2007 Football preview and offseason fan talk

[HoustonCajun]

_ I don't know. I had read that the freshman was in trouble too. Something about him missing some time during spring becasue of messing up in the classroom, or not being eligible, or something, can't remember. He was supposed to be the starter going into the season, but because he missed the spring, he was way behind schedule. the same article had said that spurrier was thinking about red-shirting him. If he is red-shirting him, he isn't going to waste it on one game. If he isn't, then they'll likely live and die behind him all year. I would red-shirt him because you have a 3 yr letter winner/5th year senior in front of him. why waste the experience when you RS him and give him a year to better learn the system. would still have him for 4 years. doesn't make sense, especiall since they're expected to contend for the SEC East.

12 Blake Mitchell | 6-3, 211, Sr., 3V
7 Chris Smelley | 6-1, 221, Fr., RS
6 Tommy Beecher 6-1, 221, So., SQ

this is from their rivals site.



This is from the USC Athetics site:

The 3 players suspended for our game are:

Starting Senior QB - Blake Mitchell - looks like a RS Freshman Chris Smelly will start

Tailback - Bobby Wallis - Jr. - one of 3 rotating tailbacks and heavily counted on this year

Cornerback - Chris Hail - Soph. - possible starter or #2 guy

USC is already getting flack for UGA who they play the following week. Here is what UGA is saying:

I come in peace and not intending to pile on. However, either way it goes
with your QB situation it does not bode well for your journey to Athens. Either you will have a Sr. QB coming into the SEC opener with no tune up, or you will have a very young QB playing their first road game in the SEC. Usually those things do not go well for the youngster. Now, I have seen a young David Greene go to Knoxville and pull off a miracle. So, I don't think it's a hopeless cause, but it cannot be seen as good news imo. So what if Blake comes back? Motivated cause he got the message? Maybe. Rusty cause he hasn't seen game speed? Probably. Just my take. I hope you take the post the way it was intended.

If we are going to upset USC, our chances just improved greatly.

[RCAJUN90]

_ 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. _

It is called a mistake. No argument that Bustle is light years ahead of Baldwin. Rake me over the coals if you like but it was a simple mistake.

[Boomer]

_ 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. _

We have sooo many stunts in our def. package that I think this can cause a problem early for any offense---I think that showed in the second scrimmage--Now the penalties are something else that reps and mental practice can eliminate---The holding calls need to be addressed as well!!!! How did Morel do in the scrimmage????

[RonMexico]

We have sooo many stunts in our def. package that I think this can cause a problem early for any offense---I think that showed in the second scrimmage--Now the penalties are something else that reps and mental practice can eliminate---The holding calls need to be addressed as well!!!! How did Morel do in the scrimmage????

Dude, how come we don't get better coverage in the Morning Advocate? I was chapped, how about you?

L'Rontravneousiriquoissaskatchewantonsimplisticalifragilistic'

[CajunNation]

_ 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 last thing I want to be labeled as is a complainer and/or a negative person, but I do not like the way we match up with this team, and I do not like the fact that we have struggled big time to even handle the pass rush of our defense.

I do like the fact that Spurrier is holding out key players, including Mitchell, for our game.

Make no mistake. Fenroy couldn't have a bigger bullseye on his chest than he does now, and if we insist on throwing the ball as much as we seem to want to, it could be a long night of 3 and outs if we aren't lucky.

What I hope happens is that we are successful in our blitzes and stunts in getting to their QB and maybe force a couple of turnovers. Also, maybe Fenroy can shake loose a few times to get them on their heels early. Finally, I wish I could be the voice in Desmo's head because as soon as he doesn't hand it off to Fenroy, I would tell him to tuck it under and run for daylight, or nightlight as it were.

[yazoo]

_ Well, check that. I must ahve read wrong. From reading some of the pages on their rivals site, it doesn't seem as though the freshman, Smelley, is a bad student or ever in trouble. It also looks like he might have already had his red shirt year.

I really don't know the facts. Hopefully, Yazoo will come around and set us straight with all this mess. _

Mitchell is suspended because he missed too many summer school classes. The starting CB from last season, Thomas, is also suspended. Thomas was running second team as of the last depth chart I saw.

There has been a major battle for Mitchell's backup. Tommy Beecher and Chris Smelley have emerged as the front runners beating out the freshman sensation, Stephen Garcia, who did have some off season problems resulting in a suspension from the spring practice. Garcia, who was ranked as one of the top ten QBs nationally in HS, is headed for a red shirt, apparently. He did not play in the closed scrimmage yesterday. Smelley, on the other hand, lit it up and played the majority of the snaps.

A few days ago, Spurrier was quoted as saying either Beecher or Smelley were ready for prime time action. He said he had utmost confidence in either player executing the offense. Last year, both semed lost at times, and their passes were not crisp when they got into the games.

There is no way to see this as anything but a boost for the Ragin Cajun's chances.

PS: Smelley has not ever been in trouble. You guys are confusing him with Stephen Garcia.

[CajunCharlie]

_ 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. _

I did not attend any of the scrimmages this year, and I am, therefore, not qualified to offer any perceived explanation for the reported poor offensive showing. However, is it possible that Bustle instructed the officials to extremely strict in calling fouls by the offense? If they are SBC officials that makes it even worse for the offense.

Also, I am certain the guys are getting tired of hitting each other. A change in this aspect will help.

[CajunGuru]

I don’t believe that it matters one bit. Breecher and Smelley are both capable of executing Steve Spurriers’ offense. In fact, there will not be much of a drop off from Mitchell in the offensive with either quarterback. The Cajuns will have to play mistake free football, with no turnovers to remain in the game. Spurrier has lamented publicly that the GameCock program is ready to challenge the elite programs in the SEC East. There is no way his program will not be ready to compete game day. It wouldn’t surprise me if Spurrier tries to run up the score, he has never let the air out of the ball once he gains a large lead. He didn’t do it at Florida and he won’t do it South Carolina. This is why he remains the biggest jerk amongst SEC head coaches.

[RCAJUN90]

I did not attend any of the scrimmages this year, and I am, therefore, not qualified to offer any perceived explanation for the reported poor offensive showing. However, is it possible that Bustle instructed the officials to extremely strict in calling fouls by the offense? If they are SBC officials that makes it even worse for the offense.

Also, I am certain the guys are getting tired of hitting each other. A change in this aspect will help.

A good example of a defense that is ahead of the offense is Kansas City. They look pretty tough while their offense seems to be struggling to find a rhythm.

[RCAJUN90]

nm

[Clutch0364]

_ We have sooo many stunts in our def. package that I think this can cause a problem early for any offense---I think that showed in the second scrimmage--Now the penalties are something else that reps and mental practice can eliminate---The holding calls need to be addressed as well!!!! How did Morel do in the scrimmage???? _

Maybe just maybe our defense is better than we first thought? lol Our defense is all about attacking and that can cause a lot of probs early for the offense.

On another note in a real game Fenroy will get more touches and be able to soften up the defense even more.

About Morel I am not positive because I was not able to make the last 2 scrimmages.

[Corndog308]

_ Maybe just maybe our defense is better than we first thought?

Exactly what I was thinking earlier