Les has more at LSU

[BeeDee]

Les Has More At LSU
By Jerry L. Reed
The Morning News (http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2005/08/01/sports/02sec.txt)

HOOVER, Ala. -- Miami Dolphins coach Nick Saban might be making players cry in the National Football League, but don't shed any tears for Les Miles.

Miles succeeded Saban as the latest LSU coach -- he's the 32nd in school history -- on Jan. 3, and the cupboard was completely full.

Saban helped create this gridiron monster and Miles now has to feed it.

LSU won the national championship in 2003 -- it actually shared it with Southern Cal -- then finished 9-3 in Saban's last season before his exit.


Enter Miles, a 51-year-old Ohio native, who bears a striking resemblance to actor Kurt Russell.

Actually that's kind of appropriate since Saban will be a hard act to follow in Baton Rouge, La.

Miles made his official debut in the Southeastern Conference last Friday during the final day of the annual SEC Football Media Days here in the Wynfrey Hotel.

It was his first big audience of print and broadcast journalists who cover the SEC on a regular basis.

Miles addressed the press with a bright yellow tie with diagonal purple stripes (LSU's school colors) wrapped around his neck and a toothy smile spread across his mug.

One figured he'd have to be happy about taking over a powerful football program which welcomes back 18 returning starters and 47 quality lettermen.

Miles spent the past four years as the coach at Oklahoma State -- it was his first college head coaching gig -- honing his craft.

As he took center stage, he also tried to step out of the long, almost legendary, shadow of Saban, who brought LSU its first national title since 1958.

His opening statement was brief and to the point.

"We had a nice spring," Miles said. "Felt like it was very productive. I felt like the introduction to the team and the coaching staff went well.

"Enjoyed very much getting around the state of Louisiana and meeting the people that support our program, a number of alumni functions. Really gave me an impression that there's a very special past that surrounds LSU Football.

"I think the summer has gone well for our to the football team. I think we're in great shape. I think that we look forward to reporting August 6th and developing and building a team that will pursue championships."

That sounded mighty good to Tigers running back Joseph Addai, who rushed for 680 yards and averaged 6.7 yards-per-carry while scoring 3 touchdowns in 2004.

"Coach Miles is more of an offensive guy and coach Saban was more of a defensive guy, but they both have the same goals and strategies," Addai said. "What coach Miles has to offer will help us out a lot. Of course, I like that he is more of an offensive coach because it benefits me. Mostly he is building on what coach Saban taught us. The guys have adapted and we like him and are excited to play for him."

But ...

Does defensive tackle Kyle Williams feel the same, simply because he plays on the other side of the ball?

It seems so.

"It doesn't bother me as long as the team is getting proper respect," Williams said. "Coach Miles has been well received by the LSU and Baton Rouge community.

"I have bonded with him.

"We are going to have a strong team this season. We will surprise everybody with our cornerbacks on defense. We have a ton of talented running backs on offense."

Miles recognizes keeping LSU elevated to the highest level of competition is expected, but he doesn't seemed to be overly concerned.

He addressed that when the subject was broached last week.

"I never really paid much attention to polls and preseason predictions," Miles said. "I think it's a compliment to the talent that's on our team. I don't think talent in and of itself is the reason why you win championships. I don't think that that will determine where we finish.

"It will be a character and style and chemistry that's developed through a season at LSU that will determine where we finish. Some people pick us in a position where it is a compliment and some people pick us in the position where we certainly aspire to finish higher.

"So I am not big on polls and predictions"

Miles definitely comes into a different scenario than the one he had in Stillwater, Okla., trying to rebuild Oklahoma State.

He addressed that, too.

"The process, the physical process is the same," Miles said. "The feeling of great expectations are enjoyed. The fact that we have some talent, the fact that this football team comes in expecting to achieve, certainly that's what we want.

"That's what any coach would want. So I enjoy that. There's some activity that I don't have to entertain. I don't have to convince anybody. We understand that if we do the things that we're capable of doing that we have a chance to have a special season.

"That's an advantage to LSU."

So how does Miles handle essentially inheriting a gold mine?

