Bobby Hebert Not Happy

[JR4AU]

Agreed. The biggest thing I can see from the LSU side is people think they are owed an explanation as to why Lee wasn't at least given a shot. True, it may not have mattered. But it's sort of like AU fans wondering why Dyer wasn't at least given a chance after it was very clear AU wasn't going to be able to pass well against Bama.

The way they see it is Lee got them through the first 8 games ok. They feel the only reason he was benched was because of 2 INTs against Bama on Nov 5th. Which they feel is understandable for any team, given the caliber of defense they were facing. He at least deserved a few snaps to see what might happen. It certainly couldn't have gone any worse than JJ running the show. By all accounts from coaches and LSU "insiders", their next heir apparent at QB Mettenberger, is the next coming of John Elway. So they don't understand why if coaches thought Lee was that inept, why Mettenberger wasn't given a shot if he truly is as good as they say. Which tells me he really isn't.

To add fuel to the fire, there are articles coming out quoting the players as being confused by some decisions made by coaches as far as personnel, playcalling, etc. Players are even saying it was in their game plan to have Lee come in for some series. I understand that adjustments have to be made to every game plan and all, so I don't know. I mean, look at a very small sampling of the quotes that have the corndogs eating their own:

I suppose the reason he didn't get in, was that he didn't get the bulk of the reps in practice.  It's pretty much that simple.  That said, it was so bad last night, I think it got to the point where you'd simply say "fuck it, let's see what Lee can manage, it can't get any worse."  They may be wrong at times, may be stubborn, but I assure you coaches are trying to get the best players on the field.

[RWS]

I suppose the reason he didn't get in, was that he didn't get the bulk of the reps in practice.  It's pretty much that simple.  That said, it was so bad last night, I think it got to the point where you'd simply say "fuck it, let's see what Lee can manage, it can't get any worse."  They may be wrong at times, may be stubborn, but I assure you coaches are trying to get the best players on the field.

Yeah, and I can somewhat see where they are coming from. You have Lee on the bench, who racked up some pretty good stats in the first 8 games and helped get you 8 wins. So it's not like he doesn't know his ass from his elbow when it comes to running the offense. He's not totally inept. He has to be somewhat viable. But he gets benched because he throws a few picks against the best defense in college football this year. But Jefferson gets his face beat in with a tire iron for 4 quarters last night, and Lee doesn't even get one snap? That doesn't make sense. LSU fans just seem to be tired of the flimsy excuses offered by coaches. If Lee was in the doghouse, suspended, or whatever, then somebody should say so. But Miles decided to tell the fanbase that since Jefferson was doing so poorly against the pass rush, that it was no use even trying somebody else.

I mean, really? Was that the plan? 44 days to prepare, and that was it? You run a 2 QB system, and you decided that if one of your QBs didn't do well, then that was ballgame? You hinged the entire game on the QB that Alabama more than likely put the most preparation into defending, and had no plan B? "Look guys, as long as Alabama can't get pressure, we will be fine. But if we have problems with the front 4, well fuck it, we're just going to lay down and take it like a bitch for 4 quarters." The explanations that Miles offers up makes no sense whatsoever. Not to LSU fans, and not even to Alabama fans. 

[AUChizad]

His boy T-Bob didn't play a snap. Something else that has corndogs scratching their heads since the OL was getting worked, and he's their big star at that position...

[Godfather]

I have my doubts that we would have seen Trotter if Cryseley hadn't gotten hurt.

Sometimes coaches are stubborn, and want to keep doing what they think is best.  They aren't gods and make mistakes... although I think we forget that.

[AUTiger1]

I have my doubts that we would have seen Trotter if Cryseley hadn't gotten hurt.

Sometimes coaches are stubborn, and want to keep doing what they think is best.  They aren't gods and make mistakes... although I think we forget that.

The hell you say?

[Godfather]

The hell you say?

Bahr and Sabbin notwithstanding

[AUTiger1]

Bahr and Sabbin notwithstanding

I was about to ask. 

[JR4AU]

I have my doubts that we would have seen Trotter if Cryseley hadn't gotten hurt.

Sometimes coaches are stubborn, and want to keep doing what they think is best.  They aren't gods and make mistakes... although I think we forget that.

I would say being stubborn is a trait of most coaches, but it's also a double edged sword.  It can be a good thing at times to not give up too soon on something or somebody, as well as bad in sticking with what won't work too long.

