The Embarrassment That Is Les Miles

[Deltamud77]

Well, after finishing 8-5 (tied for his worst record at LSU), Joe Alleva (AD) and Les Miles have now allowed John Chavis, the sole reason LSU has been decent to leave for a division rival in Texas A&M. The Times Picayune is reporting the main reason he left is lack of offense from Miles and his offensive staff.

Over the last week, Miles and Alleva have been scrambling attempting to replace Chavis. Word this morning is that they are at the end of their rope and will likely promote DL coach, Brick Haley, to DC in an attempt to salvage the recruiting year and save face.

I have predicted a Phil Fulmer/Mack Brown implosion at LSU under Miles for several years. Well, it is officially here and it is about to be very ugly for the next three years as LSU will eventually have to fire both the athletic director and Miles.

[camlock]

Over the last week, Miles and Alleva have been scrambling attempting to replace Chavis. Word this morning is that they are at the end of their rope and will likely promote DL coach, Brick Haley, to DC in an attempt to salvage the recruiting year and save face.

This simply is not close to true...however Brick Haley is on the table as a possibility.

I don't disagree with most your assertions, but Miles isn't scrambling and this isn't imploding. He'll make a good hire...but you are right, he is still getting himself fired before it's over; man is lost in his own snowstorm generally speaking.

Something to consider...how's that firing Fulmer and Mack Brown thing working out for Tenn/Texas??? Tennessee primarily...just saying

[Deltamud77]

UTenn is on the mend and will be a contender for the East next year. Texas is Texas and there are many other factors in play there as well. I am at a point with Miles that I am willing to risk it to be rid of him. He has taken the fun out of college football for me.

[camlock]

UTenn is on the mend and will be a contender for the East next year. Texas is Texas and there are many other factors in play there as well. I am at a point with Miles that I am willing to risk it to be rid of him. He has taken the fun out of college football for me.

I get it totally, I would be too...I think Les Miles has pushed too many supporters to the point he won't be given benefit of any doubt and it will be his demise...at the same time that might make for a couple long years on the mend...he runs a stable, just underwhelming program. He will take his time a make a solid DC hire (he is not scrambling), no reason to believe he won't, it's the thing he has done consistently well in BR...he hires assistant caoches very very well!

as for Tennesse, they are on the mend...after their 3rd hire...firing Fulmer was beyond stupid at put them 10 years behind competing for more than 3rd-4th place. Agreed on Texas, I really shouldn't have thrown them in the example, lots of problems causing their decline aside form coaching.

[Deltamud77]

he hires assistant caoches very very well!

I respectfully disagree. Bo Pelini left and we had the grease fire of co-defensive coordinators until he hired Chavis. Jimbo Fisher leaves and he hires Crowton, who was good for one year. He then replaces Crowton with a member of the staff that was not only a bad Offensive coordinator, he was a horrible O line coach before that...the hire was a disaster from the beginning. He then replaces him with Cam Cameron. The jury is still out on Cameron IMO. He was good last year but look who he was working with (Beckham, Landry, Hill, Blue and Mettenberger are all NFL starters - two of them are arguably among the very best at their positions in the NFL as rookies in Hill and Beckham). My lab could have been successful coaching with them all on the same team in college.

as for Tennessee, they are on the mend...after their 3rd hire

With all due respect to UTenn, just based on geography and recruiting, they do not have the capabilities that LSU has as a program. Their floor is lower and the ceiling is lower than LSU. Now I fully recognize that historically, UT probably has the better history - but that should not be the case in the age of modern college football. In short, I think LSU with the correct hire has the ability to immediately be a contender (granted that the AD at LSU may be fully incapable of making that hire).

[camlock]

I agree with the co-defensive coordinators hire was a fail...but he's hired impact people at every rank of assistants completely throughout his tenure. Not each one (ala Crowton) was great for years on the job; but I firmly believe hiring guys like Pelini, Chavis, Wilson, Henry, Haley, Kragthorpe, etc is why Les Miles still has a job in Baton Rouge. He has surrounded himself with better than average coaches his entire time at LSU.

Tenn doesn't have the geography or resources of other big programs...but Fulmer led them to perennial 8-10 win seasons with frequent appearances in the SEC championship picture. That's not happened since they ran him off...in my opinion, no other conversation needed to show that after winning and winning a whole lot for 13 years, Fulmer should have been allowed to retire and set the program up for his successor, instead they've just fallen into mediocrity immediately.

[mshunter77]

His biggest problem is quarterback recruiting. What is his deal with loving these guys that can't hit the broadside of a barn. Any chance Pelini is hired or maybe Ed.

