Bowl Prospects
LSU is most likely to compete in either the Capital One Bowl or the Cotton Bowl this year. Some would say that facing Michigan State in the Capital One Bowl would be LSU's best shot. That could be pretty cool. The possibility of beating an 11-1 Big Ten team could allow LSU to finish the year and start next year in the top 5. Frankly, if LSU finishes with a typically dominate bowl win (last year's 2 point loss was an exception), LSU ought to start next year with a high enough ranking to be in the National Championship picture.
Some have emailed me that they are glad LSU is not playing likely contender Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl and I have to admit that I will be glad to not have to hear an announcer go on about how LSU is virtually playing another home game in New Orleans. Whether it is Ohio State or Michigan State, I don't think playing an 11-1 Big Ten team is the most exciting match up. I would rather see LSU play in Cotton Bowl. Since the Tigers are not likely to play in New Orleans this year, Dallas is the next closest venue. It is actually closer than New Orleans for those of us in the Shreveport-Bossier area and there are a number of LSU alum and fans in Texas. I like the Big 12 potential match ups also.
The most likely match ups that LSU would face in the Cotton Bowl would be Oklahoma, Nebraska, Oklahoma State or Texas A&M. Oklahoma and Texas A&M were rumored to be considering moves to the SEC earlier this year and if the University of Texas has a few more sub par seasons, who knows, OU and Texas A&M may be in SEC eventually. Personally, my favorite match up of these Big 12 teams is Texas A&M . After LSU, I went to Texas A&M for grad school. LSU/OU would be a repeat match up of the 2003 BCS National Championship pairing. LSU/Nebraska would be an interesting Pelini - Miles match or Pelini facing the team he used to help coach as LSU's former Defensive Coordinator. LSU/OSU would be Les Miles facing the team that he left to coach at LSU.
Whether LSU faces an 11-1 Big Ten team or a 9-3 Texas A&M, LSU's challenge will be the same that it has been all year: to play up to their potential. LSU has not played a complete game all year. LSU has the talent to dominate any team on defense and offense when they play to their potential. Les Miles, LSU team what I want for Christmas is for LSU's football team to play a dominate game on both sides of the ball.
Recruiting Prospects
LSU has another great recruiting class already verbally committed but I have been thinking about the possible recruiting prospects at the Quarterback position. There are three really strong QBs coming out of Florida this year: Jeff Driskel, Jacoby Brissett, and Teddy Bridgewater. Jeff Driskel is a 6'4"-224lb consensus five star QB who is ranked #1 pro style QB by Rivals and #2 QB by Scout. Driskel verbally committed to Florida April 19th. That was when Florida seemed to be a fixture in the national title picture and well before a 7-5 season that nobody predicted. So there is some hope that Driskel will reconsider his decision. Auburn appeared to be Driskel's second choice and you have to think many Auburn recruits may want to see how the Cam Newton situation will be resolved. LSU seemed to be Driskel's third choice. Still it is unlikely that Driskel will reconsider. One report has Driskel enrolling and starting early at Florida in January. So Driskel coming to LSU is probably wishful thinking. Driskel does want to play on a good college baseball team also.
Jacoby Brissett is a 6'5" 225lb QB. He has not verbally committed and is rank as the 6th best dual threat quarterback by Rivals. My guess is that Brissett will probably go to Florida State but LSU is on his short list.
Teddy Bridgewater is a 6'3" 185lb QB who is ranked as the #2 dual threat QB by rivals, the #3 QB by Scout and is #8 in ESPN's top 150 players. Bridgewater by all accounts seriously considered LSU before verbally committing to Miami. That was before Miami fired Randy Shannon. With the departure of Shannon, Bridgewater probably realizes that chaos is likely to rule Miami football for at least the next few years. Even though Bridgewater plays his high school ball at Miami Northwestern, I think LSU may have a shot at this guy.
Two Quarterback prospects that are much more likely to help out LSU are Zach Mettenberger. Mettenberger is a 4 star 6'5" 250lb quarterback who is ranked as the #15 QB prospect by Scout. Mettenberger was originally recruited in 2009 to play for Georgia and left when things did not work to play a year in Junior College. In Junior College, Mettenberger has proven to be a really good pro style quarterback.
Stephen Rivers may be the future star quarterback at LSU. Rivers is a 6'6" 200lb pro style quarterback who is only a consensus three star and only ranked as the #22 QB prospect by Rivals. But Rivers has the frame to put on some muscle weight and he often draws favorable comparisons with his older brother, NFL quarterback Philip Rivers.
LSU needs a solid and consistently good quarterback to be a contender.