"Here's three spots where the cupboard needs a little improvement for us to do the things that we need to accomplish," Miles said. "One of them is on offense, one of them is on defense and one is special teams. Every coach sees its team, its strengths and its weaknesses. Certainly we need to improve to be the best team that we can be. But certainly there is talent and that's enjoyed.

"I don't think that there will be limitations based on talent; it will be limitations on other variables."

Crying probably isn't one of them.

[GeauxTo]

Les Has More At LSU

Nice!
;) ;) ;) ;) ;)

[BeeDee]

Nice!
;) ;) ;) ;) ;)


I thought you'd enjoy that one. Sounds like you guys are gonna be hard to handle this year. Maybe the Louisiana Dept. of Health should start pumping some valium into the water supply before the season gets kicked off - to keep the fans from hyperventilating.

[GeauxTo]

I thought you'd enjoy that one. Sounds like you guys are gonna be hard to handle this year. Maybe the Louisiana Dept. of Health should start pumping some valium into the water supply before the season gets kicked off - to keep the fans from hyperventilating.
Too late! I think everyone is already sky-high. (GateauxNation - DO NOT make any comments; this is not the kind of high you are accustomed to.) Ha-Ha
:p

[GatorNation]

Too late! I think everyone is already sky-high. (GateauxNation - DO NOT make any comments; this is not the kind of high you are accustomed to.) Ha-Ha
:p

HAHA.....nice anticipation there, G02. I still think these are articles that totally gloss over reality. Miles perception as an offensive mind is overstated, perhaps even misleading considering his (at best, lukewarm) record against teams not named OU or Texass. And we won't even deal with Bo Peep's record.....aw, hell, I have some time for some quotes:

"For [l-essU] to continue to maintain the defensive prowess it enjoyed under Saban, it will have to do it in a manner somewhat different than before. Whereas Saban favored an intricate system that often called for players to patrol certain areas, new defensive coordinator Bo [Peep] prefers having his defenders in predetermined spots." - Lindy's on l-essU's defense

Translation: L-essU's defense will be much more predictable because Pellini is much less talented when it comes to developing defensive schemes. This is one of the prinicpal reasons Pellini's defenses suck against option/spread packages--a talented OC worth his paycheck can easily predict placement and weak bubbles in predetermined zone coverages. If Pellini doesn't call man-free, it's either full zone or cover-2. I'm willing to wager that talented QB's like Leak, Ainge, and Croyle are going to find zone reads quite a bit easier against Pellini's defense. And God help Peep if and when he plays against Shockley.....

"The Sooners lost three starters from a secondary that underachieved, considering it had three NFL draft choices.... Despite all that talent, OU managed just eight interceptions last season compared to an average of 24 ( :eek: ) during the previous four [seasons]. So poor was the secondary that true freshman CB Marcus Walker was asked to forfeit his redshirt...in the ninth game to help stop the bleeding." - Sporting News on OU's 2004 secondary.

Might this explain why OU got absolutely throttled in the MNC game this year? I'm sure Chow was well aware of Pellini's weak schemes from studying OU film. Sort of like taking candy from a baby....and further explains why Stoops wouldn't think twice about releasing him. Playing predetermined zone-location schemes against Bush, Leinhart, and Chow was insane....except now nearly every week in 2005 will involve a top-flight, talented opponent. Pellini's "rep" has been bolstered by moderate success with better talent against weaker opponents with lesser talent.

[And so I don't have to spend the next two weeks cutting up posts suggesting Meyer's "rep" has been achieved by similar means, Pellni often had much better talent than his opponents: NU had a pre-season #1 secondary in the crappy big xii north and OU ran the table in 2004 only to sink in the MNC game. Big difference. Meyer dominated with players who were no better than his opponents. One cannot say the same for Peep.]

In summary, the HC and DC positions are l-essU downgrades.....I'm not the only one saying it or implying it. Tigger fans better hold on to their hot sauce this year.

:)

[GeauxTo]

L-essU's defense will be much more predictable because Pellini is much less talented when it comes to developing defensive schemes. :)Hey, are you talking about ME???

http://www.lsusports.net/assets/images/fb/individual/pellini.jpg
Bo Pelini, one of the most respected defensive minds in football, enters his first season as LSU's defensive coordinator coming to Baton Rouge from the University of Oklahoma.

