I think many are forgetting something that could turn out important..

you could be right, but I have to think that the opposition will figure we're going to run first. this is LSU, right? so I think we're going to have to pass to get things started.

IMO we have to establish the 5-15 yard efficient passing game. this may take a little time for the offense to turn into a cohesive unit.

I hope they have enough juice to get started vs Miami. it's a good test. Miami has a better than average defense but not great like some others we'll be facing.

Maybe our RB"s will have big seasons this year!

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You have to be able to prove you can throw the ball before you get 5-6 man boxes.

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very true.

They're still going to stack the box. They're not going to assume we can throw the ball well until we throw the ball well.

LSU may WANT to throw more. They may HAVE to throw more. But until a largely unknown OC and QB making his first collegiate start PROVE they can effectively move the ball through the air defenses are going to load up against the run.

Just like every year before... we will have to PROVE we can pass, consistently, every game actually, before what you said happens.

For now, all our opponents will be assuming nothing has changed until we show them it has changed... if it indeed has.

And when I say every game, I mean every game. All D coordinators first order of business is stop the run.

Even when we played Oregon in 2011, Chavis first priority was to not let LaMichael James hurt us. Until you back them off, they will play run first.

To do that, you have to COMPLETE passes AND move the chains on 1st and 2nd down. If they can't get you to 3rd down, much less 3rd and long then the fear sets in. Ahead of the chains is in their head.

ETA:
lol, Alt26. seems you and I are on same page, including what words to emphasize.

We couldn't run the ball against 8 man fronts when we had all-SEC talent on the OL.

If our OL can't dominate against even fronts then we are screwed.

To get defenses to respect the passing game we just need to throw the ball more, we don’t have to light it up through the air. We can be average in the passing stat line and still get the desired effect of an unstacked box with 30 passes per game. LSU should really attack the air against inferior opponents instead of being vanilla. While this may show your hand to future teams it also allows your QB to develope, key up timing, and become a more efficient passer. A byproduct of this is opposing defenses will begin to respect the passing game.

The Miami game is what it is. I’d expect a lot of safe plays to get the offense rolling, but, I fully expect an emphasis on more passing. The SELU game should be a full go of the passing game. LSU can rely on the defense to get the win so why not further install a passing game in preparation for Auburn. Auburn will study film and stats from both games in preparation for us, see that we can establish the run and that we have become more efficient in the passing attack. Auburn will be forced to play more balanced defensively as a result. Their DBs play the man not the ball, our WR will have a field day against Auburn. Go back and watch the LSU vs Auburn game last year, it was insane.

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They're still going to stack the box

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Why would they? LSU doesn't have the the bell cow backs we have had in the past. A good DC is going to make calls based on the formations on the field and then make adjustments depending on how the game unfolds.

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Would have been great to get a signature back like Etienne or Akers the last couple years, they would have had big seasons this year.

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What's a "signature back"?

Etienne was the 15th ranked RB in 2017.

Curry was the 15th ranked RB in 2018.

Etienne is more fluid and Curry is more physical.

Clemson lists Etienne at 5-10 200#

LSU lists Curry at 6-0 220#

They are different types of backs, but if Etienne is "signature", then I suppose Curry is as well.