JessN: 2009 PREVIEWS--LSU Tigers: Team Overview - Page 2

GulfCoastTider · August 23rd, 2009, 11:38 AM

Red, I'm not saying that LSU won't be ferocious on D this year. All defensive formations have their weaknesses, and the 4-3's main one is being vulnerable to a deep threat (especially on play action). Spurrier's Run-n-Gun was legendary for beating the 4-3 deep. When defenses moved to a 3-4 and put extra eyes in the backfield, it somewhat negated his advantage. Of course, good offensive minds started coming at 3-4's with two tight end sets (bane of the 3-4).

Warhead, meet armor.

Armor, meet warhead.

Round and round we go...

4Q Basket Case · August 23rd, 2009, 02:23 PM

I thought LSU was much better than they showed last year.

Their problems struck me as twofold: First, they had horrible QB play, especially in the big games. Second, they were publicly looking at the Alabama game all year. Couldn't stop talking about it. Started at the top with Miles' preseason f-bombs, and premeated the coaching staff, team and fan base. When they lost anyway, the whole group checked out mentally for a few weeks.

They had the best 21 players. But poor QB play and poor leadership from the HC led to their record.

Good news for Alabama is that nobody on the team that went to Baton Rouge in 2008 will EVER play a team as emotionally jacked as that LSU team was. That will pay dividends in Oxford this year.

red55 · August 23rd, 2009, 03:06 PM

	Quote:	GulfCoastTider
	Red, I'm not saying that LSU won't be ferocious on D this year. All defensive formations have their weaknesses, and the 4-3's main one is being vulnerable to a deep threat (especially on play action). Spurrier's Run-n-Gun was legendary for beating the 4-3 deep. When defenses moved to a 3-4 and put extra eyes in the backfield, it somewhat negated his advantage. Of course, good offensive minds started coming at 3-4's with two tight end sets (bane of the 3-4).

Nick liked to use 4-3 DE's that could drop back into short pass coverage, but that works best with NFL talent or when you have an All-American like Marcus Spears. But it still gave up big pass plays, especially with backs slipping late out of the backfield over the middle. Pellini's 4-3 was more of a bend-but-don't break defense, it pressured the QB and it rarely broke. Peveto/Mallory's 4-3 failed to pressure the QB consistently and got passed on.

It will be interesting to see how Chavis plays the passing threat, but right now it looks like he's putting more speed (ex-safeties) at linebacker and counting on some effective cover corners. He has nickel and dime backs if he needs them.

red55 · August 23rd, 2009, 03:20 PM

	Quote:	4Q Basket Case
	I thought LSU was much better than they showed last year. Their problems struck me as twofold: First, they had horrible QB play, especially in the big games.

Absolutely. Freshmen quarterbacks have their limitations. The Reverend Doctor Perrilloux cost us 2008. Even with the defensive breakdowns, LSU would have been 10-3.

	Quote:	4Q Basket Case
	Second, they were publicly looking at the Alabama game all year. Couldn't stop talking about it. Started at the top with Miles' preseason f-bombs, and premeated the coaching staff, team and fan base. When they lost anyway, the whole group checked out mentally for a few weeks.

Not really. Florida was the team LSU was geared up for all year. Bama was a surprise to be undefeated that late in the season, but the Florida game was the match between the last two National Champions and was definitely The Big Game last season. It was also the loss that took the most starch out of the team.

	Quote:	4Q Basket Case
	poor leadership from the HC led to their record.

I don't suppose you can offer an example of poor coaching from Les? Bottom line . . . poor quarterback play cost LSU two games, and poor defense cost LSU the other three in 2008.

But this thread is about this year, not last year. I predict LSU will be better at quarterback and far better on defense in 2009. Perhaps not championship level, with three very tough SEC road games and #1 Florida at home, but 2010 is looking quite promising.