Pelini completed one season as Oklahoma's co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach, helping the Sooners to the national championship game against Southern Cal.

In his only season with the Sooners, Oklahoma ranked sixth in the nation in rushing defense, allowing only 94 yards per game. The Sooners were 11th nationally in scoring, limiting opponents to just 16 points per contest in 2004.

Prior to his season with Oklahoma, Pelini spent the 2003 season as the defensive coordinator for 10-3 Nebraska. At Nebraska, Pelini led a Cornhusker defense that tied the school record with 47 turnovers. In addition, the Cornhuskers were No. 2 in the nation in takeaways and they led the nation in turnover margin at +1.77 per game.

Pelini's Nebraska defense also led the nation in pass efficiency defense (88.66 rating), ranked No. 2 in scoring defense (14.5 points per game), were No. 11 in passing yards per game (177.8 yards per game), and No. 11 in total defense (297.2 yards per game).

At the conclusion of the 2003 regular season, Pelini was promoted to interim head coach at Nebraska where he guided the Cornhuskers to a 17-3 win over Michigan State in the Alamo Bowl.

Pelini's coaching background includes nine years in the NFL, coaching for the San Francisco 49ers, the New England Patriots and the Green Bay Packers. Pelini broke into the NFL in 1994 as assistant secondary coach for George Seifert and the 49ers. Originally hired as a scouting assistant, Pelini was quickly promoted to defensive backs coach in the spring of 1994. It's a position he held until moving to the Patriots for the 1997 season.

As a member of the Patriots staff, Pelini coached the linebackers under head coach Pete Carroll. Pelini helped the Patriots go 27-21 over a three-year period with the club making the playoffs twice. Pelini's efforts were highlighted with a Pro Bowl appearance by Chris Slade in 1997, the first Patriot linebacker to be named All-Pro since 1989.

After three years with the Patriots, Pelini moved to the Packers, coaching linebackers for three seasons. In three years in Green Bay, the Packers posted a 33-15 record and advanced to the playoffs all three years.

In 2002, the Packer defense ranked fourth in the NFL in pass defense, allowing 188.4 yards per game.

Pelini got his start in coaching in 1991, serving as a graduate assistant coach at Iowa. From there he moved into the high school ranks, serving as quarterbacks coach at Cardinal Mooney High School in Youngstown, Ohio, in 1993 before taking the leap to the 49ers.

As a player, Pelini was a standout free safety at Ohio State, earning four letters from 1987-90. He helped the Buckeyes to a 15-8 record over his final two seasons. He was a three-time selection to the Academic All-Big Ten team. He played in two bowl games during his collegiate career, appearing in the Hall of Fame Bowl in January of 1990 and the Liberty Bowl in December of 1990.
:)

And are you planning on talking about ME???
http://www.lsusports.net/assets/images/fb/individual/dunbar2.jpg
Karl Dunbar, a former All-SEC defensive lineman for LSU, returns to Baton Rouge to serve as LSU's assistant head coach, while also coaching the Tiger defensive line. It will be Dunbar's second tour of duty with the Tigers as he previously served as LSU's assistant strength and conditioning coordinator from 2000-01.

The return of Dunbar reunites the former LSU standout with head coach Les Miles. After his departure from LSU following the 2001 season, Dunbar took a spot on Miles' staff at Oklahoma State, coaching the Cowboy defensive line.

Dunbar comes back to the college game after coaching the defensive line for the Chicago Bears for the 2004 season. In his only season with the Bears, Dunbar helped a Chicago defense increase its sack total from 18 to 35 and its takeaways from 20 to 29, while also setting a modern franchise record for defensive touchdowns with six.

Dunbar joined the Bears following six years at the collegiate level. Prior to his arrival in Chicago, Dunbar coached the defensive line at Oklahoma State from 2002-03 where he coached a defensive line that contributed to the Cowboy's 60 quarterback sacks over a two-year period.

In 2003, Dunbar coached defensive end Greg Richmond to First-Team All-Big 12 honors for the Cowboys following a 70-tackle, 12.5-sack season for Oklahoma State. A year earlier, Dunbar's defensive tackle Kevin Williams earned First-Team All-Big 12 honors and was taken in the first round of the NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings.

