re: New OL coach “one of the best offensive line coaches in football”

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I liked Grimes and still do. It was said that his biggest hindrance was the former coaches influence, including the types of players he recruited.

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It was a factor and frankly there was not quite enough time to see how big of a factor. As far as recruiting, a big factor. Can look at Grimes' history, especially at AU, and see what was being recruited at LSU didn't match.

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I think Grimes more than showed his worth this year. Saahdiq Charles was the first true freshman O-line to start the season for LSU since WWII. Charles and Ingram started the majority of the season and Deculus played also.

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Saddiq is the perfect example of what was both right, and wrong, about Grimes. And it's such frigging irony... and some circular logic.

The worst play I saw SC make was in Chatt game. He was at OG. He spun out of his protection zone, without making a read. LB blitzed after this, sacked Etling. He had nowhere to go (considering his feet). I'm going to go off memory, so I may get details wrong. Here's the summary:

- Turned his back to the play, Chatt either got lucky or used it. Either way, that's a fundamental no-no.

- there was no need to spin, or pull out of his lane. DE was making headway, but RT and RB had him handled. He wasn't free. NG/DT had Clapp off balance and shoulder turned. To me it looked like a planned delay blitz and the MLB was supposed to go over center, hence the way the DT pushed Clapp. SC should have helped there AND stayed in-lane.

- The spin out was awesome; perfect balance, came out with near perfect posture, damn near square to the OT (cuz there was no foe to hit). Couldn't have done it better except for turning his back to the opponent. Clearly showed what he was capable of. It was simply excellent footwork.

Here's the moral of the story: Weeks into the season we have an OG with obvious ability to play OT making multiple fundamental mistakes AND made his center look bad, all the while it's obvious we need to shuffle OTs because both Malone and Weathersby were struggling, albeit to different degrees.

Charles potential at OT should have been recognized earlier, the fundamental mistakes should have been corrected earlier (not weeks into the season).

Once injuries and depth got to us, Charles was moved, Ingram was in (he was doing better at OG all along) and the rest was history. Weeks, depth, and injuries is what got us there. Not Grimes. However, it seems once the moves were forced Grimes felt the pressure and he did a heck of a job pushing/coaching both Ingram and Charles into form.

And I'll point out: Seemed like all of a sudden Clapp was doing better. That was a result of Ingram to his right. He had been getting stunted/shifted/slanted all year, especially Syracuse, Troy, and Chatt. The help and assignments were being blown next to him. He didn't all of a sudden get stronger as we got into SEC play. It was no coincidence that was immediately after SC's move to OT.

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It's not like they were absolute world-beaters but for the youth on the line I thought they/he did an excellent job.

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I thought it was good. MSU, Troy, Syr, and Chatt games were kind of pitiful but they got it together. Those teams shouldn't be pressuring/influencing our QB (and misdirecting RBs in backfield) that often.

However, while I thought it was a good to very good job, it obviously could have been better, needed to be better, and we should expect better. Do I think Cregg is the best ever? Not by a long shot. I don't even think he's as good as Studrwa. I do think he will make us better however because he's a step up from Grimes IMHO. How big a step remains to be seen.