[Godfather]

I would say being stubborn is a trait of most coaches, but it's also a double edged sword.  It can be a good thing at times to not give up too soon on something or somebody, as well as bad in sticking with what won't work too long.

True

[AUTiger1]

True

said he agrees as well.

[GH2001]

I would say being stubborn is a trait of most coaches, but it's also a double edged sword.  It can be a good thing at times to not give up too soon on something or somebody, as well as bad in sticking with what won't work too long.

I agree....

But with that said, I think we all know Les stuck with Jefferson too long in that game. That was a miscue on his part. He had plenty of time to think about what was working/not working, and they were still technically in the game until the 4th quarter. I know it's hindsight but still, it was pretty obvious Jefferson wasn't gonna wakeup.

[JR4AU]

I agree....

But with that said, I think we all know Les stuck with Jefferson too long in that game. That was a miscue on his part. He had plenty of time to think about what was working/not working, and they were still technically in the game until the 4th quarter. I know it's hindsight but still, it was pretty obvious Jefferson wasn't gonna wakeup.

I'll go you one step further.  I'm betting he decided weeks ago to just go with Jefferson, and that would be it.   He was going to live and die with him, and he prepared with that mindset, meaning Lee, got little reps.  And like good coaches, he prepared to win, at least in his mind.  Failing, and having a "plan B" wasn't a consideration.   No coach plans for failure, they plan so that they believe they've got a way to deal with every eventuality or contingency in the base plan.  I think I said it in another thread, even at that, there came a point Monday night where he should have just said "Fuck it, fuck "the plan," see what Lee can do because I've got nothing else".  I honestly don't think it would have changed one thing though. 

Christ, look what had to happen to get Mosley off the field for Auburn.  And you can bet Gus/Chiz would have stayed with him had he not gotten hurt.   Malzahn was also stubborn enough to ignore the naysayers  and go with Todd in 2009. 

Stubbornness, in coaching, is a double edged sword.

[RWS]

I agree....

But with that said, I think we all know Les stuck with Jefferson too long in that game. That was a miscue on his part. He had plenty of time to think about what was working/not working, and they were still technically in the game until the 4th quarter. I know it's hindsight but still, it was pretty obvious Jefferson wasn't gonna wakeup.

I think the fact that they were kind of still in it late is a headscratcher as well. It's not like he would have been putting Lee in a position where he was going to have to throw 5 TDs in 10 minutes to try and catch up or something. It's not like Alabama was exactly lighting the scoreboard up either. And the way Alabama controlled the ball, you had to know you weren't going to get a ton of opportunities to have the ball. It was painfully clear at halftime that Jefferson wasn't going to get it done. I didn't see any sort of adjustment that they might have made at halftime either, and I think that is when they should have given Lee the nod.

At halftime, they hadn't crossed the 50, had I think 1 first down, and had like 40 yards of offensive production. It's not like Lee can really fuck it up much worse than that. Alabama knew they had Jefferson mindfucked; you could see it in his eyes. The D smelled blood. At least try something to try and throw the Bama D off of their game. I mean, fuck, maybe it wouldn't have mattered at all. Maybe it would have made all of the difference.   

[jmar]

About the 4 minute mark of the second quarter LSU had the ball and I'm thinking NOW on Lee, knowing full well he could throw a pick six and it's over before the half yet there was still enough time to get him acclimated and maybe complete one or two and possibly get something positive happening a missed/broken tacklewhatever...then you have a choice and even an outside shot that J.J. catches fire (or takes a pill) and somehow the team responds-defense included. Again, the chances of a different outcome are remote but then we'll never know since Miles turned into a pillar of salt.

[Townhallsavoy]

I think the fact that they were kind of still in it late is a headscratcher as well. It's not like he would have been putting Lee in a position where he was going to have to throw 5 TDs in 10 minutes to try and catch up or something. It's not like Alabama was exactly lighting the scoreboard up either. And the way Alabama controlled the ball, you had to know you weren't going to get a ton of opportunities to have the ball. It was painfully clear at halftime that Jefferson wasn't going to get it done. I didn't see any sort of adjustment that they might have made at halftime either, and I think that is when they should have given Lee the nod.

At halftime, they hadn't crossed the 50, had I think 1 first down, and had like 40 yards of offensive production. It's not like Lee can really fuck it up much worse than that. Alabama knew they had Jefferson mindfucked; you could see it in his eyes. The D smelled blood. At least try something to try and throw the Bama D off of their game. I mean, fuck, maybe it wouldn't have mattered at all. Maybe it would have made all of the difference.

