SPRING FOOTBALL PRACTICE REPORTS

[snote]

Suspect someone has already thought of this; but after watching Chery a few times last year he should be moved to DB. Seems to be great at knocking balls down!

my favorite saying after anyone doesn't make the catch "knock it down".. (big grins)

it's relly some good advice as it helps keeping interceptions low with less tipped balls

[FallBallFan]

During spring, each scrimmage is working on the "new" parts of the offense put in over the last week. This could explain part of the reason for the defense to be ahead at this point. Also, the OL keeps losing personnel which causes re-positioning plus same guys playing all red and white unit snaps. This, as well as playing all three QBs could explain some of the inconsistencies and the turnovers. Like the look of #11 - may be the future. The catch is we must throw consistently to be effective - and we are still making too many poor reads - this past weekend too many open recievers were not picked up - wide open tight ends, WRs on middle routes, etc. Hopefully, the offensive consistency should change as many of the injured guys return for fall ball and others begin to play more regular.

Still see some concern in the D-line and LB core (the middle people - ends and outside backers look acceptable but the middle just needs more quickness and there is no depth - this will catch us once we hit the fall). The TEs have looked very good. #88 looked good this week (he missed last week) but #85 (huge hit on the DB after a crossing catch!!) and #86 (4-5 catches including a couple of long ones) looked very good last week. Will we continue to use them?

Running game did some good things this week but the primary function of a QB is still not run first. Let Fenroy handle that. QB - learn your reads, trust them and let's get it on! This team has the talent to be much better than the record of last season. Should make for an interesting spring game.

[J-Town Cajun]

#11 Masson looked better than #8 McGuire.

Also QB siginee Blaine Guthier was in attendance.

[NewsCopy]

Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns football team conducted their 12t(h practice of the season. The practice was moved indoors into the Leon Moncla Indoor Practice Facility. The practice consisted of 10 sessions. “I feel like we have some good athletes and a new system in place, so we are trying to work out the kinks,” wide receivers coach Daryl Mason remarked. The wide receivers core is a young bunch that will be anchored by veteran Jason Chery. “I think Jason Chery can be real explosive. He is getting better as a route runner and we are moving him around more. I think he is picking it up. He has a great attitude and comes out and works every day and that’s all you can ask for. “Lance Kelley makes a lot of mistakes, but he has a lot of talent,” Mason continued. “It is up to me to try to get the most out of him. “Then we have some of the other players that are stepping it up like Marlin Miller. He is playing with a lot of enthusiasm and a lot of passion, so you have to like that. Richie Falgout, Louis Lee and Verlin Moore are working hard and really coming along.” Mason enters his second season as the director of the receiving corp. “I was noticing the improvement from last spring to this spring and to me, it’s like night and day,” Mason said of the receivers’ progress. “You are always on a constant journey to seek perfection, so you really don’t take the time to notice all of the gains while trying to get to the next mountain. That’s where we are right now. We are climbing that mountain and not really looking back. We are trying to get better every day and keep moving up. It is a constant struggle, but we are going to keep fighting until we reach perfection.” RaginCajuns.com

[snote]

During spring, each scrimmage is working on the "new" parts of the offense put in over the last week. This could explain part of the reason for the defense to be ahead at this point.

not that many new parts and even if there is.. the defense always knows the plays, knows the routes and always have that benefit seeing them day after day.... plus i have always believed when coaches everywhere "script" the practices... THEY NEVER put in a play that puts the offense at an advantage.. many times when i played on a stagnant, needs work, needing improvement, adjective type offense.. i would urge coaches to put in some plays that in no way the defense could stop us.. mainly for the confidence boost.. always got tiring hearing we were no good.. may have made us believe it - deep down inside

Also, the OL keeps losing personnel which causes re-positioning plus same guys playing all red and white unit snaps.

looks like bustle's punting career is over.. hated to see both brads, as well as anyone go down.. Byrant's injury most optimistic looking.. (knee cap, not knee is my thinking)

This, as well as playing all three QBs could explain some of the inconsistencies and the turnovers. Like the look of #11 - may be the future.

i often wonder when we have a new guy with some much to say.. is this a coach? (grins) can you define look for me? how many "looks" have you looked at the look? serious question..

The catch is we must throw consistently to be effective - and we are still making too many poor reads - this past weekend too many open recievers were not picked up - wide open tight ends, WRs on middle routes, etc.

no doubt.. many times the target's were open and i thought way to late in getting rid of the ball.. most if not all of them were made when guys were outside of the hash mark's with no room and the out of bounds added as a defender.. # 82 Jawanza just today, tuesday, now be getting over the hit Grant put on him.. whoaa - also we have to ponder are the wr's running right routes and doing all required of them? .. Jawanza got an ear full on the sidelines after Brenston's INT on the goaline.

The TEs have looked very good. #88 looked good this week (he missed last week) but #85 (huge hit on the DB after a crossing catch!!) and #86 (4-5 catches including a couple of long ones) looked very good last week. Will we continue to use them?

I will continue to be happy with what i hope to see, production wise, out of the TE position in the fall..

new guy # 22, Dwight Bentley CB has caught my eye at one point doing something good at every practice i have been lucky enough to see (4 maybe 5)

[Bankruptcyman]

new guy # 22, Dwight Bentley CB has caught my eye at one point doing something good at every practice i have been lucky enough to see (4 maybe 5) _

Dwight Bentley is the new CB from Pahokee FL. Did anyone else see the ESPN special report on high school players from that area of Florida catching rabbits with their bare hands for the fun of it. Seems there are over 40 current NFL players from this area of Florida and they all grew up catching rabbits with their bare hands. Bill, don't forget to interview Dwight about this. Certainly if Bentley can catch a rabbit, he can cover a wide receiver.

