zem

There's no question the Vols will have a winning record, hell, they probably will win 7-8 games. But the gap between Tennessee and Florida just keeps on widening. They might test them for a half, but thats it.

Crompton was the victim of atrocious coaching last year, I could definitely see him pull it together under Kiffin like Ainge did his last year under Cutcliffe.

I liked Jimbo's scheme more than Crowton, I still do, matter of preference really. Crowton's "here, there, everywhere" style of playcalling doesn't have anything to do with being held back. To explain his playcalling, look at the following truths about LSU's talent.

1. They have a mobile, strong armed, young qb with inconsistent accuracy.
2. They have a powerful, big offensive line that excels at run blocking.
3. They have tall receivers who excel running downfield routes that use their long speed and size rather than footwork and quickness.

This certainly seems like the type of talent that would fit into an offense that runs to set up the pass, uses play action, moves the pocket around, keep the plays simple(not more than 2 reads) for the young quarterback, and maybe, due to his insane athletic ability and strength, incorporate some read option out of the shotgun.

It seems like Crowton does all of this, his play calling often lacks timing and rhythm, but the issue isn't the scheme.

I'm sure you will see a more detailed and multilayered offense, similar to that of 07, when Jefferson matures.

Congrats on the win, the Huskies played better than I could have possibly imagined.

I've seen posts ridiculing Husky fans for being so enthused by that effort. But they didn't sit through last years 0-12, the previous years 4-9, or 2005's 2-9. Seasons in which effort was inconsistent at best, and the coaching was below dreadful. Husky fans saw a team that was well coached, well prepared and played with the intensity and passion that was a trademark of Husky football until 1999. I think everyone was shocked by how well they played, and at the same time thrilled.

Everyone on here is ripping their coaching staff left and right, for what? They were playing a team with an entirely new coaching staff, with a head coach that had never been a head coach before, in a system remarkably different than previous years(especially offensively). The conservative game plan was, I believe, because of an uncertainty in washington's schemes. That was a difficult spot for your team, given the emotion and intensity, and newness of the opponent, and they still managed to win. Did they play their best? No, did they play poorly? I don't think so.

The defense is a work in progress, they will improve. Chavis is an outstanding coach, don't doubt him just yet. Rome wasn't built in a day.

Your quarterback is still a bit raw, but he'll keep on improving, it seemed like Crowton didn't trust him to throw the ball downfield all that much(this mystified me, given your absolute horses at receiver).

It was an intense, fun game and I believe its the only time I've ever felt good after a loss.

Good luck the rest of the year, as always I'll watch every LSU game thats televised out here and pop in from time to time. Here's to an undefeated season and another National Title.

Enjoy the season guys.

Should've known you'd take an innocent remark to beat your chest about the greatness of SEC football.

shite happens.

Family comes before football, always, unless, its like the Rose Bowl or something.

Enjoy the game, the stadium, the tailgating and the city tomorrow. Its up in the air if I'm going or not tomorrow, lots of weekend obligations.

Looks like you guys might get a little Seattle rain tomorrow, which sucks. But hey, weather can be the great equalizer.

Have a good one.

I always thought the fourth down plays vs florida were more exectuion and toughness than luck, in fact, no luck, whatsoever was involved in that. If I remember correctly, LSU ran the same play on each one of those fourth down attempts, which was also the same play they ran that lost them the Kentucky game. In one game, they executed, one game they didn't.

You forget, Miles doesn't call the offense, and I've always had a problem with the way that OC(Crowton?) calls plays, sometimes it seems to lack rhyme or reason, going five wides when it should be powerful, smashmouth football.

The deep ball against Auburn was the OC's and Flynn's call.


Some of you guys seem to forget how tough the SEC is, considering you guys play in it every week, that baffles me. Even a team as good as Florida's last two title teams can't go the whole year unscathed. Its damn near impossible to bring a maximum intensity level to every game, especially when a Troy sits smack in the middle of an SEC schedule.
Les Miles is a good coach, and is a good fit for a program that stresses physical play. LSU's problem last year wasn't Les Miles, it was a interception happy quarterback situation and a shaky secondary. The year before, injuries on the ever so talented d line crippled the front four, is that the fault of the head coach? Should he tone down the brutal practices that get them ready for those 4th and 1's against Florida?

The SEC is too good to avoid hiccups or close games, LSU is in fine shape and in good hands. You guys are a premier program who had one down year. When 8-5 is your down year, and you had three 11+ win seasons, you got something good going.

What are you guys complaining about? Remember Gerry DiNardo? I do!

The sanctions were just that. Brutal and heavy handed. What is especially shocking about the whole thing, was that the Pac-10 imposed these sanctions on one of their own, after three straight rose bowls, a national title, an orange bowl victory and drawing a lot of money for the conference, they went out and attacked them.

As for USC, most Husky fans dislike them, not so much as the northwest schools, but there is a strong dislike. I root for Pac-10 teams most of the time, I like the way they play football. They are like FSU of the 90's though, always prone to that one hiccup that screws them over.

I'm interested to see how those investigations play out, something tells me, due to the range and name of the program, the penalties won't be that bad, fi there are penalties at all. USC runs wild, but I don't see them getting the kind of penalty they most likely deserve, I'm not sure the Pac-10 thinks they can survive without them.

Best seats are in the upper deck, the are high, but they built straight up, so you are still close to the field.

If we go 4-8, I'm happy, and as a fan who grew up with the teams of the 80's and early 90's, I feel sick saying that. I've never been happy with 4-8.

The issue with the wide receivers is simple, Willingham did not recruit, at all, until 2008, his 2008 recruiting class was legit. The 2007 and 2006 classes are nonexistant, I honestly don't know where they are. He relied alot on JC guys and they never cleared. Last year, most of the kids playing were freshmen, this year, the majority of players will be sophomores.

From what I saw during the Spring game, this offense is very similar to USC's, a very pro style offense. It requires Locker to be under center a lot, which is a change because they had him out of the shotgun with their awful spread option they ran last year. Lots of sweeps, tosses, stretch plays, the scheme relies a lot on the mobility of the offensive line and precise routes from the receivers(which is a foreign concept to them).

I'm going to catch a couple practices next week, see how much more they've added in. You want to see what UW will run, plug in a USC tape last year, and imagine the players being less talented and the execution not nearly as precise.