Dunbar spent two seasons at LSU, serving as assistant strength and conditioning coordinator for the football team. During his two years with the Tigers, LSU recorded 21 wins and claimed the 2001 SEC title, the school's first outright conference in football since 1986.

Dunbar's first college job came as the defensive line coach at Nicholls State in 1990. He spent two seasons with the Colonels before joining the LSU staff.

Dunbar got his start in coaching at the high school level, holding the defensive line job at Opelousas (La.) High School in 1996 followed by a year as the defensive coordinator at Beau Chene High School in Arnaudville, La. in 1997.

As a player, Dunbar was a three-year starter and four-time letterwinner on the defensive line for the Tigers from 1986-89. In 38 career games, Dunbar recorded 11 sacks and 22 tackles for losses. He earned Second-Team All-SEC honors as a senior in 1989 after recording 60 tackles and six sacks in nine games for the Tigers.

Dunbar was taken in the eighth round of the 1990 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Dunbar played a total of seven seasons in the NFL, which included three with the New Orleans Saints and two with the Arizona Cardinals. Dunbar also spent time with the Orlando Thunder and the Rhein Fire in the World League.

[Cianne]

Pelini completed one season as Oklahoma's co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach, helping the Sooners to the national championship game against Southern Cal.I really wouldn't have included that part seeing as how bad the game was :D

[Djshockley3]

I really wouldn't have included that part seeing as how bad the game was :D


Ha ha,me either.

[GeauxTo]

I really wouldn't have included that part seeing as how bad the game was :D
You gotta remember, though, Stoops is the one who really calls the shots on defense. That is precisely why Bo Peep left there.
;)

[Cianne]

You gotta remember, though, Stoops is the one who really calls the shots on defense. That is precisely why Bo Peep left there.
;)

Then he had no help in In his only season with the Sooners, Oklahoma ranked sixth in the nation in rushing defense, allowing only 94 yards per game. The Sooners were 11th nationally in scoring, limiting opponents to just 16 points per contest in 2004. so gotta leave that out :D

Oh and gotta remember that the fabled 2003 Nebraska season they glow about in the article featured getting blownout by Missouri, Texas, and Kansas State while meanwhile beating up on crappy teams like Utah State, Troy, Kansas, etc. The only good teams his defense went up against in 2003 were the ones they lost to :)

[GeauxTo]

Then he had no help in so gotta leave that out :D
Quite right, quite right! Thank you for your keen and astute observation and for the gentlemanly way in which you brought it to my attention.
:p

[Cianne]

Quite right, quite right! Thank you for your keen and astute observation and for the gentlemanly way in which you brought it to my attention.
:p

I stealth edited more information about Mr. Pelini in to my last post :)

[GatorNation]

Hey, are you talking about ME???

Pelini completed one season as Oklahoma's co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach, helping the Sooners to the national championship game against Southern Cal.

In his only season with the Sooners, Oklahoma ranked sixth in the nation in rushing defense, allowing only 94 yards per game. The Sooners were 11th nationally in scoring, limiting opponents to just 16 points per contest in 2004.

Prior to his season with Oklahoma, Pelini spent the 2003 season as the defensive coordinator for 10-3 Nebraska. At Nebraska, Pelini led a Cornhusker defense that tied the school record with 47 turnovers. In addition, the Cornhuskers were No. 2 in the nation in takeaways and they led the nation in turnover margin at +1.77 per game.

Pelini's Nebraska defense also led the nation in pass efficiency defense (88.66 rating), ranked No. 2 in scoring defense (14.5 points per game), were No. 11 in passing yards per game (177.8 yards per game), and No. 11 in total defense (297.2 yards per game).

Exactly.....we all know this, but these statements don't address the real issue--the truth--like the SN/Lindy's quotes do.

