Serving Baton Rouge and Central since 1988. Open Monday-Friday, 7:00 am to 6:00 pm.
November 22, 2009
Tigers didn’t lose to Ole Miss on Saturday, they lost at practice during the week
The final score on Saturday from Oxford, Miss., will be recorded as a 25-23 victory by the Ole Miss Rebels over the LSU Tigers. That is the result today, tomorrow, next week, next month, etc. However, LSU lost this game in the week of preparation leading up to the game.
I have checked the LSU media guide and it lists Les Miles as the “head coach” of the LSU team. The LSU sports website (lsusports.net) also has Les Miles listed as head coach. I will assume that everyone in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, everyone watching on CBS television, and everyone listening on either the Rebel or Tiger radio network would also list Les Miles as the head coach of the LSU Tigers.
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The clock read 1:16 to go in the fourth quarter when the title of “head coach” was no longer occupied on the LSU sideline. I do not have to retype what transpired from that time until the clock read 0:00 – I am sure you have read, heard, seen, and discussed the events relentlessly. What was said after the game by those involved leaves us even more confused.
“There was a lot of confusion on the sideline, and we didn’t know what to do,” LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson stated after the game. “When Terrance caught it, I thought the field-goal unit was going to come out and kick the field goal and we were going to win the game. They had a lot of communication going on. Time was running out. I mean it was just a lot of confusion.”
“The only thing I can tell you what we needed to have happen is run an offensive play or kick a field goal, one of the two,” Miles said, as his thoughts seemingly wandered. “Apparently … obviously … (Jefferson) felt like… I do not know who told him to clock it. I’m listening on the headphones. ‘You cannot clock that ball.’ I don’t know that that call was ever made.”
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Jefferson said he was signaled to “clock” the ball. Video from WBRZ’s Michael Cauble (on the sideline at the game) shows that Miles was making that signal!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Les Miles was interviewed by CBS’s Tracy Wolfson immediately after the game. If you saw it, you know that he had no idea what happened. If you haven’t seen it, you will.
Given his comments and then seeing the video evidence, it appears that Miles was not upfront and honest with reporters after the game. We will see what he does at his weekly press luncheon Monday on the LSU campus.
The LSU players and fans deserved better from the “head coach.” Proper preparation during the week leading to the game (and every game for that matter) is the responsibility of the head coach and his staff. The buck (almost 4 million of them) stops on the desk of the head coach. This team was not prepared for the final 1:16 of the game in Oxford against Ole Miss. There was no plan, there was no “head coach” to step up, lead, make decisions, and put the team and players in position for “victory” (borrowing terminology from Les Miles).
Who knows, the field goal attempt may not have been successful. But now we will never know because a plan of action that should have been developed during the week leading up to the game was absent.
Les Miles was also quoted as follows, “The management at the back end of the game was the issue. It’s my fault that we didn’t finish first in that game.”
Credit Les Miles for admitting the obvious. The question is and will remain – why? I think the players and fans deserved better. I am sure all eyes will be on Les Miles and his “management” of this team going forward. Let’s hope that this week of preparation for Arkansas and all future weeks of preparation will result in a much better situation for all involved.
Serving Baton Rouge and Central since 1988. Open Monday-Friday, 7:00 am to 6:00 pm.
November 2, 2009
LSU vs. Alabama — Should Be A Good One!
The LSU Tigers will play the Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday afternoon in Tuscaloosa. The kickoff will be shortly after 2:30 p.m. and the game televised on CBS nationally. Alabama has opened as a 9-point favorite (this line can and will probably change between now and kickoff). LSU is 7-1, 4-1 in the SEC – Alabama is 8-0, 5-0 in the SEC. Alabama has slipped to No. 3 in the polls while having an open date this past weekend. LSU is still at No. 9 after smashing Tulane 42-0 (more about that game later). LSU has not lost in Tuscaloosa since 1999. Obviously, a lot rides on this game in the SEC West, SEC, and national championship picture. It should be a good one!
LSU is ranked 12th offensively in the SEC. Alabama’s defense in 2nd in the SEC (trailing only Florida). On paper, this chess match will be critical. Can LSU run the ball and have success? Can Jordan Jefferson be effective passing and/or running? The LSU offense has played better each week (except vs. Florida – see above, #1 defense in the SEC) and will have to continue to get better to have a chance against Alabama. I feel the key will be the offensive line and how they block for the run and pass. If the line can play well, it will greatly enhance LSU’s chances to win the game. The offensive game plan must be sound and ready to adjust to Alabama’s adjustments. The “chess match” between the LSU offense and the Alabama defense will be key.
