re: Matt Leinart comments on Miles today.

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And no disrespect to Cam Cameron, but there’s a reason why he’s been fired a couple of times, and there’s a reason why, for whatever reason, why in this offense they haven’t produced a quarterback who can play.

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I can agree with most of Leinart's assessment but this part of his breakdown is bullshite. Here's why. Cam was fired from the Dolphins after one season as head coach but their QB situation that season was pathetic. After Trent Green went down, that team was done. Injuries & lack of depth on that roster did him in.

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Cameron was hired after five years as offensive coordinator for the high-scoring San Diego Chargers, and the Dolphins' offense improved early in the season. But when John Beck became the third starter at quarterback this year, the unit failed to score a touchdown in three consecutive games, and the rookie returned to the bench.

Cameron took over a team that had gone 19-29 the previous three years and was in decline following a series of bad drafts. Poor depth made this season's wave of injuries catastrophic.

Running back Ronnie Brown led the league in yards from scrimmage when he was sidelined for the season by a knee injury, and quarterback Trent Green and linebacker Zach Thomas also went on injured reserve. When 2002 NFL rushing champion Ricky Williams returned from a suspension, he lasted only six carries before a chest injury ended his season.

In addition, top receiver Chris Chambers was traded after six games.

The coach's office became a revolving door in 2004, when Dave Wannstedt quit after nine games and was replaced by Jim Bates. Nick Saban became the coach in 2005, but lasted only two years before leaving for Alabama.

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With the Chargers in 2004, Cam was Sports Illustrated's offensive assistant of the year. His play calling helped get LT the league MVP that year. In 2006, the Chargers set a team record for 494 points scored.

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In 2004, San Diego scored 446 points, third-highest in the NFL that year and the third-most in team history. Following the 2004 campaign, Sports Illustrated named Cameron its Offensive Assistant of the Year. In 2005, the Chargers averaged 26.1 points per game - good for fifth in the NFL in that category. In 2006, the Chargers offense amassed a team-record 494 points while paving the way for league MVP LaDainian Tomlinson to break the single-season touchdown record. In addition to Tomlinson, Cameron had the opportunity to work with Pro Bowl quarterbacks Drew Brees and Philip Rivers, as well as All-Pro tight end Antonio Gates in San Diego

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Not only that but he helped get Drew Brees to begin to maximize his potential after constant benchings where he was replaced by Doug Flutie. Contrary to the belief of many on the Rant, Brees struggled early on in his career with the Chargers. He wasn't as pro ready as many make him to be & he went through a period of development.

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The simple answer is that Charger starter Drew Brees, thought to be the warmup act for Rivers' 2004 season, proved to be better than anyone, the Charger front office included, had imagined.

Brees had been with the Chargers for three seasons, and his third had been his worst. He had thrown more interceptions, 15, than touchdown passes, 11, and his passer rating, 67.5, was the lowest of his career. His struggles were reflected in the standings, where San Diego finished tied for last in the AFC West at 4-12. The Chargers had some attractive options as they headed into the off-season. One was veteran Mark Brunell, the other Manning.

Brunell, however, was traded from the Jacksonville Jaguars to the Washington Redskins, taking him off the market. Manning made it plain he didn't want to play for the Chargers.

So, after making Manning the first pick in the draft, San Diego shipped him to New York for Rivers and draft choices.

All seemed in place for Rivers. Trouble was, he wasn't in place. Instead of reporting to camp to compete with Brees for the starting spot, Rivers held out for the first six weeks of training camp, leaving himself no time to show what he could do.

Brees had the starting job -- at least until he messed up.

When the Chargers lost two of their first three games, the moment for the big switch seemed at hand. Rivers had moved ahead of Flutie for San Diego's fourth game, against the Tennessee Titans at San Diego.

He never budged from the sideline, though, as Brees threw three touchdown passes to lead his team to a 38-17 victory.

And Brees has been successfully leading the Chargers ever since, completing 65.5% of his passes for 27 touchdowns, with only seven interceptions and a passer rating of 104.8.

Even Rivers has been impressed.

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Cam has always thrown to the RBs & TE's which is something we have rarely seen done in his time at LSU.

In 2003, LT had 100 receptions out of the backfield.

2003 San Diego Chargers 16 100 725

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Antonio Gates became a Pro Bowler under Cam. He used Ray Rice the same way he used LT in San Diego. Lots of motion & splitting him out to get favorable matchups. We haven't saw much of that with the Tigers. Also, people forget about TE Todd Heap in Baltimore but he was utilized very much under Cam in Baltimore until injuries ruined his career.



Since winning the Super Bowl, nobody, even in the media discusses Joe Flacco's regression without Cam Cameron but he has not been the same QB the last few years without Cam. At times we have seen Cam's abilities as a play caller bit there are times you can see there are plays Miles wants run & it ruins the rhythm of his ability to call plays. In order for Cam to do his job like he would like to, Miles would have to not give any input at all which is something I believe Les is incapable of doing.

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And no disrespect to Cam Cameron, but there’s a reason why he’s been fired a couple of times, and there’s a reason why, for whatever reason, why in this offense they haven’t produced a quarterback who can play.

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2013 was two seasons ago...

Maybe he's had a few concussions and just has a really short memory?

It's always pretty funny when someone works this hard on a message board.

I agreed with just about everything he said except the part about Miles being a good coach. He isn't a good coach. He may be a god recruiter or a good man, father husband but a good coach? Not.

" He is correct"

"Les Miles is a great coach"

Lol I'd take miles over stoops everyday of the week and twice on sunday. Wish we played in the Big-12

For LSU the answer is QB, QB, QB; It doesn't matter who the coach is.

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Les Miles is a great coach

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No he's not. He's the biggest underachiever in the history of LSU football.

"No he's not"

Take it up with Matt.

" he is the biggest underachiever in the history of LSU football."

I will assume you are being sarcastic.

Unfortunately, None of that means anything in translation to a consistent successful COLLEGE offense..

So basically, it takes an incredibly gifted QB who is maximizing his potential for Cam to have success?

Idk? But I really just rather an OC that knows how to get the most out of college talent. I don't even care about a pro style approach.. I just want a whatever gets us more points.. on a consistent basis.

I see college coaches throughout the NCAA utilize lesser talent in the passing game.. even with far less talented quarterbacks..

I agree though, when I go back an watch 2005-2006 charger games he was running the same play action plays.. exactly the same.. and he was often throwing to the tight end and rbs/fbs.. Which is nice with a capable quarterback.. but I still saw many incompletions off his playaction.. which can be drive killers.. lots of pressures too.

I like to see more QB friendly WR routes.. which they finally did display versus Mississippi St.. I really like to see the receivers more utilized.. get the ball in their hands and let them make things happen.. From listening to Chargers fan of Cam's days, they said the receivers were ineffective.. not coached up.. and kind of poor. He really needs to continue running different looks and routes that get them with more separation.. and not always be just running a vertical route off a playaction. I want to see our talented young wide receivers get some catches man.. so badly.. like a Drake Davis or Dee Anderson. I believe they have the talent to be game changers.

Any ways, I am not here to criticize Cam too much. I just really like to see LSU get a successful college offensive mind that can make magic out of most their quarterbacks.. now one guy every 3-4 years. And this is as much of a Miles problem as anything.. it's the culture he has breaded here.