How bad does the score have to be

Recruiting our defense has been above average, almost elite -- the problem is we're just not playing the younger guys for inexplicable reasons.

Next year we'll get an upgrade if only by omission, because we won't have Stiner, Davis, Wilson.

Those three have been absolutely atrocious.

However, Grantham's problem isn't talent. It's just he's a lazy playcaller. It's almost like his gameplan is the exact for every single opponent, and even then his players aren't in the right places and are never prepared.

How many times do we see guys lined up 15 yards when all they need to do is get 3 - 5? Most of his positioning, the teams are just in absolutely worthless positions. It's like the defense is playing with 9 players instead of 11 because we just concede shorter passes and plays, which negates our blitzing (when he does blitz, he's been so vanilla this year it's unbearable).

I honestly have no idea if Mullen will be here next year. The way he talks, the way he prepared for LSU, his press conferences -- it wouldn't surprise me to see him take an NFL gig.

That being said, Grantham 100% needs to go and is the problem. He's mailed it in the last year and a half, and it's weird watching how apathetic he seems to be about it. No adjusting throughout the year, same soft, sorry, out of position defense that can never keep their head in the game.

quote:

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we arent in the meeting rooms or on the practice field to see what he sees.

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Apparently, neither is the defense.

Grantham has two major issues.

His scheme is too complex and he can not simplify when needed

He plays vets over talent


Those issues cost us two games this year.

Reel, I'll be delicate here:

1. Players are constantly out of position any game. All you need to do is run hurry up and we're fricked. Every team knows it ever since the Ole Miss game and it hasn't been addressed.

2. DBs are constantly out of position, horrendously. The opposing offense needs 3 yards to make a first down on third and short and our safeties and other DBs are 15 yards off of the ball.

Teams will always take an easy slant first down over a contested long throw on third down. Always.

3. Grantham doesn't blitz as often as he should, and the solution has been easy: Press coverage, blitz five, no easy passing downs and it helps against the rush. This is like a two year problem, not one.

4. Johnson can make mistakes, he's a freshman. Stiner and Wilson have been dunked on so many times, and are the reason we lost the two games we lost. Wilson literally threw a shoe.

We have no discipline, our scheme is bad and our players are constantly doing things that they shouldn't be doing.

Eventually you gotta call a spade a spade. Grantham ain't pulling his weight, period. By playing guys who have no shot at being in the NFL he is wasting downs and hurting us at recruiting. If the older players keep embarrassing themselves on the field, it's time to start putting in underclassmen.

Period.

I suspect Mullen has also tried to play it safe defensively, and just let the other team make some mistakes. If your offense is clicking it isn't a terrible gameplan. But when the offense is struggling (when's the last time we had consecutive 3-and-outs?) it will blow up in his face.

Putting the game in the hands of the other team's erratic (Mond) or true freshman (Johnson) QB should work more often than not. Unfortunately it's what we have to do with our limited defensive talent.

We all have to admit we have more hope for this game against Alabama than we did in past years when we knew we were lucky to be playing in the East. For that reason alone we need to give Mullen some credit.

I will take Mullen over anyone except Spurrier, Meyer, and Saban.

It was so annoying to hear McElwain sound surprised every time we won a game.

At least Mullen understands the standard that has been set before him.

Our Quarterback had 474 yards and four touchdowns.

Our offense had 600+ yards.

If that's not enough to win games, we need to look at the defensive side of the ball. They should be allowed to have a "bad" (most people would trade our offense for theirs, maybe 95% if the country) game where they don't need to score 40 points so that our defense can do its job.

Straws, I know we have problems on defense...I have watched cut ups of games until I puke. But here is my take:

In college football you kickoff and the other team starts at the 25 yd line. MOST college HCs know that it is difficult to execute 75 yd drives for most teams as there are bumps along the way to 75 yds, flags, sacks, incomplete passes, RBs tackled for losses etc etc. Mullen subscribes to that theory for the most part....hence the zone. We sent the kitchen sink against Max Johnson several times and it backfired on us.

I was surprised at how good Johnson was...his dad was a nole...if LSU would have played that big kid at QB we would have killed them.

I am all for chewing azz when players do stupid things, like coach O did with his other frosh QB when he threw a pick six from his own end zone. Coach O chewed him 5 new buttholes.

Mullen isnt that type of coach...he prefers to keep players uptempo and not hang their heads...will it eventually backfire? That will be shown in the next couple of years. He is Stricklins boy and has a mile of leash, which he should have. We are a far cry from that 4-7 season. We have 2 losses by a total of six points and thats against all SEC teams.

And I agree with Mullen somewhat that the offense was the reason we lost. Trask hasnt been sharp for 3 or 4 games now. This saturday he wont have to concern himself with Heisman hype (UF allowed way too many interviews for Trask). Its a team loss and we just have to regroup and hopefully the OL gets chewed out...no reason to see Reese on roller skates. Where the f&&k is the S&C ???? Get those big uglies and lock them in the weight room. No QB can be successful with DL in his face. Trask had to hurry passes all night.

Another note....lets avoid scheduling LSU at night.
:banghead: