Optimism

[Tater]

Watching last night, there was a lot of bad, some more bad, and some downright ugly. Sprinkled in there was some things to be optimistic about. We've beaten to death the bad and ugly and some have jumped ship because it's impossible to get skull ****ed in Death Valley and win the SEC West. No one has ever done it. Not one.... Anyways.

Offensive Scheme and play designs. We actually have an offense that can attack these heavily talented SEC defenses. We saw the deep outs be open. We saw the vertical 1-on-1 can beat the DBs (Ra Ra especially). We saw on short yardage plays when we would pass we would have open players.

Now, we didn't attack vertically near enough. We didn't catch wide open passes we should have. We didn't read the defense and audible to passed when we should. Fair or not, this falls squarely on Leach. His concepts work. This widespread of lack of execution is on the coach though. Play the guys who will execute the concepts correctly.

Defensively, we were solid until we got winded late after the offense kept shooting itself in the foot. Anything after the Williams muff I chalk up more to the offense's inability to give the defense a break. Sure the Nabers drive was infuriating, but we all knew he was going to RAT us at some point. Some of those catches were just him making a great play. Tough pill to swallow, but the only change you could do is have someone different subbed in to cover him and pray they make an even better play. I'm not sure even Forbes could have stopped the 4th down catch.

Things to watch: How much does Will play next week? Bowling Green is a bad defensive team. They did beat Marshall, but they should be a tier below Memphis. Our C+ game gets us a win comfortably. Id hope we get our A game. Because I'd like to see Sawyer go vertical in the second half to see what arm talent he has in comparison to Will. If he has the cannon in-game that he should, then this board will make him the most popular man in Starkville. And if Will doesn't get his head on straight when reading a defense and not running against a 6/7 man box then he should get benched.

Around the West: Auburn is bad. Arkansas played an even worse game than we did last night. A&M doesn't have its answer at QB. They feel like the SEC's Iowa right now. 20 points beats A&M. Just that's a tall task against that defense. Alabama is Alabama. Rumors of their demise were greatly exaggerated. Ole Miss is getting fat on cupcakes. We'll have to wait until Kentucky to know more about them.

It's a long season. 9-3 is squarely on the table. If the rule of Leach holds true and that's our "wtf loss" then our "wtf win" is still on the table and 10-2 is on the table as well. Just have to execute.

I'd rather be thinking "we just need to execute the plays better" instead of "we just can't win because we'll never have the talent to." This offense is schemed to neutralize talent. Just have find players who execute it right.

[Catfish]

Watching last night, there was a lot of bad, some more bad, and some downright ugly. Sprinkled in there was some things to be optimistic about. We've beaten to death the bad and ugly and some have jumped ship because it's impossible to get skull ****ed in Death Valley and win the SEC West. No one has ever done it. Not one.... Anyways.

Offensive Scheme and play designs. We actually have an offense that can attack these heavily talented SEC defenses. We saw the deep outs be open. We saw the vertical 1-on-1 can beat the DBs (Ra Ra especially). We saw on short yardage plays when we would pass we would have open players.

Now, we didn't attack vertically near enough. We didn't catch wide open passes we should have. We didn't read the defense and audible to passed when we should. Fair or not, this falls squarely on Leach. His concepts work. This widespread of lack of execution is on the coach though. Play the guys who will execute the concepts correctly.

Defensively, we were solid until we got winded late after the offense kept shooting itself in the foot. Anything after the Williams muff I chalk up more to the offense's inability to give the defense a break. Sure the Nabers drive was infuriating, but we all knew he was going to RAT us at some point. Some of those catches were just him making a great play. Tough pill to swallow, but the only change you could do is have someone different subbed in to cover him and pray they make an even better play. I'm not sure even Forbes could have stopped the 4th down catch.

Things to watch: How much does Will play next week? Bowling Green is a bad defensive team. They did beat Marshall, but they should be a tier below Memphis. Our C+ game gets us a win comfortably. Id hope we get our A game. Because I'd like to see Sawyer go vertical in the second half to see what arm talent he has in comparison to Will. If he has the cannon in-game that he should, then this board will make him the most popular man in Starkville. And if Will doesn't get his head on straight when reading a defense and not running against a 6/7 man box then he should get benched.

Around the West: Auburn is bad. Arkansas played an even worse game than we did last night. A&M doesn't have its answer at QB. They feel like the SEC's Iowa right now. 20 points beats A&M. Just that's a tall task against that defense. Alabama is Alabama. Rumors of their demise were greatly exaggerated. Ole Miss is getting fat on cupcakes. We'll have to wait until Kentucky to know more about them.

