2007 Football preview and offseason fan talk

[RaginFan2]

Hopefully the old axiom-"you play like you practice" won't happen against SC.

Well at least they have some time (dwindling rapidly!) to fix it. Hopefully the guys will start getting their focus and their game-faces ready! I'm looking for some positive things in Columbia! Geaux Cajuns!!!

[NewsCopy]

It’s over. Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns officially ended fall camp on Wednesday with a 51-play scrimmage. The Cajuns will begin game preparations for the season-opener at South Carolina on Thursday. Wednesday’s scrimmage was another penalty filled affair. After committing 12 penalties during Saturday’s 115-play scrimmage, the Cajuns were whistled for seven miscues in just over 50 plays. The offense was guilty of five flags, several of which negated long plays. “There were too many mistakes by our offense for a third scrimmage,” said head coach Rickey Bustle. “Every big play they had was called back. “We have to be better disciplined. I was disappointed in them again.” Penalties were not the only thing hurting the offense, as the Cajuns defense came out and had another solid scrimmage. Cajuns quarterbacks were 11-of-27 passing for just 53 yards, which includes a 7-of-13 effort by starter Michael Desormeaux. The defense added two sacks and nearly missed an interception on more than one occasion. “The defense came out and set a tone,” stated Bustle. “It’s hard to move the length of the field if you keep backing up. There are too many little things wrong and they all go back to discipline. “We don’t have much more time. Everything can be fixed and we need to get it done. I’m surprised that we’ve gone backwards (offensively) from two weeks ago.” The Cajuns running backs continued to put up solid numbers. Tyrell Fenroy and Deon Wallace combined for 73 yards on 13 carries, including one touchdown. Fenroy lost a 22-yard gain due to a holding penalty and a 17-yard gain due to illegal motion, while Wallace had a second touchdown negated by an illegal formation. “We will emphasize discipline and move forward,” added Bustle. “I really want to look at the film and see who is making these mistakes.” The Cajuns will start game week preparations on Thursday and Friday, before getting into their normal game week routine beginning on Sunday. RaginCajuns.com

[NewsCopy]

UL's offense was hit with a procedure penalty before the first offensive snap of the Cajuns' final football scrimmage of fall drills Wednesday. It was a harbinger of things to come. More penalties followed. Tailback Tyrell Fenroy lost a 22-yard gain on a holding penalty and a 17-yard ramble on illegal motion. Backup tailback Deon Wallace's twisting 5-yard touchdown run came back when the offense had only six players on the line of scrimmage. "That's just a lack of mental discipline," said Cajun coach Rickey Bustle after the squad's 75-minute scrimmage at Cajun Field. "The things we did wrong are all very correctable, but they have to correct them." Seven total penalty flags were thrown in 51 plays from scrimmage, after UL was flagged 12 times in Saturday's 111-play second scrimmage. "They're very confused because it's all on their heads now," said Cajun offensive coordinator Blake Anderson. "Tomorrow we'll start narrowing the package on our game plan. We'll be a lot more assignment sound and play with more confidence once we start tailing that back." The rest of the story Dan McDonald dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com

[NewsCopy]

Another scrimmage, another dominating defensive performance. UL's football squad held its final full-scale scrimmage of fall preseason drills Wednesday afternoon, and for the second time in five days the defense controlled the action at Cajun Field. That, or there was a definite lack of execution by the Cajun offense. It was the latter that upset head coach Rickey Bustle after the 60-play session. The rest of the story Dan McDonald dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com

[RCAJUN90]

Wednesday's scrimmage, was the final of the fall. Once again, the offense execution was sloppy being whistled for five penalties,one negating a 22-yard Tyrell Fenroy run.


Full Story

http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?S=345#s...=3397&t=876624

I like that Baldwin isn't happy. Perhaps he will rip everyone a new one and get the guys highly motivated for the USC game.

[NewsCopy]

When the Gamecocks open up the season against Louisiana-Lafayette, fans will see Carolina's "Cock 'n Fire" offense in full throttle. One of the Ragin' Cajuns' major downfalls last year turned out to be their passing defense. Out of eight teams in the Sun Belt conference, only two allowed opposing quarterbacks to rack up more yards in the passing game. The stage is set for Blake Mitchell to have an excellent day. Do not be surprised if the fifth-year senior records 300-plus yards through the air to go along with three or four touchdowns. A large part of South Carolina's success in the SEC East hinges on the playmaking ability of the freshmen wideouts. Mark Barnes, Jason Barnes and Chris Culliver should be able to make plays against Louisiana-Lafayette's subpar secondary, which will give them a much needed boost of confidence heading into a huge SEC game the following Saturday. Running backs Cory Boyd and Mike Davis should have a productive game as well, despite Louisiana-Lafayette's stout rushing defense last year. One thing is for sure, it is unlikely that the Ragin' Cajuns run stopping success in the Sun Belt conference will translate to the SEC. On the defensive side of the ball, look for Carolina's linemen to apply constant pressure to Louisiana-Lafayette quarterback Michael Desormeaux. In limited action, the junior has been unable to orchestrate a downfield passing attack but has shown the ability to make plays as a runner. The Ragin' Cajuns averaged 188.7 rushing yards per contest last year while managing a miniscule 129.3 through the air. If the Gamecocks shut down the run, three and outs should be a prevalent theme. There is no way Desormeaux will be able to drop back in the pocket, avoid rushers, and make plays by throwing the football. All the match-ups heavily favor Carolina on paper. Gamecocks win in a lopsided contest, 33-6. The source of the story Neal Robinson Daily GameCock

[CRAWFISH61]

_ I like that Baldwin isn't happy. Perhaps he will rip everyone a new one and get the guys highly motivated for the USC game. _

RC90 Bustle is not Baldwin. The last 2 years this team has a winning record 12 and 11 if you have not noticed. You act like Coach Bustle has not improved this team at all since Toothpick roamed the sidelines. I was very disappointed in last years performance but to call Coach Bustle by that name is demeaning and shows a lack of class.

[Clutch0364]

Guys I thik the offense will be ok...Defense is suppose to be ahead of the offense. Defense is more reaction and less mental, on offense its more mental and I think that is why they are having mental mistakes. They are so worried about needing to get to a certain spot on a play that they over think and when you do that youu are finished. They will be fine.

[UL_Cajuns]

Damn they barely even mentioned Fenroy. I think our hurry up offense will tire their defense a little bit to allow desormeaux to get more time in the pocket. If not let em try and catch Desormeaux. I think they will find out quick how fast he is.

[Jason]

_ I like that Baldwin isn't happy. Perhaps he will rip everyone a new one and get the guys highly motivated for the USC game. _

I thought it was funny............ We have to be able to laugh at ourselves sometimes... It seems like we are running around in circles, improvement needs to be consistant.

[rhineaux]

_ Damn they barely even mentioned Fenroy. I think our hurry up offense will tire their defense a little bit to allow desormeaux to get more time in the pocket. If not let em try and catch Desormeaux. I think they will find out quick how fast he is. _

The SC fan that posted our preview and their preview on here earlier this week doesn't agree. According to him, they have some serious athletes on their D-line and they are also deep there. He also said that they have some really good athletes at LB too. Getting the running game going will be tough against this team. Hopefully we'll have some play calling that will keep them guessing a little and tire their minds too. When you fatigue their minds and keep them always thinking, i think that will help promote the toll it will take on them physically.

I do think that because their QB has been hit or miss, according to their fan posting on here, that we can take advantage of that, and the fact that their O-Line is questionable.

[rhineaux]

_ Guys I thik the offense will be ok...Defense is suppose to be ahead of the offense. Defense is more reaction and less mental, on offense its more mental and I think that is why they are having mental mistakes. They are so worried about needing to get to a certain spot on a play that they over think and when you do that youu are finished. They will be fine. _

very true.

According to Anderson, it was all mental mistakes. the guys were intense and ready to play, but their heads weren't totally in it. I think that also has a good bit to do with scrimmagin Saturday, being off Sun and Mon, and then a shorter practice on Tuesday. BA also said that their still running with the full playbook right now, and that they'll start to concentrate on SC and reduce the playbook. that will help too.