re: Quick poll #2 if LSU makes playoffs would you rather play Ole Miss or Kentucky again

MASSA WIFE with HC "Peg Leg Pete" of Hammond Louisiana.

quote:

---

Yes, LSU is good on 3rd and short. However, LSU gives up way too many 3rd and 9 and 3rd and 12 and that 4th and 16 with that backup QB in for Auburn and LSU's 1st team defense back on the field is indefensible. As I said before, I would much rather have the opponent 3rd and 4 than 3rd and 12. That is ridiculous how many long gains are given up on long distance 3rd downs. Another example in the Auburn game was a 3rd and 15 I think it was and a simple swing pass in the flat gave them the first down. That looked like a throwaway play that got a first down.

If Baker were to leave LSU, I want someone who calls a defense to stop a 3rd and Mars type line to gain.

---

Do you actually watch the play when that happens, or do you immediately resort to blaming the defensive coordinator? Do you blame the offensive coordinator every time a receiver drops a pass or a quarterback throws an interception? If you go back and watch the plays you're referring to, 9 times out of 10, someone either overpursues, misses an assignment, or misses a tackle. Sure, you could say the coordinator is responsible for them not doing that, but the fact remains: just like on offense, players can make mistakes. You can't always blame the coach for everything that goes wrong in a game. Y'all always make these arguments that it's on the coordinator, like the players are 100% perfect and there's just no way they'd ever be out of position or miss a tackle.

Ole Miss. I think Will Stein is a far better coach than Pete and/or anyone on his staff, Exhibit A - the year Oregon is having without Stein. I think we can beat OM early, after Arkansas for us and the Egg Bowl for them, and UK after that win if we get them.

I would rather play Ole Miss! If we get beat again, we can tip our hats and say "you're better than us". First game of the season with a whole new roster and playing in a hostile environment to boot, maybe was a little early for this team. This would give us a chance to see how far we have progressed.

Kentucky and the Ole Piss. Revenge is a dish best served cold. And what better way than to end both of their post season runs.

We'll beat either of them, but I'd prefer Old Mrs to stomp.

bad executionbad executionYeah I watch the games AND the individual plays. What I see are prevent type defenses because that is the defensive alignment. Do I know if a better defense was called and the players went ROGUE and didn't follow instructions? Of course I don't know. But I see the play as it unfolds and LSU defenders are not in the same area code as the receivers on 3rd and longs. I do NOT find that on 1st and 2nd downs. If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it is a duck. You can make EXCUSES for LSU's poor performance on 3rd and longs but the evidence is clearly there if YOU "actually watch the play".

BTW, you seem to complain about people blaming coordinators for bad execution. Do you give them CREDIT when the plays turn out well? You can't have it both ways. Also, you mention coordinators shouldn't be blamed for missed tackles, overpursuits, etc. I agree 100% on that. The coaches that should be blamed on that are the POSITION coaches, not the DC. However, once again, when guys are wide open on simple plays like flat passes and slant routes when everyone knows the play has to either be a pass or a QB draw, that points directly at the DC. The guy is the 2nd highest paid DC in college football and does things like allow Kentucky to drive the field in less than a minute to tie LSU with a FG. He then puts 4 in the box when every LSU fan I have heard from knew it was going to be a QB draw. If you think that is setting up a defense well, then you and I 100% disagree on that.

I have seen the comments that "Baker is {supply the derogatory term". I have not agreed with that BTW. What I have said is IMO he is not in the upper echelon of DC (like top 5 or top 10). I say he is top 15 to top 20 but yet he is the 2nd highest paid DC in college football. BTW, a few I would definitely put ahead of him are Aranda, Knowles, Venables, and a few others I can't remember their names. Aranda and Venables I believe still either ran the defense or had heavy input as HC.

As far as scores go, some of them have been against LSU's 2nd string (McNeese, Clemson) or pick 6 like La Tech or punt return like Kentucky. Having said that, what great offensive powerhouse has LSU played...Clemson is a dumpster fire, La Tech poor, McNeese poor, A&M poor, Miss State without QB Taylor poor, Auburn poor. The only really good offense LSU played was Ole Miss. Kentucky is pretty good but OU didn't have trouble keeping KY score down.