It's a long season. 9-3 is squarely on the table. If the rule of Leach holds true and that's our "wtf loss" then our "wtf win" is still on the table and 10-2 is on the table as well. Just have to execute.

I'd rather be thinking "we just need to execute the plays better" instead of "we just can't win because we'll never have the talent to." This offense is schemed to neutralize talent. Just have find players who execute it right.

I like your post, very positive and much needed.

[Schultzy]

7-5 is still on the table but 6-6 is what I?ve been expecting all along.

[Tater]

7-5 is still on the table but 6-6 is what iv3 been expecting all along.

9-3/10-2 is on the table. 7-5 is most likely. 4-8/5-7 is what we'll get if we play like last night the rest of the year.

[Schultzy]

9-3/10-2 is on the table. 7-5 is most likely. 4-8/5-7 is what we'll get if we play like last night the rest of the year.

I wish I still had your optimism but don’t have your pessimism.

[Commercecomet24]

9-3/10-2 is on the table. 7-5 is most likely. 4-8/5-7 is what we'll get if we play like last night the rest of the year.

Appreciate the positive post. Yeah I agree 7-5 is most likely and what I figured before the season but as you said if we play like last night we're in trouble, I don't see that happening though.

[NCDawg]

Watching last night, there was a lot of bad, some more bad, and some downright ugly. Sprinkled in there was some things to be optimistic about. We've beaten to death the bad and ugly and some have jumped ship because it's impossible to get skull ****ed in Death Valley and win the SEC West. No one has ever done it. Not one.... Anyways.

Offensive Scheme and play designs. We actually have an offense that can attack these heavily talented SEC defenses. We saw the deep outs be open. We saw the vertical 1-on-1 can beat the DBs (Ra Ra especially). We saw on short yardage plays when we would pass we would have open players.

Now, we didn't attack vertically near enough. We didn't catch wide open passes we should have. We didn't read the defense and audible to passed when we should. Fair or not, this falls squarely on Leach. His concepts work. This widespread of lack of execution is on the coach though. Play the guys who will execute the concepts correctly.

Defensively, we were solid until we got winded late after the offense kept shooting itself in the foot. Anything after the Williams muff I chalk up more to the offense's inability to give the defense a break. Sure the Nabers drive was infuriating, but we all knew he was going to RAT us at some point. Some of those catches were just him making a great play. Tough pill to swallow, but the only change you could do is have someone different subbed in to cover him and pray they make an even better play. I'm not sure even Forbes could have stopped the 4th down catch.

Things to watch: How much does Will play next week? Bowling Green is a bad defensive team. They did beat Marshall, but they should be a tier below Memphis. Our C+ game gets us a win comfortably. Id hope we get our A game. Because I'd like to see Sawyer go vertical in the second half to see what arm talent he has in comparison to Will. If he has the cannon in-game that he should, then this board will make him the most popular man in Starkville. And if Will doesn't get his head on straight when reading a defense and not running against a 6/7 man box then he should get benched.

Around the West: Auburn is bad. Arkansas played an even worse game than we did last night. A&M doesn't have its answer at QB. They feel like the SEC's Iowa right now. 20 points beats A&M. Just that's a tall task against that defense. Alabama is Alabama. Rumors of their demise were greatly exaggerated. Ole Miss is getting fat on cupcakes. We'll have to wait until Kentucky to know more about them.

It's a long season. 9-3 is squarely on the table. If the rule of Leach holds true and that's our "wtf loss" then our "wtf win" is still on the table and 10-2 is on the table as well. Just have to execute.

I'd rather be thinking "we just need to execute the plays better" instead of "we just can't win because we'll never have the talent to." This offense is schemed to neutralize talent. Just have find players who execute it right.

Think your first paragraph is wrong. We got skulled drugged in Baton Rouge in '98 and still won the SECW (actually tied with Arkansas but since we beat Arkansas we went to Atlanta.)

[PikeDawg15]

Watching last night, there was a lot of bad, some more bad, and some downright ugly. Sprinkled in there was some things to be optimistic about. We've beaten to death the bad and ugly and some have jumped ship because it's impossible to get skull ****ed in Death Valley and win the SEC West. No one has ever done it. Not one.... Anyways.

Offensive Scheme and play designs. We actually have an offense that can attack these heavily talented SEC defenses. We saw the deep outs be open. We saw the vertical 1-on-1 can beat the DBs (Ra Ra especially). We saw on short yardage plays when we would pass we would have open players.

