re: How Do You Explain Crowton's Demise?

Yes, interesting question about teaching methods. Knowing this would clarify quite a bit.

quote:

---

1) Still haunted by '08 and maybe preoccupied with avoiding a repeat of those mistakes.

---

I agree. He is not letting JJ play. I think JJ is thinking of last year and not trying to make the same mistakes. He needs to trust the players that they will make a play. He plays not to lose.

quote:

---

2) His approach is a very QB-intensive approach. Flynn seemed to master it well. JJ and JL have not. Everyone is enamored with Payton and the Saints O at present. That's ok. But if Brees was injured and the Saints' O slowed would anyone conclude Payton was a bad offensive coach? (Is this a fair analogy?)

---

Crowton has done this for two years now and he has a history at both BYU and Oregon. La Tech not so much, but can't compare them with LSU, Oregon and BYU. History is not on his side that the offense will get better, regardless if it is his fault or not.

quote:

---

3) He was counting on the running game to be more reliable than it has been. So now he's left with an immature QB, an unreliable running game, and faced with the decision to either "stay the course" and let the players come around to his system OR shift into a "manufacture some points at all costs" mode whatever it takes.

---

I honestly don't know what the problem is here. I mean was Big Herm, Quinn Johnson and Brett Helms that good in run blocking and these new guys that crappy. I think this goes to coaching. Coach Stud needs to go. If Bowden leaves, perhaps we can get Rick Trickett. I know he is older guy, but he is well known as a great o line coach.

Crowton is too predictable. If CS is in the game, he will run or play action. If TH is in the game and gets the ball, you can bet it will be a reverse. If shep is in the wildcat, he will run. We have all these weapons, but we are predictable as when they are in the game, they do the same thing. Let Shep pass. Roll CS out for a pass. Fake it to TH or have him give it to shep for a double reverse.

Offense is too predictable. We need to focus on what we do well and stick with that. Then off of those plays, change a few things up. I would scrap the option, unless Shep is the qb. JJ cannot run it most of the time and we get negative yardage.

RP. Doesn't matter how you slice it, had he remained the QB at LSU these last two seasons there wouldn't be any threads like this. Crowton has a game plan that calls for a high level of competancy that you rarely will achieve with freshman and sophomores. Coupled with the extraordinary turnover rate of the Offensive line there in lies the answer to the Crowton riddle. It really is no mystery. In a lesser conference the deficiencies created by the loss of RP and the troublesome O linemen could have been overcome; just not in the war zone known as the SEC. It is bothersome that Gary and Les could not fashion a more youngster friendly game plan these last two years for JL & JJ but it seems that is a fault they share. The fact is LSU has been blessed with NFL talented QB's who had the proper seasoning before taking the helm for years until RP was dismissed. Now the true test for the coaches will come next season when you have experienced juniors available to steer the ship as well as a more experienced O line. A much improve offense will be expected and demanded.

Why does everyone assume that RP would have behaved had he stayed at LSU? He was still getting in trouble as recently as this season with his suspension at Jacksonville State during the first game. How do we know that he wouldn't still be getting in bar fights, getting involved with counterfeit money, etc.?

quote:

---

he ran out of Saban's players and when he ran out of Saban's players he ran out of Saban's influences.

---

The same can be said about Saban in a few years when he runs out of Shula's players and influences.

Luckly for Saban, he won't have to deal with the RANTard sniping when he runs out of Shula's players and has to reload.

Don't you all remember how we all complained about the conservative offense of Saban and Jimbo Fisher in all of Sabans 5 years except after the OLD MISS game in 2003. 2004 the offense was very ordinary and boring again.

I agree with Doc Fenton. If the offense is too complicated for the players, just simplify it. If our talent really is better than the talent on the other side of the ball, then we should be able to beat them with simplicity.

quote:

---

The curse of The Meddler.

---

So you're blaming this on Miles?

quote:

---

1. bad OL recruiting/development

---

a huge factor

quote:

---

2. the option

---

a non-factor, we don't run enough option for it to be a factor

as I have said over and over our "option" play is basically a stretch play/toss sweep with an option pitch instead of a toss. We don't run the option because there is no "option," the QB is going to pitch it regardless. especially after JJ almost got himself decapitated in week one against UW.

As for as Crowton's demise...I see people saying "he does this, he doesn't do that" but no one ever says what the defense is doing in reaction to LSU. Just like that LaTech series where we threw it 6 times after KW had scored and had two 3 and outs and punted. What adjustments did Tech make to stop KW and what did Crowton see to try 6 straight passes? There is always way more than meets the eye with this stuff