Talk to Windel Williams today, he said the team is fired up and will beat ULM.
Printable View
Talk to Windel Williams today, he said the team is fired up and will beat ULM.
..O.. Nice
If Windell says it, you can take it to THE BANK!!
GEAUX CAJUNS!
<blockquote><p align=justify>LOUISIANA La. — Mix-and-match may work for a temporary wardrobe, but it’s hardly the ticket for an offensive line.
Louisiana has been shuffling linemen in and out of the lineup most of the season, one of the many hurdles faced on the way to a 0-6 record midway through the campaign.
Of all the units on the team, the O-line needs a connected, cohesive effort to succeed, and that’s nearly impossible without a steady group of starters.
“The line is a developmental position,” assistant coach Mike Gibson said Wednesday. “You have to have five playing together. You have to have that continuity and consistency, because they all rely on each other.
“You’ve got to get a feel for that guy playing next to you.”
But, just who is lining up next to whom each week? That’s Gibson’s $64,000 question.
Junior guard Greg Hodges has been hurt most of the year.
Starting guard D’Anthony Batiste was sidelined early in last week’s loss at Oklahoma State.
The Cajuns haven’t had their expected starting five intact for any noticeable time.
“We lost our best lineman (Hodges) early,” Gibson said. “Then last week D’Anthony suffered a high ankle sprain on the first play. He tried one more snap, but couldn’t go.
<center><p><a href="http://www.theadvertiser.com/sports/html/E288BA2B-62E7-42EF-8F10-53064952BED2.shtml">The rest of the story</a>
Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com <!--
“It’s a shame, because he was playing his best football before he got hurt. You have to look at it as an opportunity for someone else to step up, but it is a task.”
Still, young athletes have a way of surviving hard times with a note of optimism, and the linemen are learning as they go.
“They are upbeat,” Gibson said of his squad. “They look forward to the opportunity to play another Saturday. If you dwell on being 0-and-6, the future will catch up with you.
“Winning is an attitude. You can’t flick it on like a light switch. I think you practice how you play. I hope we’ve learned something in these six games.”
One player who can’t help but learn is freshman right tackle Brandon Cox, a 6-foot-7, 295-pounder who is the Cajuns’ best prospect in the trenches.
“Every snap is a learning experience for Brandon,” Gibson said.
If Cox asks older teammates about this week’s opponent, the UL Monroe Indians, he’ll find out that the line has some issues to settle. ULM drummed the Cajuns 34-10 in last year’s season finale, holding UL to a net one yard rushing on 21 attempts.
“These kids handled us last year,” Gibson said, “so I think we’ve got something to prove.
“They are similar to us in that both teams run an eight-man front — the same type looks, the linebackers are shaded a certain way. Oklahoma State ran an eight-man front, too, so we’ve seen it the last two weeks.
“We have a big challenge this week. They have a good defense, like Houston. I know they had 44 points scored on them last week, but one of those scores came on a fumble return so it wasn’t as bad. No. 45 (linebacker Maurice Sonnier), the kid from Port Barre, is good.
“They all run to the ball.”
The Cajuns began the season with freshman Jerry Babb at quarterback, but are now led by senior Eric Rekieta. They also have relied on numerous running backs to move the ball.
“Our system revolves around the system we have,” Gibson said. “Jerry can get away, move a little better. Eric will stand in, hold onto the ball and take a hit for you. He’s not afraid to get hit. It doesn’t matter to my guys.
“I’m sure each of our running backs wishes he could carry the ball 25 times, but they have to react to us. When they carry more they can get a feel for what we’re doing. If we can create a seam, they can take it from there.”
Behind Gibson’s crew, the Cajuns are averaging 86 yards per game rushing and 169.5 passing, numbers they expect to improve in the second half of the season. And they don’t care which way they move the ball.
“The toughest thing for an offensive lineman is to pass block, because you’re pushing, trying to keep the defender away from you,” Gibson said. “You should like to run block more. The toughest thing to develop is pass protection.”
Gibson has been grateful for any signs of progress the Cajun line has achieved. But, one step forward, two back is hard for a line that continues its mix-and-match makeup.
“We’ve got to play,” Gibson said. “At times, we’ve looked better. At times, we’ve struggled. We continue to work hard every day.”-->
<blockquote><p align=justify><b>INJURY UPDATE</b>
<li>Jamal Smith, ankle surgery (out for season);
<li>David Kirkley, knee surgery (out for season);
<li>Greg Hodges, knee (out);
<li>Wes Simon, shoulder (out);
<li>Ricky Thomas, foot (out).
<li>D'Anthony Batiste, ankle (doubtful);
<li>Pat Lamy, shoulder (doubtful);
<li>Tyler Norman, leg (questionable);
<li>Jerrell Carter, shoulder (probable);
<li>Stanley Smith, knee (probable);
I just wanna wish you guys the best of luck on this game against Monroe!...
You have had an ungodly road trip, so now its time to get back and back in style this week!
I come to the boards a lot since we have played to keep in touch with whats going on with you guys...
Best of luck this weekend and kick some Injun butt!:hot:
Thanks BrilesBall. I have been keeping one eye on Houston as well.
Keep up the good work your 4-1 record has helped us to the 20th toughest schedule in the country.
That should raise the Monrovian's blood pressure to unprecedented heights...O.. .~. .~. .~.
It shouldn't raise just the Moanrovians blood pressure. I wonder what the "Flagship" would think about something like that all over Lafayette!!
Fun loving opinion boards are homecoming traditions, still they probably would want them banned or have matching pro Fs boards along side each one..Quote:
Originally posted by rebel02
It shouldn't raise just the Moanrovians blood pressure. I wonder what the "Flagship" would think about something like that all over Lafayette!!
Photoshop Turd-le's head on that sign and you have a winner!
This is from Bruce Brown's article on the offensive line in the Advertiser 10-09-03.Quote:
Original quote by coach Gibson
“We lost our best lineman (Hodges) early,” Gibson said.
I had that thought in the back of my mind but I had never seen it in print. I noticed a sudden drop off in run production after Greg was hurt.
I hope his injury is healing ahead of schedule, but right or wrong I hope he redshirts this year. I have a feeling Greg is in for a "national notice" year in 2004