Final: ULM (24) vs Louisiana (30)

[Just1More]

You think he is good, I don't. We will see over the next few weeks who is right. Of course if he stinks, you will blame the coaches.

I sure hope you don't mind it if Haack does do well. I can assure you this, if Eli had no history and our staff just keeps running him up the gut, he'll "stink" like Haack does. This staff is at the root of a lot of supposed player issues right now.

[RaginScotsman]

No more complaints tonight. Only living in the moment of the win. We are far from a good football team, but a win is SO sweet. Enjoy it and compliment our guys for fighting and taking the W.

[MetryCajun]

I sure hope you don't mind it if Haack does do well. I can assure you this, if Eli had no history and our staff just keeps running him up the gut, he'll "stink" like Haack does. This staff is at the root of a lot of supposed player issues right now.

Not at all. I hope my first and second impression of him is wrong. I really like his attitude and competitive fire. I just don't think he can make the tough throws. In his defense his receivers are not getting open.

[Just1More]

In the first half the Cajuns ran a great play where EM was in the slot. Unfortunately the OL missed the blitz and Nixon got crushed. EM was wide open. We are a not as talented as you think.
Defense actually got some pressure in the 2nd half. That is what they need because our DB's struggle in man, cover 2, cover 3, soft zone and any other defense you can think of.

I can't say this applies to every defensive secondary breakdown we see, but you cannot separate the lack of pressure and DB play. All secondaries will eventually fail if we don't get pressure. In fact, that second half pressure resulted in our DBs making plays in the second half. Funny how they could all of a sudden look decent once we get some line pressure. I don't have the same view of our defense as our offense. The offense seriously lacks play intelligence.

My basic feeling on our defense, aside from what I've been told in actual personnel issues, is the fact that we played and taught way too much soft zone and line lane management. If these guys had as many Saturdays as their counterparts in playing traditional intelligent aggressive man coverage and attacking line defense, maybe they'd be better. You can't make a dog act like a cat and then expect great dog tricks out of him all of a sudden. Hud needs to take some sage advice and stop being bullheaded. We are not Alabama. We will not out recruit everyone and just out athlete them.

[Just1More]

Not at all. I hope my first and second impression of him is wrong. I really like his attitude and competitive fire. I just don't think he can make the tough throws. In his defense his receivers are not getting open.

You are correct. And I'm not one that has Haack down as a great QB. I just felt that this year should have been more of a spread the field with the passing game, to allow Eli space to work his magic. As OLs go, I see them as a fixture you get to know. You see what you have and work from that anchor. They're only going to give you X time and a specific style of pocket. You have to figure out that space and time, and throw within it. And you're dead on... our WRs haven't stepped up. Perfectly catchable balls are dropped. I don't think they're being taught well to boot. The routes are not crisp and they don't deploy basic technique to establish separation. That has been consistent with Hud teams. They've always just out athleted their defenders. We can't keep expecting Peoples, Lawson, Surgent, Green personnel to out athlete everyone. Other teams have junk receivers that get wide open on us. We let junk QBs throw dead ducks to them as completions in wide open space. That's coaching. It is not "talent".

This staff needs to get their ____ together. I still see great opportunity in our grasp. I don't want it squandered. We need some cerebral infusion into our play calling. We can't bulldoze Eli through 8 deep, our QB is limited as a progression passer (OL and his limits), we need 2 designated WRs running crisp routes for our QB to use as bang-bang read and throw - we haven't created a QB this year to progress read this WR corps, we need Eli designed for getting his touches in space, we need Riles to play the roles I mentioned prior (which with Nixon in would be an extremely physical third down option), and Jamal needs to run slants instead of verticals.

[Boomer]

Wow! Osborne and Kidd - the 2 Fresh DL making plays!

----Hud mentioned last night that we really have a great recruiting class that are freshmen---I have noticed the skill kids but great to see the big boys perform well!!!

[Cajun Soldier]

If attendance was 17410 tonight then without a doubt I'm winning the lottery tonight

[Cajunsmike]

Easy there. We just beat a horrible football team. We have no QB, a suspect OL and WR who have trouble getting separation. Play calling is one of many factors on why we suck. I do like your suggestion of using EM in the slot.

It is tough on a staff when they do not know who their QB is in Game 7. That usually results in a mediocre season at best. I do agree that WR and OL are positions that we are not as strong in as we were in the past. However, on the winning TD pass, all players contributed. That was as good a pocket our passer has had all season. More protection like that earlier in the year and Haack would have not been sat. Going forward, Hud said in the post game he did not know who would be the QB going forward. He indicated it may be common for them both to play depending on the situation.

[CajunRebel]

If attendance was 17410 tonight then without a doubt I'm winning the lottery tonight

I'm glad we finally decided to fudge the numbers.

[ManAboutTown]

You think he is good, I don't. We will see over the next few weeks who is right. Of course if he stinks, you will blame the coaches.

That's just it. He doesn't "stink". Brooks is the player we've all seen and know to be a capable contributor. If he "stinks", it's on the people that prep the gameplan to a certain extent. What Brooks came in and did today was nothing short of miraculous, given the circumstances. But people like you don't recognize that. And most this folks choose not too see it because they'd rather BE right than GET IT right.. That performance down the stretch was extremely good, given the circumstances surrounding that moment.