We've already discussed the OU situation. Why provide quotes in a bio concerning parts of the defense upon which Pellini didn't focus? Pellini coached the secondary last year....not DL. And most of the scoring against OU came through the air. You'll likely have a good scoring defense if you can completely shut down the run. And that's why Texass--even with Rose Bowl wunderkind, Young--lost in the Red River Shootout. Stoops was lucky Young can't pass. The bio on OU is dissembling, in the very best light. Why not talk about the great job Pellini did with the secondary? There were two DCs on staff....if you can't get the job done with a partner, you're certainly not going to do it by yourself. The bio avoids talk of the secondary because there wasn't anything nice to say about the secondary. So, they printed misleading fluff to make Bo Peep look better than his talents and skills warrant.

NU was a barely a mediocre team playing in a horrible big xii north division....and Nebrasska didn't even win the division that year. The bio doesn't tell you that all of those takeaways were the result of NU taking an early lead and forcing poor teams to throw the ball. Send out cover-2 with both a 17-point advantage and ball-hawking safeties like the Bullocks brothers and you're bound to pick up some turnovers. It doesn't say that those turnovers came against lowly Kansas, Iowa State, Baylor, Troy State, Utah State, and Colorado.....most of which, if not all of them (i.e., I imagine one could make a case for CU as a better team), are clearly a notch or two below NU (as difficult as that may be to imagine). Where were the turnovers against the only quality teams NU played that season: Texass, Kansas State, and Missouri?

Those teams torched Pellini's defense for 484, 561, 452 yards, respectively.

[GeauxTo]

Exactly.....we all know this, but these statements don't address the real issue--the truth--like the SN/Lindy's quotes do.

We've already discussed the OU situation. Why provide quotes in a bio concerning parts of the defense upon which Pellini didn't focus? Pellini coached the secondary last year....not DL. And most of the scoring against OU came through the air. You'll likely have a good scoring defense if you can completely shut down the run. And that's why Texass--even with Rose Bowl wunderkind, Young--lost in the Red River Shootout. Stoops was lucky Young can't pass. The bio on OU is dissembling, in the very best light. Why not talk about the great job Pellini did with the secondary? There were two DCs on staff....if you can't get the job done with a partner, you're certainly not going to do it by yourself. The bio avoids talk of the secondary because there wasn't anything nice to say about the secondary. So, they printed misleading fluff to make Bo Peep look better than his talents and skills warrant.

NU was a barely a mediocre team playing in a horrible big xii north division....and Nebrasska didn't even win the division that year. The bio doesn't tell you that all of those takeaways were the result of NU taking an early lead and forcing poor teams to throw the ball. Send out cover-2 with both a 17-point advantage and ball-hawking safeties like the Bullocks brothers and you're bound to pick up some turnovers. It doesn't say that those turnovers came against lowly Kansas, Iowa State, Baylor, Troy State, Utah State, and Colorado.....most of which, if not all of them (i.e., I imagine one could make a case for CU as a better team), are clearly a notch or two below NU (as difficult as that may be to imagine). Where were the turnovers against the only quality teams NU played that season: Texass, Kansas State, and Missouri?

Those teams torched Pellini's defense for 484, 561, 452 yards, respectively.
Gateaux, I think you have THREE big surprises coming when the season starts.
1. Miles creates a juggernaut offense featuring balanced running / passing.
2. BoPeep operates a brick-wall defense against the run and pass.
3. DisturbinUrban's schemes don't work against good teams.
It's going to be quite a season... you may win 7 or less; we may win 10 or more!
:D

[GatorNation]

Gateaux, I think you have THREE big surprises coming when the season starts.
1. Miles creates a juggernaut offense featuring balanced running / passing.
2. BoPeep operates a brick-wall defense against the run and pass.
3. DisturbinUrban's schemes don't work against good teams.
It's going to be quite a season... you may win 7 or less; we may win 10 or more!
:D

1. Miles NEVER had a "juggernaut" offense....even when playing Baylor or Tech. L-essU has more talent but not any more talent than 2003 or 2004, years l-essU lost to UF at home and failed to win the west. I think your talent is nice, but it's also a bit overrated. You couldn't do it with all that talent and a better QB last year.....so, I don't think the usual SEC suspects really fear l-essU in any way.

2. See post #13. A Pellini "brick wall" isn't anything about which to write home.

3. They said exactly the same thing to a certain Steve Spurrier after he upgraded from Duke to UF.

4. I don't know what UF will have, but I'm pretty sure l-essU will have at least two losses and may come in second in the west.

;)