And you will, frosh, Jimbo has aired it before. But he can't get predicatable against a modern defense or they will take it away. And you have to have the players who can do it or you get a turnover or a wasted down. Last year our receivers dropped way too many balls and several touchdowns. Our quarterback scattered a lot of his long passes at receivers feet or behind them, too. It's a matter of acceptable risk. When Jimbo thinks his guys are consistent enough--I mean automatic TD if the receiver gets open--then Jimbo can risk trying it more often. LSU has averaged 10 wins a season since Jimbo has been here and the reason is that he runs a balanced run/pass ball-control offense that is effective against modern defenses. It ain't about scoring quick, its about scoring steadily and piling up the time of possession. In fact, scoring slow is far better when you are ahead. The opponent can't get back in the game if he can't get the ball back. It frustrates the opponent far worse than it frustrates us. So its a good thing.
I think Jimbo has orchestrated like the top 3 or 4 offenses in LSU history except for maybe one other. We get spoiled very easily.
I'm reluctant to criticize Jimbo after the Peach Bowl. I question Russell more than the receivers last season - I find it strange that people think the reason they didn't catch is because they didn't have enough practice, training, or were just too tired or emotionally drained. Russell has a ton of physical attributes, but he seems to get antsy under the gun. Hopefully it can be remedied this season. If it can't be, I hope Flynn and Perilloux are considered sooner rather than later. The offense as a whole had too many penalties and turnovers last season - problems that need to be fixed as well. Things like that reflect very poorly on the coaches.
... back to Perrilloux... and the when will he see the field thingy. I paid attention in 2005 to his recruitment, as we Hawks were recruiting Jake Christensen at the same time... both guys had a lot of hype around them. The final Rivals Top 100 players had four QB's listed: Sanchez (USC), RP (LSU), Crompton (Tenn), and Christensen (Iowa). http://rivals100.rivals.com/viewrank.asp?ra_key=817 So I'm wondering... Sanchez, in spite of his off-field woes, is apparently running neck and neck for a starting job, or a very close second. Crompton has apparently secured the #2 spot at UT and Christensen is locked in behind Tate. All these guys RS freshmen. In addition, although I haven't read much about the UT guy, both Sanchez and Christensen are getting all kinds of superlatives laid on them by their coaches... words to the effect that they are ready to step up... and in. "He deserves significant playing time" type of stuff. Even the Pope of Florida has big plans for his new freshman... this year. Then there's RP... wonder what he's thinking. Did he not wow the coaches enough this spring, where they said, "This guy is a difference maker"? "We gotta get him on the field"? Now, I understand he's got a couple of proven guys ahead of him... and JR didn't get in a full spring... but I want to see coaches' drooling!!! And, let's face it, you guys run about 60% of the time... and your passing is designed to be more "drive-sustaining". JR is good, but he's a better mid-range and long range passer than he is "short". He's not very mobile. He's streaky. He finished something like 35th in QB rankings last year. He's not Brady Quinn and he's not Vince Young. He's something in-between. You would think your offense would flourish if your QB could take off when needed... or have completion numbers over 62%. Maybe I'm missing something. Maybe the coaches are wiping off their drool before we can see it! I just expected to see more hype for the guy as he rolled into his second year... maybe Miles is just a quiet guy on such matters. There, I'm done.
Miles is tight lipped. But Perilloux is up against a guy who was also highly recruited in Russell who was stealing thunder from the Mannings this summer, and a guy in Flynn who lead the Tigers to realize their full potential in a total thumping of Miami FL to end last season. I agree with you that I'm not so sure how well Russell fits into our system, but he is an amazing physical specimen that would be difficult to bench if it was your call to make. If Russell starts, I hope he does well. He's shown flashes of brilliance. I'm not sold on him, though.
Did you see the missed catches? Auburn game - right into the hands of Bowe & to Doucet and not too hard either, yet they were dropped. Arizona St - right through Xavier's hands that would've been a sure touchdown. Now, JaMarcus did sometimes throw behind the receivers & not in stride, but the receivers definitely deserved a lot of blame for their performance last year.
Miles supposedly told Perrilloux that he had earned playing time last year before Katrina messed up the season, although I question whether that's truthful or not. He has been told he will see playing time this year though. You seem to forget that JaMarcus was almost as highly recruited as Perrilloux, and Flynn was a 4* QB also.
I didn't forget the recruiting rankings of Flynn and JR... makes for a tough, maybe good, situation. My "rant" was probably too long... just wondering if RP was matching his hype...and suggesting his "style" might add a missing dimension to the team. "Recruiting rankings" can end rather abruptly... usually upon enrollment.
A few comments: 1. Miles plays his cards close to the vest when it comes to injuries and who is starting. Miles doesn't like the opponents to know what they will face--make them have to plan and practice for any of the 3 quarterbacks. 2. Miles would be a real tool if he disrespected his talented and experienced starting quarterback by unduly praising a freshman who has not suited up for a game yet. Miles is not a tool. 3. Perrilloux, by most accounts, has impressed observers with his skills but not to the point that he will be moved ahead of experienced quarterbacks before he plays a down. 4. Perrilloux must pay some dues as all players do, and he knows it. This upcoming season will be his chance to take the job by outperforming his teammates. He won't simply be annointed, he must earn it. But it could happen. 5. Perrilloux may need a season of Div-I experience as a reserve to hone those skills before he is ready to start. That might happen, too.
... not suggesting that. Miles would be a "tool" if he didn't use a player grading format to let the players know where they are on the depth chart. If RP was grading out better than, say, Flynn, that's the way it goes... and players understand that. So, Flynn must be grading out better then RP, I would think... thus the lack of undo praise... because it hasn't been earned yet. ... makes sense to me.:hihi:
