Les Miles could be a damn fine coach and LSU could still suffer two losses because our special teams are so weak. Nick suffered three losses last year with essentially the same team. Yes, the 22-year-olds will be outraged with two losses. But nobody who sat through eight losing seasons in the 90's is going to be very upset with 9-2. No fan except naive ones expect that LSU has a divine right to another four-year run like the last four. 9-2 is not going to put anybody on the hot seat.
I agree. All of the pre season hype is getting us excited and, maybe, getting us to set the bar a couple of notches higher than we dared to a few months ago. If we go 9-2 or 8-3, we are entitled to be disappointed. Being p!ssed off, however, would indicate a lack of maturity and misplaced priorities.
How are our special teams 'so damn weak'? We got an OLYMPIC sprinter running kicks, and some of the world's fastest kids defending the kicks... Placekicking may be a problem, but I think Chris Jackson has matured a hell of a lot thanks to baseball and will be quite alright.
special teams are weak.... with green out last year, punt returns were anemic... placekicking was terrible and the punts were fairly weak... jackson is accurate on punts but sucks on distance... We need Jackson to figure out how to kick field goals, Fisher (thats the 6'5 punter's name right?) to decide he actually wants to be on the team, and someone to step up on punt returns.
Did you watch the Tigers last season? Like the extra-point defense losing the Auburn Game. Or the what, seven missed extra points? Last year LSU ranked: #52 in net punting #79 in punt returns #57 in kickoff returns Jackson was the #67 kicker and the #74 punter (Fisher was unranked) Gaudet was #91 kicker NCAA.org These numbers are unimpressive, amigo. The kicking teams have a lot to prove this year and Miles has made it a point of emphasis. They are possibly LSU's Achilles heel.
Yeah, but it seemed that everyone in the SEC had horrible special teams (at least for PATs and FGs), except UT.
Something i wonder about Miles... Would LSU be a concensus #2 if we had gotten a higher profile coach or if saban had stayed... pretty much every publication that has them ranked lower says that LSU has the talent, but Miles is the question mark... would really suck if LSU goes undefeated but doesnt go to the BCS because of an initial low ranking because of a questionable (to some) coaching hire...
Miles came to LSU because he lives for high expectations. He's not in a bad spot. He's here to win, not to try just hard enough to not get fired. He's not in a bad spot & he definitely knows what he's in for. He did his research before accepting the job, and all these factors only made him want to coach for LSU even more. There's no reason Miles can't be the most-winningest coach LSU has ever had. He comes in with lots of talent that can win right away, he recruits well in a great athlete state & wants to stay for a while. His abilities are some what of question mark right now. That's only because he hasn't proven he can win championships. Of course, he's never had the resources he now has to do it. Even great coaches need their break to show their abilities. I think Miles is very talented & will do very good for LSU. Any less than 10 wins would be a dissapointment. Sound unrealistic? No. Saban was 2 fluke plays away from winning 11 games last year with a young, inexperienced team. Miles had better show he can win atleast 10 with a mature, very talented team.
I look at LSU's schedule and the talent on their teams and i just dont see anyone that LSU shouldnt beat. There are only 2 ways that LSU could lose this year a: alot of people dont play up to their potential and b: bad coaching (not saying the coaches are bad, just saying that is what it would take for them to lose). LSU's success this year, to my mind, will fall squarely on the shoulders of Jimbo Fisher. If he has the same generic playcalling as last year, then LSU will not live up to its potential. If he mixes it up like in 2k3, then LSU rolls to another BCSCG.
