LSU Football 2012: Different Year, Same LSU Offense

We all thought this was the year where the LSU offense would be the dominant aerial attack we'd all been hoping for with quarterback Zach Mettenberger taking over. He excelled in the spring game and rumors began to circle around Baton Rouge about his powerful "gunslinging arm."

All LSU fans walked into Tiger Stadium waiting to see the new and improved offense. Les Miles gave a ray of hope to all by calling passing plays in the first possessions of the game. This didn't take long to change.

The Tigers followed the rest of the game with mostly running plays and the passing plays they did call were the typical short, bubble passes that we are all accustomed to. 

As I sat in the student section through the fourth quarter, I had a nightmare deja vu moment of the two quarterback system when I saw Zach Mettenberger and Stephen Rivers share some snaps. I began to think this could be the same LSU offense we have seen in the Les Miles era.

The run-hard offense that dominates with defense and wins out tough games. The problem with that has been that when our run game is shut down we have no back up plan—example: the National Championship game. 

Zach Mettenberger seems to have the tools to be the quarterback to break that bad habit, but after last night's game we have yet to see if the LSU coaches will give him a chance. Most of his throws were short and safe passes that limited turnovers which was the type of playbook they used for Jordan Jefferson who couldn't throw a ball into an ocean.

Mettenberger only threw one pass over 20 yards in his first game and seemed to have his arm on a leash by the LSU coaches.

If LSU wants to have a more balanced offense, and be a legit contender for the National Championship, they must trust Zach Mettenberger and free him up to make plays.

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