Deciphering Les Miles requires a ‘capable’ interpeter

    This weekend at Mass, I hope you will consider saying a prayer for me.
    On Monday, Aug. 27, I will try to make it through a very difficult time. I will try to stay awake during “Lunch with Les.”
    “Lunch with Les” is the weekly Tiger football press gathering. The media is served (good) food. What follows is about 30 minutes of Les Miles moving his lips but not saying much.
    This isn’t a knock on Miles. Coaches around the country do it. They understand that any morsel of information will be on Twitter instantly around the world. If a coach says anything the least bit controversial, his fellow coaches in the SEC know about it instantly.
    Here are some of my favorite Les-isms. North Texas, the opponent in Week One, will be smart, capable and well coached.
    When Miles refers to the “back end,” he’s either referring to the fourth quarter of a game or the end of the season.
    When Les says he “will enjoy” a player’s performance, I guess that means he’s a pretty good player.
    Here’s one of my favorite Les-isms. And, it didn’t occur on a Monday. In 2005, LSU went to Tuscaloosa, and despite trailing at half, rallied to beat a then-undefeated Alabama team. I asked him, “What made the difference in the second half?” Miles replied, “We played with good minds and good feet.”
    For five hours on the ride home from Tuscaloosa, I was befuddled.
    Seven years later, one BCS championship, two BCS title game appearances and two SEC championships later, Les is still somewhat of an enigma. And, at least for the media, that’s the way he likes it.
    As unconventional as Miles may seem, he does many things that are incredibly football-savvy.
    The university allows him to hire outstanding coaches and pay them exceedingly well. And Les goes out and gets the best.
    John Chavis is as good as any defensive coordinator in the country. When Steve Kragthorpe, twice a head coach, is your quarterbacks coach, you have a pretty good staff.
    Miles, always a good recruiter, has done a superb job in that area over the past few seasons. When first-round picks Morris Claiborne and Patrick Peterson depart, guys like Tharold Simon are ready to step in.
    Miles understands what wins and loses in the SEC. With so much speed on defense in the league, Les understands that power running leads to opportunities downfield in the passing game. When former coordinator Gary Crowton got too tricky for Les’ tastes, Crowton found employment, elsewhere.
    Les Miles takes risks. But those are not nearly as many as you might think. In front of the media is not one of those times.
    So, this coming Monday, we’ll be fed well, and the head coach of your LSU Fighting Tigers will answer every question his way.
    Compelling TV it isn’t. But controlling the message is something the so-called Mad Hatter has mastered.
    Ed Daniels is sports director of ABC26 WGNO. He can be reached at [email protected].