January 4, 2018
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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THE WIZARDRY OF OS
Assistant Basketball Coach and Head Swimming Coach at Central High
Can we get a reboot on 2018? So far, I am not a fan.
The Saints and Tigers lost in pretty much the exact same fashion. Winning the turnover margin, controlling the game, but unable to get off the field on third and fourth down, then giving up a deep pass down the sideline (the far sideline from the camera going right to left).
Of the two disappointing starts to the new year, LSU fans are the ones that need to see the bigger picture and relax. Do you remember how great LSU looked against Louisville in the Citrus Bowl a year ago? Did it make any difference this year?
If it makes you feel better, pretend LSU got the touchdown at the end, gave up the late touchdown, and won in overtime. Do whatever it takes to feel better about the end of the game, because none of it matters for the future of LSU football as I said last week heading into the game.
LSU is behind Georgia, Alabama, and probably Auburn (even though LSU beat them). That is very clear. LSU’s defense was above average this year. Some people might be able to show some stats that show the defense was better, but what good offenses did LSU play this year?
The offense did a better job of getting skill players the ball in space, but can’t sniff what is required to win big in college football these days. Every specialist (punter, place kicker, and returners) were below average to poor this year. The biggest question is whether it gets better for next year.
I wish I could say for certain LSU will improve in these areas, but as I said last week, the Citrus Bowl could not and did not answer those questions. The players that will determine if LSU improves in those areas did not play in the Citrus Bowl.
On offense, we know LSU will start Brennan or Narcisse. Neither played in the bowl game. Before you get all fired up, we would still have questions if Brennan had played.
Regardless of the quarterback, LSU needs better receivers. LSU fans can hope for the development of returning receivers or a true freshman like Terrace Marshall to make a big splash. Yet the best chance for an immediate impact at receiver is Texas Tech transfer Jonathan Giles. He is an experienced player that has been productive on the college level. In 2016, he had 69 catched from over 1,500 yards and 13 TDs.
Speaking of transfers on the offense, LSU needs a tight end to work the middle of the field. Perhaps Randy Moss’ son, Thaddeus Moss will provide that ability. Thaddeus is a transfer from NC State who sat out this year.
Place kicker continued to be a problem, and LSU has a Division II transfer, Cole Tracey, signed to hopefully solve that problem.
LSU’s defensive line was not deep and that was a problem at times this year. We saw that at the end of the Notre Dame game. LSU has another Texas tech transfer, Breiden Fehoko, who should make a big impact.
Last week, I said to watch outside and inside linebacker to see if those players were ready to make an impact next year. The inside linebackers, Taylor and Phillips look like they will be ready. The outside linebackers did some good things, but did not look dominant. Though they were facing an All-American.
I know LSU football fans have reason for concern. Jimbo Fisher, Dan Mullen, and a very difficult schedule next year are threats to LSU’s success, but also outside of LSU’s control. The offensive coordinator situation and the quarterback development are outside the control of LSU fans.
Tiger fans want a magic wand to fix the offense that has been miserable to watch for years. I am frustrated too, but this year LSU needed better offensive players at a few spots, not better plays. If you disagree, just pay attention to the NFL and their opinion this year and next. I think Tiger fans need to be a little patient with the offense.
Saints fans on the other hand, should be very concerned. I hope the Saints play great in the playoffs, but I approach the playoffs with no anticipation. The regular season was better than expected, and this year has been a success. The draft class was amazing, the Saints are in good shape with the salary cap, and with another good draft class the Saints should improve again next year.
There are just a few major flaws with this team. Those flaws have been masked somewhat, but it will take some breaks and brilliant coaching to hide them in the playoffs.
The biggest issue on offense is that the Saints are completely reliant on Ingram, Kamara, and Thomas. Ginn jumps up every once in a while, but that is it. Linebackers key on Ingram and Kamara following them everywhere they go making screen passes and running very difficult. Without a tight end as a threat in the middle of the field, play action does not have the impact it should. Surprisingly, Snead and Coleman have ceased to be options in the passing game.
Unfortunately, the Panthers have great linebackers as did Tampa Bay. The Panthers will do everything they can to defend Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara. I would suspect they will be successful. The Panthers front four is good enough to slow down Ingram. If Payton can’t find a way to get Snead, Coleman, Ginn, or a tight end going, I can’t see the Saints scoring more than 20 points..
The defense is going to give up 24 or more points. I hate to sound like a broken record, but the Saints have not been the same on defense since Okafor went down. Then losing Kakaha resulted in no pass rush against Tampa Bay. The good news on this end, is maybe Hendrickson will be healthy for the playoffs.
A win would mean the Saints beat the Panthers for the third time in the same season while facing the Panthers best offensive player for the first time this season. Greg Olsen is a great player and a huge thorn in the side of the Saints. I don’t know how often it is possible, but I would put Lattimore on him as much as possible. Otherwise, don’t be surprised if Olsen has 7-10 catches for 130 yards.
The Saints can win, but there is no way I see them as the favorite coming into the game. The Panthers are one of two teams to beat the Patriots this year. The Panthers are one of just three teams to beat the Vikings. The Vikings and Patriots dominated the Saints. The Panthers beat the Packers with Aaron Rodgers. The Saints barely beat the Packers with Aaron Rodgers. The Panthers barely lost to the Eagles with Carson Wentz. The Saints were fortunate to not face the Eagles, but the Rams are a comparable team and handled the Saints.
The fact is that the Saints lost 5 times to teams not named the Panthers. The Panthers lost three times to teams not named the Saints. Normally, I would say this means the Saints match up well with the Panthers, but again the Panthers now have Greg Olsen.
Don’t kid yourself, the Panthers are the clear favorites in this game. For me, that means I will be ecstatic if the Saints win, but not surprised to chalk up another disappointment in 2018.
HEY REF
Let me begin 2018 with a heartfelt “HAPPY NEW YEAR”! I hope everyone had a great and Merry Christmas and Santa brought you plenty of surprises like the one he delivered for LSU Tiger fans. Don’t point your collective fingers at a single call, no call or coach. History is reality and the reality of this loss is my Fighting Irish worked harder than LSU did. When you have four guys well over 250 pounds and they have to move the ball less than four feet for a touchdown but don’t deliver then the truth says this loss is on the backs of every player that walked out onto the field. One big thing that needs cleaning up if he returns to Baton Rouge next year is the antics of running back Derrius Guice. In another game I saw him get “excited” and get in an opponent’s face but wasn’t penalized. Again in this latest game he once again started “trash” talking then pushed an Irish player right in front of an official who didn’t flag him. That just showed weakness on the official’s part but one day he won’t get away with his actions and it’ll coat the Tigers. It wasn’t a slight push by any stretch of the imagination and didn’t cost the Tigers a down or yardage. But it’s just a matter of time.
He’s back! No, not “Hey Ref”, after a well-deserved one week vacation, but the old man in the NFL; Tom Brady. Yes, I’m well aware that many of those that aren’t fans of the New England Patriots despise seeing him to succeed year after year. He and his team don’t fit the current goings-on in the money factory because his franchise resembles the old league where a franchise would build dynasty that would last six to ten years before another team climbed the mountain and installed their team as the “King of the Hill”.
Here’s how the NFL operates, a team will win a single Super Bowl and its top paid players will use that tittle as a bargaining chip as they no doubt will jump ship with pockets full of cash. For too many fans and cities this translates into said Super Bowl Champion falling apart in less than four to five years. But this is the way the group of 32 wants things to go down. The constant changing and crowning of a new team taking home all the marbles is a great business decision for and by the league.
That decision is of course totally a BUSINESS move in that soon it’ll be your franchise’s turn to climb onto the top of the ladder. To explain it better isn’t that easy of a thing to do. Wait on it, wait, and wait; maybe now you can see the light? Just try to comprehend what I just wrote for a little more time and it’ll become clearer. Today’s market place (cause that’s what the NFL has become) the 32 owners want to share the pie among all teams to insure that not a single franchise either fails, loses money or moves to greener pastures.
While some owners have concluded shuffling teams to other states is a sure money maker since every city and state would give their first born for a franchise the majority, for the time being, are in a slowdown mentality to build new stadiums since the going rate is hitting $2.5 BILLION DOLLARS and continue to edge up and soon will top the $3 million level. Will that be the new “cost” standard? Of course not since the ownership in today’s NFL is changing in favor of spoiled little rich kids which don’t know the meaning of “NO”.
Some owners do in fact consider the costs not only to the city/state losing their franchise but also the expenses that which cities and states would bear if a team moves inside their boarders. That’s of course a very short amount of time since the line is ever getting longer for those wanting a franchise. The NFL is always in the market to find new ways of generating funds since salaries to players and board members is fast out pacing money from tickets, game day souvenirs, jerseys and the like.
Some franchises such as our New Orleans based Saints are also getting monies from taxpayers. I’ve written on this subject many times in the past as it disgusts me to see money needed for teachers, roads and healthcare being sidetracked into Tom Benson’s purse. It will get a lot worse before it even turns around since the NFL is entering uncharted waters and losing their “NON-PROFIT” status.
So at the end of the day many will long for these good ‘ole days when there was stability in the league and forces would become a dynasty. The system now in place where multiple teams remain “playoff eligible” till the last snap of the last game is one in which the NFL needs to keep. It keeps the league solvent and fans’ interest in all games, in all stadiums for an entire 17 weeks.
And as long as the “kitty” stays healthy then alls well in the NFL.
TILL NEXT WEEK!
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