re: talent drop off

quote:

---

Edawik,
If your secondary isn't playing well, there will be more rushing yards, also if the secondary is lacks in coverage then the short game will lead to mid range gains on simple passing routs.

If that happens you will not see the sacks, many sacks last season were cover sacks.

If your lbs are not picking up the assignments that leads to easy mid range passes being completed.

---

Obviously some of this falls into the chicken or the egg catagory, but some of the stats I listed have to put the microscope on the d-line.

For instance the 11 rushing td's (most in the SEC) cant all be because the opposing team ran through the secondary. Obviously if the secondary doesnt make a tackle rushing yards increase, but at the same time you have to consider why the runner reaches the secondary so often.

Again back to the chicken or the egg analogy, if a qb has too much time wr's will get open, if wr's are wide open a qb doesnt need time.

I stand by the fact that if presented the stats I listed and had no idea what team acumulated said stats, you would point a finger at the D-line.

I'm not even saying the D-line is any more culpable than the rest of the team, I'm just saying that they havent earned a free pass.

Leadership is one of the main things this team lacks when looking at the last three teams.

Leadership is a building process that is on going, I have seen some a number of the younger players that could become leaders of the team in the future.

If you check LSU history, the best run stopping teams had some very good secondary.

Also this team is still building, and this game could well be a turning point to build from. The team has 3 games left and could finish 10-3 and that is a good traget for them to shoot for; next season with more reps they could challange for the SEC West and SEC crown.

The incoming class is nothing short of one of LSU's best all time recruiting classes, and those incoming players with the large amount of talent on this team will mean it will be a long time before there is a drop off in talent.


The main point is LSU has its house in order, and its not the 1990's when LSU was trying hard to save the last dollar, we have a great staff, a great coach, and a great support system and it will be a long time before the dark days of the 90's ever (if ever) come back.

I believe LB is the biggest weakness and the other positions are trying to accomodate that, causing them to be costantly out of position. Last night it seemed we were getting hammered in the middle, and left side. If someone would step in and become a terror in the middle, we'd see huge improvement fast. It seems as though the coaches assume this is fixed each week, but eventually find the right adjustment throughout the game. I would venture to say this team has been one of Miles' biggest coaching challenges of his career.