Offensive guru picks poorly
Fisher falters in latest opportunity to bring success
By Chris Gibson, Sports Writer
MUG
The bubble screens and shovel passes that worked so effectively against the Kentucky Wildcats were nowhere to be seen.
Neither was the option, a play Marcus Randall ran well against South Carolina.
The fact offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher did not give Randall the chance to lose or win the game against Alabama is questionable at best.
Fisher, who I regard as one of the best, if not the best coordinator in the Southeastern Conference, showed his prowess in the Kentucky game. Of his many shovel pass calls, none worked more brilliantly than the 70-yard catch and run of Devery Henderson.
And in a time when the Tigers could have sat on the ball on the bluegrass, Fisher’s play calling aided Randall on a drive that ended with a 30-yard touchdown pass to Henderson with just five seconds left until the intermission.
This season LSU’s offense has put up at least 30 points seven times — and won all of those games. However, in their three losses, the Tigers have put up just 15 points combined.
You do have to take into consideration the lack of success the passing game has had for the majority of the year. Matt Mauck, as good of an athlete as he is, is no Rohan Davey. There’s no question about that.
Marcus Randall, as good of an athlete as he is, is certainly no Davey and probably not even a Matt Mauck.
And Rick Clausen … well, he’s played like 10 snaps all year.
Sure, there is no doubt Fisher does not have the guns this year. But Fisher really did not have the guns for the SEC Championship game last December and he pulled it off.
Matt Mauck had barely spent any meaningful time under center and Domanick Davis had been shuffled from offense, to defense, to special teams.
Yet Fisher got the most out of them, despite who he had on the field and the fact that Mauck was just 5-of-15 on that glorious night. He called quarterback draws (which were non-existent in the Virginia Tech game and could have helped Mauck), misdirection plays and a variety of running plays.
The point here is, Fisher did not try to get the most out of Randall on Saturday. He did not allow him to use all of the weapons he has, like the speed and ability Henderson possess, the steadiness and workman-like effort Jerel Myers brings every game and the quickness and elusiveness Double-D has.
No screens to Davis, no shovel passes to Henderson and no options to trick up the defense.
With the Tigers still in the thick of the SEC West race, Fisher has a chance to redeem himself, so to speak.
Ole Miss can’t stop the run, so run the ball down the Rebels’ throat. In other words, let the run set up the pass, if you can.
Arkansas is going to want redemption after last year. I know I’m not an offensive coordinator and I’m about as good, athletically, as some Joe Schmo on the corner of Circle K drinking from a paper bag, but I have a suggestion about the play calling that I thought might have worked against ‘Bama.
Let the run set up the pass. Throw the bubble screen, throw the shovel pass, hell, run a little option. What’s the worst thing that could happen if you don’t do this, Jimbo?
Nothing different from Saturday, when LSU was shut out.