GulfCoastTider · August 23rd, 2009, 03:43 PM

	Quote:	red55
	Nick liked to use 4-3 DE's that could drop back into short pass coverage, but that works best with NFL talent or when you have an All-American like Marcus Spears. But it still gave up big pass plays, especially with backs slipping late out of the backfield over the middle. Pellini's 4-3 was more of a bend-but-don't break defense, it pressured the QB and it rarely broke. Peveto/Mallory's 4-3 failed to pressure the QB consistently and got passed on. It will be interesting to see how Chavis plays the passing threat, but right now it looks like he's putting more speed (ex-safeties) at linebacker and counting on some effective cover corners. He has nickel and dime backs if he needs them.

I can tell you how Chavis will play a passing threat--he won't until he has to. On third and long and other obvious passing situations, he'll bring in nickel and dime packages. But on 1st-and-10, he won't respect the passing game until a playcaller makes him do it.

Also, LSU's biggest issue on defense last year was the secondary. Whether it was youth or lack of quality, LSU gave up too many big plays.

One thing Chavis has always done is get the most out of his players. I honestly think he made Eric Berry as good as he is now by demanding more.

He'll do well at LSU, but I worry about my second favorite team's ability to defend the deep threat when they aren't looking for it.

PS: Pellini was the GHOD of disguising coverages and bringing heat at just the right time. Chavis would do well to study his means and methods. That man is a defensive mastermind. An Evil Genius, if you will.

red55 · August 23rd, 2009, 04:04 PM

	Quote:	GulfCoastTider
	Also, LSU's biggest issue on defense last year was the secondary. Whether it was youth or lack of quality, LSU gave up too many big plays.

Youth perhaps, but mostly from not understanding their assignments . . . and that is a position coach's responsibility. Les replaced the entire defensive staff last winter, as a result.

LSU63 · August 23rd, 2009, 06:34 PM

[QUOTE=4Q Basket Case;1105317]

	Quote:
	Their problems struck me as twofold: First, they had horrible QB play,

Couldn't be more right, the Ga. game, for example, LSU had more yards, time of possesion, and points scored by the offense, it was the 2 interceptions for TD's that killed all hopes of winning that game, even with the problems on defense.

	Quote:
	Second, they were publicly looking at the Alabama game all year. Couldn't stop talking about it.

Wrong. Alabama was big the week of the game. As Red said, there was no Bama talk during Fla and Ga. week.

	Quote:
	Started at the top with Miles' preseason f-bombs

That was at the 2007 at the recruiting bash. Miles apologized, and it's old news in BR

	Quote:
	and premeated the coaching staff, team and fan base. When they lost anyway, the whole group checked out mentally for a few weeks.

That's your opinion, but the way it looked from an LSU fans perspective is that they continued with the same problems that were there before the Bama game, QB play and defense.

	Quote:
	They had the best 21 players. But poor QB play and poor leadership from the HC led to their record.

That's the same old argument and it's bull. You think LSU had better players that Fla? Ga? That's just code for "Miles is an idiot and can't coach" Bama has had 3 top recruiting classes, don't you think the talent is even, or close?

	Quote:
	Good news for Alabama is that nobody on the team that went to Baton Rouge in 2008 will EVER play a team as emotionally jacked as that LSU team was. That will pay dividends in Oxford this year.

I hope you're right about the Ole Miss game. I'm tired of hearing about them. But you better get used to teams being jacked up, that's what happens when you go 12-2 and play for the SECC. Teams get up for you. We've been dealing with it for a while, and now Bama will too.

THE BAMA IRISHMAN · August 23rd, 2009, 08:55 PM

LSU played their best game at home against Alabama and lost. Lost at home to Georgia, Alabama, and Ole Miss. LSU coaches planned well against Alabama but failed horribly against GA, Ole Miss, Fla, and Arkansas. The obsession was noticeable and tapped us all on the shoulder. Les had better learn to prepare for each game. They all matter. Watching Ole Miss, Florida, and Georgia do whatever they wanted indicated the preparation was poor. I must have been watching a different LSU from reading all these post.

THE BAMA IRISHMAN · August 23rd, 2009, 09:06 PM

	Quote:
	LSU63 - I hope you're right about the Ole Miss game. I'm tired of hearing about them. But you better get used to teams being jacked up, that's what happens when you go 12-2 and play for the SECC. Teams get up for you. We've been dealing with it for a while, and now Bama will too.

