quote:
LSU being able to square up Manziel has nothing to do with his execution of the offense. It has everything to do with Manziel's talent running with the football vs LSU's talent and ability to catch him.

We're talking strictly natural abilities here. When JFF did take off, LSU got good looks at him. That wasn't the case 90% of the time he did that.

It's also funny how games against LSU are always some kind of aberration to be rationalized away. Oregon is still searching for excuses too. LSU is built around speed on defense. That won't change. You realize what everybody was saying about our defense this time last year after losing so much talent right?

But, yea, Manziel had a bad day.

You miss the point. LSU did a great job of containing Manziel but they were giving up the short passing game and the run game by the RB's. Manziel just did a poor job of recognizing this and tried to play superman too often. Against Bama when they sold out to contain his running he started throwing the ball quite successfully. The point to him executing the offense is to take what is given to him instead of just trying to wing it.

Essentially it is how he evolved throughout the year. In the first half of the season he still played way too much like the HS phenom that could just out athlete everybody. That cost him against UF and LSU. After that he started calling more audibles at the line and working within the flow of the offense (which is designed to read the D at the line and then call the play).

He also appeared too pumped up against LSU and it cost him. He took off too early, he made bad reads on his run angles, and he tried to force some bad passes. After that game he started settling down and taking what was given and A&M scored on about 75% of his possessions from that point on. His confidence level after Bama was off the charts and no other team was even competitive after that point.

I give LSU full credit for their play that day, it was excellent. I just think you are in for a rude awakening if you think the same Manziel shows up next year making poor decisions and not realizing the speed of the LSU D. Doesn't mean A&M wins but it is unlikely Manziel plays as badly as he did that day.