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LSU's Jefferson 'would've changed' play-calls

Posted on: February 9, 2012 5:31 pm
Edited on: February 10, 2012 1:36 pm
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Posted by Jerry Hinnen

It's open season on the LSU offensive coaching staff, and the team's former players just keep firing away.

The latest ex-Tiger to do so is the player at the center of much of the post-BCS championship second-guessing, quarterback Jordan Jefferson. Speaking on WCNN radio in Atlanta, Jefferson said he "probably would've changed" some of his coaches' play-calls during his team's 21-0 embarrassment if he'd had the authority. A portion of the interview:

Do you second guess yourself on doing things differently?:

“I think we should’ve spread them out a little bit more, put the ball in different passing areas, use our talent on the receiving side. We had that in as far as play-calling, we just didn’t get to it ...

Is that something you realize during the game but you can’t really do anything because you’re not calling the plays?:

“Yeah it definitely always comes to mind and it comes to mind to our receivers and tight ends. We have great guys in those areas and sometimes we just wonder why we don’t use those guys. But we’re not the one calling the plays. We still have to go out and execute what the coaches and coordinators are calling. We can’t complain as players, but sometimes we do question that."

Could you change those plays and audible on the field?:

“Only in certain plays and certain formations, not all the time. … If it was any way where I can change it, I probably would’ve changed some of them.”

As for the coaches' halftime attempts pt get things back on track, Jefferson added that "the adjustment we made wasn't the adjustment we needed to make."

Not surprisingly, Jefferson passed on suggesting he should have been replaced by backup quarterback Jarrett Lee, as guard Will Blackwell and Lee himself have. But his complaint that "sometimes we wonder why we don't use those guys" echoes strongly the gripes of tight end DeAngelo Peterson that the LSU braintrust ignored a game-plan that would have more heavily involved Jefferson's primary targets. (When not opining on the quarterbacking issue, Lee said as much as well.)

As we've stated before, the torrent of criticism in Steve Kragthorpe's, Greg Studrawa's and (to a lesser extent) Les Miles' collective direction would be much more troubling if there were any current players willing to publicly join in.

But that not one former Tiger is willing to stand up for his ex-coaches' performance that night in New Orleans strongly suggests that things were not run well behind the scenes -- not that what was in front of the scenes would argue with those complaints in the slightest -- and that if LSU's offensive coaching staff wants to maintain their players' faith in them, a    strong spring and quick start to 2012 would be highly advisable.

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Category: NCAAF
Tags: Alabama, BCS National Championship, DeAngelo Peterson, Greg Studrawa, Jarrett Lee, Jerry Hinnen, Jordan Jefferson, Les Miles, LSU, LSU vs. Alabama, SEC, Steve Kragthorpe, Will Blackwell
 
Comments

Since: Aug 10, 2011
Posted on: February 11, 2012 6:33 am
 

LSU's Jefferson 'would've changed' play-calls

I have to give you an "A" for effort there skreffty but trying to put a new spin on Bama,s Total Domination  of LSU's  entire program is still LOSER TALK !  Give it a rest and regroup, Sept. will be here before you know it. Tough to swallow it is but get yourself a chaser and swallow cause until you do, its all just loser talk!

Since: Mar 20, 2007
Posted on: February 10, 2012 5:54 pm
 

LSU's Jefferson 'would've changed' play-calls

skreffty - sorry dude, but I have to inform you of a couple of things:  Yes, Bama was stopping Jefferson - Bama was stopping him and your whole offense abruptly, consistently and violently all night.  Not sure what game you watched.  Also, not sure what you actually mean by saying "LSU's defense outplayed Bama's by far"  What possible stat or fact about the game could you perhaps be thinking about that would suggest to you that LSU's defense outplayed Bama's defense?  Bama had the dominant D all year, as evidenced by every statistical measurement, and then Bama was the one who shut LSU out (for the first time ever in a BCS Championship game, no less).  Bama scored 21, LSU scored zero, so since 21>0, I think it's safe to say Bama's defense outplayed LSU's by far.  Again, not sure what game you watched.

Bama was very arguably the better team even in the first matchup, looking at statistics.  But hey, final score was LSU winning.  But come on, Bama was unquestionably the better team by far in the BCS Championship game in every imaginable way.  You are the only poster I've seen since Jan 9 trying to make the unthinkable claim that LSU was better. 

bamachild - sorry dude.  Certainly no need for you to apologize to me as I am right and you are wrong.  If Jefferson slipping constantly, over-throwing wide open receivers with lots of time, and handing bama players the ball is being stopped, then ok, Bama stopped LSU lol.  Watch the game maybe.  Again, field position and length of time on the field did LSU in.  The fact that Bama only scored as little as they did despite a starting field position in field goal range combined with all the 3 and outs (caused by Jefferson's poor play rather than great plays by Bama) speaks wonders.  The way Jefferson played, a Pac-12 team could have shut the Tigers out.  Why LSU didn't run the ball no one will ever understand, especially as they prooved in Tuscaloosa no less that they could dominate the Bama defensive line.  Baffling.  The perfect storm of Jefferson's worst game ever and with Miles refusing to pull jefferson or run the ball with the backs let Bama slip by.  veteran football observers no the first game was Bama's best against LSU's B game, and it was close.  Round 2 was Bama's best effort yet again against Jefferson falling on his face repeatedly.  Look, I understand that is why you play the game and we lost - I have noproblems with that.  I know that the best team doesn't always win.  Just looking at games against common opponents and the first game, without a doubt LSU was the better team.  Hell, even the USA Olympic basketball team loses some times.  Again, not sure what game you watched.  The game America saw was Jefferson saboutaging the Tigers repeatedly, certainly not Bama beating LSU.  Wow what an effort by that Tiger defense to average starting on their own side of the 50 the entire game, with all the 3 and outs by Jefferson's awful play.  Best defense in the nation by far.

Since: Oct 21, 2007
Posted on: February 10, 2012 1:21 pm
 

LSU's Jefferson 'would've changed' play-calls

Jefferson, again, has shown his "stripes".  He was confused and outclassed by a great Bama defense.  Now the guy who Miles supported throughout the bar fight ordeal has the audacity to criticize the coaching game plan.  Hey Jordan, ever heard of calling a timeout and talking about changing plays and schemes?  LSU had 5 (FIVE!) first downs the entire game and less than 100 yards total offense.  They were overpowered at the line of scrimmage and Jefferson, which is true of his entire career, could not find 2nd and 3rd targets.

If he thinks this will sit well with the NFL, he is very wrong.  I hope he has a plan B instead of counting on a productive NFL career.

Meanwhile, LSU has hired a new wide receivers coach and is reportedly looking into quartbacks and oc changes.

Here is a really good question.  Why didn't Mettengberger play more the entire season?  The guy is going to start next year.  Shouldn't he have been given more opportunities to show he could outplay Jefferson and Lee?

Since: Nov 17, 2008
Posted on: February 10, 2012 1:05 pm
 

LSU's Jefferson 'would've changed' play-calls

Teres Minor - hilarious whining dude.  "LSU was forced to play a second game against a team they had already beaten, and who couldn't even win their own division"  Funny.  First, LSU wasn't forced to play Bama...they could've cried about it and boycotted (which probably would've been less embarrassing considering how the BCS Championship turned out).  Second, please note Bama was, however, able to win yet another National Championship on LSU - embarrassingly so in fact -- dropping the first BCS-era SHOUTOUT on LSU for all the world to observe.  On Jan 9, it didn't appear Bama and LSU were "even fairly close in talent," so I guess that's why Bama not only won the rematch, but straight-up stomped LSU in the rematch.

If we're going to just keep making piecemeal changes to the BCS guidelines instead of throwing it all out for a playoff, then I have one to add too:  No team that lost twice in the regular season (once to Kentucky for goodness sakes) ought to be allowed to play for the BCS title either.

But I can see why you don't want any more "second-place" division finishers...they punked your champions like they stole something!  Hilarious!

Since: Aug 18, 2010
Posted on: February 10, 2012 12:52 pm
 

LSU's Jefferson 'would've changed' play-calls

The NC game should have been bummer vs okie state, everyone knows it. 
How does everyone know that?  Who is everyone?  If LSU would have lost to Bama in November, we would have had the same NC game that we did as LSU's body of work was better than Bama's.  I would not have been in favor of that, but that is what would have happened.  If anything, the NC game should have been LSU-Ok State. 

Since: Nov 17, 2008
Posted on: February 10, 2012 12:49 pm
 

LSU's Jefferson 'would've changed' play-calls

skreffty - sorry dude, but I have to inform you of a couple of things:  Yes, Bama was stopping Jefferson - Bama was stopping him and your whole offense abruptly, consistently and violently all night.  Not sure what game you watched.  Also, not sure what you actually mean by saying "LSU's defense outplayed Bama's by far"  What possible stat or fact about the game could you perhaps be thinking about that would suggest to you that LSU's defense outplayed Bama's defense?  Bama had the dominant D all year, as evidenced by every statistical measurement, and then Bama was the one who shut LSU out (for the first time ever in a BCS Championship game, no less).  Bama scored 21, LSU scored zero, so since 21>0, I think it's safe to say Bama's defense outplayed LSU's by far.  Again, not sure what game you watched.

Bama was very arguably the better team even in the first matchup, looking at statistics.  But hey, final score was LSU winning.  But come on, Bama was unquestionably the better team by far in the BCS Championship game in every imaginable way.  You are the only poster I've seen since Jan 9 trying to make the unthinkable claim that LSU was better. 

Since: Oct 29, 2009
Posted on: February 10, 2012 11:32 am
 

LSU's Jefferson 'would've changed' play-calls

<------- Check out the Avatar.... Jefferson's face says it all! 

Since: Jan 5, 2007
Posted on: February 10, 2012 11:07 am
 

LSU's Jefferson 'would've changed' play-calls

The problem was Jefferson himself, not the play calls.  The play calls became so limited because Jefferson obviously couldn't execute.  Bama wasn't stopping him, he was falling down, missing wide open receivers, he lost the game essentially for LSU.  LSU's defense outplayed Bamas by far, but when Bama starts every possession where they did because one guy, Jefferson, had his worst game ever, of course they will score eventually.  The better team doesn't always win, and that was the case in that game (just look at the first game without Jefferson and still bad play calls - LSU's defense crushed Bama), but that is Mile's fault for not playing Lee or running the ball.

haha.....

AL 10 - Punt
LSU 26 (off of a Maze 49 PR) - FG
AL 11 - Missed FG (Made it to LSU 25)
AL 25 - FG (made it to LSU 17)
AL 24 - FG (made it to LSU 23)
AL 32 - FG (made it to LSU 18)
AL 25 - Punt from LSU 48
LSU 27 (Int by Bama) missed FG


Those are the first 8 possesions by Alabama and where they started their drives...

What you were/are saying about LSU outplaying 'Bama's "D" ...and your whole
but when Bama starts every possession where they did because one guy
argument is pure BS. LSU was dominated on both sides of the ball. It wasn;t even close.

but your right about one thing..the best team doesn't always win, as proved in the First Match-up in Novemeber.

Since: Dec 27, 2011
Posted on: February 10, 2012 11:06 am
 

LSU's Jefferson 'would've changed' play-calls

lsewe has a great team, no doubt about it; however, the only reason lsyou was in the NC game was because bumma's kicker couldn't even buy a FG in the first game they played against each other.


The NC game should have been bummer vs okie state, everyone knows it.  The score of that one would've been even worse...  something like 45-10 considering Richardson & Lacy would've run all over the osu D like an M1 tank, and bama's D would've shut Weedon down.


[as much as we all hate it, it was just bama's year, period]      
;

Since: Mar 20, 2007
Posted on: February 10, 2012 10:05 am
 

LSU's Jefferson 'would've changed' play-calls

The problem was Jefferson himself, not the play calls.  The play calls became so limited because Jefferson obviously couldn't execute.  Bama wasn't stopping him, he was falling down, missing wide open receivers, he lost the game essentially for LSU.  LSU's defense outplayed Bamas by far, but when Bama starts every possession where they did because one guy, Jefferson, had his worst game ever, of course they will score eventually.  The better team doesn't always win, and that was the case in that game (just look at the first game without Jefferson and still bad play calls - LSU's defense crushed Bama), but that is Mile's fault for not playing Lee or running the ball.
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