Do not rule out LSU’s defense and the matchup with the Alabama offense. I think LSU’s defense has improved every week (even against Florida) and will do well against the Alabama offense. Also, special teams will be a very important part of this matchup and these units favor LSU slightly.
There is a lot on the line – it should be a good one!!!
Thoughts and Observations:
Why does Tulane play football? Coach Toledo of Tulane said he wanted his team to “compete” for 60 minutes. He punted from near midfield late in the game trailing by 35 points. I guess he meant compete for “almost” 60 minutes. Just another of the many, many reasons it makes me and most people wonder – Why does Tulane play football?
USC will not win the PAC-10 for the first time in 7 years.
Notre Dame is the most overrated team in the land (as always).
Look for Texas vs. Florida for the title.
Remember, LSU vs. Alabama – it should be a good one!
Serving Baton Rouge and Central since 1988. Open Monday-Friday, 7:00 am to 6:00 pm.
October 26, 2009
Tigers put it together vs. Auburn
The LSU Tigers looked very good in dominating Auburn in Tiger Stadium this past Saturday night. LSU came off of the open date on the schedule and looked refreshed and primed to make a run for an SEC championship, a major bowl game, and, who knows, maybe a trip to Pasadena and the BCS Championship Game.
The Tigers are in the much-desired position to control their own destiny. All coaches and teams love to be in that spot, and with five games remaining in the regular season, those are the cards on front of LSU.
Coach Les Miles FINALLY decided to listen to the media (local and national) and fans of the purple and gold and do the obvious. Offensively, the Tigers blocked better (not great but better), threw the ball down the field, used Russell Shepard, and now look the best they have offensively to date this season. There is still room for improvement and there needs to be improvement going forward.
Defensively, the Tigers looked VERY good. Perhaps the John Chavis touch is starting to make an impression.
Special teams, hmmm, let’s just say they need to keep improving.
LSU should use the scheduled game with Tulane (Tulane has no business playing football) to continue to make improvement as a team. I don’t have to tell you who and where the Tigers play on November 7 (Alabama in Tuscaloosa, if you must know) and that will be a large challenge. Alabama looked a little suspect against South Carolina and Tennessee, but following a bye week of their own will be ready for LSU.
Prior to the season I picked LSU to go 9-3 and I will stand by that for now. Memo to coach Miles: keep it simple and let them PLAY.
Thoughts and Observations
Why does Tulane play football?
I don’t think Texas is as good as some people think they are – look for a slip up soon.
Serving Baton Rouge and Central since 1988. Open Monday-Friday, 7:00 am to 6:00 pm.
October 16, 2009
LSU Football Report Card – Halfway Mark
The LSU Tigers are 5-1 and ranked #10 in the polls. The loss, as you know, was by 10 points to the #1 ranked Florida Gators who look like a safe bet to be 12-0 heading to Atlanta in December. This LSU team has confused a lot of people. Most importantly, they seem to be confused themselves — penalties, can’t line up properly, mistakes at bad times.
They have had moments of looking like an excellent team but the BIG picture is not clear and focused. They need to use this open date to get their act together and prepare for the rest of the schedule. As I look it, they could lose as many as four of the last six, or they could win five of the six. I do not see them beating Alabama under any circumstances.
I coached briefly at the high school level and learned early the old coaching axiom “KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID” (kiss theory). LSU needs to get back to this and pick something and do it well. This season still has a chance to be a very good one, but major improvement is needed.
Okay, let’s give out the report card. Please have your bartender sign it and then give it to another bartender.
OFFENSE: D
Last in the SEC! Confusion, poor play calling, poor line play, penalties, Jordan Jefferson showing his lack of experience, Les Miles not sure what’s going on with play calling and who is out there. There are a lot of “weapons” on the offense, KISS !!!!! Pick something and do it! Let the talented players play.
DEFENSE: B
If the defensive line was playing better this could be an “A”. The linebackers and secondary are very good, very talented and several players will play on Sundays. The D-Line needs to kick it up a notch in the final six games. They will be important in determining wins and/or losses.
SPECIAL TEAMS: C
Nothing great, nothing terrible. This, as always, will be important, and with so many of the games a “toss up”, special teams could play a HUGE role.
COACHING: C
Les Miles will never be accused of being a genius. He needs to at least look like he knows what is going on. The staff has talent, the players are talented, so LET THEM PLAY and “KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID”.
THOUGHTS AND OBSERVATIONS:
Why does Tulane play football ?
Alabama will “roll” South Carolina.
USC will crush Notre Dame.
How about the Saints ?
Go to a high school game!
Serving Baton Rouge and Central since 1988. Open Monday-Friday, 7:00 am to 6:00 pm.
October 9, 2009
LSU to roll Saturday Night in Tiger Stadium
LSU is in a great spot on Saturday night in Tiger Stadium to knock off the #1 Florida Gators. The Gators come to Baton Rouge and do not know if Tim Tebow is going to play. My personal opinion is that he will NOT play. I do not have inside info, just going on the information that I have, which is the same as most.
When you take the quarterback away from ANY team, it makes a huge difference. Ask Oklahoma and Southern Cal, and we can probably find a few more who are not the same team without the starting quarterback.
Florida’s backup John Brantley is going to be a very good quarterback in the future and will probably learn and benefit a lot from Saturday night’s experience. However, that is not going to help against LSU in this game.
Look for Jordan Jefferson to be the key. The Florida defense is as good as any in the nation and the LSU offense is last in the SEC – so the Tigers will have to run the ball and then let Jefferson throw. I think the HUGE crowd and emotion will lean heavily to LSU. I am thinking low scoring and the result being a “victory” (Les Miles term) for LSU, 18-13!
Thoughts and Observations:
Why does Tulane still play football ?
Ole Miss has no shot vs. Alabama this Saturday.
Mississippi State will beat Houston.
Look for ULL to win!
Serving Baton Rouge and Central since 1988. Open Monday-Friday, 7:00 am to 6:00 pm.
September 30, 2009
LSU is 4-0, Ranked # 4 … How did that happen?
The LSU Tigers have a record of 4-0 (2-0 in SEC play) and are currently ranked #4 in the AP college football poll. After the win in Starkville against the Mississippi State Bulldogs, the Tigers still have many questions to answer.
Let’s start offensively: Why is Russell Shepard not playing more? When he has been in the game he has had a positive impact. Coach Miles needs to get him more plays and not just say it, DO IT!
What has happened to the running game? Auburn rushed for nearly 400 yards against Mississippi State, LSU had 7 yards rushing at half. This offensive line is not as good as advertised (at least not to this point) and the running backs are not what we are used to seeing out of Charles Scott and Keiland Williams. Someone needs to call a behind the door meeting with the offense and light a fire under them. I think the TALENT is there, but results have yet to surface.
Is Jordan Jefferson the QB to take this team to championships (SEC, National)? I think that he is very talented, however, a little short on experience to date. He will get better with time and when he gets some confidence under his belt I believe good things will happen. The offense has to be a cohesive unit and it needs to start with him!
Let’s look at the defense. How good is Chad Jones? The answer is that he is as talented as anyone who has ever played defense for LSU (I know that is saying a lot) and he will only get better in time. He needs to improve his football IQ and that will happen with experience and continued coaching. I think the defense is still “adjusting” to Coach Chavis and his system. They will get better (they need to).
All in all, the team is 4-0 and that is the bottom line….WIN GAMES! All things must improve as the schedule lists better opponents on the horizon. LSU is #4, Georgia is #15, yet the Bulldogs are 2 to 2.5 point favorites in Athens. Georgia likes to say “between the hedges”. I like to go back to coach Charlie McClendon who rephrased it as “behind the bushes”. Look for a high scoring game. A field goal at the horn could be difference. Either team can win!
Observations and Thoughts:
Why does Tulane still play football?
Why did Nebraska push ULL around and LSU could not?
Serving Baton Rouge and Central since 1988. Open Monday-Friday, 7:00 am to 6:00 pm.
September 16, 2009
University of Louisiana–Lafayette has NO SHOT!
The University of Louisiana–Lafayette Ragin Cajuns come to Baton Rouge Saturday night sporting a 2-0 record with wins coming over the Southern Jaguars and the Kansas State Wildcats.
Rickey Bustle is in his eighth year as head coach at ULL and this could be his best team to date. ULL went 6-6 last season and had some bowl hopes, though they did not materialize. Most in Lafayette feel like this ULL team is a bowl team and they hope to make improvement in the Sun Belt conference.
After playing LSU this weekend, ULL travels to Lincoln, Neb., to take on Bo Pelini’s Cornhuskers. ULL has a better chance to win that game than it does of springing the upset in Tiger Stadium.
Some of the more memorable upsets in Tiger Stadium that have occurred when the opponent was regarded to have “NO SHOT.” Remember the 1977 contest when Kentucky came to Baton Rouge and spoiled LSU’s homecoming 33-13? How about 1982 when Tulane came to town as a huge underdog and, in spite of the Tigers being led by ol’ # 7 Alan Risher, the Green Wave left on a rainy night with a 31-28 win? Then there was Miami (Ohio), who rolled into Baton Rouge in 1986 and shocked an LSU team that went on to win the SEC that season by a tally of 21-12. Finally there was coach Nick Saban’s first year when the University of Alabama – Birmingham spoiled an LSU homecoming night by a score of 13–10.
Alabama–Birmingham and Louisiana–Lafayette (PLEASE DISREGARD any printed or spoken mention of the University of Louisiana, as that is a name of a school that DOES NOT exist) have the hyphen in common, but the Ragin Cajuns will not join the Blazers in leaving Baton Rouge with a victory. ULL is a 26-28 point underdog, depending on where you are looking. While this may be there best team under coach Bustle, it is not skilled enough to beat LSU. LSU has looked good and bad to date against Washington and Vanderbilt but will play its best game to date against ULL. Look for more of Russell Shepard and for a big game from Jordan Jefferson. Also, I look for Charles Scott to have a big night on the ground.
Take the Tigers and lay the points. There will not be many people left in the stadium in the fourth quarter when LSU is comfortably ahead. I look for something in the ballpark of 45-10.
Some Observations and Thoughts
Why does Tulane still play football ?
How can ULL only draw 16,000 for K-State game (I know the weather was suspect)?
Ohio State fans are like Duke fans and looking forward to basketball season.
Notre Dame once again wins the title for MOST OVERRATED team in the pre-season.
Proverbial post-big win hangover nailed the Cowboys of Okie State.
Florida will HAMMER Tennessee this week!!!!!
Take a Friday night and go to a high school football game!
Serving Baton Rouge and Central since 1988. Open Monday-Friday, 7:00 am to 6:00 pm.
September 9, 2009
TK’s Thoughts and Observations……………..
The LSU Tigers survived their trip to the west coast and returned with a 31-23 victory. The bottom line is to WIN the game and while the Tigers did accomplish that goal, many RED flags went up the pole.
Let’s observe:
On offense, Jordan Jefferson looked like a “young” player at times; however, it looked like he can be a very good player in time
Charles Scott – he must be better in the Central Time Zone, Keiland Williams with 7+ yards per carry should get more touches this week
Terrance Tolliver’s production will help all of the receivers in the coming weeks - defenses (secondaries) will have their HANDS full with LSU receivers
O-Line did okay and will improve
Russell Shepard did not play, PLEASE note that Coach Miles is always slow to play true freshman. Get him on the field this week!!
Special Teams – 4 PAT’s and 1 for 1 field goal is fine, punts need to improve, kick coverage was good and set up nice field position
Defense, did LSU use defensive ends? Practice tackling? Wow - Perry Riley is the BEST player on defense – quicker than most thought
Coach Chavis needs to BLITZ more and go man-to-man against a good QB like Jake Locker. Vandy QB Larry Smith is not as good as Jake Locker, look for more man-to-man
Washington played better than most people expected, give credit to them. I do not think they will be 0-12 this year
Thoughts:
LSU should beat Vandy but it might be close
Early line is LSU -14.5, I think I would take Vandy and the points.
Other Thoughts and Observations:
Why does Tulane still play football ?
If I could make a new rule in college football it would be that any player giving the “throw a flag signal” would be flagged for trying to be a referee
Oklahoma’s chances to win it all were sacked along with Bradford’s shoulder
Florida is still my pick to win it all….
Tommy Krysan can be reached at tommy@heyfightingtigers.com! Please help spread the word about this website! Thanks!