I was reading your post and started wondering all of the things LSU could have tried in the 3rd quarter to provide a spark to their offense:

1. Run a reverse.

Bama's defense knew LSU was going to run the option.  As soon as Jefferson opened up to the right, the Bama defense went after him.  Pitch the ball to Russell Shepard and let him use his speed to get a nice gain.  Then you bring him in motion the next time you run the reverse to the right.  Bama's defense won't be as aggressive. 

2. Actually throw the ball to Rueban Randle down field. 

Mark Barron was at the line of scrimmage almost every play.  As soon as the ball was snapped, he was hawking towards the center.  Robert Lester can't cover both sides of the field.  Randle is 6'4 and heavy and fast and has been your go-to guy all year.  At least try it.  At least force Barron to think twice about coming up too soon.

3.  Draw play. 

Alabama smelled blood.  The defensive ends were up field in a heartbeat.  The middle was being bullrushed.  The linebackers were flying to the football.  Put your fastest back in the backfield and take a step back then hand it off.  If he busts it, you slow down the pass rush.

4.  Screen. 

Jefferson is really quick and was basically scrambling for his life all night.  Snap the ball, let him start to scramble to get the Bama defense coming after him and then dump it off to a running back. 

5.  Pound the ball. 

LSU's bread and butter all year was using their stable of running backs to wear down defenses.  They had some success with this against Alabama on November 5th.  They could have at least tried it.  The LSU defense was doing just enough to give the offense an easy chance to drive down field. 

[RWS]

I was reading your post and started wondering all of the things LSU could have tried in the 3rd quarter to provide a spark to their offense:

1. Run a reverse.

Bama's defense knew LSU was going to run the option.  As soon as Jefferson opened up to the right, the Bama defense went after him.  Pitch the ball to Russell Shepard and let him use his speed to get a nice gain.  Then you bring him in motion the next time you run the reverse to the right.  Bama's defense won't be as aggressive. 

2. Actually throw the ball to Rueban Randle down field. 

Mark Barron was at the line of scrimmage almost every play.  As soon as the ball was snapped, he was hawking towards the center.  Robert Lester can't cover both sides of the field.  Randle is 6'4 and heavy and fast and has been your go-to guy all year.  At least try it.  At least force Barron to think twice about coming up too soon.

3.  Draw play. 

Alabama smelled blood.  The defensive ends were up field in a heartbeat.  The middle was being bullrushed.  The linebackers were flying to the football.  Put your fastest back in the backfield and take a step back then hand it off.  If he busts it, you slow down the pass rush.

4.  Screen. 

Jefferson is really quick and was basically scrambling for his life all night.  Snap the ball, let him start to scramble to get the Bama defense coming after him and then dump it off to a running back. 

5.  Pound the ball. 

LSU's bread and butter all year was using their stable of running backs to wear down defenses.  They had some success with this against Alabama on November 5th.  They could have at least tried it.  The LSU defense was doing just enough to give the offense an easy chance to drive down field.

They actually did throw a good bit of screens, Alabama just blew them up every time they did it. Other than that, I agree with everything you just said. I kept waiting for them to make changes. Halftime came and went, and I got ready for a game. They just did the same shit they did in the first half, which was the same shit they did Nov. 5th. Which I guarantee you Alabama watched in the film rooms about fifty-hojillion times. Granted, Alabama didn't do too terribly much different on offense either, but they did change some personnel up. The whole thing just doesn't make any sense. It's like all they did the 44 days before the game was watch cats on YouTube during film sessions or something. 

[DnATL]

They actually did throw a good bit of screens, Alabama just blew them up every time they did it. Other than that, I agree with everything you just said. I kept waiting for them to make changes. Halftime came and went, and I got ready for a game. They just did the same shit they did in the first half, which was the same shit they did Nov. 5th. Which I guarantee you Alabama watched in the film rooms about fifty-hojillion times. Granted, Alabama didn't do too terribly much different on offense either, but they did change some personnel up. The whole thing just doesn't make any sense. It's like all they did the 44 days before the game was watch cats on YouTube during film sessions or something.

He's talking about middle screens to RB, not WR screens - so bleat it, billy

[Buzz Killington]

It's like all they did the 44 days before the game was watch cats on YouTube during film sessions or something.

but that keyboard cat is just so damn cute.

[Godfather]

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww