The Book 2008 Football

I'm tired of everyone saying we have no business looking forward to Arkansas Sate, or our biggest rival is North Texas because it is the next game. I don't think anyone, players or people who spend time on here, are overlooking North Texas. I think we all see North Texas for what they are; GOD AWFUL. I think we go into Denton and handle them easily.
For the past ten years, every time the Cajuns get some kind of momentum, everyone gets nervous about looking past an opponent and we come out more afraid of losing than going out and dominating. If you look at successful teams at any level they have a certain swagger or confidence about them that is intimidating to opposing teams. Instead of being nervous about this North Texas game, why can't we just go in knowing that they can not stay on the same field as the Cajuns and dominate from opening kickoff to victory formation!
I know alot of people wil not agree with my post, but thats my piece on it!

I agree! Let's enjoy the moment.

Check out the great things CFTN has to say about us.

http://cfn.scout.com/2/776802.html

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Originally Posted by mickzat

_ I agree! Let's enjoy the moment.

Check out the great things CFTN has to say about us.

http://cfn.scout.com/2/776802.html _

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Yeah you right. I had some expectations going into this season and here's a game where the Cajuns can vindicate me. Now, pass me some Pepto....

That's great. He deserves it. I wish that they had shown a few of his long runs from the ULM game to show his speed...O..

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Originally Posted by dms4720

_ I'm tired of everyone saying we have no business looking forward to Arkansas Sate, or our biggest rival is North Texas because it is the next game. I don't think anyone, players or people who spend time on here, are overlooking North Texas. I think we all see North Texas for what they are; GOD AWFUL. I think we go into Denton and handle them easily.
For the past ten years, every time the Cajuns get some kind of momentum, everyone gets nervous about looking past an opponent and we come out more afraid of losing than going out and dominating. If you look at successful teams at any level they have a certain swagger or confidence about them that is intimidating to opposing teams. Instead of being nervous about this North Texas game, why can't we just go in knowing that they can not stay on the same field as the Cajuns and dominate from opening kickoff to victory formation!
I know alot of people wil not agree with my post, but thats my piece on it! _

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That's because almost every time we've had a chance to do something great we have fallen on our faces and disappointed. I don't expect that this weekend; but you can't fault people for feeling concerned about deja vu all over again. Time to see a big crowd for 3-3 UL versus ASU!

cajns win..

can't get my arms around beating the 21-ish point spread though

http://www.ragincajuns.com/newMediaP...FILE_ID=147337

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&nbsp; UL — University of Louisiana defensive lineman Hall Davis isn’t fooled by the North Texas offense he watched on film this week.

Although the winless Mean Green offense has scored only 65 points this season — last in the Sun Belt Conference —Davis said he expects a challenge when the teams play at 6 p.m. today at Fouts Field in Denton, Texas.

“North Texas has a great passing attack. On offense they want to control the ball,” Davis said. “We could be on the field a lot, since they’ve run as many as 100 plays a game.”

<center><p><a href="http://www.2theadvocate.com/sports/30827314.html?showAll=y&c=y" target="_blank">The rest of the story</a>

By BOB ARDOIN
Special to The Advocate
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Despite the scoring problems, North Texas quarterback Giovanni Vizza has thrown for 1,021 yards.

Casey Fitzgerald is the top Mean Green receiver (41 receptions, 397 yards), while Cam Montgomery (36 attempts, 231 yards) is the leading rusher for UNT (0-5, 0-1).

North Texas, which averages 338 yards per game, faces a Cajuns defense ranked sixth among eight SBC teams.

Davis, a Port Allen native who played at University High, finds himself starting on a UL defensive front that features one senior.



The Cajuns ranked at the bottom in most conference defensive categories last year, a statistic Davis said the Cajuns seek to improve. That didn’t appear to be the case in the Cajuns’ season opener, a 51-21 loss in which Southern Miss established several school records.

“I feel like as a defense, we’ve come a long way since that game, but we still have a long way to go,” Davis, a junior defensive end, said. “The only way we knew how to keep getting better was to keep working hard. That’s the only way we will become excellent.”

In five games, Davis has 2‰ sacks for losses of 18 yards and 13 total tackles. He only played in five games last year and has backed up ends Rodney Hardeway and Anthony Hills.

Since coming to UL four years ago, Davis has gained nearly 40 pounds, up from his 214-pound freshman weight.

“I’ve been around this program for some time. For the past couple of years I’ve been behind (Hardeway and Hills). They really taught me a lot,” Davis said.

ULL’s defense has allowed 35.7 points per game this season, almost as much as last year. However the Cajuns rank second in conference pass defense (187.2 yards per game).

ULL will be without two linebackers who started previously.
Senior Brenton Burkhalter, a former Parkview Baptist player, has been dismissed because of team rules infractions, while sophomore Grant Fleming is probably lost for the season because of a knee injury.

ULL (2-3, 1-0) won its conference opener last Saturday at the UL-Monroe, 44-35.

The Cajuns feature the nation’s top rushing attack (331 yards per game) and rank eighth in total offense (517).

Running back Tyrell Fenroy (90-750, 10 TDs) and quarterback Mike Desormeaux (859 yards passing, 585 rushing) face a UNT defense that gives up more than 50 points per game and 460 yards.

Cajuns coach Rickey Bustle said he’s more concerned about UL than North Texas.

“It’s about us getting better,” Bustle said. “The team understands that we aren’t good enough to look ahead. We have to take care of business now.”

The North Texas game is also the last in a tough schedule that has seen UL play five of its first six games on the road.

Bustle said the players have handled that difficulty well.
“I think credit goes to the players and coaches. As long as you are in athletics, there are going to be distractions good and bad,” he said. “The players are very close and are rallying around each other.”

As a coach attempting to rebuild UL’s football program, Bustle said he’s sympathetic with UNT coach Todd Dodge.

Dodge, a former Texas high school coach, is 2-15 in two seasons at North Texas.

“I know what they are going through. (Vizza) is throwing the ball well. It is just a matter of confidence. They are looking for consistency on both sides and that is something you always try for as a coach. I think they can get it going,” Bustle said.



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&nbsp; As UL's Tyrell Fenroy nears another rushing milestone, he recently made a pitch to high school running backs still undecided about their college destination.

"If you're a running back this is a great place to go," the senior said. "The running backs here get a lot of opportunities to touch the ball and get yards."

Just look at Fenroy. He's a perfect example that a running back can get his yards in a spread offense.

<center><p><a href="http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081011/SPORTS/810110315/1006" target="_blank">The rest of the story</a>

Joshua Parrott • jparrott@theadvertiser.com • October 11, 2008
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Going into UL's game today at North Texas, Fenroy is the nation's active leading rusher with 4,021 career yards. With another 30 yards he will pass ex-Mean Green back Patrick Cobbs for the Sun Belt record.

Fenroy has done his part this season to help UL (2-3 overall, 1-0 Sun Belt) put up the program's best offensive numbers since coach Rickey Bustle took over in 2002. The Cajuns lead the nation in rushing at 331 yards per game, are eighth with 517 yards of total offense a night and average almost 33 points a game, an increase of almost nine points from last season.

So far this season Fenroy is the nation's third-leading rusher at 150 yards per game and has rushed for 10 touchdowns.

Fenroy ran for a school and league-record 297 yards and three touchdowns in last week's win over ULM. The performance earned him national offensive player of the week honors from the Walter Camp Football Foundation.

But Fenroy's workload would have been a lot lighter if Bustle had not changed the offense three years ago.

In Bustle's first three seasons, UL gained nearly 68 percent of its yardage through the air. But with an athletic quarterback in then-redshirt freshman Mike Desormeaux, Bustle decided to make some changes prior to the 2005 season. He studied film of Utah, which utilized the spread offense under then-coach and current Florida headman Urban Meyer.

The spread offense is exactly what it sounds like: Offensive players spread out across the field with the quarterback in a shotgun formation. This stretches the defense horizontally, which exposes mismatches as opponents try to cover the whole field.

While Texas Tech and Missouri mostly throw out of the spread, Florida, Michigan and UL are examples of teams that like to run it more.

Desormeaux showed UL fans the new offense after he replaced injured starter Jerry Babb early in the 2005 season, the same year the program won a share of the Sun Belt title. The Cajuns continued to implement the spread in '06 and '07 but struggled to establish a consistent passing game to keep defenders honest.

Everything seemed to come together soon after last season, when UL ranked seventh nationally in rushing but 115th in passing.

After then-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Blake Anderson left for Southern Miss this past December, Bustle hired Eastern Illinois offensive coordinator Jorge Munoz. Bustle also promoted offensive line coach Ron Hudson.

Munoz would serve as UL's passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Hudson would be the offensive coordinator but would have Munoz call the plays so he could focus on his "vision" for the offense.

Desormeaux has blossomed under Munoz. He is the nation's top rushing quarterback this season with 585 yards after leading the team with 1,141 yards on the ground last year.

A fixture of UL's spread remains the zone-read option. On the play, Desormeaux hands the ball off to a running back or keeps it depending on how the defense reacts.

"He's such a physical player and such a gamer," UNT coach Todd Dodge said. "He reminds us of (last season's Heisman winner at Florida) Tim Tebow."

The lefty's biggest improvement has come in the passing game.

Desormeaux, a 54.5 percent passer in his first three years, has completed 61.4 percent of his passes this season for 859 yards. The Cajuns are averaging 186 passing yards per game, an increase of nearly 32 yards from last year.

The 6-foot-2, 215-pounder is averaging 288.8 yards of total offense per game, good for 15th in the country.

Multiple factors have contributed to UL's offensive breakthrough. Fenroy and Desormeaux have worked together now for four seasons. Munoz has added more variety to the play-calling. The tight ends, including Ladarius Green, are more involved in the passing game. Deeper pass routes by wide receivers, such as Jason Chery, are stretching the field. Four of five starters up front are back from last season.

"We have some people that opponents have a hard time matching up with," Hudson said. "We've been able to take this offense and make them defend the whole field."

For example: ULM tried to take away UL's run game last week by moving defenders up to the line of scrimmage. The Cajuns responded with six scoring plays of at least 50 yards and set a school record with 728 yards and a league mark with 556 rushing yards.

In addition to Fenroy's big day, Desormeaux and Chery accounted two touchdowns apiece and more than 300 yards.

"Sometimes I'll either hand the ball off or take off to run and there's a gash," said Desormeaux, whose team leads the nation this season with nine scoring plays of at least 50 yards. "On that (64-yard) touchdown run last week I faked the handoff and went straight down the field. The only thing I had to do was not get caught.

"Sometimes it feels like you can score on any play from anywhere."



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&nbsp; Louisiana has enjoyed one advantage over the last few seasons, thanks to the rise in popularity of the spread offense in college football.

The Ragin' Cajuns are one of the few teams that still rely on a run-based attack, an approach that makes UL's offense a little like snow in Texas. Very few people see it on a regular basis, and no one seems to know how to deal with it effectively.

UNT will be the latest team to try when the Ragin' Cajuns visit Fouts Field tonight and take on a Mean Green defense that will be missing two key defensive linemen.

UL enters the weekend ranked first nationally with an average of 331.0 rushing yards a game.

<center><p><a href="http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/drc/sports/stories/DRC_UNTFootball_1011.ff1d3b52.html" target="_blank">The rest of the story</a>

By Brett Vito
DentonRC.com
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"It would be a concern if we had all of our defensive linemen healthy," UNT head coach Todd Dodge said. "They are the premier running team in the nation and are as potent as Navy was when they came in last season. We have some suspects on our defensive line that we need to make into prospects."

UNT will be without starting tackle Joseph Miller, who is out with a knee injury, and Charlie Brown, another player in the Mean Green's rotation, who broke his wrist last week. UNT will look to Troy Franklin, Draylen Ross and Jordan Scoggins to fill the void.

How that trio fares in trying to slow down UL's option running game will go a long way toward determining whether the Mean Green can break a six-game losing streak dating to last season and win its first game of the year.

Washington is the only other member of the NCAA Bowl Subdivision of 119 teams that has yet to win a game.

UNT could use a win now more than ever before heading into a season-ending stretch when it will play four of its last six games on the road. The Mean Green's last two home games will be against Sun Belt front-runners Troy and Arkansas State.

"We have to overcome the adversity we are facing," UNT defensive tackle Isaac Thomas said. "We are a team and are always going to be a team. We have to stick together and keep each other up. We are sticking together."

UNT will turn to Thomas to help the Mean Green find a way to hang together against a red hot UL team that comes into the weekend off a win over Louisiana-Monroe that shows just how dangerous the Ragin' Cajuns running game can be.

ULL running back Tyrell Fenroy blasted ULM for 297 rushing yards on just 20 carries and was named the Walter Camp Football Foundation Bowl Subdivision Offensive Player of the Week.

Quarterback Michael Desormeaux added 149 yards on just 10 carries.

"They have two players who are hard to tackle and have a big offensive line," Dodge said. "They run the zone-read, which is old triple-option football."

If UNT is to slow down that option attack, its defensive linemen will have to hold up at the line of scrimmage and cover specific assignments.

That assignment will be a challenge for a group of linemen without much experience. Defensive ends Ryan Davenport and Marquis Sykes are in their first seasons as starters on a line that will have a new starter at one tackle spot for the second straight week.

Brown stepped in for Miller in the Mean Green's loss to Florida International last week, but didn't make it through the game. UNT could turn to Franklin or Ross as its fourth player to start at tackle this season.

"Any time you have people out, you need young guys to step up," Thomas said. "That is what we have been working on this week, getting those young guys ready. I have confidence in them. They are a talented bunch of guys."

UNT is hoping those young players will help turn the tide against a ULL offensive line that has been one of the Ragin' Cajuns' strengths.

"We are so excited about offensive line," ULL head coach Rickey Bustle said. "They have done a tremendous job. This group is starting to jell."

UNT will have to do that same to break out of a rut defensively. UNT has given up more than 40 points in all five of its games this season and is ranked last nationally in scoring defense at 52.2 points a game.

The Mean Green knows it could be tough to turn the tide against a ULL team with a potent running game.

"They are playing well right now," Dodge said. "They are playing with a lot of confidence."


What's at stake

UNT is in the midst of a historic slide under head coach Todd Dodge, who is now 2-15 at the school. The Mean Green went through another 2-15 slump under Jerry Moore, Bob Tyler and Corky Nelson from 1980-82. Another loss would be tough for UNT, which is on the road for four of its last six games. A second conference loss would also essentially eliminate UNT from the race for the Sun Belt title as well. ULL is on a roll after knocking off rival Louisiana-Monroe and can stay in the thick of the race for the conference title with a win over the Mean Green.


Matching up

UNT's offense vs. ULL's defense

UNT comes into its game against UL ranked No. 118 out of 119 teams in the NCAA's Bowl Subdivision in scoring with an average of 13.0 points a game. Only Wyoming, which is averaging 9.3 points a game, has a lower scoring average than UNT, which has been held to 10 points or less in three games this season. ULL hasn't been much more effective defensively and ranks 109th nationally with an average of 35.6 points allowed per game. The Ragin' Cajuns have shown flashes of being effective, through, and held Illinois to 20 points earlier this season.

Edge: ULL


UNT's defense vs. ULL's offense

The Ragin' Cajuns lead the nation in rushing offense with an average of 331.0 yards a game and are also averaging 32.6 points a game. ULL torched Louisiana-Monroe for 44 points and scored 37 in a loss to Kansas State, a team that held UNT to six points in the Mean Green's season opener. FIU had scored just 35 points in four games before blasting UNT 42-10.

Edge: ULL


Coaching

UNT is struggling under second year head coach Todd Dodge, who is 2-15 in his tenure with the Mean Green, including an 0-5 mark this season. UNT has lost its first five games in each of Dodge's first two seasons. ULL has not found consistent success under head coach Rickey Bustle, either. The Ragin' Cajuns are 28-47 in his tenure, but did finish in a three-way tie for the Sun Belt title in 2005.

Edge: ULL


Key matchups

UNT LB Tobe Nwigwe vs. ULL RB Tyrell Fenroy

If UNT is to break through for its first win of the season against UL, it will have to find a way to slow down the Ragin' Cajuns' running game that features running back Tyrell Fenroy. The senior ranks third nationally with an average of 150 rushing yards a game and is coming off a record-setting 297-yard game last week in UL's win over rival Louisiana-Monroe.

Fenroy has rushed for 674 yards in his last three games while averaging 10.7 yards a carry. He needed just seven carries to rack up 123 yards and a touchdown in a win over the Mean Green last season.

UNT's hopes to slow down Fenroy will rest in large part with linebacker Tobe Nwigwe. The junior leads the Mean Green with 49 tackles and is one of UNT's more experienced defensive players with 16 career starts. UNT will need Nwigwe to be at his best this week when the Mean Green will be shorthanded defensively.

Tackles Joseph Miller and Charlie Brown are both out with injuries, which will leave the Mean Green with a new starter at one tackle spot and two defensive ends in their first season as starters.

ULL will look to take advantage of UNT's lack of experience with its option running game that requires a defense to be disciplined and cover its assignments. Nwigwe will have to keep UNT organized on the field and come up with key stops against Fenroy and quarterback Michael Desormeaux. The pair needed just 25 carries to rack up 273 yards in a win over the Mean Green last season.


UNT QB Giovanni Vizza vs. ULL S Derik Keyes

UNT has struggled to get its offense on track this season and is averaging just 13.0 points a game heading into its game against UL. The Mean Green must improve its production behind quarterback Giovanni Vizza if it hopes to pick up its first win of the season.

Vizza is averaging 204.2 passing yards a game, well off his average of 238.8 yards a game last season. He has also thrown three interceptions in each of the Mean Green's past two games. UNT head coach Todd Dodge said this week that Vizza has had his share of bad luck that has resulted in some of his interceptions, but still has thrown six interceptions compared to four touchdowns this season.

Vizza has also not been as productive in the running game this season and is posting just 9.4 yards a game. Dodge said UNT would spend a large portion of the week trying to improve its quarterback running game that would ideally produce about 50 yards a game.

If UNT is to improve offensively, Vizza will have to find a way to make key plays against Derik Keyes. ULL's starting safety leads the Ragin' Cajuns with 38 tackles and has broken up three passes on the season. Keys finished with 18 tackles in a loss to Kansas State earlier this season.

If Keys can slow down Vizza in the running game and also break up a few passes in the secondary, it could be a long day for UNT, which needs Vizza to get off to a good start to bolster the confidence of a struggling team.


Key player

When North Texas head coach Todd Dodge was asked this week who Louisiana-Lafayette quarterback Michael Desormeaux reminded him of in the world of college football, he went with one of the best in the country.

"I would compare him to the quarterback at Florida, Tim Tebow," Dodge said. "Desormeaux is a physical player, a gamer and he is experienced."

Tebow won the Heisman Trophy last season at Florida, and while that honor may be out of reach for Desormeaux, he certainly has other honors in his sights, not to mention a run at the Sun Belt Conference title.

Desormeaux comes into today's game averaging 288.8 yards of total offense a game, a total that ranks first in the Sun Belt. The Louisiana native is one of the true dual-threat quarterbacks in the league. He is averaging 171.8 passing yards a game and is also second in the Sun Belt in rushing with 117.0 yards a game.

Desormeaux is the decision-maker in UL's option offense and has gotten the ball to the Ragin' Cajuns key offensive players on a consistent basis this season. He finished with 172 passing yards and 149 rushing yards last week in the Ragin' Cajuns' win over rival Louisiana-Monroe in their Sun Belt Conference opener.

Running back Tyrell Fenroy's record-setting 297-yard outing against the Warhawks overshadowed Desormeaux's performance. While it has been Fenroy that has stolen the spotlight this season, Desormeaux has been consistent.

Desormeaux ranks 12th nationally in average rushing yards a game and has by far the top rushing average for a quarterback nationally. Collin Kaepernick of Nevada ranks a distant second with an average of 102.2 rushing yards a game. He is 24th nationally in rushing yards per game and is second among quarterbacks.

Desormeaux will have plenty of opportunities to shine against a UNT defense that has struggled all season.

UNT ranks No. 112 nationally in total defense with an average of 460.0 yards allowed per game. The Mean Green has not held an opponent under 40 points this season and allowed Florida International quarterback Paul McCall to throw four touchdown passes last week.

McCall had just one passing touchdown on the season before facing the Mean Green.


BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. His e-mail address is bvito@dentonrc.com.


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