Breaking Down the Game

Just a few thoughts…

*JaMarcus Russell is a work in progress. At times he is magnificent, while other times he shows his lack of experience. It is obvious he has tons of potential and can physically make all the plays and all the throws. His biggest problems are his lack of pocket presence and managing the game. He must do a better job of picking up the blitz before and after the snap. As just one example, he was sacked and fumbled late in the first half after getting hit on his right side. It wasn’t a blindside hit so he’s got to sense that lineman right in his face.

A bigger issue is his decision making and game management. The first pick against Florida was just terrible. He threw the ball up for grabs after scrambling out of the pocket. Later in the game he made two awful decisions on one play. Late in the 4th quarter, Russell rolled to his right all the way to the sideline then threw an ill advised pass that was intercepted by Florida. Fortunately he stepped out of bounds before the pass, but as you can see, the thought process there was poor. On a roll out with no one open, late in the game and up by four, your decision is obvious, tuck your head and go down in bounds. You keep the clock rolling and don’t put yourself in a bad position with a costly turnover. Just plain stupid.

The hope is that he gradually matures and as critical plays develop, Russell will rise to the challenge and make winning decisions.

*Joseph Addai loves playing the Gators. For two years in a row Addai has scored the winning TD in the 4th quarter. In four games against the Gators, Addai has compiled some very nice stats. (68 carries for 342 yards and 1 TD, 10 catches for 79 yards and 1 TD) He toted the ball 32 times on Saturday. I think this will become the rule rather than the exception.

*Justin Vincent. Can we all now agree to the theory I have been espousing for over a year now? That is, Vincent is an average back who was the beneficiary of tremendous blocking the back half of the 2003 season. Since then he has done absolutely nothing, and I think that LSU lost out on Barrington Edwards, whom I always thought was more impressive, because of Vincent’s flash in the pan performance in 2003.

*LSU’s defense. Where are all the a-holes calling for Pelini’s head now? LSU is #3 in the country in rush defense and giving up only 18 points a game. The Tigers are ranked 11th in pass efficiency defense after rough outings against ASU and UT.

*Penalties are killer, but don’t read too much into them. LSU is ranked #2 in the country in most penalties per game and #4 in most penalty yards per game. Yikes!! But let me give you a few more teams with penalty issues.

1st Texas Tech – 99 yards a game. Record: 6-0
4th LSU – 87 yards a game. Record: 4-1
6th Oregon – 86 yards a game. Record: 6-1
9th Texas – 81 yards a game. Record: 6-0
17th Miami – 75 yards a game. Record: 5-1
18th USC – 74 yards a game. Record: 6-0

*Turnovers. LSU has now lost 11 fumbles. That is more than Clemson, Virginia Tech, Fresno State, UCLA, Rutgers, Louisiana Tech, Louisville, Army and UAB combined. LSU ranks dead last in the country.

*Idiots booing the play calling late in the 1st quarter. The Tigers were deep in their own territory with about 2 minutes left. With LSU’s ridiculous inability to hold on to the ball, do you really want to give the Gators a reason to go into the half with another score? This is part of a bigger problem that may just be me, but every year I am beginning to dislike LSU fans more and more. It is not a personal thing as I am sure they are nice people who are passionate about LSU football. But the “know-it-alls” and just plain dumb asses who carry around these completely unrealistic expectations have a tendency to want to suck the life out an enjoyable game. If this continues, LSU fans will rank right up there with Ohio State and Florida fans on the a-hole meter.