Now, we didn't attack vertically near enough. We didn't catch wide open passes we should have. We didn't read the defense and audible to passed when we should. Fair or not, this falls squarely on Leach. His concepts work. This widespread of lack of execution is on the coach though. Play the guys who will execute the concepts correctly.

Defensively, we were solid until we got winded late after the offense kept shooting itself in the foot. Anything after the Williams muff I chalk up more to the offense's inability to give the defense a break. Sure the Nabers drive was infuriating, but we all knew he was going to RAT us at some point. Some of those catches were just him making a great play. Tough pill to swallow, but the only change you could do is have someone different subbed in to cover him and pray they make an even better play. I'm not sure even Forbes could have stopped the 4th down catch.

Things to watch: How much does Will play next week? Bowling Green is a bad defensive team. They did beat Marshall, but they should be a tier below Memphis. Our C+ game gets us a win comfortably. Id hope we get our A game. Because I'd like to see Sawyer go vertical in the second half to see what arm talent he has in comparison to Will. If he has the cannon in-game that he should, then this board will make him the most popular man in Starkville. And if Will doesn't get his head on straight when reading a defense and not running against a 6/7 man box then he should get benched.

Around the West: Auburn is bad. Arkansas played an even worse game than we did last night. A&M doesn't have its answer at QB. They feel like the SEC's Iowa right now. 20 points beats A&M. Just that's a tall task against that defense. Alabama is Alabama. Rumors of their demise were greatly exaggerated. Ole Miss is getting fat on cupcakes. We'll have to wait until Kentucky to know more about them.

It's a long season. 9-3 is squarely on the table. If the rule of Leach holds true and that's our "wtf loss" then our "wtf win" is still on the table and 10-2 is on the table as well. Just have to execute.

I'd rather be thinking "we just need to execute the plays better" instead of "we just can't win because we'll never have the talent to." This offense is schemed to neutralize talent. Just have find players who execute it right.

We aren?t beating either Alabama or Georgia . The question is can we stay within 3 touchdowns ?


You are right about the rest of the west . Auburn is a dumpster fire , Arkansas has some BIG weaknesses in that secondary , Texas A&M is the same as they were last season just with a left handed quarterback ( who beat us last year at home .GULP) , ole miss has the best running back in the Division but their quarterback misses wide open receivers consistently and makes horrible mistakes when he doesn?t just hand it off . Is ole miss?s rushing game good enough to beat an sec team , we will see against Kentucky .
Kentucky can not run the football to save their life and they beat a very very very overrated Florida team ( and Kentucky should have lost that game if not for Anthony Richardson playing like a middle school quarterback).

Yeah I?m not impressed with anyone but I wasn?t impressed with LSU either and we lost .

We should?ve beat that LSU team by double digits if we capitalized in the 1st half and put them away.


The ceiling is 9-3 but the problem is
Home vs A&M
Home vs Arkansas
@Kentucky
Home vs auburn
@ ole miss

We will not go undefeated against that ^^

We will lose Atleast one of those because of special teams errors or playing with 9 instead of 11 .

[Schultzy]

Think your first paragraph is wrong. We got skulled drugged in Baton Rouge in '98 and still won the SECW (actually tied with Arkansas but since we beat Arkansas we went to Atlanta.)

Good memory on that.

[PikeDawg15]

We aren?t beating either Alabama or Georgia . The question is can we stay within 3 touchdowns ?


You are right about the rest of the west . Auburn is a dumpster fire , Arkansas has some BIG weaknesses in that secondary , Texas A&M is the same as they were last season just with a left handed quarterback ( who beat us last year at home .GULP) , ole miss has the best running back in the Division but their quarterback misses wide open receivers consistently and makes horrible mistakes when he doesn?t just hand it off . Is ole miss?s rushing game good enough to beat an sec team , we will see against Kentucky .
Kentucky can not run the football to save their life and they beat a very very very overrated Florida team ( and Kentucky should have lost that game if not for Anthony Richardson playing like a middle school quarterback).

Yeah I?m not impressed with anyone but I wasn?t impressed with LSU either and we lost .

We should?ve beat that LSU team by double digits if we capitalized in the 1st half and put them away.


The ceiling is 9-3 but the problem is
Home vs A&M
Home vs Arkansas
@Kentucky
Home vs auburn
@ ole miss

We will not go undefeated against that ^^

We will lose Atleast one of those because of special teams errors or playing with 9 instead of 11 .

To add to this
My preseason prediction was 9-3
Losses
Home vs A&M
Home vs Georgia
@ Alabama

Could we just swap the lsu loss for the A&M ? I hope so but I didn?t expect in the pre season to look like that against A&M.

This team makes me drink

[Tater]

Think your first paragraph is wrong. We got skulled drugged in Baton Rouge in '98 and still won the SECW (actually tied with Arkansas but since we beat Arkansas we went to Atlanta.)

I would hope the way I drug out that sentence made that obvious but yea, that was blatant sarcasm.

[Goldendawg]

Sitting in Atlanta in '98 was one of the proudest moments in my Bulldog life! When Kevin Prentiss ran back the punt for the go ahead TD, I thought we had it. If JJ hadn't been hurt late in the regular season, who knows? Hail Jackie! Hail the '98 team! Hail State!

[Tater]

I wish I still had your optimism but don’t have your pessimism.

Our A game can go toe to toe with anyone in the country. Our B game had us up 13-0 in Death Valley 29 minutes in. Our D game let LSU outscore use 10-3 for a quarter and some change. Our F game let that LSU team outscore us 21-0. Our D-F game has us lose to everyone except BGSU, ETSU, and maybe Auburn.

The problem is we haven't seen our A game for 4 full quarters under Leach.

[Schultzy]

Sitting in Atlanta in '98 was one of the proudest moments in my Bulldog life! When Kevin Prentiss ran back the punt for the go ahead TD, I thought we had it. If JJ hadn't been hurt late in the regular season, who knows? Hail Jackie! Hail the '98 team! Hail State!
That punt return by Prentiss was our high water mark, but UT winning the Natty that year was worth 70 million to the SEC and it showed after that in the refereeing especially on the bogus flag on Sluder on third & long.

But you’re right Golden that atmosphere was extremely electric in Atlanta that night.

[Tater]

Appreciate the positive post. Yeah I agree 7-5 is most likely and what I figured before the season but as you said if we play like last night we're in trouble, I don't see that happening though.

This team is too Jekyll and Hyde to trust either way. After last night I give us more of a shot than I did to beat Georgia or Bama. Last night was what I thought the Arizona game would be preseason.

[Tater]

To add to this
My preseason prediction was 9-3
Losses
Home vs A&M
Home vs Georgia
@ Alabama

Could we just swap the lsu loss for the A&M ? I hope so but I didn?t expect in the pre season to look like that against A&M.

This team makes me drink

I had 10-2 with a wtf loss to Arizona and the traditional one to Bama.

Flip Zona / LSU and Bama / Georgia and it still makes sense. But if we go 4-3/3-4 before the Bama game then Leach has to cut bait on Will and try Sawyer. Otherwise his job is on the line by the Egg Bowl.

[Maroonthirteen]

I'm optimistic that State has an improved team over last year. I'm optimistic that last night doesn't define the season. State can win 7 this, maybe 8 with an upset.

However I don't buy this offense neutralizes talent differences. We haven't score a TD on Bama in two years. We have Bama and UGA this year at home. Make those games a fourth quarter game, I'll give credit where it is due. However to date, this offense is just another way to attack a defense. Like any offense, sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't.

[WhiskeyPirate]

7-5

Tough schedule

LSU on the road, Bama, Georgia, top ten ranked : UK and Arkansas.

What does that mean ? You lost to #1, #2, #8, #10 and to LSU in Death Valley which historically has happened about 95% of the time.

So don’t let anyone tell you we should win 9 or 10 or Leach should be fired. What a load of bull..

If we go 8-4 we will probably be a top ten ranked team or very close.

7-5 and we are still probably a top 20 team.

[Santiago]

What I saw last night was positive also, and has been for a couple of years. In that with this offense, if the QB and WR's are playing at least above average to really good, then it neutralizes going against a defense full of 4 and 5 star players.
Catch the passes last night and we have over another 150 yards(assuming those first downs create a few more), and we eat up another 10 minutes of clock overall, and generate points.
Do that, and by the 4 quarter it is their defense that is gassed and not ours. We do need an accurate QB who can also escape pressure enough to keep the 5 star and NFL DL from laying their ears back.

[Commercecomet24]

What I saw last night was positive also, and has been for a couple of years. In that with this offense, if the QB and WR's are playing at least above average to really good, then it neutralizes going against a defense full of 4 and 5 star players.
Catch the passes last night and we have over another 150 yards(assuming those first downs create a few more), and we eat up another 10 minutes of clock overall, and generate points.
Do that, and by the 4 quarter it is their defense that is gassed and not ours. We do need an accurate QB who can also escape pressure enough to keep the 5 star and NFL DL from laying their ears back.

Good post. RaRa dropped a crosser in the third quarter that lsu was out of position on and he likely would've scored or at least got close because that whole side of the field had been vacated

[Catfish]

What I saw last night was positive also, and has been for a couple of years. In that with this offense, if the QB and WR's are playing at least above average to really good, then it neutralizes going against a defense full of 4 and 5 star players.
Catch the passes last night and we have over another 150 yards(assuming those first downs create a few more), and we eat up another 10 minutes of clock overall, and generate points.
Do that, and by the 4 quarter it is their defense that is gassed and not ours. We do need an accurate QB who can also escape pressure enough to keep the 5 star and NFL DL from laying their ears back.

Good post, we'll be ok. 7-5 but hoping for 8-4.

[Goldendawg]

Good post, we'll be ok. 7-5 but hoping for 8-4.

If we do recover to go 7-5 and that includes a much overdue victory over OM, I think all State fans will be happy. Hail State!

[Commercecomet24]

If we do recover to go 7-5 and that includes a much overdue victory over OM, I think all State fans will be happy. Hail State!

We have to beat om this year. 7-5 with om win and im good.

[Lord McBuckethead]

We are not beating Bama or GA. 9-3 if we actually show up for 3.5 quarters a game.

[Catfish]

[QUOTE=Lord McBuckethead;1449138]We are not beating Bama or GA. 9-3 if we actually show up for 3.5 quarters a game.[/QUOT

That would be awesome.

[Bothrops]

We had one of our best teams go down to Baton Rouge in 2010 and got crushed 29-7. That was a team with lots of NFL players on it.

[Commercecomet24]

We had one of our best teams go down to Baton Rouge in 2010 and got crushed 29-7. That was a team with lots of NFL players on it.

That was an ugly ugly game. It wasn't as close as the score either. They dominated us from start to finish.

[Bothrops]

That was an ugly ugly game. It wasn't as close as the score either. They dominated us from start to finish.

Yes and started with the targeting no-call on our safety- I forget his name. That is still to this day the worst targeting hit I've ever seen.

[Commercecomet24]

Yes and started with the targeting no-call on our safety- I forget his name. That is still to this day the worst targeting hit I've ever seen.

Yep I remember it well. I remember having a lot of optimism for that game too and we sucked from start to finish.

[PikeDawg15]

I had 10-2 with a wtf loss to Arizona and the traditional one to Bama.

Flip Zona / LSU and Bama / Georgia and it still makes sense. But if we go 4-3/3-4 before the Bama game then Leach has to cut bait on Will and try Sawyer. Otherwise his job is on the line by the Egg Bowl.

The more I go back and watch clips of not just the LSU game but every game . This offense would be so much better when I say so much I mean SO much better if we had a QB that could roll out of the pocket and gain 5-6 yards and just get a 1st down or even more but mainly not get sacked literally every . Single . Time . The pocket collapses .

It also doesn?t help when your receivers drop 11 1st down passes either .

Oh well. This team CAN beat every team left on the schedule not named Alabama or Georgia but they won?t because they haven?t matured enough . They play so sloppy and will can?t win us the game himself.

7-5 right now but if we find out that Arkansas didn?t just sleep walk against missouri state and jaxson dart still misses wide open receivers . It?ll be interesting


But we can score more points than Texas A&M at home but they have better athletes than LSU does rn and a DC that has seen the air raid multiple times at MSU ( Durkin) who knows how to stop it .

Do not buy into the Kentucky hype one bit. They aren?t good. They will have a good record because Vanderbilt , missouri , and South Carolina are awful.

I really hope that we can bounce back and this was just our WTF loss .

[Todd4State]

That was an ugly ugly game. It wasn't as close as the score either. They dominated us from start to finish.

Ugly enough that I actually repressed that game from my memory other than Chris Relf hitting Mike the Tigers cage in pregame. Some LSU fans were mad because they thought he did it on purpose but the reality is that was just Relf being Relf.

[Todd4State]

Here's a hot take. LSU blitzing like they did is going to be copied by other teams we play. But the silver lining is it's going to force Will to throw deep more. Hopefully that will build his confidence.

[basedog]

We have to beat om this year. 7-5 with om win and im good.

Me too, 7-5 is doable as I think every game will be close in the Sec.

[FISHDAWG]

Pretty good assessment and I tend to agree ... we are capable and have enough talent to compete in those games but the question is which team will show up - the team that limits mistakes or the team that fumbles a punt on our own 6 yard line ... I felt like that fumble turned the momentum in their direction and pretty much won the game for them. Leach made some bone headed decisions and that causes me to wonder what kind of confidence Leach actually has in this team. Is it like He felt good enough about his offense to go for it on 4th down or was it something like he didn't have enough confidence in our defense to stop them? .... either way he made some questionable decisions that were very uncomfortable - yeah the first time we went for it inside our own 25 yd line paid off but that's a risk that I didn't think was worth taking. So I see your logic and agree that we are capable, but it's going to take better discipline on players AND coaches alike

[trob115]

Good post. RaRa dropped a crosser in the third quarter that lsu was out of position on and he likely would've scored or at least got close because that whole side of the field had been vacated


Rufus also dropped a huge one too that he possibly would have scored on in the 2nd quarter. We just were too sloppy to win that game. We had ample chances in the first half and couldn't do anything. Will's lack of mobility really limits what we can do offensively when the receivers or oline have breakdowns. Will also missed on 3 or 4 reads where we had guys open on 25 plus yard plays down field.

[BrunswickDawg]

I got a lot of laughs from reading meltdowns from people I know were at State in the 1990s, and all I could think of was "how in the heck did y'all survive the 1990s as State fans if this is the way you act with a loss?"

What I mean by this is that the SEC was a Dog fight every weekend then. Other than Vandy, anyone could win any given weekend. Games were low scoring compared to today, and typically the sloppier team lost (and that wasn't always MSU).
The better team did not always win, and even Bama wasn't immune. Homefield was a huge advantage as well. Right now, other than UGA and Bama - the SEC has reverted back to that parity. And even Vandy is sitting at 3-1 right now and could jump up and beat Mizzou or SC (another killer schedule with 7 ranked opponents).

To me that is so much more fun that what we have had the past 10-15 years where I can look at the schedule pre-season and pick the outcome of every game. Yeah it may mean we go 3-6-2 like '93 and loose a bunch of close dog fights, or it could be like '99 where we went 10-2 and won 5 games by 3 points or less.

[TrapGame]

The very simple point is you cannot drop 5 passes that would have continued drives and probably score on one (Rara in the 3rd) or muff a 17ing punt on LSU's 7 yard line gifting them a touchdown.

We are still very much an 8-4 team.

[TrapGame]

Rufus also dropped a huge one too that he possibly would have scored on in the 2nd quarter. We just were too sloppy to win that game. We had ample chances in the first half and couldn't do anything. Will's lack of mobility really limits what we can do offensively when the receivers or oline have breakdowns. Will also missed on 3 or 4 reads where we had guys open on 25 plus yard plays down field.

Rufus was wide ass open when Will took a sack in the early third quarter.

[PGHBulldogBG]

Dropped passes were our main issue in the Egg Bowl as well. I really like our receiving crew, but those dropped passes are not on Will. Leach needs to evaluate this and correct this more than anything Will is doing. The passes are right in their hands so no excuse for all the drops. It was a sloppy game, but I’m glad we have Bowling Green next to build some confidence before aTm and Ark come to town. Winning in Baton Rouge is something we rarely do. We have only done that a few times lately because of Dak and then Pelini being stubborn

[Commercecomet24]

The very simple point is you cannot drop 5 passes that would have continued drives and probably score on one (Rara in the 3rd) or muff a 17ing punt on LSU's 7 yard line gifting them a touchdown.

We are still very much an 8-4 team.

Yeah Saturday night was a bad combination of drops when Will got it to receivers and Will missing open receivers when he had them. The muffed punt was the killer. If we don't fumble that point there's a good chance we still pull the game out. It just completely changed everything.

[Cooterpoot]

LSU was our "it's going to be a great season" test. We failed. But it can still be a good season. So, we've got to make up that game some how by winning our next 3 SEC games. We win vs A&M, Ark, & KY and we're good.

[Commercecomet24]

LSU was our "it's going to be a great season" test. We failed. But it can still be a good season. So, we've got to make up that game some how by winning our next 3 SEC games. We win vs A&M, Ark, & KY and we're good.

Agreed.

[trob115]

Yep , Rufus woulda got a huge chunk play there too. That was one of the plays I was talking about Will just not seeing the field.

[EdwardDrayton]

Throw the door open to this vaunted QB room for all the world to see.

