Miles Not Happy with Scrimmage but Sees Hope

In his post scrimmage interview Les Miles was very honest about what he saw in Saturday's scrimmage.  LSU was not able to throw the ball as well as Miles had hoped.  


The passing game went OK but, true freshman receiver James Wright catch the only touchdown pass thrown in the scrimmage.  The silver lining here is that LSU has an outstanding pass defense.  Miles eyes kind of brightened when he said that the cornerbacks played outstanding.  Patrick Peterson had an interception and true freshman defensive back Tyrann Mathieu knocked down a couple of passes during the offense's two minute drills. The defense also managed to create and recover a fumble during the scrimmage.


One good note about the passing game is that most of the passes completed went for ten yards or more.  Another plus for the offense is that the running backs averaged about five yards a carry.  Two negative notes about the running game are highly regarded freshman running back Jahkari Gore did not get a single carry and even worse Michael Ford had such an off day that coach Miles pause before listing how many yards Ford gained and simple said that Ford had not gained very many yards.  Miles did say that the two backs in front of Ford on the depth chart, Stevan Ridley and Richard Murphy, ran well in the scrimmage.


The pessimist among LSU fans are going to wonder if LSU's success in running points to a weak run defense. We will not absolutely know the answer to that question until LSU plays other teams.  We could surmise that LSU has a bad passing game and a weak run defense but it is just as fair to surmise that LSU has an excellent pass defense and a really good run offense.


In all fairness I have had a ton of information input from fans and experts and I believe that the correct analysis is that LSU probably has the best pass defense in the country and that LSU may not have the best passing game. But, throwing the ball against other teams will be much easier than trying to throw against LSU.


With the loss of Ryan Baker to a broken jaw in Friday's practice, run support from LSU's linebacker corp may still have some questions concerning run support.  Add to that potential weakness the fact that there are only two defensive tackles listed at 300lbs. or more (Michael Brockers - 300lbs. and Chris Davenport - 311lbs.) and LSU might very well be vulnerable to teams running between the tackles.  It might be a good idea to have Brockers in the game at one of the tackle positions most of the game.  I have been told that though Davenport did not come into practice hitting on all cylinders, he has found recently really started coming around and working like a man on a mission.


The case for a LSU having a strong running game this year is a real possibility.  LSU does need to find a good fullback.  From Miles' post scrimmage interview I gathered that no fullback has stood out yet. However, with or without a good fullback, LSU has a group of largely unproven but really talented running backs.  One of the things that stands out about this group of running backs is the variety of running styles.  Opposing defenses are going to potentially see the full range of running styles from the LSU backfield.  And no matter which back is in the backfield teams are going to have to respect the possibility that LSU may run.  LSU also has running backs that can catch the ball.  


The real case for LSU having a running game can be made by looking at the film of last year's games when this starting Guard Will Blackwell and this year's starting Tackle Alex Hurst were in the game.  LSU's running game came alive last year when these two guys were in the game.  Blackwell created two beautiful running seams last year that provided highlights of an otherwise lackluster offensive campaign last year.


I am going to take from this scrimmage that LSU has a killer passing defense and that LSU's offense will open up because of the ability to establish the run.  Miles near the end of his statement said "Am I happy? No." and then went on to say that with the way that the team is working and with the attitude that they are bringing each and everyday to practice, he will be happy by the time the Tigers hit the game field.  Later this season we may find cause to abandon Miles' guarded optimism but, for now, I am going to remain optimistic.  I have heard that this year's team is eager to prove themselves and I am going to support that effort in any little way that I can.