Total Defense = LSU #1 Scoring Defense = LSU #2 Passing Defense = LSU #4 Rushing Defense = LSU #8 Pass efficiency defense = LSU #1 Interceptions = LSU #5 Sacks = LSU #16 3rd down coversion defense = LSU #12 Total Offense = LSU #14 Scoring Offense = LSU #12 Passing Offense = LSU #15 Rushing Offense = LSU #46 Pass Efficency = LSU #9 Interceptions allowed = #32 Sacks allowed = #11 3rd-down conversions = LSU #3 Net Punting = LSU #107 Punt Returns = LSU #76 Kickoff returns = LSU #107 Punt Return Defense = LSU #115 Kickoff Return defense = LSU #12 Turnover margin = LSU #46 Fewest penalties = LSU #80 Our faults and virtues are plain. It ain't Miles or Russell or the running game that is killing LSU. It is special teams. They cost us the Florida game for sure and possibly the Auburn game, too.
Wow, has a team ever had the #1 defense and #12 offense in the land and yet had 2 losses after 7 games? Our stats would lead you to believe that we are among the greatest teams, not just this year, but in all of college football history. The #1 D and #12 O? Wow. You blame the difficulties on special teams. I blame it on coaching. Behind the stats remains the fact that this team is timid and does not execute in games against quality opposition this year. We might as well be West Virginia fans if we're going to look at our stats as being great because our stats are only great because we do well against nobodies. What the combined record of teams we've beaten? 13-19. At least now that USL is 3-2 we can say we've beaten a winning team. It's a coaching issue. Beating second and third tier teams requires no coaching with the talent we have. I could go out there and we would beat these teams. That there is such a drop off in execution and preparation against the good teams shows that the coaching staff is not instilling in this team confidence, leadership, and desire. The talent of our team comes out against bad teams. The poor coaching comes out against good teams. It's as simple as that.
46th in rushing offense is unacceptable.. considering that there are probably 35 teams out there that are pass first, 46th is lower than it looks...
We haven't had successful drives or ran the ball in the Auburn or Fla games. We intercepted a pass and ran the ball to the AU 30 yard line and got no points. Those stats are misleading when you consider the majority of those came against ULL, Arizona, Tulane and MSU. I'd like to see where we ranked after 2 games providing they were the Fla and AU games. I don't buy it, if the offense still is consistant at being inconsistant meaning no running game further trouble will be ahead. This is why I've always been against the louzy cupcake/rent a win teams in college sports, they are just stupid, a waste of time. I can see the first game of the season for timing, etc.
All teams have their cupcakes included in their stats as well. Seems like you just want to look at them as negatively as possible.
Once again, I get to repeat my little statistics maxim. Statistics are like a bikini. What they reveal is interesting. But what they conceal is vital. Perfect case in point of the above stats. Break out the 5 wins stats vs. the Crapchester State(s) against the two losses against quality opposition. I'll bet we're first in virtually ALL NCAA catagories, both defensive AND offensive. Compare those to the AU & UF games. It's a real story of feast or famine here.
No, I don't think that you can say that the team had bad stats against UF and AU, except maybe pass efficency. We did well against both of those teams in most, if not all stats- our defense still owned those teams. It is special teams, and it is coaching. I blame coaching in the AU game, and special teams in the UF game. Note of interest- AU did not score an offensive touchdown against the Florida defense. That tells you just how important special teams has become in the SEC.
Umm, not really, just pointing out that those stats aren't as accurate as they seem, we certainly didn't look like our offense was ranked that high in those 2 games. Say what you will but coming into this year I thought we would be able to run the ball effectively and was looking forward to AB's return. I really love those kind of backs similar to Cecil Collins. I'm not just talking about AB here either. Hasn't happened? I pretty much got what I expected from the defense but the offense is another story. I was fine with the Auburn loss because their defense seemed to be that good until the last 2 weeks, Rivalry game anything can happen. Arkansas and Florida could run pretty well on them so I think our running game is suspect. If I wanted to be negative I would bash the coaches or players and I certainly haven't done that. You and I must've seen different games since you think our offense was fine in the AU and Florida games. To each his own, peace
