The Bama Game...

I was in shock as it appeared the ghost of Cam Cameron and Less Miles showed up to call plays. I literally thought that I was in the twilight zone as I watched the WR motion down to basically become a stacked TE.
Against Alabama. Lord help me.

Of all the talk of us spreading people out (we did a fair job of that leading into that game, only we didn't need much of it because our standard running game was popping off big play after big play with Fournette and Guice), we wait until the Bama game to revert back to the goaline lead on first and 10. Etling played like a dear in headlights, which really shocked me, because leading up to that game, I was overly impressed with how tough he was under pressure and in the pocket. He picked the wrong game to fold.
That game also made it significantly clear
Aranda is the key to our future. Bama could barely get a yard. No need to talk about the refs, but if we would have shown any stubbornness to throw deep, we could have easily beat Bama. Others teams are able to score against Bama because those teams understand the simply concept of exploiting weaknesses. You don't run at all world LB's, you make them cover WR's. I'm preaching to the choir, because many posters on here agree, it's a death wish to think you are going to beat any Saban-coached team by simply lining up in the I formation and calling leads.

Again, For all these Bama lovers, Saban's/Kiffin's team literally could not move the ball on Aranda's defense. Their one score was just a great play by their QB, who is an A+ runner when he decides to tuck it (again, I won't mention the refs).
At the end of a 3-4 depression,
I chalked it up as a tough loss, but recognized that Orgeron still didn't grasp the simple fact that you can't bang heads with Bama (and that you have to spread them out to score). I was not willing to discard him or throw him under the bus as a coach, because it's not his fault that he was dealt a team with two losses on the books already. I was dealing with the same sickening emotion that we have dealt with over the past years of watching our season come a tumbling down at the hands of the Tide.

The Florida Game..

As with all of us, I was so psyched for this game, it was unreal. No need for a game recap, but Orgeron did not lose us this game. This was a game when player mistakes cost us dearly. The one thing I do hold O accountable for is letting Leonard dress. Ef! the scrum before the game. That was meaningless. If he wasn't dressed before the game, then he should not have played. Which looks like it may cost him the last two games of his LSU career, which would totally suck (I sure hope everything is going fine with his recovery, both short and long term). The dude is simply one of the best to every line up in the backfield in the history of this game. Trusts your eyes. You will only see a back like this once ever 20 or so years. It simply sucks that he was never out into a position to succeed to to a 1934 offensive playbook over the majority of his career. He will represent LSU well on Sundays.

The Coaching Search and the Rant

Due to all of the rumors that began circulating, I was excited at the thought of Jimbo, but I really wanted Herman. His record of winning and offensive acumen should go without debate. If he would have failed at Houston, I would have questioned him. But the fact that he beat every top 25 team he faced while there, says everything you need to know. The guy is a a big game coach. Which is what we need. And do realize Urban Meyer, his mentor, has 3 rings, and has had success at every school he's coached at (Bowling Green, Utah, Florida, now Ohio State). Meyers is 61-5 since being at Ohio State. That's just stupid! I wanted the best thing smoking from that tree.
It's a fact that Saban made Meyer retire after that Championship lost, but coming back, and beating Saban in the playoffs en route to the title pretty much clears that slate in every regard. Meyer is the last coach that Saban wants to see.

We at the Rant could be totally responsible for the leakage of all this inside info. So many posters come here with stories, and inside info, as if the Rant is in some private room. We are on the World Wide Web. And Google exist. Anyone in the world, can read what you post. My point being, if you have any inside info, please keep it to yourself until the deals are done. Nobody wants their personal business told to the world before they announce it themselves. Period! So wether it's coach related, recruit related, please let's not sink another ship with loose lips. It's the same reason Les didn't go to Michigan, and Saban didn't go to Texas. And I firmly believe it's why Jimbo or Herman didn't come to LSU. Water under the bridge now, but for future reference, keep personal connections to our potential targets off the record until they are officially on board.

Choosing Orgeron.

First of all, I love coach O, not because he's a Louisiana native, but I really do believe he will be a good coach. I trust that he will recruit with the best, and continue to improve the team's weaknesses. Outside of the Bama game, we were 1000x less predictable on offense. So though we didn't go 4 wide as often as I would like, we were unpredictable, which is in itself, extremely effective (the offensive numbers back this up).

Also, tons of people underestimate how important your capabilities as a motivator are when it comes to coaching. I think Orgeron is at the top of the list in that category. He makes me want to suit up.
I don't believe in mistakes. And at this point, we are in good hands. If Orgeron does well, we all celebrate and enjoy the times. If Orgeron were to falter, wevhavecwhatvi believe to be the best defensive coach in the country on our staff. I really just wish that someone within the ranks has the foresight to offer the Job to Aranda immediately if O doesn't pan out. Orgeron has proven that he emus smart enough to know that Aranda is a guy we have to keep. I'll take Aranda's D vs anybody's offense, on anyday. Including Herman and Jimbo.

The Offensive Coordinator Search.

I don't get the infatuation with Lane Kiffin. Bama was winning championships long before Kiffin arrived. Ask yourself, is it Kiffin, or is it the fact that Bama has 5* players at every position. I would rather get an up and comer, with a proven record of success. Kiffin would be a temporary fix anyway due to his affinity to take the next best job. And at this point, if you think Saban doesn't know his entire playbook by now, you have got to be kidding yourself. I do believe that Kiffin is a good coordinator, but extremely overhyped. He has been blessed with a wealth of talent at almost every stop, now everybody's salivating because of Bama's success. You and I could call plays for Bama knowing that our opponents would barely score 10 points a game. Once again, I'm not saying that he isn't a creative playcaller, but there are more than a few reasons why he is not at the top of my wishlist. There are many guys out there dialing up some great offensive attacks.

In closing..

This has been a very disappointing season on many levels. My expectations with the # of returning starters couldn't have been higher. That said, I love knowing that our team never quit, and that we were in every game we've played. A few tweaks and adjustments to the offensive gameplan is all we need.

To those who hate on Orgeron, and chose to have a pessimistic view of things to come, I just put the world's largest crow in my slow cooker (a.k.a. crockpot :-). It'll be hot and ready to serve.