1998 ... No defense. The fat lady started warming up after a midseason loss to Kentucky. This year's team will be good on defense...and Tepper isn't around.
I agree, Tepper was a huge part of the problem. I also think this team has a lot more talent and experience than the '98 team. Is it me or does it seem like college players in general are just getting better and better each year? Also, we've got guys on special teams that know how to tackle -- that was by far my favorite quote from Dinardo after a loss, "Well, we have a few guys on special teams who just don't know how to tackle." :rofl: With Jimbo still around, I don't think we'll see much change in the offense, other than more production based on talent and experience. I'll be honest that I don't know a whole lot about Pellini, only what I've heard here, but feel the defense will still be dominant, with the only question mark being on the line (other than Kyle Williams).
The offense averaged over 30 ppg, 32 ppg if I remember correctly. Any team that can go 4-7 scoring that much and then retain its DC is asking to go 3-8 the next year. Of course it would help if you avoid hiring a "hot shot offensive coordinator who will only be here a few years" and promote a boob from within to run the offense so it can match the ineptness of the defense. That last game in 1999 was like all the weight of the world was lifted off our teams shoulders. the ultra-paranoid DiNardo was gone and we kicked arkansas ###. the talent to have winning years was there, the coaching wasn't.
LSU did terrible in 98, but, i do remember LSU being called the best 4-7 team in the country. 5 of those games were lost by a touchdown or less. (Georgia, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Bama, and ND) LSU was inconsistent back then. 95: 7-4-1 96: 10-2 97: 9-3 98: 4-7 99: 3-8 *00: 8-4
Don't you just love it when the sports talkers gab about the best 3-9 team or the best 4-7 team, blah, blah, blah. Hell, if they were good, they'd have won some of those games.
I wish I had 4 hands so I could give this post 4 thumbs down. Definitely a glass half-full type, aren't you? I'm getting pissed just thinking about 1998. Remember how Reese was canned just because he got credit for the 1997 Florida win? Reese's departure/firing/whatever the **** it was and Tepper's defense = bad times for Tiger fans. Not that it cannot happen again, but who really thinks that will even be a remote possibility this year?
This team is built of top recruiting classes and former high school all-state and all-american players... 1998's team was not.. simple as that...
a few differences: - defensive coaching and scheme in 1998 was horrible - no offense to Herb Tyler but insanely more talent at QB - better wideouts, i think in 1998 our best wideouts were decent, L. Foster and A. Booty - better depth at RB, 1998 had Faulk and Mealey, but little else - 1998 team had some serious distractions issues with Cecil's summer fun campaign
Tigger, I am with you on most all your points. However, there were a couple of NFL studds that came out of the mid to late 80's. Mark Boute(Dever linbacker), the running back who went and played several years with Oakland, Williams I believe. Any way the talent in the state wasnt bear. They went to Miami, FSU, Colorado and EaTmE. Why, because Archer and Arnsparger made the decision that the kids from the New Orleans inner city were to much trouble. Any rate--I thought we were talking about 1998..... the problem there was Dinardo hiring Tepper and thinking he would "Revolutionize defense in the SEC". He was trying to find a way to counter "The fun and gun"! IT FAILED! This is a totaly different situation this year. The coordinators miles brought in are very similar to the cloth Saban is cut from. Geaux Tigers!!!
