Questions concerning the 2009 football team

[ULGrad@HOU]

Experience at QB is huge. But, little experience at RB, small problem. I want to expand a little on something I stated in another post. RB, (JMO) is purely natural talent. The guy either has what it takes, or he doesn't. Yeah, he needs to be able to pick up the blocks, or the QB will get killed, and that does require some experience. But, with the running part, it's all natural speed, vision, determination, and instinct. How many times, in the NFL for example, have you seen rookies step in and become starters. Many times. It happens in college too. If the guy can run, it's obvious. It's one of the few positions where, we as fans can make a pretty good judgement call on what we see. It's not like a lineman or linebacker, where we have not idea on most plays whether they are doing what they supposed to. For QB, we see his accuracy, throwing and running ability, but again we can't tell if he's reading defenses correctly or running the plays right. At RB, it's all laid out for all too see. We all can tell if the guy can run. Now, do we have talent at RB position? I'm hoping at least one of those guys we have can cut it. It's the skill I'm more worried about, not the experience.

Now, QB is a whole different animal. We know we will have a QB with little or no experience, and at times it will bite us in the you know what. We seemed to have some pretty good competition at the position, and this can only help. It's exciting though to see how the story unfolds for this year and the next few. It's fun to see a new QB take hold of a team and make it his own. We've seen it before, Jake and Brian. Who knows, we may have another one break out this year.

[Clutch0364]

_ I believe this team will get at least 4 wins with a max of 7. I think there are big questionmarks not necessarily with talent, but with game experience as was said earlier. Unfortunately, we have been on the every other year formula where we seem to have off years due to young players after key players leave. I think this could be that year. I believe 2010 will be the best year we've had in over a decade but I know the question is 2009. We have only one start combined from all the RB and QB's combined and that is not good. _

If we have one of those off years that you speak of...I hope a new coach will have the chance to handle it in 2010 but until our administration shows that they will make a move I will not hold my breath.

I think we have way more question marks than certainties. Our offensive line will be the best in the league but I am not sold on the defense or our skill guys on offense. I wish I could look on the bright side but I have done that to often with our teams and been disappointed way to many times. I hope I am wrong!

[DestinCajun]

_ You would know better than me. I was just expressing an understanding of where Clutch's concern was coming from. I wouldn't think it would be too easy to replace the talent you had in your back field last year, but if you have real good players in the wings and it's just a case of reloading...that's great! And you are right....a talented O line can make just bout any RB look good.

You sound pumped...got your NO Bowl hotel room booked? _

I'm a half full glass kinda guy. Have to be otherwise how do I justify the money I spend and my mental health that I endanger supporting the Cajuns?

It's not about somebody coming in and making us forget Dez, Tyrell and Jason. That ain't gonna happen. As I see it, it is a case of reloading moreso than rebuilding and it's been a long long time since we could even whisper that statement. True, our newcomers could fall on flat their faces but that's not a given. They certainly have to play well but the potential is there and we definitely must stay healthy.


PS By the way I ran into an old mutual acquaintance this AM by the name of Croxton formerly of your old outfit and now with mine these past several years.

[DestinCajun]

I was popping some of these guys that fall in love with our QBs, RBs and WRs... treating everyone else on the field like they are inconsequential. _

J1M, I've pointed at the offensive line as our ace in the hole. If we had to replace Dez, Fen and Chery AND the returning o line was weak I'd feel a whole lot differently about our prospects.

[4LSU]

_..... Have to be otherwise how do I justify the money I spend and my mental health that I endanger supporting the Cajuns?...

You are a better man than I am, Gunga Din!

Good luck with that reloading and I hope the shooting is on target as well.

[zephyr]

_ Experience at QB is huge. But, little experience at RB, small problem. I want to expand a little on something I stated in another post. RB, (JMO) is purely natural talent. The guy either has what it takes, or he doesn't. Yeah, he needs to be able to pick up the blocks, or the QB will get killed, and that does require some experience. But, with the running part, it's all natural speed, vision, determination, and instinct. How many times, in the NFL for example, have you seen rookies step in and become starters. Many times. It happens in college too. If the guy can run, it's obvious. It's one of the few positions where, we as fans can make a pretty good judgement call on what we see. It's not like a lineman or linebacker, where we have not idea on most plays whether they are doing what they supposed to. For QB, we see his accuracy, throwing and running ability, but again we can't tell if he's reading defenses correctly or running the plays right. At RB, it's all laid out for all too see. We all can tell if the guy can run. Now, do we have talent at RB position? I'm hoping at least one of those guys we have can cut it. It's the skill I'm more worried about, not the experience.

Now, QB is a whole different animal. We know we will have a QB with little or no experience, and at times it will bite us in the you know what. We seemed to have some pretty good competition at the position, and this can only help. It's exciting though to see how the story unfolds for this year and the next few. It's fun to see a new QB take hold of a team and make it his own. We've seen it before, Jake and Brian. Who knows, we may have another one break out this year. _

I think you are right for the most part. However, we are having to replace the best running back this school has ever seen and one of the best in college history. He didn't fumble, miss blocks, drop passes and always moved the pile forward. While our other backs may be good talent wise, will they never fumble or make the play when its available that Fenroy did? I don't know. Part of that is when experience comes in. We also have a group of backs that don't have a lot of time in the offense purely getting timing down and developing a rhythm with the line in allowing holes to open. I know that sounds a bit crazy but believe me, its something that plays a factor.

I think QB will be OK. However, the same goes for there. We have to have a guy back there that makes plays and limits turnovers. This offense is almost surely going to lack the big play ability they had last year but if we can move the chains more methodically and through a better balance, I think this team will surprise.

[zephyr]

_ If we have one of those off years that you speak of...I hope a new coach will have the chance to handle it in 2010 but until our administration shows that they will make a move I will not hold my breath.

I think we have way more question marks than certainties. Our offensive line will be the best in the league but I am not sold on the defense or our skill guys on offense. I wish I could look on the bright side but I have done that to often with our teams and been disappointed way to many times. I hope I am wrong! _

While I'm not opposed to a new coach for next year, I'm also willing to wait to see how this team performs and overcomes its youth at crucial positions. I refuse to only look at the amount of wins we have to make that decision because every coach and every team has to replace great players with question marks at some point in time. I don't think that is a reason to fire a coach if it takes some time for those players to step up.

My criteria, however, will be based on how he restructures the offense to accomodate the different talents of the new players. If I see the zone read option run by McGuire or whomever is at QB the majority of the time and see our QB run for 15-20 times a game, I will go crazy. These QB's are not that type of player and I hope he takes that into consideration. I feel like he already has by running more from under center, using rollouts and varying his sets up a bit. Also, its about time our D-Line learned how to pass rush and get to the QB. This D-Line is critical to this year's success. They have to be able to keep the O-line from engaging our LB's and if they do, we will be much improved on D.

[Boomer]

MY thoughts are that the biggest drop-off will be the running game at QB----Des was as good as anybody around at the position in running----I don't think that Fenroy's leaving will be that much of an impact---I know that his numbers were unreal but there were some big holes opened that many could have done as well---His showing in the pre-season camp tells the truth---My thoughts but I could be big time wrong---hope I am not and that a better pitcher can get us in the zone more quickly!!!!

[Just1More]

_ J1M, I've pointed at the offensive line as our ace in the hole. If we had to replace Dez, Fen and Chery AND the returning o line was weak I'd feel a whole lot differently about our prospects. _

I know "you" have... but many others are fan purchasers of only the QB and RB jerseys. We have the key offensive weapon coming back in a matured and improved state this coming year... the offensive line.

The primary skill player nipple got pulled out of our fans' mouths at the close of last year... and the baby is wailing. Unfortunately, we have over 80 days to stick the new nipple in their mouths to shut them up.

[rhineaux]

_ I know "you" have... but many others are fan purchasers of only the QB and RB jerseys. We have the key offensive weapon coming back in a matured and improved state this coming year... the offensive line.

The primary skill player nipple got pulled out of our fans' mouths at the close of last year... and the baby is wailing. Unfortunately, we have over 80 days to stick the new nipple in their mouths to shut them up. _

I know that this is a very experienced OL coming back this season, but I don't think it's as much of a strength as some of you do. If this offense will, in fact, throw the ball more this year, then that will require the OL to pass block a whole lot more...and their pass blocking hasn't always looked so hot over the past couple seasons.

I'm just hoping that it's because their previous offensive style didn't require them to concentrate on PB schemes, blitz pickups, etc, and that it's not a size/strength/ability issue. If that's the case, then they should ultimately be an asset. If it's not the case, then it may be a long season.

Either way, I think it could be/should be considered as another question mark going into this season.