Cajun RedZone: JC DL Pryer Commits To Cajuns

[HoustonCajun]

_ I believe we (VObserver, J1M and myself) are all correct. My point is that I'm not as sold that our coaching can equip him with the tools necessary to convert that rawness into a bonified DL in this league. Our DL have had no block shedding techniques that allow them to rush the QB or play the run. I'm less worried about him and more worried about the coaching. That's probably what I should have stated earlier. _

Do you expect a DL coaching change this year? It is our weakest spot on the field and has been for years. G. Broussard was an OL player and I don't think ever coached the DL before coming to UL, but I could be mistaken. Is he a better coach at a different position? Our DL problems appear to be THE critical area that keeps us from getting to the next level, i.e. a bowl game.

[RaginDave]

We may take leaps on DL players, but I will tell you it pans out sometimes:

Hall Davis and Dererk Dean come to mind. Watch out DD will be a man among boys next season.

[zephyr]

_ We may take leaps on DL players, but I will tell you it pans out sometimes:

Hall Davis and Dererk Dean come to mind. Watch out DD will be a man among boys next season. _

Hall Davis turned into a better player than projected but he didn't exactly light the world afire last year with his stats. He and Terrel Richardson have prototypical bodytypes for the position but neither has done anything extraordinary to say the least. Derrick Dean was terrorizing those guys on the OL in the spring this past year and got thrown around once we entered real play this year. I am hopeful that he gets even better because he plays with a lot of heart and has a motor but I'll wait until the regular season starts before I agree.

[zephyr]

_ Do you expect a DL coaching change this year? It is our weakest spot on the field and has been for years. G. Broussard was an OL player and I don't think ever coached the DL before coming to UL, but I could be mistaken. Is he a better coach at a different position? Our DL problems appear to be THE critical area that keeps us from getting to the next level, i.e. a bowl game. _

I would have no idea. I have no problem with Gerald Broussard but Hudson is an OL coach so I would assume that Broussard is coaching the DL. That is not to bang on him because I think the problem is simply that we are not physical enough up front to throw potential blockers of them to make plays. We don't play as physical as the ASU's and Troy's teams and that is crucial to play against the spread offenses.

[Boomer]

_ I'll bet with his size and speed and an LSU signee, he was at least a 4 star. Seems to me this is the kind of athlete we want recruited each year. And, he still has 3 years. _

What happened to him with LSU??? Did he not get his grades or what happened for his going the JC route????

[VObserver]

_ I would have no idea. I have no problem with Gerald Broussard but Hudson is an OL coach so I would assume that Broussard is coaching the DL. That is not to bang on him because I think the problem is simply that we are not physical enough up front to throw potential blockers of them to make plays. We don't play as physical as the ASU's and Troy's teams and that is crucial to play against the spread offenses. _

G is a great position coach. My son had him when he was here before [as a WR coach] and found him to be excellent. It is not 'coaching' per se, it is defensive scheme. We do NOT have DL players who can play a power game. We DO have guys who have a chance to be good if we get imaginative and use many more slants, loops and other stunts up front. Mr. Suh can defeat triple teams and still be effective. No one we have is remotely close to that level, so we need to do something different.

[HoustonCajun]

_ G is a great position coach. My son had him when he was here before [as a WR coach] and found him to be excellent. It is not 'coaching' per se, it is defensive scheme. We do NOT have DL players who can play a power game. We DO have guys who have a chance to be good if we get imaginative and use many more slants, loops and other stunts up front. Mr. Suh can defeat triple teams and still be effective. No one we have is remotely close to that level, so we need to do something different. _

I don't get why this coaching staff doesn't see that and make the appropriate adjustment in defensive scheme. The current scheme hasn't worked in the 8 years Bustle has been here. How long before he gets a clue?

[VObserver]

_ I don't get why this coaching staff doesn't see that and make the appropriate adjustment in defensive scheme. The current scheme hasn't worked in the 8 years Bustle has been here. How long before he gets a clue? _

When the current DC came aboard there was a very public statement that we were changing over to a much more aggressive and imaginative defensive scheme. It ain't happened yet.

Some of that has to fall on Bustle, as his offense, which is quite imaginative and aggressive, immediately regresses to a conservative mode upon achieving a 14 point lead. The conservative Defensive play could be coming at his order.

[zephyr]

_ G is a great position coach. My son had him when he was here before [as a WR coach] and found him to be excellent. It is not 'coaching' per se, it is defensive scheme. We do NOT have DL players who can play a power game. We DO have guys who have a chance to be good if we get imaginative and use many more slants, loops and other stunts up front. Mr. Suh can defeat triple teams and still be effective. No one we have is remotely close to that level, so we need to do something different. _

Again, I don't necessarily think its a coaching issue, but rather just the lack of physicality displayed by our DL. They don't shed blocks well and don't show the ferocious pass rush you see in others. I think part is technique in the pass rush as they don't show many moves to free themselves up either. It's probably a mix of the players that are recruited, lack of technique taught and scheme all rolled into one. I saw a lot of Suh this year and many times when getting to the QB, he didn't show any special skill but rather the raw strength to fight through double teams and beat his man. It doesn't hurt that he's cat quick at 300 pounds either.

[HoustonCajun]

_ When the current DC came aboard there was a very public statement that we were changing over to a much more aggressive and imaginative defensive scheme. It ain't happened yet.

Some of that has to fall on Bustle, as his offense, which is quite imaginative and aggressive, immediately regresses to a conservative mode upon achieving a 14 point lead. The conservative Defensive play could be coming at his order. _

I don't htink our Defensive Coordinator has taken enough heat for our poor defensive play because he never has seemed to live up to that public statement. Does our DL play conservatively or ineffectively with poor schemes.? I would think change will have to come about this year because every coach's job is on the line.