LSU Football - Talent vs. Results

With the completion of signing day this week, it got me thinking about the state of LSU football again.  I thought I would do some research and compare the Tigers with the only other team that has had access to the same talent level during the past few seasons, the Tide.  You know that I've been thinking that Miles is driving the bus off a cliff.  This kind of summarizes  my fears.  Looking at the 7 football seasons since LSU won the 2007 national title...........

Talent in:  Obviously bringing in talent is job #1 for college coaching staffs.  I looked at the Rivals recruiting results since the end of the 2007 season.  Miles and staff have recruited well.  Our average Rivals rank in this time is 7.4 as we've finished 11-2-6-6-18-6-2-8.  Consistently in the top 10 with a large share of 4 and 5-stars.  Alabama during this time has dominated, finishing in the top 5 each year and first overall 6 times: 1-1-5-1-1-1-1-2.  The point is we're getting the talent to contend.

Talent out:  Developing talent is in my mind the 2nd vital piece for college coaches.  Here Miles and company have been amazing.  Starting with the 2008 draft, LSU has had 48 players drafted, more than anyone, even 'Bama (41).  Miles' staff knows what they're doing in terms of putting people in the right place and teaching them how to play at that level.  Just in the last 2 years, 18 players drafted!  The NFL knows to come to Baton Rouge to find players.

Game results:  The bottom line.  Since 2007, the Tigers have produced a record of 69-23, or a 75% winning %.  More alarming, we've only had 2 top-10 AP finishes in those 7 seasons.  We've also finished unranked twice.  The AP finishes:  NR-17-8-2-14-14-NR.  The winning % the last 3 years is 72%.  These results do not equate with the talent in and out.  In contrast, the Tide have finished in the top 10 in every one of these seasons, with an 84-11 record (88%), and 3 national championships.  Their AP results:  6-1-10-1-1-7-4.

Conclusion:  Les Miles can't coach!  Seriously, we've got 2 big issues; game plan and in-game adjustments.  Miles is terrible at both.  We have unbelievably talented players trying to overcome poor game plans and generally being out-coached every Saturday.  My problem in criticizing a coach who is winning 75% of his games is that he's leaving so many wins on the table with his poor game preparation.  We are under-achieving at an epic level!  The fear I continue to have is that the talent will dry up with these poor results.  Maybe not, since the recruits see players getting drafted.  But the frustration at not contending despite all this talent is driving me crazy.

S