Cajuns win it

[zephyr]

_ Flat out, the team plays on another level when Brad comes into the game. Even Masson picked up his game. I liked what I saw with both shuffling in. Just need Brad to throw and Masson to run, and that will keep the defense honest.


igeaux.mobi _

No offense but if the team played on another level when Brad was in the game, wouldn't he be the starter?

[zephyr]

_ Sorry, I have to disagree about the leadership. Not saying that Chris isn't a great kid, team player, hard worker, etc. But the team seemed to get an instant spark when Brad took the field. You can see Brad visibly pushing, cajoling, motivating (whatever you want to call it) but most of all leading the players in the huddle.

IMO, if they do not insert Brad in the 4th quarter we lose that game. _

What you are saying is true but it has nothing to do with the leadership of both the players. Chris has shown to be a very good leader as has Brad. The point of the game for which Chris was removed was the correct time to pull him and let him settle down and get some coaching while Brad had time to see if he could spark the team and he did. However, I don't think you can question Chris' leadership as he's shown some determination and ability to lead the team at tough times ( which he did on the last drive BTW) and get the job done. I blame the offensive struggles mostly on the inability of our coaches to move away from the dreaded Zone Read and incorporate more variability in the offense. I knew the NT secondary was much improved and the fact is, although some refuse to see it, is that our WR's are simply not that good. They have shown a consistent inability to get separation and catch balls that are thrown to them. Masson tried several times to hit L. Green last night as he was tightly covered but Green failed to help his QB on a few of those targets because he didn't come back to the ball and break away from his route when the ball was in the air. No LB should be able to cover Green in the open field...Period.

[Just1More]

_ What you are saying is true but it has nothing to do with the leadership of both the players. Chris has shown to be a very good leader as has Brad. The point of the game for which Chris was removed was the correct time to pull him and let him settle down and get some coaching while Brad had time to see if he could spark the team and he did. However, I don't think you can question Chris' leadership as he's shown some determination and ability to lead the team at tough times ( which he did on the last drive BTW) and get the job done. I blame the offensive struggles mostly on the inability of our coaches to move away from the dreaded Zone Read and incorporate more variability in the offense. I knew the NT secondary was much improved and the fact is, although some refuse to see it, is that our WR's are simply not that good. They have shown a consistent inability to get separation and catch balls that are thrown to them. Masson tried several times to hit L. Green last night as he was tightly covered but Green failed to help his QB on a few of those targets because he didn't come back to the ball and break away from his route when the ball was in the air. No LB should be able to cover Green in the open field...Period. _

Very good comments. I'm not a fan of a 2 QB system, as I pointed out before the season started. It is a matter of giving a man the ball and letting him know the 800 lb gorilla is on his back to deal with. The key is that the rest of the team needs to assist the QB. Our receivers are letting us down in a big way this year. I cannot for the life of me understand why they cannot seem to run to open spaces and cannot hang onto perfectly thrown passes. I'm amazed at the desire to talk about starting QBs today.

I absolutely do not care whether Chris or Brad starts. Matters not to me. It matters that the rest of the offense does their part. Our receiving corps may be more important to us this year than they've been in a decade. I'd be busting their butts today. I think it borders on gay to keep talking about "I think this guy gets the team more pumped when he's in the game." If I were the coach, it wouldn't take another 20 year old to pump my team up. They would fear coming to the sidelines if they kept dropping easily catchable balls.

I have changed a little of my perception of the zone read capabilities from preseason and also agree that we need to incorporate more disguise in our backfield. Right now, our only rushing is coming on pure bull runs. We are creating no confusion to any defenses and the minimal holes created for rushing lanes are through brute force... when we have it. I thought, and still think, we would open defenses with a better passing attack. It is not the QB that is failing to complete enough passes. And some of these dopes saying Chris has underthrown and overthrown need to watch more Heisman QBs. They've all had receivers pulling down everything in their zip code. Our receivers are who absolutely pull a vaccum right now.

[zephyr]

_ Very good comments. I'm not a fan of a 2 QB system, as I pointed out before the season started. It is a matter of giving a man the ball and letting him know the 800 lb gorilla is on his back to deal with. The key is that the rest of the team needs to assist the QB. Our receivers are letting us down in a big way this year. I cannot for the life of me understand why they cannot seem to run to open spaces and cannot hang onto perfectly thrown passes. I'm amazed at the desire to talk about starting QBs today.

I absolutely do not care whether Chris or Brad starts. Matters not to me. It matters that the rest of the offense does their part. Our receiving corps may be more important to us this year than they've been in a decade. I'd be busting their butts today. I think it borders on gay to keep talking about "I think this guy gets the team more pumped when he's in the game." If I were the coach, it wouldn't take another 20 year old to pump my team up. They would fear coming to the sidelines if they kept dropping easily catchable balls.

I have changed a little of my perception of the zone read capabilities from preseason and also agree that we need to incorporate more disguise in our backfield. Right now, our only rushing is coming on pure bull runs. We are creating no confusion to any defenses and the minimal holes created for rushing lanes are through brute force... when we have it. I thought, and still think, we would open defenses with a better passing attack. It is not the QB that is failing to complete enough passes. And some of these dopes saying Chris has underthrown and overthrown need to watch more Heisman QBs. They've all had receivers pulling down everything in their zip code. Our receivers are who absolutely pull a vaccum right now. _

It matters not to me also who starts at QB. I've seen fewer 2 QB systems that work than those that fail. Over time, you lose a lot of rhythm in the offense by constantly changing up that position and how each runs the offense. I can care less whether its Brad or Chris but I think it is very shortsighted to see what Brad did for one series and just say he is a better player right now. That is ludicrous.

