The game could have been much, much worse...

Welcome back to the bandwagon.

 

FT,

I agree. I thought I saw signs of the team jelling that I haven't seen so far this year. They have looked disorganized at times this year, pulling a great play on athleticism, followed by confusion.

They may have bought into the system, but it looked like something good happened yesterday.

 

Whatever, FT. Here was your post a week ago:

Call it a bandwagon or call it whatever you want to, you take LSU losses personally and throw your hissy fits and temper tantrums whenever there is a little adversity. I may not have been here today praising the team but neither was I here last week shooting off my mouth about what a poor team, coach, QB or whatever we have. You are a big spoiled baby and unless you get your way, you stamp your feet and hold your breath until you turn blue. I'm not going to enable you by giving you your lollipop back. The truth hurts. Look inward.

 

What an amazing epiphany...

I have purposely stayed away from the forum to maintain my sanity in the last few weeks (That and 10-12 hour workdays 6 days/week will keep you from the things you like at times). I knew that this site suffers from the same problem this team does.

Youth. We haven't been successful enough as a fanbase for us to handle that success. I'm just as much to blame as most, but I'm sure there have been some total meltdowns lately amongst the members of this site (again, I'm not sure, I haven't been here). We don't know how to deal with adversity, just like this team.

Last year, we had guys like Lavalais, Matt Mauck, Eric Alexander, & Stephen Peterman. Guys that had struggled just to get a shot at college ball. Guys who went through injuries just to get back to the field. Guys who bounced around from position to position just waiting for the opportunity. Guys who had been back & forth early in their careers, looking and searching for their place.

Guys that had dealt with adversity. Guys who knew what it took to get there, and what it took to get them through their previous trials & tribulations.

This year, we have youth everywhere. We have lost leadership on both sides of the ball. Yes, coaches, including Nick Saban, have made mistakes. The quarterback situation is still not set as of yet, and we can tell that both of them have their moments along with their meltdowns. Neither has distanced themselves from the other. Neither has shown they are ready for the title of "the man". Until that happens, the coaching staff is open to questions regarding their personnel selection on a weekly basis.

Would Randall have played that way from the opening snap versus the Gators, or did he gain some perspective? Would Russell have played a little less foolishly and made better decisions had he not started?

Would Randall have led us to a blowout against Auburn? Would Russell starting earlier this year gotten his butterflies and bonehead decisions out of his system by now?

We just don't know. Neither does Saban. You're asking him to wear too many hats to see into 18-22 year olds heads to see which one is ready when the lights come on. Both-as I stated-have their share of moments, and meltdowns.

Beyond that, we are finally-it appears-beginning to gel on offense, on the line. Broussard & Addai (with Carey rotating in) have brought a sense of running with purpose and a sheer want to the ground game, and the offensive line has appeared to thrive when rotating its interior guards in and out to wear out opponents. I look for this to continue.

At the pass-catching positions, we are so young its scary. Next year I am salivating over already, but this year we have taken our lumps (Auburn, & even with some silly drops by Bowe last night), but you have to take youth and inexperience for what it is. Time is the only thing that will mature and cure it.

On defense, I think that you can tell that Webster was overused in the early going, and that Daniels might not have been at 100% all year, either. Our other players are somewhat youthful. Our lineup at linebacker has been in flux with Kuale & Highsmith going into & out of the lineup.

All in all, we have played one poor game-against Georgia. The Georgia game is a wash because we all know that Webster hasn't ever played that way (he's nicked & so was Daniels), and also the simple fact that you're on the road against a talented team that you punked out twice last year with huge implications on a national level.

Their fanbase, their team, their coaching staff, hell, the night janitor circled this game. You see what happens with motivation & experience on one side and youthful inexperience and flat play on the other. We got embarassed. Seriously.

We are a few breaks from being a 5-1, Top Ten team. Lots want to denigrate or to assume that the mistakes are gross and blatant and could have been avoided a mile away. I submit that those who live in a glass house don't throw stones. ESPN thought Marcus Randall was the player of the game. So did I. I think he showed last night he can compete against big time college football teams, and WIN.

We knew this year would be difficult. The Auburn loss was galling. The Georgia loss embarassing. But, we all knew this was the most difficult stretch of the year. We are now through it. 1-2 over the three most important games of the year. Not the best, but certainly not the worst of outcomes from that stretch.

We laid the foundation for the rest of the season, and the future of this football program. Sure, we could have done better. But, we could have also done worse. Bottom line is that LSU is alive, well, and in better shape than in late 1999. They're in better shape than in late 2002. They're in better shape than 7 days ago...

Recognize, & realize that you can't ask anymore out of this staff than what they've given. The same goes for the players & support staff.

We can-however-ask more from ourselves.

 

Rep points for you. :thumb:

 

I think this game was Randall's coming out party. He really showed some poise and proved his leadership. HOWEVER, I still think CNS should play the hot hand, with a nod toward Randall.

I'm supportive of both of our QB's, but what I've found frustrating is no one has stepped up and taken this team as their own. There was no doubt that Matt and Jack (and Hill and Lavalais) were the leaders on last years team.

Very happy to see the O line get their chit together also.

 

Um I hate to say this but, WAY to CALL a SPADE a SPADE. the chicken little the sky is falling attitude is WAY to prevalent around here.
:thumb:

 

:thumb: excellent post TE welcome back BTW :rofl:

 

Actually Fla could of had 14 more points. A wide open pass blown by Leak and a good defensive play that almost landed in Fla receiver lap. I think it was two seperate drives but not sure seem to be leaning to the same drive but that would have been 7. However it did not so don't know what could of been just no what was.