It’s the same old story, and it’s largely what nearly got Les Miles fired.

Miles still has that stubborn, unyielding philosophy steeped in his Big Ten roots that refuses to allow for an offense to open up. It’s just not in his DNA to have his quarterbacks throwing the ball all over the yard on a regular basis In short, Miles does not have a desire to make LSU receivers the focal point of his offense.

That philosophy was especially obvious in 2015 when LSU QB Brandon Harris threw the football just 254 times all season. For comparison, when LSU won a national championship in 2007, QB Matt Flynn threw it 359 times. Add in back-up QB Ryan Perriloux’s totals and a few trick plays and the Tigers put the ball in the air a total of 438 times during that national title season.

But those days are over, it seems. This season marked the fewest times “The Hat” has ever elected to throw the football in his 11 years as head coach at LSU. Gone are the days of QB JaMarcus Russell and his leading receivers Dwayne Bowe (65 receptions), Early Doucet (59) and Craig Davis (56), all in one season; or Zach Mettenberger with Jarvis Landry (77) and Odell Beckham Jr. (59).

This year’s leading receiver? Malachi Dupree, with 39 catches, followed by Travin Dural with 28.

Evan with one of the most prolific quarterbacks in program history, Miles has chosen to play it close-to-the-vest in comparison. When Russell was throwing for 3,129 yards in 2006, second-most in school history to Rohan Davey (3,347 in 2001), Miles still only allowed the future No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft to throw it 342 times. Hawaii QB Colt Brennan led the nation that season with 559 pass attempts.

It’s no secret, playing wide receiver at LSU will involve a lot more blocking than it does catching.

Do LSU receivers deserve better? That was a rhetorical question, but mostly through self-indulgence stemming from a longing for the return of entertaining football to Tiger Stadium, is the answer a resounding yes.

LSU football is boring, as if that needed clarification. Fans are bored with it. The administration has gotten bored with it. In 2015, there’s very little value in watching 1960s-style football. There just isn’t any fun in it.

It certainly can’t be fun for a receiver, especially one as gifted as to attract a scholarship to one of the country’s most well-respected programs. Talent wasted, at least for receivers anyway, has become a recurring theme down on the bayou.

It’s been proven over the years that LSU has attracted some of the best receivers in the country. It’s also been proven that when they have a quarterback who can get the ball to them, that they can be successful. Randle, Beckham, Landry and the like are in NFL because they were afforded the opportunity to display their talents first at LSU.

This year’s receiving corps has NFL potential. Dupre and Dural are talented enough to have a chance at playing on Sunday. So do a couple of others, like Tyron Johnson and even John Diarse, who both have the necessary tools.

But will they ever get the chance to develop those skills in game situations? If the last few years are any indication, the answer is a resounding no.