[HancockCountyDog]

LSU was our "it's going to be a great season" test. We failed. But it can still be a good season. So, we've got to make up that game some how by winning our next 3 SEC games. We win vs A&M, Ark, & KY and we're good.

Totally agree.

My concern is that LSU is the worst out of those 4 teams. Now, I thought we would go 3-1 in those 4 games and honestly I thought LSU was our easiest. So we haven't made it easy on ourselves, but that doesn't make it impossible.

My biggest issue is that I really thought we had turned the corner and started to run the ball more, but we stopped. Johnson and Marks combined for 16 carries for 100 yards and that includes two of the dumbest 4th down calls i've ever seen in my life.

That is over 6 ypc. We ran the ball a total of 4 times in the second half. F-O-U-R. That is despite having a lead until the 4th quarter.

All of those wanting to replace Will are just being irrational. If this is the offense we are running, he is perfect for it. I'm still not sold on it, but I'm giving Leach more rope this season. The concern i have is that the swing passes that will net us 7-8 yards this weekend, only got us 2-3 yards at best this past weekend. Teams weren't getting consistent pressure only rushing 3 or 4. LSU got pressure with both. I think KY and A&M have better defenses than LSU. Arkansas not so much, but Arkansas' offense is miles better than KY and A&M.

Very rarely do I think we were simply the better team in a game that we lose by 15 points, but I just think we are better than LSU. We simply made crucial mistakes and couldn't take advantage of the fact that LSU could not pass the ball until the 4th quarter.

We had 6 punts and 3 turnovers on downs and a pick. So 10 times out of 13 we either punted or turned it over, or failed to get it on 4th down. That is simply terrible offense. To put in context, FSU punted twice against the same team.

The defense did all they could in this game. Yes, I would have preferred a faster player to spy Daniels to end the half, but overall they did what they needed to do, until the end when they understandably quit. I am worried that A&M will be basically the same as LSU except with more defensive talent. If we can score 24 points, I think we beat A&M. If we can't, the season could go sideways.

[PikeDawg15]

Totally agree.

My concern is that LSU is the worst out of those 4 teams. Now, I thought we would go 3-1 in those 4 games and honestly I thought LSU was our easiest. So we haven't made it easy on ourselves, but that doesn't make it impossible.

My biggest issue is that I really thought we had turned the corner and started to run the ball more, but we stopped. Johnson and Marks combined for 16 carries for 100 yards and that includes two of the dumbest 4th down calls i've ever seen in my life.

That is over 6 ypc. We ran the ball a total of 4 times in the second half. F-O-U-R. That is despite having a lead until the 4th quarter.

All of those wanting to replace Will are just being irrational. If this is the offense we are running, he is perfect for it. I'm still not sold on it, but I'm giving Leach more rope this season. The concern i have is that the swing passes that will net us 7-8 yards this weekend, only got us 2-3 yards at best this past weekend. Teams weren't getting consistent pressure only rushing 3 or 4. LSU got pressure with both. I think KY and A&M have better defenses than LSU. Arkansas not so much, but Arkansas' offense is miles better than KY and A&M.

Very rarely do I think we were simply the better team in a game that we lose by 15 points, but I just think we are better than LSU. We simply made crucial mistakes and couldn't take advantage of the fact that LSU could not pass the ball until the 4th quarter.

We had 6 punts and 3 turnovers on downs and a pick. So 10 times out of 13 we either punted or turned it over, or failed to get it on 4th down. That is simply terrible offense. To put in context, FSU punted twice against the same team.

The defense did all they could in this game. Yes, I would have preferred a faster player to spy Daniels to end the half, but overall they did what they needed to do, until the end when they understandably quit. I am worried that A&M will be basically the same as LSU except with more defensive talent. If we can score 24 points, I think we beat A&M. If we can't, the season could go sideways.

The only positive is Max Johnston cant scramble as easily as daniels

Johnston is still mobile, he can get a first down on his feet but he isn't as fast.

Hopefully we go 3-0 on this home stretch..... We can but I just don't think we do.

[HancockCountyDog]

The only positive is Max Johnston cant scramble as easily as daniels

Johnston is still mobile, he can get a first down on his feet but he isn't as fast.

Hopefully we go 3-0 on this home stretch..... We can but I just don't think we do.

A&M's defense is good. Their offense is a mess. We should win. I don't love the matchup though. They can tackle in space and get pressure with just 3 guys. If we play like we did last year in College Station on offense, we get a W.

[Goldendawg]

Here's a hot take. LSU blitzing like they did is going to be copied by other teams we play. But the silver lining is it's going to force Will to throw deep more. Hopefully that will build his confidence.

With that pressure, he won't have time to throw long to our blanketed WR's.

[Goldendawg]

Pretty good assessment and I tend to agree ... we are capable and have enough talent to compete in those games but the question is which team will show up - the team that limits mistakes or the team that fumbles a punt on our own 6 yard line ... I felt like that fumble turned the momentum in their direction and pretty much won the game for them. Leach made some bone headed decisions and that causes me to wonder what kind of confidence Leach actually has in this team. Is it like He felt good enough about his offense to go for it on 4th down or was it something like he didn't have enough confidence in our defense to stop them? .... either way he made some questionable decisions that were very uncomfortable - yeah the first time we went for it inside our own 25 yd line paid off but that's a risk that I didn't think was worth taking. So I see your logic and agree that we are capable, but it's going to take better discipline on players AND coaches alike

Brain freeze that a usually sure handed 6th year player even tries to field a punt inside our own 10. Try someone else.

[Goldendawg]

Totally agree.

My concern is that LSU is the worst out of those 4 teams. Now, I thought we would go 3-1 in those 4 games and honestly I thought LSU was our easiest. So we haven't made it easy on ourselves, but that doesn't make it impossible.

My biggest issue is that I really thought we had turned the corner and started to run the ball more, but we stopped. Johnson and Marks combined for 16 carries for 100 yards and that includes two of the dumbest 4th down calls i've ever seen in my life.

That is over 6 ypc. We ran the ball a total of 4 times in the second half. F-O-U-R. That is despite having a lead until the 4th quarter.

All of those wanting to replace Will are just being irrational. If this is the offense we are running, he is perfect for it. I'm still not sold on it, but I'm giving Leach more rope this season. The concern i have is that the swing passes that will net us 7-8 yards this weekend, only got us 2-3 yards at best this past weekend. Teams weren't getting consistent pressure only rushing 3 or 4. LSU got pressure with both. I think KY and A&M have better defenses than LSU. Arkansas not so much, but Arkansas' offense is miles better than KY and A&M.

Very rarely do I think we were simply the better team in a game that we lose by 15 points, but I just think we are better than LSU. We simply made crucial mistakes and couldn't take advantage of the fact that LSU could not pass the ball until the 4th quarter.

We had 6 punts and 3 turnovers on downs and a pick. So 10 times out of 13 we either punted or turned it over, or failed to get it on 4th down. That is simply terrible offense. To put in context, FSU punted twice against the same team.

The defense did all they could in this game. Yes, I would have preferred a faster player to spy Daniels to end the half, but overall they did what they needed to do, until the end when they understandably quit. I am worried that A&M will be basically the same as LSU except with more defensive talent. If we can score 24 points, I think we beat A&M. If we can't, the season could go sideways.

They adjusted to our 4 known running plays. They ran an unbalanced D line with 2 to 3 players on or outside our OT. We made no adjustments. Other future opponents saw this and will do the same thing.

[Catfish]

They adjusted to our 4 known running plays. They ran an unbalanced D line with 2 to 3 players on or outside our OT. We made no adjustments. Other future opponents saw this and will do the same thing.

Yeah I'm hoping they draw up some new plays this week.

[HancockCountyDog]

Here's a hot take. LSU blitzing like they did is going to be copied by other teams we play. But the silver lining is it's going to force Will to throw deep more. Hopefully that will build his confidence.

I thought about this and i went back and watched our offense. Here is what LSU did:

Rush 3 - 17 times
rush 4 - 30 times
rush 5 - 2 times
rush 6 - 2 times (one resulted in a TD, the other a big gain)

Most of the time they rushed 3, but if the RB stayed in to block, the LB came on a delayed blitz.

We didn't get beat by the blitz. We could not protect against a 3 or 4 man front consistently. I want teams to blitz us, when they do, big things happen. When they sit back and play zone or man - we struggle. LSU played a lot of man with 2-3 players playing zone. So each WR would have a man on them, and then they would have 3 additional guys in different zones. It was very effective.

[Activated Alpha]

Yeah that LSU game totally knocked over my glass of milk and it?s shattered on the floor. So I don?t even have a glass half empty or full anymore. I cannot even fathom how y?all see us winning anymore games even if Ark, Aub, and Ky are beatable. We will always beat ourselves more than the other team will

[PMDawg]

7-5 is still on the table but 6-6 is what I?ve been expecting all along.

I think 6-6 is on the table, and 7-5 is what I've been expecting all along. haha