

So that being said, I think there are several things Coach Miles can do to step back from the abyss and bring LSU back to the center of football relevance.

1. Keep recruiting and repair that fence around Louisiana's talent.

2. Take a cold, hard look at his assistant coaching staff and evaluate the desired performance versus the reality. Make changes as needed. It's my feeling that OL and conditioning are two areas that need immediate help, along with LB. If that means shaking up the staff and moving some out, then do it. And sooner rather than later. Loyalty to staff members is not necessarily the same as loyalty to LSU. That may be hard for him. And likewise, look at non-performing or low-performing players and make adjustments as needed.

3. Today somebody raised a question about scheduling so many cupcakes and whether this is good for LSU, citing how much pressure LSU had in 2011 but how well LSU rose to the occasion and had a dominating season. A hard look at future scheduling might really help shape things for LSU's betterment.

4. It's been noticed that often when some play or someone is successful in a game or series of games, that someone or that play often disappears. Realizing that is partly anecdotal, it is also partly true. Wondering why? Should that be looked at more closely?

5. LSU has been criticized by many of us for "taking the foot off the pedal" and allowing opponents to hang around too long. As a result, many games that should be sure wins for LSU become close-scoring nail-biters for at least part of the game - most recent example is the halftime score for the LSU-Furman game. It has been happening this way so many seasons that it seems it's happening by design. If it is by design, that design need to go away. Permanently. LSU needs to keep the pressure up offensively and defensively for the entire game. I think it would also help morale, not to mention raise the excitement level for fans and be another incentive for those in the stadium to remain in the stadium for the whole game.

quote:

---

Chicken

---

Dear Mr. Chicken,

Given the quoted statements:

quote:

---

Saban won't be there forever

---

quote:

---

that's a decline

---

Would you be willing to state, on the record, your admission of A/THE decline in the football program?

Also would you admit, in writing, that the LSU football's success is primarily contingent on nick saban leaving bama?

Your post smells of more explicit answers to these questions, but it seems you kind of tiptoed around it a bit.

Not sure I agree. There are other coaches that could continue the run at Alabama if Saban leaves. There is a process now in place at Alabama. How often does the sunshine crowd remind us that Les is better than Saban (in terms of performance at LSU). Les has an ego that seems to ruin the chemistry of his football teams. Once people started giving Cameron credit for the offense the changed as it changed in the 2011. A little ego never hurt anyone but if Les wants respect from the media he needs to change the goofy persona.