Cajuns win it

[Hammer58]

_ First of all, I'm not saying Masson played super well. As a matter of fact, I thought it was a good move to bring McGuire in for a bit and let Masson settle down when he needed it. However, I think it would be a kneejerk response to move to McGuire as the starter until things become more consistent. You cannot base your opinion on Masson's completion percentage from recent games as they were against superior competition and he was hamstrung by the bad play of his receivers in those games. Also, McGuire was simply beat for the job in not only the spring but the fall for his job. The coaches handed him the ball in the spring and gave him every chance to keep the job and he couldn't do it with really bad play and great play by Masson. I'll take 8 months of practice and scrimmage over one decent drive last season to base my assessment. I could care less who the starter is as I actually predicted that Gautier would be our starter at some point this season. I can care less. However, I think that Masson still gives us the best chance to win and he's every bit the leader that McGuire is as he led that last drive and got the TD when we needed it _

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.

[Just1More]

_ I believe you will see a two QB system for awhile. McGuire definitely is better for the running game, not only because he is a better ball carrier but he is also a better ball handler. He is more decisive in making the zone read. Masson does throw a better ball and his stats are not reflective of that as receivers continue to have drops. Having said that, if McGuire plays more, he will have to throw it some to keep the defense honest. _

I've never seen an issue with situational QB usage. That is what I thought I saw last night. Smart coaching if you ask me. For those looking at Chris's stats aren't taken into account that with 50% of the easily dropped passes in his stats... Chris's stats would not be so shabby. You don't pull the QB because your receivers keep dropping passes.

But, if the coaching staff sees some intangible that makes Brad their choice, they are the ones responsible for deciding... not us. If I ever thought that a coach considered what fans wanted as a starter... I would fire that sucker before he started.

I like every one of our Cajun players... because they chose to come and stay at UL. I want the best guy to start who can help the team. The coaching staff has to know how to use the talent. First, with our running game, we absolutely, as you said, have to succeed throwing the ball. I do think Brad may add more to the running game, but at the end of the day, the coaches have to decide if the complete offense is better suited to Chris, Brad or another.

I thought it was excellent coaching late in the game to use both Chris and Brad. I would like to be out on the field this morning throwing 8000 balls each to our receivers. I know we don't like making comparisons, but watching footage of Jefferson at LSU rifle bad passes that his WRs snatch from behind their backs and over their heads, makes me have way more questions, right now, about who picked these WRs when we recruited. Our WRs and TEs need to learn how to catch the ball. I'd make them practice without the "anyone wearing these can catch any ball" gloves. Good receivers are catching passes with those gloves single-handed nowadays. Our receivers use both hands without anyone contesting them, and cannot hang onto it. I'd drill them into perfection or rejection... bank on it.

[cjr3888]

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

[zephyr]

You are all assuming that utilizing a two QB system will make this offense run more efficiently and it won't. It worked last night but that doesn't mean that it becomes the wave of the future for this team. What's funny is that Brad is not that much more of a runner than Chris is. The coaches chose to use him in that role last night but he truly doesn't do anymore in the running game than Masson does. The coaches showed that they didn't want McGuire passing the ball as they removed him in any and every passing situation and put Masson in. I'm also not a fan of the dual QB system because we are not using two QB's who have skills that are contrary to one another. In other words, we don't have a QB who is a speedy runner and a pocket passer who can throw but gives you nothing on the ground. Florida used this system with tebow and Leak because Tebow had the legs and Leak could pass but they never passed with Tebow and when he came into the game, you knew what was coming. I don't mind that except I don't see McGuire being a Tebow type of skill set and really think that he and Masson are similar in the things they do well. Masson showed some speed when he took that run to the house. He can do it if the offense allows him to.

[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...