[Bourbon]

LSU has spoken to Penn States DC, who came with Franklin from Vandy. Anybody remember the last coach we got from Vandy?

Bring back the magic!

[camlock]

His biggest problem is quarterback recruiting. What is his deal with loving these guys that can't hit the broadside of a barn. Any chance Pelini is hired or maybe Ed.

Pelini took a head coach job at Youngstown St.

Ed would get hired at LSU if Brick Haley was promoted to DC. Word this morning is trending toward Bob Shoop (Penn St DC) being likely candidate.

[Deltamud77]

His biggest problem is quarterback recruiting. What is his deal with loving these guys that can't hit the broadside of a barn. Any chance Pelini is hired or maybe Ed.

Pelini took a head coach job at Youngstown St.

Ed would get hired at LSU if Brick Haley was promoted to DC. Word this morning is trending toward Bob Shoop (Penn St DC) being likely candidate.

My hope is currently Shoop to DC (he had the #2 defense in the nation at Penn State this year) coupled with Ed O as DL coach. Pay off Brick Haley or move him into an administrative role until he finds another landing spot.

I think Shoop alone would be a really solid hire. I think Shoop + Orgeron would be a homerun.

As stated above, without a QB though, it will not matter as hiring a good DC will only maintain the status quo. All of this is just rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic unless QB play improves dramatically. Supposedly, Braxton Miller is contemplating transferring to LSU. That would give them a shot in the arm and hopefully a year to get Brandon Harris up and running.

With the emergence of Ole Miss, Arkansas, MSU and with Texas A&M likely to field a defense this year, I wonder where LSUs place is in the SEC now and moving forward though.

[camlock]

My hope is currently Shoop to DC (he had the #2 defense in the nation at Penn State this year) coupled with Ed O as DL coach. Pay off Brick Haley or move him into an administrative role until he finds another landing spot.

wow...that's very interesting ....how could you want Ed Orgeron at expense of Brick Haley Orgeron is a great recruiter and had some good runs coaching the D-Line. but 3 years ago LSU fans laughed at Orgeron now he's a hot name cause he's on local sports radio weekly and lives in the area.

Brick Haley is also a phenomenal recruiter, a solid stable part of your staff for years, arguably your best assistant coach, and as good or better DLine coach than O.

NOW, I think Orgeron would be a great addition with or without a new DC...however it was arranged, in addition to Raymond and Haley that's an all-star defensive staff...but to usher out Brick Haley in leu of Orgeron?

[camlock]

i would promote Brick Haley to DC and Linebackers and add Oregron as D-Line Coach and co-recruiting coordinator as title or at least duties with Frank Wilson

that's a homerun

[Deltamud77]

Brick Haley is also a phenomenal recruiter, a solid stable part of your staff for years, arguably your best assistant coach, and as good or better DLine coach than O.

Orgeron has placed 11 defensive lineman in the NFL as first round picks. The defensive line at LSU has consistently declined while Haley has been in control of it (with the last two years being the weakness of the defense). His recruiting is suspect as well...he was the primary recruiter for Landon Collins, Gerald Willis (blessing in disguise), Denzel Duval, Kenny Young, Hootie Jones, etc. All went elsewhere...all but one to opponents LSU plays every year. The trio that put up a tent in the Ole Miss backfield in the Peach Bowl of Lawson, Hunter and McFarland were all Louisiana high school defensive line prospects that Brick Haley did not recruit. Likely, all three would have started at LSU this year and all three will play in the NFL.

He is actually known, from my contact in the Department, as being lazy. That is one large reason why Chavis did not ask him to come to Texas A&M with him.

Brick Haley is part of the problem IMO.

Orgeron is a lot of things, but lazy is not one of them apparently (at least in view of Meat Market).

Bottom line, Brick Haley has not been able to build a fence around Louisiana that was pretty much in tack when he took his spot on the staff. His evaluation methods are suspect, at best. If Orgeron can rebuild that fence, he will be worth whatever they pay him plus some.

[Deltamud77]

i would promote Brick Haley to DC and Linebackers and add Oregron as D-Line Coach and co-recruiting coordinator as title or at least duties with Frank Wilson

that's a homerun

Brick has been a DC with relatively no success years ago. Shoop fielded three Top 20 defenses at VANDY and a Top 2 defense this year at Penn State with limited schollies. You put him at LSU with that talent and things could be amazing. Throw in a recruiter that can actually evaluate and keep talent in Louisiana and you have a Top 5 defense every year.

[dukhntn]

My feelings on how the search for the DC is going:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gc2ekrgM7Do