re: True or false? LSU related.

Bama didn't have a good qb backing up AJ because of transfers. Saban was in scramble mode bringing in coker. He still managed to make it work and turn a kid that was a running back into a serviceable to good qb.

IMO Saban has less holes to cover up, therefore situations like this year don't occur often. Then when something like this year happens he handles it better than other coaches. He brought in a oc that isn't very rigid, can blend his style with players abilities and boom you see a bama o that started to roll late.

The key is the off the field work he puts in. The preparation of a great plan in recruiting. He gets top players, but also players that can fit in the system in place or he can bring in someone that can adjust the system slightly. Saban is a master at having an overall plan, sticking with his plan for the most part but also being able to be flexible at key times. The process he uses is extremely successful.
The difference in Saban vs Les isn't so much the on the field x and o deal. It is the preparation differences off the field and how each teams assistants handle things. LSU recruits well, id argue that the top classes are very similar so actual ranking order isn't that important. However, it is recruiting to a system or brining in coaches that can mold people into a successful system.

This is why Saban rolls people up year after year, and les can put up good years in most years but will have a bigger drop off. We have a hodge podge situation going on. Pro style OC, more of a prostyle line but they can easily dominate in a zone read scheme. WR and RB that can shine either way. Qbs that need to be in the spread but instead we put under center. We either need to recruit under center QBS and keep cam or we move more spread and cam adjust or we replace him.

The other difference is with Saban there is always confidence things will be fixed because he is a master in the media. Les looks out of control because he is zany.

It is a problem that gets overlooked at LSU. One side is all in on Miles is making the correct decision its the players fault or this and that. The other side points out some surface flaws but its deeper than a surface problem. We have a problem of not picking a system. I think its best to blend the systems together. Which is basically what bama does, they can line up and ram it down your throat when needed, they can spread it wide and use talent when needed it. They can slow it down or speed up, they use match ups. I think pegging yourself into one system makes you much easier to defend even if the system is great. I think a 70 percent of our snaps would be good in shotgun. we don't need to throw out of it but we could run it well out of that.

Teams like LSU and bama shouldn't peg themselves into a rigid system, it should be balanced since we can recruit players that are so good that most systems will work with them. Qb is what should decide on how the offense is run, if he can do what mett/Aj did then run that. When you have a kid like simms you adjust and tweak to help him. Lane did that and it paid off hugely for them. Cam didn't, but Jennings wouldn't have been half as good as simms anyways but would have been better than we saw.

Upvoted. I enjoy your mature rationalizations and wish more posters could have well thought out, respectful discourse like yours. Good luck to LSU next season.

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I've upvoted your last few posts. There are areas where other SEC programs have excelled better than Alabama though. LSU and Florida have both done a better job at evaluating and developing cornerbacks the past few seasons. LSU typically has better or equal special teams as well. Alabama's field goal kicking has cost the program a few games recently.

Alabama is an A, and LSU is a B, but both programs have things that they could learn from one another. LSU could use Alabama's offensive playcalling and player evaluation while Alabama could use LSU's defensive back and special teams coaching.

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I agree with this.

Bama does have flaws, though very small ones. I really wish Les would see how Saban does things. He has a very rigid process but it has room for tweaking of the parts. Les has a rigid non changing way of doing things.

This is a solid thread, great points made all around.

Wish we had more like this.

True...If 4 of their primary 7 draft-eligible 3-year guys stay. And honestly, that just puts them in the "Could" category with a handful of other SEC teams, IMO.

YES great defense, Great receivers, Great running backs and special teams only one piece missing which is QB

With improved QB play, they'll be a great team. The question of whether they'll be a play-off team, OTOH, depends largely on how good the rest of the West is, not to mention UF. Who's their rotating cross-divisional opponent next year?

I think that's been true of every LSU team for a decade. QB has killed them.

LSU would have been a playoff team this year with better QB play, so I think next year looks bright for us.