Without Prior Review & Reflection: Snap Judgements

The offensive line played very, very well. Against a superior defense, LSU churned out good yardage and both grind it out and big play rushing yardage, with an offensive line that was in flux but found a rhythm. The biggest snap judgement from this area for LSU?

Nate Livings should only play tackle if every other warm body on LSU's campus that plays O-Line gets injured.

I mean, is there any doubt that our interior rushing and our pulling was suffering BIGTIME by this guy playing tackle? I know his size makes him a little oversized for guard, but he's just a monster on the interior line, and I say this knowing full well that I've made the statement here and even on the 98.1 radio show tonight that had had-earlier in the season-his lunch money taken from him on a continual, weekly basis. That's right, it's night & day.

One other small note. Nice to see Niswanger's transition going seamlessly.

Running backs: Addai looked tough, and I believe is our best overall weapon on offense (qualified by the fact that our wideouts could be, but we can't get it to them). Broussard may be the best running back in the purest sense of the term, though (Addai can be a wideout, a split out of the backfield pass catcher, a fullback, or a full blown wideout, so he's more of a jack-of-all-trades type). Justin Vincent even played well. Hester got some good yardage.

Carey-evidently-is having problems self medicating in an "herbal manner". He was suspended tonight, from what I've heard.

Wide Receivers: They played well. Couldn't say too much other than they blocked downfield effectively. The reason you can't say too much is...

Quarterbacks: Terrible. Russell checked out into that pass at the end, and yeah, it might have been an off-the-fingertips type pass that was an almost score, but Saban went absolutely @pesh!t on the sidelines, and you can tell that Russell still hasn't cured himself of (Redshirt) Freshman-itis.

That was a run play, with less than 7 minutes to go with a game that required two touchdowns, two more two point conversions, and at least another FG to lose the lead. Why in the h-e-double hockeysticks are you checking out to a run play?

Marcus Randall needs to be shown the door. He's fine at getting back there and trying his damndest. It's just that his damndest isn't worth a damn. I'm a Marcus guy, but we've got to just give Russell to the wolves and let him fight, f$$$, or hit the fence...

Marcus has no ability to "progress" through a read. He ate the ball as opposed to creating turnovers, which is nice, but the bottom line is that LSU wideouts were open, and the stadium saw them, and he didn't connect.

Russell is still brainlocking in the same "locked in" manner with respect to wideouts. He never goes to-or is it that he's not even aware of them?-2nd or 3rd reads, period. That is coachable and something that can be overcome at this piont in his career. For Randall, however, that time would have come if it could come. It can't, and his presence in the game seems to inspire our team, but the predictability of our offense suffers from it the longer he lingers in the lineup.

We play with our heads on a swivel when Marcus runs into the huddle. But, after you go through the 6-10 plays they have for Marcus from the different formations, he starts getting stuffed. The offense stalls. They load for bear, and they start killing it.

Look back over all the tapes...The same thing seems to happen. They hone in on the shrunken offensive reportoire.

Defense: Nothing to complain about, period.

Special Teams: Strong start, sh!tty finish. Improve or get the...out of town.

Coaching: The playcalling is still without imagination in the red zone. It needs to improve. The onside kick was almost a terrible decision, but our excellent defense bailed us out.

As I think an reflect more, I'll add to this thread...

What do you guys think?

 

Nice seeing you and the family at the game. Did pops ever get his camera phone?

 

I have to agree with most of your points. The quarterback play was adequate but not terrible. No INT's or fumbles so that was a good thing. From my vantage point in the north endzone it is hard to see plays in the south but it looked like they were not finding open recievers. It was so fustrating to see guys on several occasions all alone with NO ONE withen 20 yards. Craig Davis was so wide open one time that had he gotten the ball he could have crab walked into the endzone from the 30 and no one would have touched him. He showed his frustration in slapping the field with his hands.

In defense of any quarterback, it is tough to see through some of those defenses. I'm on the field during the last 5 minutes of each game and I can see how tough that job is. I do think they are not looking off the first reciever and, especially Randell, is taking too long to pass. He sits in the pocket as it collapses waiting for his 1 to get open then he either takes the sack or tries to duck and run. Why he hasn't learned to look to the 2 and 3's I don't know. On the upside the team gets behind Randell and gives him the ability to make plays. He just doesn't take advantage.

Given time, Russell will be a hoss. He has the talent no doubt but what remains to be seen is if he has it upstairs.

 

Russell is less and less exciting every game. From what some of the posters said he was a fly by the seat of his pants guy in high school, making plays on the go. If he has had this "come to Jesus" as you stated in another post, it is very obvious he has some growing pains left. The structured offense is giving him major fits.
With that said, I guess it was not nearly as close b/t him and Flynn in the Spring. If Flynn cannot see playing time this year with these 2 Qb's playing like this, he may never see the field.

 

Im the one who posted about Russell in High School. I saw him play at least 10 games over his junior and senior year. BTW...he never did lead his team to a state title. He always got snuffed out in the final rounds even when Williamson had a really good team in his senior season. They should have won it all but he made some mistakes that cost them a late round playoff game.

He sure as heck "looks" like a great QB but he hasnt clicked yet. At the start of the year I thought he would progress and be an outstanding QB as the season went on and into next year. Right now Im not so confident in that. He has a LONG, LONG way to go and it would be very nice to have Perrilloux. At this point it doesnt look like Russell can make the jump to the more disciplined style that Saban wants to see from the QB position. Russell has never been that kind of QB and even the best coaching may not get him there. I hope Im wrong though.

 

Considering Sabans offensive style, i think flynn is gonna be the best fit there.. he is a more cerebral QB than JR... Flynn is more Mauckish (new lsu word) is his style, which is exactly what LSU needs.. with the recievers LSU has, their will be people open.. we just need someone with touch who can get it there, not a howitzer for an arm, but a target rifle... in my opinion a running style qb like perrilloux is wasted at LSU.. saban has the nfl philosophy that a qb is supposed to pass the ball, not run it.

 

No doubt Russell is the biggest disappointment of this season and we will once again go in to the offseason with the QB worries for next year. It seems all of the frosh have made progress, some more than others, but getting better as the year goes on. Can't say that about Jamarcus. We need somebody to come in and challenge him in the Spring :dis:

 

all is not lost with russell, if he spends more time this summer working on game film and reading defenses i think he will look a lot better next year. in last nights game he seemed to be pressing a lot, throws that he made early in the season were under thrown. he still showed that he will stand tall in the pocket to make a pass, some he made just as the defense was getting ready to hit him. the thing thats most comforting for next year is that he seems like he wants to learn and is not conceded or aragant which i think will make him much better next year.

 

I know you can only prepare 2 QB's for a game but why doesn't Flynn see any action. I think next week would be perfect for him to see a good amount of PT. If the QB situation is still kind of open why not let a guy who will be battling for the spot next year to get some time in a game situation against a team we should beat?

I know the QB's were plagued by a few dropped balls last night but I'm sure the recievers were surprised as hell that the pass actually made it to them. I not a particualr supporter of one or the other but I just haven't seen a real QB on the field this season for LSU.