Looking Ahead: What's your opinion regarding offensive philosophy in '05?

He definitely relies on a running game, which is what I saw in his game against Texas. That was an upset that got turned into an upset. Hope he doesn't do that this year.

 

Maybe this year they will teach JR how to put some touch on his passes, instead of throwing the ball as hard as he can.

 

He showed some nice touch in the Capital One Bowl.

 

jmo, but if LSU doesn't improve its vertical passing game and continues with 15 completions a game on 27 attempts, the predictable offense of '04 will be the same one in '05 and will cost LSU games just like it did in '04. A balanced attack doesn't necessarily mean 194 ypg rushing (20th) & 202 passing (72nd) the same passing. LSU is more than capable of a top 10 offensive attack (450+ypg & 35+ points a game). They probably won't get there with an extra 50 yards a game rushing and 10 less passes a game. On the other hand, if passing attempts are increased by 10 or more a game, I can see defenses reeling and spread very thin giving up those "big runs" and 200 YPG to LSU in "fewer" rushing attempts.

The NCAA has teams out there putting up 40 TDs a year passing and 80 TDs total. They don't do it against SEC defenses, but LSU had 19 TDs passing, 20 TDs rushing in 2004. Why didn't LSU score more? A couple of SEC teams scored over 50 TDs in 2004. They had much better passing games than LSU and both of them made it to the SECCG.