Questions concerning the 2009 football team

[zephyr]

_ Beau, I saw some decent defense at times last season especially before we started losing a lot of defensive guys. Maybe the stats don't show it but I saw it.

Look at the Illinois game. They got 17 points with 7 coming on the TD their LB got after stripping the ball from Dez. Illinois had that big time QB.

The Cajun D stopped K State when we really needed it only to have the refs make questionable calls in the 4th quarter that allowed KS to retain possession and seal the win.

In the first half against Monroe the Hoax was forced to settle for 3 FGs after not getting TDs. The ULM defense scored one of their TDs in the second half.

Later in the season the Cajun D played well against ASU, FIU and MT.

The 2 games I look at where a healthy D might have allowed us to pull out wins were the UTEP and FAU games.

IMO, the key this season for our defense is staying reasonably healthy and improved play by the DL. _

Exactly. This was my case against the critics after last year ended. This D was making huge strides before all of the injuries. It also didn't help that they were on the field so much after our offense was scoring in quick spurts during that stretch. This D is not a shutdown D so they will give up yards and points sooner or later, but they can be effective.

[DestinCajun]

This D is not a shutdown D so they will give up yards and points sooner or later, but they can be effective. _

I doubt we will ever have a "shut down" defense.

First, this where our offense must not put our defense in terrible situations.

Second, assuming we are not crippled again, our defense cannot blow coverage assignments, fail to make tackles when we have people wrapped up and we must force turnovers.

In other words - make plays (like McCoy did against ASU).

In terms of manpower the DL is where I'll be looking for the most improvement.

[Clutch0364]

Everytime I have predicted big things for this football team they have fallen on their face...with that said I just don't see where we will be better than last year. I felt that way before the Spring game and after the Spring game I came to the conclusion that this is not going to be a very good team. I could be wrong and I would love to be but just don't see it happening.

Southern will be a win but I am not tat sure about any other game. 4-8 is what I predict but I really hope I am wrong and if we finish 6-6 I am willing to bet we will still have the same coach in 2010.

[CajunRed]

_ Everytime I have predicted big things for this football team they have fallen on their face...with that said I just don't see where we will be better than last year. I felt that way before the Spring game and after the Spring game I came to the conclusion that this is not going to be a very good team. I could be wrong and I would love to be but just don't see it happening.

Southern will be a win but I am not tat sure about any other game. 4-8 is what I predict but I really hope I am wrong and if we finish 6-6 I am willing to bet we will still have the same coach in 2010. _

I am wondering how anyone could say our defense won't be better. Heck... if we don't upgrade in ONE single area, but simply stay healthier than last year, we will be improved. Add to that the fact that each player will have another year of playing experience... PLUS the fact that several players had to get playing time last year because we were so hurt all the time, those things alone should point to us being improved on defense.

[Clutch0364]

_ I am wondering how anyone could say our defense won't be better. Heck... if we don't upgrade in ONE single area, but simply stay healthier than last year, we will be improved. Add to that the fact that each player will have another year of playing experience... PLUS the fact that several players had to get playing time last year because we were so hurt all the time, those things alone should point to us being improved on defense. _

I agree we will be improved on defense but I do not think we will have enough offense to win. FIU a couple years ago comes to mind. They had a great defense, i believe rated in the top 25 and didn't win a game. We have to be able to score some points and I just don't see where we will.

[CajunZ1]

4-8 is what I predict but I really hope I am wrong and if we finish 6-6 I am willing to bet we will still have the same coach in 2010. _

If you're correct (about the 4-8), I have another prediction...

Coach Bustle will be fired, and we will hire someone and pay him $400K/yr.

Then there will be furiously written opinion peices written in the DA about how "irresponsible" UL is for spending "such a ridiculous amount of money" on a "football coach" when we're in a "recession."

Bank on it.

[HOUCajun]

_ After reading up on UL and a few of their opponents, I agree that 7-5 is probably the best case scenario. You guys have two tough home games with KSU and Troy and playing six road games is brutal. I don't see UL finishing worse than 5-7 and 6-6 is a strong possibility. Beating Southern is a MUST and I don't suspect you guys will have any problem doing so. _

I agree with that assesment. There is no doubt we will be improved in the trenches which should help. But we lost tons of skill talent and the schedule is more difficult than last year. There are so many variables to take in to account but I think those 2 are the ones we as Cajun fans overlook when predicting 7-9 win seasons.
Like all Cajun fans I really want a winning season. Realistically though 6-6 should be considered a success with the weapons we lost on offense and the schedule.

[MetryCajun]

_ I agree with that assesment. There is no doubt we will be improved in the trenches which should help. But we lost tons of skill talent and the schedule is more difficult than last year. There are so many variables to take in to account but I think those 2 are the ones we as Cajun fans overlook when predicting 7-9 win seasons.
Like all Cajun fans I really want a winning season. Realistically though 6-6 should be considered a success with the weapons we lost on offense and the schedule. _

Predicting wins is tough. Other than Troy the SBC is a huge crap shoot. Judging on past performance you would have to say we only get one win in out of conference play. That means we need 5+ wins in conference for a winning season. Possible but it is not probable.
Like you I am concerned. We say the D will be better, but we have not had a good defense in 15 years. The key will be pressure and none of the guys on the DL have shown the ability to consistently rush the passer. We also have Lb's coming off major surgery. It is not a given they will 100% ready to go. On offense I do not see any way we will be better or equal to last year. Other than the TE's no one has shown they can consistently get open and catch the ball. We also know we will see a big drop off in our running game.

To me last year was when we had our chance. Injuries ruined that chance. This year looks like a rebuilding year to me.

Z....where is my glass?

[4LSU]

_ Everytime I have predicted big things for this football team they have fallen on their face...with that said I just don't see where we will be better than last year. I felt that way before the Spring game and after the Spring game I came to the conclusion that this is not going to be a very good team. I could be wrong and I would love to be but just don't see it happening.

Southern will be a win but I am not tat sure about any other game. 4-8 is what I predict but I really hope I am wrong and if we finish 6-6 I am willing to bet we will still have the same coach in 2010. _

I'm by no means an expert on Cajun football, but my concern would be that any improvement on D would be offset by a loss in O production. I mean, unless you catch lightening in a bottle some way, how do you replace 2500 yds rushing and 38TDs? Hey, maybe its the system and not the players. I guess we will see.

I hope the breaks fall the Cajun's way this year. It is your turn.........

[Clutch0364]

_ I'm by no means an expert on Cajun football, but my concern would be that any improvement on D would be offset by a loss in O production. I mean, unless you catch lightening in a bottle some way, how do you replace 2500 yds rushing and 25 TDs? Hey, maybe its the system and not the players. I guess we will see.

I hope the breaks fall the Cajun's way this year. It is your turn......... _

That is what I am thinking...as good as some people think our defense will be, I don't think it will be better than Troy has had the last few years. Troy still has to score points to win a lot of their games and I just do not see us scoring that much.

[Just1More]

_ I'm by no means an expert on Cajun football, but my concern would be that any improvement on D would be offset by a loss in O production. I mean, unless you catch lightening in a bottle some way, how do you replace 2500 yds rushing and 38TDs? Hey, maybe its the system and not the players. I guess we will see.

I hope the breaks fall the Cajun's way this year. It is your turn......... _

The challenge is certainly before us, no doubt. But, if the defense (and that means special teams as well) shortens the field for us, it makes it radically easier for our offense. UL's greats legs could gobble up yards last year... but they often had a problem moving the ball inside the 15 and on third and long situations. Being somewhat one-dimensional, is a huge hinderance in the red zone and on third and long. I think having a balanced air and ground game is essential. We do not need a 1000 yard rushing QB and/or RB. We need to sustain drives and score. Many teams win championships without a great running QB and a single superstar RB.

To me, it isn't that we know that we do have great replacements for our lost skill players. It is that we do not know that we do not have great replacements. It stands to reason, IMO, to like our improving defense (and special teams) and the solid OL. Honestly, and I hope this doesn't make any girls mad... but girls have a tendency to only know who the QB, RB, and lead WR is. Yes, they get all of the highlight footage. But most guys who know and watch football have a pretty good understanding about how the other players on the field are as much or more vital. I think it is odd that more guys on here do not place more emphasis on how well our lines are. The game is won at and by the line of scrimmage. What is even more amazing is how soon people forget how worried they were and fall in love with the next skill player who succeeds (due to the efforts of his teammates).

[zephyr]

_ The challenge is certainly before us, no doubt. But, if the defense (and that means special teams as well) shortens the field for us, it makes it radically easier for our offense. UL's greats legs could gobble up yards last year... but they often had a problem moving the ball inside the 15 and on third and long situations. Being somewhat one-dimensional, is a huge hinderance in the red zone and on third and long. I think having a balanced air and ground game is essential. We do not need a 1000 yard rushing QB and/or RB. We need to sustain drives and score. Many teams win championships without a great running QB and a single superstar RB.

To me, it isn't that we know that we do have great replacements for our lost skill players. It is that we do not know that we do not have great replacements. It stands to reason, IMO, to like our improving defense (and special teams) and the solid OL. Honestly, and I hope this doesn't make any girls mad... but girls have a tendency to only know who the QB, RB, and lead WR is. Yes, they get all of the highlight footage. But most guys who know and watch football have a pretty good understanding about how the other players on the field are as much or more vital. I think it is odd that more guys on here do not place more emphasis on how well our lines are. The game is won at and by the line of scrimmage. What is even more amazing is how soon people forget how worried they were and fall in love with the next skill player who succeeds (due to the efforts of his teammates). _

Balance is key. We can still average around 200 yards on the ground (although we will be hard pressed to do it) and still not have one guy average more than about 75 yards or so. If you look at the top teams last year and their rushing leaders, none of them averaged more than about 85 yards outside of Fenroy and Desormeaux. They probably had a better blend of balance and didn't have quite the same amount of big plays that kept their D on the field as long as we did.