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August 19, 2010

LSU's Second Scrimmage

Below this article you will find the LSU Sports Information press release article. If you have arrived here via the N.O. Times Picayune article link and would like to see this article and the press release, click on the "All Bob's 2010 LSU Posts" link above.


Second Scrimmage Notes:
This scrimmage focused on "redzone and tight zone situations."  The fact that the offense scored several times is not surprising but it is good to know that the offense can produce in these situations.  Let's think positively and figure that LSU's defense will do a good job of keeping opponents from reaching the redzone with any regularity.


Both LSU quarterbacks did a good job but completing 22 of 40 passes is only a 55% completion rate.  Is that a good rate?  22 completions for 275 yards is a 12.5 yard-per-catch average. Considering the focus of this scrimmage, that statistic does not means a whole lot but, make of it what you will.


I liked the fact that Jordan Jefferson had a 2-minute drill where he moved the offense 65 yards on 4 plays.  This is not the first time that I have thought Jefferson has some promise at running a 2-minute offense.  Maybe LSU should think about running their 2-minute offense throughout the game.  Why wait for the last 2-minutes? Thinking back to last year's Ole Miss game, maybe LSU should at least start running the 2-minute offense a few seconds early.


LSU's three backs ran 21 times for a combined 145 yards.  That is a pretty impressive 6.9 average! So does that mean we have great running backs or a weak run defense?


Mitch Joseph and Deangelo Peterson contributed to the passing game.  It is good to know that LSU's tight ends may really shine in redzone situations.  I have been expecting big things out of Peterson since the LSU - Alabama game last year but it is also good news that Joseph provides another target.


If Terrence Toliver can catch a touchdown pass while being covered closely by Patrick Peterson, what other college cornerback is going to keep TNT from scoring? We may have to rename the Terrence Toliver/Jordan Jefferson combination the "Dynamite Duo" with JJ as "Kid Dyn-a-mite" and Toliver as "TNT."  I hope to see the pair blow up defenses this year.


Maybe I missed something but, I do not recall seeing anything about Russell Shepard in this scrimmage.  I'm not sure what that means.  We have all seen that Shepard is quick and elusive with the ball in his hands.  I really hope that Shepard gets the ball more this year.


It was great to read that Craig Loston did so well defensively.  6.5 tackles, a sack, and an interception point to Loston reaching his billing as the #1 safety prospect of the 2009 class.


I have noticed that the defense has managed tackles for loss (TFLs) and turnovers in both scrimmages. It looks like the defense's focus on takeaways and TFLs may be working.  I don't think this means LSU's offense will be more prone to turnovers.  The jury is still out on how well the O-line will keep opponents out of the backfield.  I would bet that the TFL's are a result of LSU's defensive speed and bank on LSU's O-line doing a much better job this year.


There are a number of things to think about based on this scrimmage.  From my perspective it is mostly good news and I can't wait until the first game. 

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

The trouble with intra squad scrimmages is when one side of the ball does well, does it mean the other side isnt so good, or is it that the side that dominated is really something special.

Cant say. Apparently the defense is going for speed over bulk on the front, probably a good move, and the db's are more bulk than typical, also a good move. But all the talk of the d-backfield being the best in the country? Its just hard to say that until the shut down another team. Simply, the team they shutdown in practice, just couldnt move the ball in the air last year, so whos to say?

With a returning qb, whos greatest asset is that he might improve, and an O-line that much the same, its just hard to say whether the defense had a bad day, or the offense is really getting better.

Its nice to hope they are, but after last season, its a seeing is believing thing.

Billythekid said...

In a situational practice it’s hard to determine much on either side of the ball. Just my opinion.

Anonymous said...

Certainly scrimmages, especially those of the situational variety, are not very accurate meters in gauging the strengths, as well as weaknesses of a football team.
I think that it is clear that Les Miles is bent on running the football. Going back to the spring, it was evident through adding the, "Big Cat Drill," along with extra emphasis on running the football back in Feb and March that the offensive coaching staff's priorities were fixing the offensive line, and reviving the running game. Personally, I don't think developing, and spending time with the quarterbacks were at the top of their, "to do list".
So far, Jefferson has failed to prove that he is able to check down. That is a must for any SEC signal-caller in order for that player to have good success in leading any given team through the rigors of playing in the best conference in America. With all fairness to Jefferson as well, some guys are blessed to be better students of the speed and intensity of the SEC game than others. I can remember that it was only until 2006, and then it was still only after mid-season did things really begin to, "click," for JaMarcus Russell as he finally began to combine his physical ability with his understanding of where to go with his reads.
The reality is that in order for LSU to compete and win the West Jefferson will only have to moderately improve on those stats with the hopeful assumption being the running game will return. Conventional wisdom, along with the reports we have read and heard do indicate that yes, LSU has gotten some leaks plugged in the ship. Hopefully the wild card/ace in the hole for Crowton's sake anyway, will be the addition of Billy Gonzalez.
So far by listening, watching, and judging from what I have seen and heard there have been some major improvements made on both sides of the ball. We are obviously going to get a scripted version, if not a biased slant as far as camp reports of the 2010 version of the Tigers as they flow out of daily practices through press releases, including statements from the head coach. I am pretty sure at the end of a scrimmage Miles is not going to say, "We really stink, and it likes like it is just as bad as last season." Probably not. So, if we are relying on comments from Les as far as finding out where these Bengals rate we are better off trying to help BP fix the Gulf.
I do think that by observing on paper alone the changes Coach Chavis has made on defense by moving Livingston to the inside, and changing Barkevious Mingo from OLB to rush end , that the interior of the Tiger defense will be stronger and quicker. I really like Chavis' strategy of stopping the run with numbers, and getting to the passer with speed. LSU got hurt several times up the middle, and there were a number of occasions that the front line of LSU was manhandled. I think that the addition of Mike Brockers at 6'6 300lbs. as well as Chris Davenport 6'4 310lbs. will eliminate most of that.
Personally, I do feel that the LSU secondary is going to be very good, very deep, and very solid and there will not be many teams who will be able to lite it up on LSU throwing the football. If they remain healthy and Peterson and Claiborne can effectively provide good, solid, tight man coverage then Chavis will be able to do some things by way of blitz packages along with some run stunts that will make the defense all the better.
Right now this LSU Tiger defense has the similarities of the FSU defenses under Mickey Andrews of the 90's and the Nebraska Husker defenses of the same era; in particular those fast defenses that Tom Osbourne won back-to-back NCAA titles with in 94, and 95. I also remember an athletic, fast, defense from 1998 at UT that Chavis coached which won an NCAA title. If you listen to his comments Coach Chavis has said that this current LSU team is the strongest, and fastest that he has been around...and I am pretty sure he is a guy who would know.

Anonymous said...

Certainly scrimmages, especially those of the situational variety, are not very accurate meters in gauging the strengths, as well as weaknesses of a football team.
I think that it is clear that Les Miles is bent on running the football. Going back to the spring, it was evident through adding the, "Big Cat Drill," along with extra emphasis on running the football back in Feb and March that the offensive coaching staff's priorities were fixing the offensive line, and reviving the running game. Personally, I don't think developing, and spending time with the quarterbacks were at the top of their, "to do list", as MOST of the offensive woes I feel were more directly related to Coach Crowton, the lack of a consistent fullback/lead blocker, a pathetic offensive line.
Don't get me wrong, as I still am NOT sold out on Gary Crowton being able to effectively take and grow, train, nurture, and teach a young QB in the SEC. Judging alone by Crowton's track record at his previous stops his offensive production dwindled every year that he was on staff at each school. He also seemed to flourish when he inherited a seasoned, veteran, talented QB who already possessed the gist of being able to read opposing defenses. So far, Jefferson has failed to prove that he is able to do that, which is a must for any SEC signal-caller in order for that player to have good success in leading any given team through the rigors of playing in, by far, what is clearly the best conference in America. With all fairness to Jefferson as well, some guys are blessed to be better students of the speed and intensity of the SEC game than others, and as individuals we do vary one from another in our own abilities respectively to grasp, and comprehend in matters of learning. I can remember that it was only until 2006, and then it was still only after mid-season did things really begin to, "click," for JaMarcus Russell as he finally began to combine his physical ability with his understanding of where to go with his reads.
It may be the case as well with young Jefferson, who by the way is still only 19 and will not turn 20 until later this coming week. If you look at his numbers alone they were slightly above average with 17 TDs 7 INT over 2100 yards with 61% completion pct. Not bad at all. And the reality is that in order for LSU to compete and win the West Jefferson will only have to moderately improve on those stats with the hopeful assumption being the running game will return. Logic says, "How could it be worse?" And really that is not just a cliche'ed, slightly optimistic, hopeful prediction of sorts. Conventional wisdom, along with the reports we have read and heard do indicate that yes, LSU has gotten some leaks plugged in the ship. Hopefully the wild card/ace in the hole for Crowton's sake anyway, will be the addition of Billy Gonzalez.
So far by listening, watching, and judging from what I have seen and heard there have been some major improvements made on both sides of the ball. We are obviously going to get a scripted version, if not a biased slant as far as camp reports of the 2010 version of the Tigers as they flow out of daily practices through press releases, including statements from the head coach. I am pretty sure at the end of a scrimmage Miles is not going to say, "We really stink, and it likes like it is just as bad as last season." Probably not.
Right now this LSU Tiger defense has the similarities of the FSU defenses under Mickey Andrews of the 90's and the Nebraska Husker defenses of the same era; in particular those fast defenses that Tom Osbourne won back-to-back NCAA titles with in 94, and 95. I also remember an athletic, fast, defense from 1998 at UT that Chavis coached which won an NCAA title. If you listen to his comments Coach Chavis has said that this current LSU team is the strongest, and fastest that he has been around...and I am pretty sure he is a guy who would know.

Anonymous said...

One thing to keep in mind about turning to the offensive line to blame for all LSU's running problems.

If its fair to not blame the qb for getting sacked, and its fair to not blame the running back for not finding a hole to run through, and if its fair to not blame the receivers because they dropped a pass... all these things having frequently been laid at the feet of the O-line, then dont forget this...

When the call from the sideline is to run into an 8 man front, or to pass on 3rd & 9 against a 8 man blitz, or whenever the O-line is put in a no win situation by the coaches, its equally ridiculous to blame the O-line.

Seems they are the nameless faces that are o.k. to blame. Cant run, blame the O-line, cant pass, blame the O-line, cant catch, blame them too. Get sacked, blame the O-line that the qb held the ball too long, or missed his check at the line.

For all we know, the O-line is pretty good, but cant get out of the way of the play calling or the missed reads by the qb.

Lets start placing some responsibility and maybe a little less mitigation at the feet of the people in charge of the situations that the O-line gets placed in.

All summer Miles has announced his intent to run the ball. Wow, isnt it great that MacArthur didnt go tell the N. Koreans of his intent to land at Inchon. Is it just possible that every team LSU plays is gonna set up an 8 man front and work from it because Miles told everyone his game plan?

Isnt unpredictability what we're really missing here? Just wondering. Wouldnt the O-line going against D-lines and Lb's that do not know whats going to happen be to their advantage?

Lets not blame it on the O-line.

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