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Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns enjoyed their bye week with practices on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon of last week, finishing the week with a Thursday morning workout. With the University on Fall break beginning last Thursday, the team was able to escape from both school and football before returning to practice on Sunday evening. Following Monday’s day off, the Cajuns worked their normal game preparation practices on Tuesday and Wednesday to get ready for their third home game of 2009. The team will practice on Thursday and enjoy a walk-through at Cajun Field on Friday.
Five questions for assistant head coach/tight ends coach Troy Wingerter...
How has practice gone this week?
Wingerter: "We had a lot of hurt bodies last week, so a bunch of younger guys got a lot of reps. The opportunity was there to rest the older guys and let the new guys get more reps and practice hard. Thursday we focused on fundamentals and special teams. In no way was the team looking ahead to Fall Break, they worked hard on Thursday morning. We came back with a lot of intensity this week.”
Did the Cajuns open week come at a good time?
Wingerter: "The number of players in green (limited) and black (out) jerseys was very minimal this week. We could not have had the schedule set-up any better with the timing of the open date. The entire receiving corps was at full speed (this week) for the first time this season. You could see the competition out there between guys healthy and ready to play football.”
Cajun Field has been good to the Cajuns this season?
Wingerter: "Hopefully, the fans will come out this Saturday regardless of the weather and help support this team in our conference opener. I know our guys are looking forward to sleeping in our own beds at the Hilton Garden Inn on Friday. They love playing at home and I know our guys will put it all out on the line.”
What are the strengths of the North Texas defense?
Wingerter: "North Texas has a good front-4. They are very physical, hard nose guys. I see the attitude back that the old North Texas teams used to have back when they won four Sun Belt Championships in a row.”
The Cajuns tight ends are leading the team in receiving, how has the evolution of the offense brought them in the mix?
Wingerter: “I think the accomplishments of the tight ends are a testament to their hard work. Luke Aubrey found a home (at tight end) a few years ago and has worked his way to this (success). Ladarius Green is very gifted, but he has done all the things necessary to grow to this point. It will be tough this week because North Texas will have a bulls-eye on the tight ends. They will try to press us and we’ve worked hard over the last two weeks on getting off the press and man-coverage.”
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