[rhineaux]

_ Dwight Bentley is the new CB from Pahokee FL. Did anyone else see the ESPN special report on high school players from that area of Florida catching rabbits with their bare hands for the fun of it. Seems there are over 40 current NFL players from this area of Florida and they all grew up catching rabbits with their bare hands. Bill, don't forget to interview Dwight about this. Certainly if Bentley can catch a rabbit, he can cover a wide receiver. _

That's who it was...When I saw that story (which was great, by the way) I thought I remembered us having a player from Pahokee. I don't know much about Florida geography, but I would assume that we may have some other players from around that area who might have done the same things. The players featured in the story are all going to be playing at D-1 schools, one of them will be going to WKU, and they said that players from those three High Schools in that area will be playing for schools like Florida, Miami, FSU, and Michigan.

[FallBallFan]

I have been following Ragin Cajun football for 4 or 5 years now and, as usual, this team still has issues. There is, however, a lot of potential on this unit and while fans and others have continually played the "youth" card, it is true - especially in the trenches.

That being said, with the changes in coaching on the offensive side of the ball, there is some learning that is not dictated on the defensive side. Defense is always ahead in spring squad scrimmages as they see the plays every day - they know what is coming. But just simple changes in schemes, numbering systems or philosophies can make it difficult for guys in the trenches. Remember, we have a lot of lineman out and two of the remaining (although great potential) - Plouhar and Odom - are still relatively new to a system. We are doing a good job in run blocking nonetheless.

The offensive inconsistencies are carried throughout the unit. All three QBs splitting time does not help continuity either. Mike should take a few more snaps this weekend in the spring game. Chris Masson (#11) "looks" like the real deal. I like his field presence (maybe the best of the three) when it comes to positioning players, identifying defenses and barking signals, etc. out where even we can hear them all the way to the sideline. He is not the leader Micheal is, but given some time, could be really special.

All QBs could do a better job getting rid of the ball on time. Maybe we need to simplify our read progressions to get the ball out on time. We have receivers open but, as noted, we typically are getting the ball to them late or settling for the primary receiver even if in double coverage. To be successful, our QB must first look for the pass option before pulling it down. Even OUR defense typically ignores the TE. Why look a gift horse in the mouth?

Receiving corp must be more agressive. Still too many drops - and are we all afraid to go over the middle? Maybe that is still the best role for the TE - I've seen three of these guys make tough catches inside and carry people with them. Some new receivers look good. A. Robinson (#80) has been disappointing to date.

Finally, I do agree that the defense looks better than last year (but does that take much?) They are much more agressive but again the interior line depth may get us as we head into the fall. The addition of D. Bentley is a positive. Would be nice to get a couple of the academic casualties, Johnson and Ramsey for sure, back in the fall to boost the D-line.

Looking forward to Saturday!!

[snote]

Looking forward to Saturday!!

me too..

though if i were to guess.. no game, just scrimmage.. not enough o-line to make it a game (no pun intended)

[NewsCopy]

The Ragin' Cajuns practiced for just over two hours on Wednesday, spending the final four periods inside Cajun Field. The team used one of its three remaining spring practice dates to enjoy about 45 minutes of live work. The final two periods featured eight series of the offense against the defense. The final two series were a two-minute drill situation. The defense used an interception and a three-and-out to shutdown the offense on the first two series. The offense moved the ball well over the next two series, but stalled inside the 10-yard line both times, settling for a pair of field goal attempts. “Offensively, it takes a while to get things together, especially with new faces and new packages,” offensive coordinator Ron Hudson said. “I was happy to see us make some plays. Some of the offensive lineman went almost every rep. “It didn’t look very pretty, but the effort was there. The offense shot itself in the foot too many times. Youth is not an excuse because we’ve practiced 13 times already this spring.” With the ball placed at the 25-yard line, the offense scored on consecutive drives starting with a 25-yard pass from Michael Desormeaux to Jason Chery on third-and-10. Redshirt freshman quarterback Chris Masson completed a seven-yard pass to Ross Goodlett on third-and-five before hitting Louis Lee for 10 yards. Masson capped the drive with a two-yard run. The defense dominated the two-minute drill, rushing into the backfield on nearly every play to disrupt the offense. “I give credit to the defense,” Hudson stated. “They played better than we did (in the two-minute drill) and kicked our butts.” RaginCajuns.com Daryl Cetnar

[NewsCopy]

Spring Game Set

The spring game will start at noon on Saturday at Cajun Field.

The Red team (all the offensive players) will battle the White team (all the defensive players).

The White team will be spotted 17 points to begin the game.

The quarterbacks will wear yellow jerseys (no contact), but may be live for the second half.

Each quarter will be nine minutes, although it could be cut based on the small spring roster.

The play clock will be set at 40 seconds.

There will not be kickoffs, rather the ball will be spotted at the 30-yard line.

The offense will punt, but punt rush and punt return will not be allowed.

RaginCajuns.com

Daryl Cetnar

[snote]

no doubt .. the coaches the best of a tough situation.. now if the weather can stay just like today and of course ... NO more injuries !

so it's the red team -17 .. who's the early $$$ going on ? (smiles)

gonna have to ponder some more before placing my bet (guess)