Another statement that requires comment:

Until Nick Saban got to LSU, it did not have to deal with anything before his arrival. Define a while. For Thirty years Alabama went into Death Valley and came away with 15 wins in 15 visits (69 until 99). Again define a while. Every LSU fan needs to be thanking Nick Saban for that teams prominence to power. Alabama has been dealing with being a target since 1925. Unlike LSU who hit and missed in several decades. NOW BAMA WILL TOO?. BAMA crossed that bridge many years ago.

red55 · August 23rd, 2009, 09:40 PM

	Quote:	THE BAMA IRISHMAN
	The obsession was noticeable and tapped us all on the shoulder. I must have been watching a different LSU from reading all these post.

I don't want to hit this too hard, Irish, but last year Bama was climbing out of a long slump. In this decade, Florida, Georgia, and Auburn have been LSU's main competition for the trophies, not the Tide.

Ole Miss and Bama seem ready to change that, and we're all ready for a change. But guess what? Our Big Game this year is . . . the Florida game! Prime time national TV, a night game in Tiger Stadium, winners of the last 3 national championships, Mayer and Tebow have never won in Tiger Stadium. Games just don't come any bigger.

Ole Miss, Bama, and Georgia on the road will be big, but those guys haven't won any trophies for a while and will have to fight for #2 on LSU's obsession list for 2009, amigo.

4Q Basket Case · August 23rd, 2009, 09:49 PM

[QUOTE=LSU63;1105405]

	Quote:	4Q Basket Case
	Wrong. Alabama was big the week of the game. As Red said, there was no Bama talk during Fla and Ga. week. That was at the 2007 at the recruiting bash. Miles apologized, and it's old news in BR That's your opinion, but the way it looked from an LSU fans perspective is that they continued with the same problems that were there before the Bama game, QB play and defense. That's the same old argument and it's bull. You think LSU had better players that Fla? Ga? That's just code for "Miles is an idiot and can't coach" Bama has had 3 top recruiting classes, don't you think the talent is even, or close? I hope you're right about the Ole Miss game. I'm tired of hearing about them. But you better get used to teams being jacked up, that's what happens when you go 12-2 and play for the SECC. Teams get up for you. We've been dealing with it for a while, and now Bama will too.

Thanks to Bama Irishman, who made several points I would have.

No Bama talk before Florida or Georgia?!? You've got to be kidding me. There was talk all over every media outlet about LSU laying for Alabama and Satan.

Miles apoology did nothing to quell the din amongst the faithful. In fact, it was viewed largely as something he did to quiet the media. If you listen to the clip, you can hear the sincere emotion in his voice. He said what he thinks. Surely you aren't saying that the entire LSU family forgot about that just because a year passed? They, the team, and the coaching staff were keyed for Alabama in Baton Rouge, and had been for 18 months.

Regarding talent, there's a difference between experienced talent (which LSU has) vs. inexperienced talent (which Alabama had in 2008, and to an extent still does).

True, we've had two consecutive top classes. The most experienced of whom were true and redshirt freshmen last year, and are true sophomores, redshirt freshmen, or true freshmen this year. Think this is a talent pool? Let's talk in 2011.

Are you now saying that Saban has, in two classes, equalized the talent gap? If not, you're saying you got beat by inferior talent. If so, you're saying than Miles is a recruiter of such inferior quality that a team coming off five years probation can actually close the gap. Which is the case?

Regarding teams being ready for us, we've been used to it since the 1925 Rose Bowl. Tell me something Bama Irishman and I haven't known since well before either of us was born. Next time the Tigahs have an opponent rush the field and tear down the goal posts when those same Tigahs are 4-7 (see Alabama vs. Kentucky in 1997), give me a call.

LSU63 · August 24th, 2009, 06:37 AM

[QUOTE=4Q Basket Case;1105481][QUOTE=LSU63;1105405]

	Quote:
	No Bama talk before Florida or Georgia?!? You've got to be kidding me. There was talk all over every media outlet about LSU laying for Alabama and Satan.

What media outlet? I'm saying that you're just plain wrong on this one. I live in Brusly, straight across the river from Tiger Stadium, am in the gridiron club, and TAF, and Bama was NOT all the talk. During Bama game week of course, the hype was there, that's natural for the media to hype up the game that week. Of course, in a fanbase, you can cherrypick examples of whatever you want to make your point, but it wasn't the majority.

	Quote:
	Miles apoology did nothing to quell the din amongst the faithful. In fact, it was viewed largely as something he did to quiet the media. If you listen to the clip, you can hear the sincere emotion in his voice. He said what he thinks. Surely you aren't saying that the entire LSU family forgot about that just because a year passed? They, the team, and the coaching staff were keyed for Alabama in Baton Rouge, and had been for 18 months

It was in Jan of 2007, but regardless, that's your opinion, mine is that the folks in Baton Rouge have pretty much forgotten it. Bama was no. 1 and coming into our stadium, you bet we were up for it, just not for 18 months. And yes, the fact that our former coach was leading them added to it. Nothing wrong with that, taken in the proper context, it just adds to the fun of college football. Did a minority go overboard, you bet, and squeaky wheel syndrome, they got media coverage. I'm just telling you that the majority of the fanbase isn't obsessed with Saban and Bama the way your saying. But like I said, in a large fanbase, you can find someone to validate your viewpoint

	Quote:
	True, we've had two consecutive top classes. The most experienced of whom were true and redshirt freshmen last year, and are true sophomores, redshirt freshmen, or true freshmen this year. Think this is a talent pool? Let's talk in 2011.

Good Lord willing, I'll be here, and we can talk.

	Quote:
	Are you now saying that Saban has, in two classes, equalized the talent gap? If not, you're saying you got beat by inferior talent. If so, you're saying than Miles is a recruiter of such inferior quality that a team coming off five years probation can actually close the gap. Which is the case?

The gap in talent was in depth, more than in the starting 22 anyway. Bama was 17-9 in the two years before Saban got there, not exactly Miss.St ish. Bama's starting 22 had plenty of talent last year. LSU did underperform last year, I've never said otherwise.

	Quote:
	Regarding teams being ready for us, we've been used to it since the 1925 Rose Bowl. Tell me something Bama Irishman and I haven't known since well before either of us was born. Next time the Tigahs have an opponent rush the field and tear down the goal posts when those same Tigahs are 4-7 (see Alabama vs. Kentucky in 1997), give me a call.

I never meant to insinuate that Bama wasn't a team worthy of getting fired up for, If it seemed that way, it wasn't intended. Your own coach said that this year Bama wasn't going to sneak up on anyone. The kids playing tend to take into account only what they've seen in the past couple of seasons, unlike the fans.

Bamabuzzard · August 24th, 2009, 08:57 AM

Maybe my memory is getting bad but over the last six or seven years I don't recall anybody being "pumped" to play us for any other reason than they knew they'd probably have a good chance of winning. Especially when it came to Tennessee, Awbarn and LSU. Then throw in there the teams like ULM, La Tech, Northern Illinois and Southern Miss who obviously wasn't petrified of playing us either.

From a fan's standpoint I don't care what a team did a decade ago. When looking back I'll respect their accomplishments during that time frame but it has no bearing on what's going on today. It is what it is and that's history.

Up until the 2008 season many teams and fan bases had us as nothing more than a "given win" on their calendar. I think we as Bama fans think that other teams still view us like we're still back in our hay day and that's simply not true. I think the 2008 season opened a lot of eyes (even the LSU fans) because many truly didn't think Saban was going to be able assemble the same level of talent at Bama as he did at LSU. He's also on a pace to do even better. I've always said if you want to get other people's attention you beat them on field. All the talk about "what ifs" and "if we weren't on probation we'd be..." doesn't 'mount to a hill of beans to other fan bases or the football community. The bottom line is you're getting your butt spanked on the field by their team and that's all that matters. But when you start whoopin' their butts on the field they're then you start getting respect. But until then talk is cheap and living in days that have long past means nothing to the people in the here and now. Coach Saban said this at his first press conference.