2006 Football Previews

[cajun tom]

fabulous, can NOT wait!

I do not think Gerron Blount is still on the team.

[CutOff_Cajun]

While I do agree on your analysis, I can't help but to disagree on your position grading.

I mean, how can our entire defense be rated with C's or C+'s and be expected to win the Sun Belt? I know you're not an expert, I know we're UL, etc... but I just don't see how you think the quality of our Defense is only average at best.

I wasn't around this site too much this time last year, but I would have hated to see the grading scale on last years team b/c this year will be ten times better than last, especially on the Defensive side.

A few explanations would be appreciated...

[Clutch0364]

While I do agree on your analysis, I can't help but to disagree on your position grading.

I mean, how can our entire defense be rated with C's or C+'s and be expected to win the Sun Belt? I know you're not an expert, I know we're UL, etc... but I just don't see how you think the quality of our Defense is only average at best.

I wasn't around this site too much this time last year, but I would have hated to see the grading scale on last years team b/c this year will be ten times better than last, especially on the Defensive side.

A few explanations would be appreciated...

The grading is for the entire unit. The depth on our defense is not that great. Our offense has great reserves that we can put it and feel comfortable with but our defense doesn't. All of our defensive units have the potential to be a lot better but one player won't bring up the grade of our defense. Korey Raymond, Mark Risher, Brenton Burkhalter, Anthony Hills, and Lamar Morgan I think are the top players on our defense and they should give us enough to win.

Also I think my grading is pretty tough. Our defense wasn't that great at the beginning of last year and they got better at the end of the year so I'm expecting them to continue that improvement.

[NewsCopy]

Fine, so Florida Atlantic didn't set the Sun Belt world on fire in the first season in the big leagues after going 9-3 in 2004. Fine, so Florida Atlantic won't set the Sun Belt world on fire in its second season in the big leagues after going 2-9 in 2005 and with a boatload of young players needing to fill key roles. It doesn't matter right now. A team can go from the outhouse to the penthouse in a big hurry in the Sun Belt, and Howard Schnellenberger's program has the potential to be a champion very soon. With the south Florida recruiting base to draw from and a recent history of success, at least, one year of success, FAU could quickly become a major thorn in the Sun Belt's side with enough good athletes and the solid coaching to become a yearly contender. Florida Atlantic Owls Team Information Head coach: Howard Schnellenberger 6th year: 28-30 22nd year overall: 128-107-3 Returning Lettermen: Off. 18, Def. 22, ST 1 Lettermen Lost: 10 The rest of the story

[CrazyCajun]

they still won't beat the cajuns

[Clutch0364]

they still won't beat the cajuns

We didn't beat them last year so lets not get the big head quite yet. We have the potential for a great season but lets not start talking like we have already won the games.

[CrazyCajun]

We didn't beat them last year so lets not get the big head quite yet. We have the potential for a great season but lets not start talking like we have already won the games.

i think babb will have something to say about it this year!

[Clutch0364]

i think babb will have something to say about it this year!

I do to but we can't get ahead of ourselves.I think with the schedule we have in place we can realistically go 10-2 or 9-3 but we have to play the games first before we start talking down on other programs.

[CrazyCajun]

I do to but we can't get ahead of ourselves.I think with the schedule we have in place we can realistically go 10-2 or 9-3 but we have to play the games first before we start talking down on other programs.

not to mention we played that game before we really found our offense and it was desormeaux first start and we are a lot better than we were last year on the defensive side of the ball. I was not speaking down on any program all i said was they won't beat the cajuns and i'm sticking to that stop being so sensitive! And what part of going 10-2 or 9-3 does not involve beating fau?

[Clutch0364]

not to mention we played that game before we really found our offense and it was desormeaux first start and we are a lot better than we were last year on the defensive side of the ball. I was not speaking down on any program all i said was they won't beat the cajuns and i'm sticking to that stop being so sensitive! And what part of going 10-2 or 9-3 does not involve beating fau?

I never said I don't think we would beat them but it will not be the easiest game on the schedule. Last year they had freshmen starting all over the field. 4 of thoughs freshman were starting across their defensive line. I'm not being sensitive I just think people are overlooking teams that they shouldn't be overlooking because we overlooked them last year nd look what happened.

[NewsCopy]

How painful must 2005 have been for the Ragin' Cajuns after the way they played over the second half of the season? The program hadn't come up with a winning season since 1995 and had never been bowling. After a rough 1-5 start with two losses coming on last second field goals against UCF and Arkansas State, there was a five-game winning streak with three straight three-point wins thanks to freshman RB Tyrell Fenroy and an unstoppable running game. The loss to Arkansas State turned out to be the difference between the Sun Belt's berth in the New Orleans Bowl and an also-ran season, and there was an inexcusable loss to Florida Atlantic that didn't help matters. Now the team appears motivated and ready to finish off what was started late last year. Most of the credit has to go to head coach Rickey Bustle, who has carved out a tremendous ground game and has drilled into his team the importance of keeping mistakes to a minimumLouisiana Là only committed 72 penalties, 21 fewer than its opponents, and only 12 fumbles in 531 rushing attempts with freshmen often handling the ball. UL Ragin' Cajuns Team Information Head coach: Rickey Bustle 4th year: 17-29 Returning Lettermen: Off. 19, Def. 20, ST 2 Lettermen Lost: 13 Ten Best Players 1. OT Brandon Cox, Sr. 2. RB Tyrell Fenroy, Soph. 3. CB Michael Adams, Sr. 4. QB Jerry Babb, Sr. 5. DE Anthony Hills, Sr. 6. OT Jesse Newman, Jr. 7. LB Mark Risher, Jr. 8. QB Michael Desormeaux, So. 9. DT Korey Raymond, Jr. 10. SS Johnny Felders, Sr. 2006 Schedule 9/2 at LSU 9/9 at Texas A&M 9/16 McNeese State 9/30 Eastern Michigan 10/7 at Houston 10/18 at Florida Atlantic 10/28 MTSU 11/4 at Troy 11/11 North Texas 11/18 at FIU 11/25 Arkansas State 12/2 UL Monroe The rest of the story

[UNTfan]

By the end of that game -- and to this day -- the Cajuns felt like they were the best team in the conference. That's fine, but now it's time to start hot from the beginning, guys.

Maybe I'm coming out of left field here, but I seem to remember something going on last, I want to say, August? Some kind of bad weather, maybe? Might have had some effect on the team, perhaps.