Tight Games Problem

In looking back over the season, I realized that all six of our victories were double digit wins. Three of our losses (USA, Troy, and Houston) were lost by the opponent scoring in the final seconds. The ULM game went down to the wire while the Rice and USM games were within one possession in the fourth quarter. This concerns me going forward. You are not going to blow out all your opponents and you have to be the team that executes the best in the fourth quarter to have a truly successful season. How do we get back to being the team that usually did so from 2019 to 2021? Perhaps it is as simple as not putting your defense in a position to have to make the final stop. More effective offense earlier in the game may result in a fresher unit at that stage. I wonder if a "special" back can be that difference maker despite our OL concerns. In 2021, Emani Bailey was that guy late in the season. He seemed to pick up the key first downs which kept the offense on the field. I am hoping Elijah Bill Davis can be that guy. Relying on a pure freshman to be that much of a difference maker is wishful thinking and not realistic. What do the rest of you think needs to occur for us to start being able to pull out the close games again?

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Originally Posted by Cajunsmike

In looking back over the season, I realized that all six of our victories were double digit wins. Three of our losses (USA, Troy, and Houston) were lost by the opponent scoring in the final seconds. The ULM game went down to the wire while the Rice and USM games were within one possession in the fourth quarter. This concerns me going forward. You are not going to blow out all your opponents and you have to be the team that executes the best in the fourth quarter to have a truly successful season. How do we get back to being the team that usually did so from 2019 to 2021? Perhaps it is as simple as not putting your defense in a position to have to make the final stop. More effective offense earlier in the game may result in a fresher unit at that stage. I wonder if a "special" back can be that difference maker despite our OL concerns. In 2021, Emani Bailey was that guy late in the season. He seemed to pick up the key first downs which kept the offense on the field. I am hoping Elijah Bill Davis can be that guy. Relying on a pure freshman to be that much of a difference maker is wishful thinking and not realistic. What do the rest of you think needs to occur for us to start being able to pull out the close games again?

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Control the clock and wear teams down. You do that with a strong O-Line. Until we do that it doesn't matter who the back is.

I think the OL we had after mid season would result in tight game wins with a back like Bailey. OL we had earlier in year would struggle regardless of the RB

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Originally Posted by Cajunsmike

I think the OL we had after mid season would result in tight game wins with a back like Bailey. OL we had earlier in year would struggle regardless of the RB

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Losing these 2 guys didn’t help and took a while to offset IMO
Torrence - 1st team AP all American
Tyler Brown- HBCU All American and FCS all American

Here is what I think should be the offseason focus:

1. Either let Leger call the offensive plays or find someone capable of doing so. I would like for Des to concentrate on overall game management. I think sometimes the offense was a bit too predictable in the 2nd half of some of the games.

2. Do whatever it takes to keep Lamar. I believe he is one of the up and comers as far as young Defensive Coordinators.

3. Hopefully, some of the new linemen will be able to provide some depth. One way or another, I think Des should seriously reconsider his aversion to the use of the portal and try to get a couple of plug and play linemen.

4. I believe that there is a good chance that CF will transfer out. I hope that Chris can learn the playbook in the offseason. After seeing him play in limited action, I think the job is his to lose, if he can learn the playbook.

Hopefully, the freshman running back can hit the ground running. (pun intended)

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Originally Posted by Crawfish

Here is what I think should be the offseason focus:

1. Either let Leger call the offensive plays or find someone capable of doing so. I would like for Des to concentrate on overall game management. I think sometimes the offense was a bit too predictable in the 2nd half of some of the games.

2. Do whatever it takes to keep Lamar. I believe he is one of the up and comers as far as young Defensive Coordinators.

3. Hopefully, some of the new linemen will be able to provide some depth. One way or another, I think Des should seriously reconsider his aversion to the use of the portal and try to get a couple of plug and play linemen.

4. I believe that there is a good chance that CF will transfer out. I hope that Chris can learn the playbook in the offseason. After seeing him play in limited action, I think the job is his to lose, if he can learn the playbook.

Hopefully, the freshman running back can hit the ground running. (pun intended)

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What makes you think CF is leaving or thinking about leaving?

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Originally Posted by Crawfish

Here is what I think should be the offseason focus:

1. Either let Leger call the offensive plays or find someone capable of doing so. I would like for Des to concentrate on overall game management. I think sometimes the offense was a bit too predictable in the 2nd half of some of the games.

2. Do whatever it takes to keep Lamar. I believe he is one of the up and comers as far as young Defensive Coordinators.

3. Hopefully, some of the new linemen will be able to provide some depth. One way or another, I think Des should seriously reconsider his aversion to the use of the portal and try to get a couple of plug and play linemen.

4. I believe that there is a good chance that CF will transfer out. I hope that Chris can learn the playbook in the offseason. After seeing him play in limited action, I think the job is his to lose, if he can learn the playbook.

Hopefully, the freshman running back can hit the ground running. (pun intended)

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I don't think Chandler transfers until after spring at the earliest. Prior to Ben's injury, I would have said that it would be likely he moves on as soon as the season ends. The injury to Woolridge changed my view. Chandler did play very well in the last three games of the season. That Chandler can win for us next season with a better running game. Now, he will get also lots of snaps in spring. Chandler also graduates next fall from what I have been told. No reason to leave now. Still, the QB issue is not why we had trouble winning close games in my view. Other issues need to be addressed.

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Originally Posted by JMVCAJUNS

What makes you think CF is leaving or thinking about leaving?

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I don't know that, I am only guessing that if he thinks he will be a backup to Chriss, then he may go where he can play (like an FCS school.) I hope I am wrong.

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Originally Posted by Crawfish

Here is what I think should be the offseason focus:

1. Either let Leger call the offensive plays or find someone capable of doing so. I would like for Des to concentrate on overall game management. I think sometimes the offense was a bit too predictable in the 2nd half of some of the games.

2. Do whatever it takes to keep Lamar. I believe he is one of the up and comers as far as young Defensive Coordinators.

3. Hopefully, some of the new linemen will be able to provide some depth. One way or another, I think Des should seriously reconsider his aversion to the use of the portal and try to get a couple of plug and play linemen.

4. I believe that there is a good chance that CF will transfer out. I hope that Chris can learn the playbook in the offseason. After seeing him play in limited action, I think the job is his to lose, if he can learn the playbook.

Hopefully, the freshman running back can hit the ground running. (pun intended)

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#3

So what y’all saying. We had lots of Coaching problems this year? That’s pretty much it.