Questions concerning the 2009 football team

[zephyr]

_ 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. _

You are correct. This is not a shutdown D. They will still give up some yards. The key for them this year is whether they can get to the QB in the passing game without having to blitz LB's all day and stopping the run with the front 4. That is the key. We cannot expect this team to score the amount of points that we did last year, making expectations for 7-8 wins highly unlikely.

[DestinCajun]

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......... _

Not being an expert has never kept you from offering an opinion. Neither has it stopped me, so here's mine.

Our offense cubbard is not bare, nor is it even understocked. We have several really good looking players at the backfield positions affected by 2009 graduation. The thing that's really lacking in them is "game experience" which creates these question marks about their possible production.

The big advantage we have is a deep, big and seasoned offense line for the new guys to play behind. It's led by not less than 2 starters in Fisher and Bustle who are already touted for multiple all-star honors.

Like someone said elsewhere about the D - if we can just avoid the number of injuries we had last season on defense, we will be better by that fact alone. If we also add better play by the defensive line with the bodies we now have there, it could be really interesting.

[4LSU]

....Our offense cubbard is not bare, nor is it even understocked. We have several really good looking players at the backfield positions...

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?

[MissingMandy]

_ 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). _

Not all girls....you knew I had to answer!!!LOL

[zephyr]

_ 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 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.

[Just1More]

_ Not all girls....you knew I had to answer!!!LOL _

LOL... I had a feeling you would pop me for that comment. No offense intended to you... 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.

[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.