[RaginWaldo]

well.....we can always resort to the wildcat offense

[RaginWaldo]

_ It matters not to me also who starts at QB. I've seen fewer 2 QB systems that work than those that fail. Over time, you lose a lot of rhythm in the offense by constantly changing up that position and how each runs the offense. I can care less whether its Brad or Chris but I think it is very shortsighted to see what Brad did for one series and just say he is a better player right now. That is ludicrous. _

and ive seen what Brad can do for a game against a good Arkansas State team.

honestly i dont think its Masson that beat Kansas State, it was the defense. just like the reason we beat North Texas was because of the Defense, not the Quarterback...

[zephyr]

_ and ive seen what Brad can do for a game against a good Arkansas State team.

honestly i dont think its Masson that beat Kansas State, it was the defense. just like the reason we beat North Texas was because of the Defense, not the Quarterback... _

What Brad did against ASU last year is exactly what Masson has done several times this year. He managed that game against ASU although he made some very costly mistakes such as the pick 6 that almost crushed our comeback chances, which Masson hasn't done yet this year. He ran the ball 27 times for just over 2 yards a carry and only got any passing attack going on the final drive. Oh yeah, he also had a guy named Tyrell Fenroy and Jason Chery helping him out also. It's always easier to holler for the backup when the starter struggles.

BTW, the defense did make some big plays causing some turnovers and capitalizing on them but I also say that the defense failed us as we gave up 450 yards of offense and the front 7 was manhandled all game. Granted, they bucked up and got a stop or two when they needed it but they did their part in staying on the field too long also.

What you're not referencing is the grit that Masson is showing on late drives when the team needs a score. He DID do it against K-State on the final drive and he did do it against NT..Period. It's hard to disagree with that and he did it often times with his arm.

[Turbine]

honestly i dont think its Masson that beat Kansas State, it was the defense. just like the reason we beat North Texas was because of the Defense, not the Quarterback... _

I think last night is a good example of what Jay Walker means when he says "Defense doesn't win championships, defense puts you in a position to win."

This is over simplistic but last night the defense kept UL in the game and in a position to win through McGuire's spark and Masson's finish.

[Clutch0364]

_ What Brad did against ASU last year is exactly what Masson has done several times this year. He managed that game against ASU although he made some very costly mistakes such as the pick 6 that almost crushed our comeback chances, which Masson hasn't done yet this year. He ran the ball 27 times for just over 2 yards a carry and only got any passing attack going on the final drive. Oh yeah, he also had a guy named Tyrell Fenroy and Jason Chery helping him out also. It's always easier to holler for the backup when the starter struggles.

BTW, the defense did make some big plays causing some turnovers and capitalizing on them but I also say that the defense failed us as we gave up 450 yards of offense and the front 7 was manhandled all game. Granted, they bucked up and got a stop or two when they needed it but they did their part in staying on the field too long also.

What you're not referencing is the grit that Masson is showing on late drives when the team needs a score. He DID do it against K-State on the final drive and he did do it against NT..Period. It's hard to disagree with that and he did it often times with his arm. _

Brad also had a lot more weapons at his disposal in that game. Namely the best RB in Cajun history!

[zephyr]

_ Brad also had a lot more weapons at his disposal in that game. Namely the best RB in Cajun history! _

Hence my first paragraph. I don't think the ASU game last year and this year's team are equitable in terms of comparison.

[CrappDaddy]

_ What Brad did against ASU last year is exactly what Masson has done several times this year. He managed that game against ASU although he made some very costly mistakes such as the pick 6 that almost crushed our comeback chances, which Masson hasn't done yet this year. He ran the ball 27 times for just over 2 yards a carry and only got any passing attack going on the final drive. Oh yeah, he also had a guy named Tyrell Fenroy and Jason Chery helping him out also. It's always easier to holler for the backup when the starter struggles.

BTW, the defense did make some big plays causing some turnovers and capitalizing on them but I also say that the defense failed us as we gave up 450 yards of offense and the front 7 was manhandled all game. Granted, they bucked up and got a stop or two when they needed it but they did their part in staying on the field too long also.

What you're not referencing is the grit that Masson is showing on late drives when the team needs a score. He DID do it against K-State on the final drive and he did do it against NT..Period. It's hard to disagree with that and he did it often times with his arm. _

Zeph,

I agree with everything you say here except for the defense failing us. They where on the field almost the entire first half. You can't expect your D to perform great when you don't get first downs. Defense won that game last night. I don't think there is any question about that. FYI, 80+ snaps is alot of plays. NT had over 80 plays last night.

[Just1More]

_ Zeph,

I agree with everything you say here except for the defense failing us. They where on the field almost the entire first half. You can't expect your D to perform great when you don't get first downs. Defense won that game last night. I don't think there is any question about that. FYI, 80+ snaps is alot of plays. NT had over 80 plays last night. _

I think you are partly correct on that. The defense was forced out on the field too long and that takes a huge toll. All in all, I think they did well in the final stretch... although some of it came at the hands of unforced errors by NT. As time passes, I am just happy it resulted in a W.

Our offense has to sustain drives and I think... now... that is going to require some adjustments. I just do not understand how a whole host of receivers cannot get to open spots and cannot hang onto the ball. Sooner or later, defenses just pin their ears back and sell out on disruption and people with the wrong color jerseys start showing up too often in your backfield. Guys have to start catching passes.

The first thing I would do this week is get all of the hands people into the eye doctor. It must be that their eyesight has deteriorated since we signed them. They cannot possibly have that bad of hands. I know a former UL receiver that could not drop anything thrown near him. The only thing that was required is for a QB to throw it within 5 yards of him. He wasn't a heralded athlete out of highschool... he just caught passes.