Russell Shepard is scared

LSU has released an interesting new “hype” video featuring sophomore quarterback wide receiver Russell Shepard this week. He tells us he’s scared:

Specifically, Shepard is scared “of what I won’t become”. He also tells us “I won’t let myself end where I started” (and then tells us “I won’t let myself finish where I began” … which, you know, means the exact same thing) and that “I know what is within me, even if you can’t see it yet”. But, he assures us, “I have something more important than courage. I have patience” before blowing our minds with the forms of “to be” remix that is “I will become what I know I am”.

So what’s going on here? A nod to his wasted freshman year – in which LSU burned 25% of the eligibility of the Rivals No. 7 prospect for 50 touches and 311 yards (perhaps only topped by LSU burning a year of Rivals No. 2 Rueben Randle for 11 touches and 173 yards)? Tennessee got 113 touches and 616 yards out of Rivals No. 1 Bryce Brown; Alabama 162 touches and 897 yards out of Rivals No. 6 Trent Richardson. Neither of those guys were wasted, as Brown represented 12% of the Vols’ offense; Richardson 15% of the Tide’s. Shepard and Randle combined represented just 12% of the Tigers’ barely-existent offense.

No, the message LSU – through Shepard – is sending is “Our offense is going to stop sucking so bad. Please bear with us while we make that happen.” Having Shepard tell us he’s scared of what he won’t become is LSU’s recognition that the fans see how much talent has been wasted of late – and worry that it will continue to be wasted.

Shepard shoulders the blame in this video, though he has nothing to apologize for. He averaged 6.1 yards per carry while the rest of the run game averaged 3.4 yards. Trent Richardson, by the way, averaged 5.2 yards per carry; Bryce Brown 4.5.

Shepard already has become what he knows he is … um … or already is what he knows he will become … or whatever. Of course, what he now has become is a “wide receiver”, which I assume still means “guy who we get the ball to” in the same way “quarterback” meant that last year.

I suppose LSU put Shepard out there instead of Jordan Jefferson (or Gary Crowton) because his appearance says “excitement” more than “apology”. And excitement makes for better “hype”.

So sure, Les & Co., I’ll buy in.

- Let’s not finish where we began (112 in total offense)
- Let’s see what’s within you (turn Jefferson and the offense loose)
- Let’s become what we know we are (an offense full of talented guys who should put up big numbers)
- The “patience” thing … well, I think we’ve shown enough of that