Coaching Prospects
At times LSU's offensive woes have clearly been a lack of solid play calling and frankly it typically falls to the Offensive Coordinator to not only call the plays but also to develop the quarterback. I have generally avoided considering coaching changes during the season but after many emails throughout the season, I have certainly thought about which Offensive Coordinators might provide LSU with a stronger team. The first coach that comes to mind is former Auburn OC and current San Diego State OC, Al Borges. Borges is familiar with SEC play, has proven successful at San Diego State, and like Miles, believes in having a strong running game. Tulsa co-Offensive Coordinator, Chad Morris is another possibility. Morris is an up and comer and is also listed as Tulsa's Quarterback coach. LSU needs someone that knows how to develop quarterbacks. Former LSU OC/current FSU head coach, Jimbo Fisher sure proved the value of having a really good QB coach. According to ESPN, Morris' Tulsa team has the 9th rank overall offense and Tulsa averages over 284 yards passing and nearly 220 yards rushing a game. Another possibility is Justin Fuente, TCU's co-Offensive coordinator. While Fuente is also a running backs coach at TCU, prior to his stint at TCU he was Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks coach at Illinois State.
I do not know whether any of these three coaches have any interest in leaving their current positions or in coaching at LSU. I also have concerns about replacing any of the other coaches other than Gary Crowton (LSU's current OC) and you have to think a new OC might want to have a say in his offensive coaching staff. But for all of you that have emailed me and/or commented on my articles that you believe that LSU should consider replacing Crowton, above are three coaches that may provide some possible fixes to LSU's offensive problems.
9 comments:
I think that you have it about right..LSU is blessed, with a number of very good college football players.Les Miles is doing a good enough job, on his own..But the offense play calling, and playing the right player, at the right time, in the right place,was-and is, not very good..Not for the raw talent, this LSU team has.I just hope,that Les Miles hires better help for his LSU 2011 football team.I think he will,he is purple and gold now,and with the right coaching help, LSU is a very good football team.
Nice column,thanks.
I BLEED PURPLE...MILES HAS DONE A FINE JOB AND IS LOYAL TO HIS COACHES. TO HAVE OVER 60 WINS AND 4-1 IN THE BOWL GAMES IS A FINE RESUME IN THIS CONFERENCE. BUT, THE OC NEEDS TO FIND THE DOOR AND I THINK MILES WILL MAKE THE CHANGE. WITH THE SKILLED PLAYERS LSU HAS AT RB, RECIEVERS, AND TE THIS TEAM UNDER ACHIEVED. AS A PLAYER YOU ARE HOLDING BACK PLAYERS WHO WANT AND NEED TO CONTRIBUTE BUT ARE FRUSTRATED WITH THE PLAY CALLING. MATT MAUK AND MATT FLIN WERE AVERAGE QB'S AT BEST BUT WERE ABLE TO MOVE THE CHAINS. CROWTON IS BURNED OUT AT LSU AND NEEDS A FRESH START SOMEWHERE ELSE AND LSU NEEDS TO HIRE A OC WHO HAS SEC EXPERIENCE. MILES MAKE THE CHANGE ESPECIALLY WITH THE FINE CLASS YOU WILL HAVE THIS YEAR. METTENBERGER WILL SIGN WITH LSU, BOOK IT. LSU WILL BE IN CONTENTION FOR THE NC IN 2011. AS FOR THE BOWL GAME I WOULD LOVE TO SEE LSU VS. MICH. ST. THAT WOULD BE A AWESOME GAME AND WHEN LSU WINS IT WILL BOLT THEM IN THE TOP 5 FOR 2011. TEXAS A&M NO. THE ONLY NEED I SEE IS OC AND MANY PEOLPLE AND PLAYERS WILL BE UPSET IF HE IS NOT REPLACED. GEAUX TIGERS !
Real life, can be very harsh...I know now, that Les Miles, is a good person in a rat race game...Miles does not want his coaches, on his coaching staff, hurt...Crowton has one more year left on his LSU contract..This LSU football team has enough talent to do just as good, if not better, next football season also...So Crowton can then leave LSU in good standing...Les Miles is a nice person.
Take him, or leave him..That the way he is...Miles is a good person,in a rate race.
Understanding your job,totaly knowing what you are doing...Do you really think, that college football players, can play college football with great specification?
The pro football players, work 8 hours a day, learning how to play football better..The pro's works all the time...What chance does the college players have, to learn how to cover fast WR,or tackle with judgment..Do not try and do what you can not do..Do not make amateur moves.
The college players will never reach the specification..Playing football, how the college football fans want...Fans keep looking for something that not there.
The LSU fans are no different,all eyes,and no brains.
The NCAA is wishing Cam Newton,Auburn,and all the college football crooks everywhere...Merry Christmas...So here is your get out of jail free past,Merry Christmas.
High Cotton...Lets go kids,we are going the Dallas Texas.
To see the best marching, college band in the country,better then West Point...Texas A&M.
The weather outside is frightful,but inside, the Cotton Bowl it so delightful,all the other team, are outside in the snow...Let it snow,let it snow,let it snow.
Geaux tigers.
Florida head football coach up and quits...LSU is going to roll-in the new recruits, big time.
All you really need, is just a little understanding, of right from wrong.
The Cam Newton case, is so plain to see,and reflect about.
If we stop looking he does not get away with his crime...If the fans stop looking at college football, the money go away to.
If you do not like cheating,stop looking.
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