The Book: 2003 Football

[LatvianCajun]

:o

[CajunGuru]

"Cajuns fall to 0-7 vs. ULM. Our defense really sucks right now. How many years in a row have they sucked now? At least the offense came up big tonight, just not big enough. What is that now, 4 games in a row giving up 40+ points. All of the rationalizing about our tough early season schedule just went out the window. I am proud of the heart our team showed, but they have to find a way to win! Losing sucks, especially at home to a team that has already lost to 2 D1-AA teams this season. Our special teams had a very mixed night, blocking a punt, but continually giving up long returns. I am a very unhappy less-than-Ragin' Cajun tonight. If our defense is that beat up & short of talent, I don't know who we can beat the rest of the season."


Good post RaginFan2, I could not have said it any better. I don't think this defense is any better then what we watched during the Baldwin era. And special teams have gotten worse during the season. If anything, you should see improvement in your defense and special teams as you add talent to your program. With the exception of Jamal Smith and Thomas, everyone played tonight. Jerrel Carter and Stanley Smith both played. There is no excuses for tonights results. This staff really needs to look in the mirror and make some changes in the defensive scheme. The only positive tonight was the fact the players never quit.

[Turbine]

Originally posted by NewsCopy

INJURY UPDATE

Jamal Smith, ankle surgery

David Kirkley, knee surgery

Greg Hodges, knee

Wes Simon, shoulder

Ricky Thomas, foot

D'Anthony Batiste, ankle

Pat Lamy, shoulder

Tyler Norman, leg

Jerrell Carter, shoulder

Stanley Smith, knee

[CajunGuru]

INJURY UPDATE


Jamal Smith, ankle surgery

David Kirkley, knee surgery

Greg Hodges, knee

Wes Simon, shoulder

Ricky Thomas, foot

D'Anthony Batiste, ankle

Pat Lamy, shoulder

Tyler Norman, leg

Jerrell Carter, shoulder

Stanley Smith, knee

Again Turbine, Stanley smith and Jerrel Carter both played tonight. The only starters that were missing tonight were Jamal Smith and Thomas. The offense does miss Batiste and Hodges, but they scored enough points to win. The rest of those guys are not starters! No excuses tonight!

[Turbine]

I loved the band tonight I took more footage of them than anything else, but I think some untimely music might have cost us the game.

Some have pointed to Eric throwing 9 yards instead of 11 when we needed 10, and I am no different. But that is not the game costing play. It's just one of them. The play before was much more harmful, as I think it would have put us in Commisky territory.

Before I go any further, I don't know if any of you heard Nick Saban complain (a few weeks back) that LSU fans were not the most knowledgeable around. He was referring to the LSU fans making noise when LSU was on offense. It just doesn't give you the best chance to win, it is a no-no.

Well I know we are not used to winning but we can all become more knowledgeable on ways to win. The band can absorb some criticism for playing great music at the wrong time. On the second to last offensive play of the game the team could not hear Eric either call the play or audible.

Remember we were in no huddle the whole second half; often the players were at the line when the plays were called. On the second to last offensive play the band starts playing while Eric is either trying to call the play or call an audible.

Now I recorded this completely across the field from the band, I can only imagine how loud the band sounded at this point in the game because the players were just a few yards removed from the band.

The result is no receiver was where they were supposed to be when Eric threw the ball.

The video has the last three offensive plays of the game. Notice the trouble Eric has calling the play on the second to last paly.

Allow 2 minutes loading time.

[Turbine]

Originally posted by CAJUNGURU
Again Turbine, Stanley smith and Jerrel Carter both played tonight

You're not saying they were either 100% or should have been are you?

[CajunGuru]

"You're not saying they were either 100% or should have been are you?"

Nope! But I did not say the didn't play either! Look, I'm not disappointed in the effort tonight. But, I do believe that this defense and special teams should be showing some improvement now that our schedule is in conference play. Just imagine what our defense would be like without Ross B. back. I think when the season is over, I believe coach Bustle and his staff need to do some sole searching . Some examination of defensive philosophy and scheme needs to take place. We did not play Minnesota or Oklahoma State tonight. We played a team that lost their starting quarterback in the third quarter and still lost. We are tied with Buffalo as the worst Div1a program right now and recruiting kids to play here just got harder.

[ATXCajun]

lets not give the offense too much credit. early turnovers set up ulm with scoring opportunities.

[CajunKate]

Originally posted by RaginFan2
All of the rationalizing about our tough early season schedule just went out the window. Losing sucks, especially at home to a team that has already lost to 2 D1-AA teams this season. If our defense is that beat up & short of talent, I don't know who we can beat the rest of the season.

Amen! I must say I was completely shocked at the end of the first half, ____ed off, and ready to leave, but barring a life threatening emergency, I never leave a game early. I thought we were losing because of the level of talent we were playing on our schedule up to this point, but after tonight I wonder if some of those losses would have been a lot closer if we'd had more talent on the field. I thought the team was also outcoached at some points. I'm proud of the team for not giving up, but did anyone see those poor guys after the game? I have never in my life seen a more dejected looking group of young men. I fear an 0-12 season. Say it ain't so!

[Turbine]

I saw a Cajun team that due to the level of competition the first six games -and loss of key offensive linemen- had not been able to find its offense all year. I think it found its offensive niche last night.

When 3 points is the difference between hero and goat, I can't get down. I saw massive improvement in the team last night.

What I did notice last night -I have noticed this all year- is the loss of a 100 tackle player to the NFL. I knew Peanut would be hard to replace, his replacement was drafted as well

The only thing that stopped it from being a great game was 3 points from Sean. That would have kicked this game into the best Cajun game ever.

[Turbine]

I am sick and tired of everyone thinking this team (ULM) is worthless. That UL lost to a worthless team. Those games against ULM should be automatic wins. That simply is not true, nor should it be, at leas not historically.

Let me back up a second.

What jumps out at everyone this season is that they have lost to not 1 but 2 D1aa teams. But they fail to look at the fact that early in the season ULM had an emergency coach trying to teach a new system. They found their offense last week and this week implemented it to its fullest extent.

Give the Indians credit they beat a good Cajun team last night when they won the first half by 14 and lost the second half by 11 points. Granted it was two different quarterbacks, but give coach Charlie Weatherbie credit he went with a totally different offense to maintain the game. It almost didn't work it took a Tyler Kuecker kick with 1:46 remaining to provided the difference in 45-42 victory.

And don't ignore the talent level that coach Charlie Weatherbie inherited. This team pistol whipped the Cajuns last year with 2 NFL players on the Cajun Squad.

Perhaps most of all, don't ignore Indian Charlie Weatherbie, he has turned other losers into winners before at Utah and Navy. So the sacrificial loses to D1aa teams early are not indicative of the talent level he has. It is indicative that they were learning his system and that team diced with talent from the Acadiana area is finally coming together.

For those who think a game against ULM should be an automatic win? When and where did you get this idea? In the history of the rivalry ULM has out scored the Cajuns to the tune of 714 to 632. This is the second time they have put 45 points on the Cajuns. Louisiana has never put 45 on ULM.

The best the Cajuns have ever done against ULM occurred last night when they put up 42 against a much improving ULM squad. We certainly didn’t lose to a worthless team. It is a team with more talent at this point than UL and a national title under title belt to boot.

ps ULM's national title run utilized and offense implemented by current Ragin' Cajun coach Rickey Bustle.

[Sanchez]

Did you record from the upper deck? It was probably much louder down on the field.