LSU's OC, Crowton, ideas fit LSU well

[crawfish]

From Baton Rouge Advocate

Carefully, almost diplomatically, LSU offensive coordinator Gary Crowton digests one question after another. Talking about his philosophy, but not in intricate detail. Explaining his relationship with a head coach who comes from a very different offensive background. Insisting that his time at LSU isn’t a stepping stone to another head-coaching opportunity because his task with the Tigers is the only thing in his view right now. Careful, diplomatic, almost tentative. But don’t mistake Crowton’s caution in answering questions for a lack of temerity as a football coach. In fact, Crowton’s approach to his job as the architect of a talented LSU offense that will be in the hands of a first-time starting quarterback figures to be anything but timid.

http://media.2theadvocate.com/images/080907crowton.jpg

“The thing about coach Crowton is that he always has something up his sleeve, some kind of different wrinkle that nobody’s seen before,” said former Louisiana Tech quarterback Tim Rattay, now a journeyman backup in the NFL. Rattay, who owns most Tech passing records, is Crowton’s most famous protégé. “When you combine the kind of offensive mind he has with the kind of talent they have at LSU, it’s going to be an explosive offense that fans are going to love to watch.” That depiction goes hand-in-hand with the reputation Crowton arrived with in January when he was hired to replace Jimbo Fisher. Entering his 26th year as a coach, the 50-year-old Crowton is recognized as one of the brightest offensive minds in the game. Keep Reading (http://www.2theadvocate.com/sports/9049937.html)

[crawfish]

Quarterback Ryan Perrilloux, who entered preseason camp at No. 3 on the depth chart after a three-month disciplinary suspension, appeared to be working with the second team offense on Thursday morning. Perrilloux, a sophomore who missed all of the players-only workouts over the summer because of the suspension, threw more than anyone other than starter Matt Flynn. He did much the same thing on Wednesday. True freshman Jarrett Lee, who entered camp as the No. 2 quarterback and who did take part in the summer seven-on-seven passing drills, was throwing after Perrilloux in the drills. The media is only allowed to watch practice for a few drills early in practices, however. And LSU coach Les Miles said not to read a lot into the number of repetitions a player gets because sometimes he gets more work on a particular day if he didn't get it the day before. Miles has lightly praised Perrilloux's play recently. "It's good to have a veteran guy out there," Miles said.

[crawfish]

LSU has not had an exceptionally fast to the corner, cutting, faking deep threat at tailback since Justin Vincent was in his prime in his freshman year in 2003. The best yards-per-rush mark in the LSU record book is 19.6 against Rice in 1987 by Harvey Williams, a pure outside runner. Kevin Faulk, who was a combination runner, is second with 11.7 yards a rush against Houston in 1996. Vincent is third on that list with an 11.2 average against Georgia in the 2003 Southeastern Conference championship game on artificial turf in the Georgia Dome. The Tigers have had solid backs like Domanick Davis, LaBrandon Toefield, Alley Broussard and Joseph Addai this decade, but they have been more between-the-tackles runners, especially off turf. Meet redshirt freshman tailback Richard Murphy of Rayville. He'll be coming around the end this fall on all surfaces and may be LSU's quickest back to the corner since Williams quit chasing rabbits in Hempstead, Texas, and signed with the Tigers in 1986. "I don't know if I'm the fastest back," Murphy said. "There's a lot of speed out there."

LSU coach Les Miles said Williams is about as fast as Murphy to the corner, but Murphy has more moves. "Richard Murphy is a fun guy to watch," Miles said. "He'll squirt out of there in a minute. We're going to get him the ball." Murphy rushed for 1,599 yards as a senior after knee surgery at Rayville and could have gone to UCLA, Texas A&M or Florida. He got lost in the numbers of LSU tailbacks last season after reporting late because of academic eligibility issues with the NCAA Clearinghouse. He made his mark in spring practice and entered August practices last week as the No. 3 tailback behind sophomores Keiland Williams (5-foot-11, 223) and Charles Scott (5-11, 221) of Jonesboro, but that's misleading. The 6-1, 198-pound Murphy is the speed guy and is adept at catching the ball out of the backfield. He also played in a spread offense at Rayville High that is similar to the attack brewing under new LSU offensive coordinator Gary Crowton.

Williams, who was second on the team in rushing last season with 436 yards, and Scott, who gained 277, are more inside runners. Versatile senior Jacob Hester led LSU with 440 yards in 2007 at tailback and fullback. Williams admitted he doesn't have the moves of Murphy. "I couldn't dream about making some of the cuts that Richard could make," Williams said. "I would say Charles and I are more similar than Richard and I. Richard is more of a shifty guy. I consider myself as more of a downhill runner and so is Charles. Richard is shifty, but he can also run between the tackles."

The combination could be deadly for LSU opponents.

"Oh yeah, it could be a good combination," Williams said. "I really think, and especially with the things that Coach Crowton has brought in, that Richard is definitely going to come out and be successful in a lot of things that Coach Crowton likes to do. Because he likes to get the ball to the back out of the backfield, and Richard has great hands and he can also make people miss him in the open field." Murphy can't wait. "I'm very excited coming into the season and looking forward to what they want me to do to make the team better," Murphy said. "I had to show the coaches in spring what I can do."

The hiring of Crowton helped speed up Murphy's development. "It's similar to my high school, so it's kind of easy," Murphy said. "The spread, the option, the back out of the backfield catching the ball — same thing we did in high school. I love catching the ball. I lined up wide sometimes out of the backfield. Whatever they're doing, we did it in high school." The prior knowledge continues to come in handy. "College football, it's fast," Murphy said. "So you've got to learn it because they're going to throw things at you. But it hasn't been complicated. I'm ready to go." by Gannett Louisiana Newspapers, August 9, 2007

[GeauxTo]

Great reads! I am friggin' pumped, man! I cannot wait to see Keiland Williams, Richard Murphy, and Charles Scott in action. Stopping them is not going to be easy! And Matt Flynn seems to be a perfect fit for this type of Crowton offense; if there's another Tiger that might be even better at it, it might be Perrilloux, the backup and heir apparent to Flynn. Three more weeks, man!

[True Grit]

Our offense wont even have to be that good since our defense wont allow many points. I think our offense will be better than most people think.

[TPM]

TICK TOCK TICK TOCK The clock is counting and I'm ready to wup some bulldog arse.

[crawfish]

TICK TOCK TICK TOCK The clock is counting and I'm ready to wup some bulldog arse.


This time three weeks from now, the VT coaches will be moving into "panic mode" due to the dominate beating the Bulldogs received the night before at the hands of a very mature LSU team that picked right back up where they left off after the Sugar Bowl last year. The LSU first team offense, with the senior leadership of Flynn, is pulled after the first series in the third quarter giving an early indication that this offense is just as good as the defense. And the NCG countdown to meet USCal begins.:laugh: