re: Jamaal Adams is the best LSU defensive player I ever witnessed

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I don't understand why Adams gets this type of praise

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I think Adams is a little overrated, but I get it. He - and Grant Delpit is almost identical in this respect - is the best safety we’ve ever had at coming up and making the tackle. Laron Landry hit harder, and that’s worth a lot, but Adams, and Delpit, are the best in LSU history at putting the stop to a ballcarrier.

Where Adams was just average was in pass protection. His lack of turnovers makes me downrate him some. Also, and maybe unfair, he had the chance to secure the win against Bama in 2014. LSU was leading. Bama needed a last minute hurry-up drive to tie it. LSU played Prevent. Bama started with a crossing pattern to a WR running from the offense’s left to right. Adams was stationed between the WR and the sideline with one job - don’t let him get out of bounds. If Adams does that job LSU wins. Even if the Bama receiver turned upfield for a first down there wasn’t enough time and downs to complete that drive. The WR faked upfield, Adams abandoned his position, the receiver got to the sidelines and the clock stopped.

Perhaps unfair to weigh that so heavily, because he was a freshman, and it was one instance, but I can’t help it. I give Jalen Mills a pass for being a freshman two years earlier when he let Yeldon score, but that’s because no one is calling him GOAT.