Defensive staff

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Originally Posted by Just1More

So what you're saying is that next year we'll have everyone back, plus the depth from experience this year, plus the scheme/verbiage taught?

I didn't realize how many guys were missing and patching holes in our defensive backfield.

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Yes and I didn't quite realize it either until Saturday night and I really started looking at who was out there... Or should I say who wasn't. Then reading a couple articles since Saturday...there were even more missing than I originally thought.

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Originally Posted by Just1More

So what you're saying is that next year we'll have everyone back, plus the depth from experience this year, plus the scheme/verbiage taught?

I didn't realize how many guys were missing and patching holes in our defensive backfield.

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HUD also said tonight they are looking at 2 juco safeties to add some talent/depth back there.

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Originally Posted by Bicky Rustle

They were released because AU brought in a new coordinator who brought in his own assistants. I think if you can't coach it gets out before you spend 20 years in the SEC.

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Nor do you win conference championships or coach All American and All SEC performers.

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Originally Posted by crazycajun

Yes and I didn't quite realize it either until Saturday night and I really started looking at who was out there... Or should I say who wasn't. Then reading a couple articles since Saturday...there were even more missing than I originally thought.

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You got me thinking of "A Beautiful Mind.

The Prof was crazy but he was also a genius. It was him recognizing something wasn't there * that enabled him to overcome his insanity.

I feel better today because you recognized something that wasn't there.

*(His imaginary friends were not getting any older.)

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Originally Posted by Just1More

I think we could have held Lafayette Middle School to under 100 yards. I'm not saying our defense didn't have some good series stops. But when you look at the breakdowns this year against some mediocre offenses, we had some extremely costly failures on defense. If Hud wouldn't have put Haack in 3rd and long so often, we could have perhaps overcome our defensive issues enough to win a couple more games... but Hud wasn't up for that this season.

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Matt, I'm not suggesting there are not problems on the defensive side of the football. But if you listen to Otha Peters, the constant changes in personnel do to injuries or other factors like have Simeon Thomas have played a major role in the inconsistent play of the defense at times. He did say there are athletes on the field that should not be playing. So it's clear a number of factors are involved in poor play on both sides of the football.

When you hear coaches and athletes refer to problems with chemistry on this team, that is a huge indicator of problems in the locker room as far as I'm concerned.

Losing creates lockerroom problems when there otherwise would have been none

Conversely winning can mask a multitude of lockerroom problems.

When I hear "chemistry problems" I hear "players are not on the same page"

"

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Originally Posted by crazycajun

We had a CB playing safety who gave up 2 touchdowns because he never played safety in his life. We were playing against a QB who just left a memorial for his recently murdered father, it was the best game of his life which was 15-39 or something? 2 blown coverages by a guy who should have never been in that position. No TJ worthy, no Crawford, no lightfoot, no posey,no Alexander, no Thomas, Watson just returned from injury only to be shoved in a position he never played before. That's just on the defensive side and half the guys are playing hurt. While tovell has played great since moving inside, you still took him away from the outside. Emtire new staff, system and verbiage...10 games and we haven't started the same 11 yet on defense.

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As I recall, we started the season with HUD saying we didn't want to practice too hard because we didn't want to risk injuries. Tackling was at a minimum. We never hear anymore about how tough our training camps are anymore. Seems like the harder we trained and practiced, the fewer injuries we had and we were a much better tacking team than this year. Did we go soft in practice and now the injuries are taking their toll? I don't know if that is a valid observation or not. Just asking because we have never been decimated by injuries like we have this year.

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Originally Posted by HoustonCajun

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As I recall, we started the season with HUD saying we didn't want to practice too hard because we didn't want to risk injuries. Tackling was at a minimum. We never hear anymore about how tough our training camps are anymore. Seems like the harder we trained and practiced, the fewer injuries we had and we were a much better tacking team than this year. Did we go soft in practice and now the injuries are taking their toll? I don't know if that is a valid observation or not. Just asking because we have never been decimated by injuries like we have this year.

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We reaching for answers now. The injuries fiasco is just a law of averages catching up to us. While "technique tackling" isn't a huge point of teach at the high school level anymore, it doesn't take a reasonably intelligent player to figure it out once they get to college.

Listen to the interviews. The players are telling you guys what's going on. It's what a handful of guys have been reporting on this site since Akron: chemistry (aka locker room issues).

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Originally Posted by HoustonCajun

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As I recall, we started the season with HUD saying we didn't want to practice too hard because we didn't want to risk injuries. Tackling was at a minimum. We never hear anymore about how tough our training camps are anymore. Seems like the harder we trained and practiced, the fewer injuries we had and we were a much better tacking team than this year. Did we go soft in practice and now the injuries are taking their toll? I don't know if that is a valid observation or not. Just asking because we have never been decimated by injuries like we have this year.

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I think that has something to do with it, some of it is just luck or bad luck. It's easy to say it but when you are watching people drop like flies at practice, it's hard to keep turning up the intensity. Not only that, a lot of guys had offseason surgery and were also recovering from injuries suffered during the season. If you have limited number of bodies at practice, you can't go like you want. It's not a science but I agree it seems what made us tough and finish games was our offseason program. It made us mentally tough and that's how you close out games.

Have the team captains called any team meetings or jumped the problematic teammates @$$'?? Done anything to take hold of the situation as leaders??

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Originally Posted by Turbine

Losing creates lockerroom problems when there otherwise would have been none

Conversely winning can mask a multitude of lockerroom problems.

When I hear "chemistry problems" I hear "players are not on the same page"

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Turbine, I'm certain at times that is the case. But players may not be on the same page for a number of reasons, including not buying into your system. Coach Robichaux has always stated one person can become a cancer in your locker room and chemistry is important in winning or losing.

Who did the players select as Team Captain?

Has that Team Captain been treated fairly by the Coaching Staff?

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Originally Posted by CajunT

Turbine, I'm certain at times that is the case. But players may not be on the same page for a number of reasons, including not buying into your system. Coach Robichaux has always stated one person can become a cancer in your locker room and chemistry is important in winning or losing.

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That's interesting. I wonder what aspect of the defensive system they're not buying into? Regardless, it sure seems odd for a Hud staff to lose control of player chemistry. He's such a good motivational guy. I have no doubt Hud has seen players that disrupt the system before and knows how to deal with them. I imagine keeping all of your student-athletes pulling the rope in the same direction isn't all that easy. And if the disruptive athletes are starters, there's no solution that doesn't harm the team... at least in the short run. Bummer to hear that.

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Originally Posted by CajunT

Turbine, I'm certain at times that is the case. But players may not be on the same page for a number of reasons, including not buying into your system. Coach Robichaux has always stated one person can become a cancer in your locker room and chemistry is important in winning or losing.

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Thanks for the clarification.

Generally when I say "on the same page" I mean cut left< >throw right.

I have an idea: whoever the bad apples are, tell them to pack their shat. We're about to go 4-8, we sure as hell won't miss them.

A simple conduct detrimental to the team explanation and a best of luck. Off you go.

I don't think it's necessarily bad apples, sometimes just conflicting personalities. You don't have to like everyone but they should all respect each other as teammates

I was part of a team that fell apart due to a couple of bad apples. The staff kept after a few of us to take control of the team. Sorry, that is the coaches job. There is only so much the good guys can do. At a certain point, people need to be let go. Players can't do that.

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Originally Posted by CajunNation

I was part of a team that fell apart due to a couple of bad apples. The staff kept after a few of us to take control of the team. Sorry, that is the coaches job. There is only so much the good guys can do. At a certain point, people need to be let go. Players can't do that.

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Like I said on another thread.....if Hud truly wants to repair this he has to take ownership of it

I personally believe the Auburn coaches @ UL will be looking for a new gig after this year.

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Originally Posted by CoolCajun123

I personally believe the Auburn coaches @ UL will be looking for a new gig after this year.

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Collectively their stock is at an all time low, they would be wise to right the ship before jumping ship.

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Originally Posted by Turbine

Collectively their stock is at an all time low, they would be wise to right the ship before jumping ship.

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I'm not saying that they will have the option to return. I think they will be part of the "rolling heads" at the end of the season. I didn't think the defense could be any worse then what it was under James Willis.... I was wrong!!

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Originally Posted by CoolCajun123

I'm not saying that they will have the option to return. I think they will be part of the "rolling heads" at the end of the season. I didn't think the defense could be any worse then what it was under James Willis.... I was wrong!!

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Not a chance they get let go

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Originally Posted by CoolCajun123

I'm not saying that they will have the option to return. I think they will be part of the "rolling heads" at the end of the season. I didn't think the defense could be any worse then what it was under James Willis.... I was wrong!!

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Ah, I see.

Forced to walk the plank before UL hoists the sails. :)

Those that are quick to say this years stay is worse than Willis. Last year the D gave up 30 points a game. This year...31 points a game with new d line, injuries, best cb not playing, safeties hurt. Not saying he is good, just not as bad as you think. I think it'll improve

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Originally Posted by crazycajun

Not a chance they get let go

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Actually... It's a topic of conversation, I'll just leave it at that..

I'm not happy about it, as I agree with you, the defensive staff has been dealt pocket jokers this year..