Make Your Picks: Ragin' Cajuns Football 2016

[ULGrad@HOU]

Tough year for prognostication. I like to be optimistic, like most fans, and I'm going with 7-5. I don't have any real justification, because if I go by what I saw last year, it would not be positive. When a football team has a struggling QB, or a coaching staff that misuses a QB, you need a strong defense with a quality running game to be able to win. We had none of the above. Football teams, especially college, are always in constant change and rarely have the same strengths and weeknesses. I know most people realize this, but I'm laying out my own fuzzy justification in my mind. Because of this, I believe this team will improve in most areas. There is talent. The defensive backfield could be solid, and the linebackers are athletic with some experience. The DL is a big question mark to me, hopefully some young guys step up to add depth. Overall, the defense is more experienced with this staff and we should be able to notice. The WR's are a strength going into the season, if someone can get them the ball. I love McGuire at RB of course, but others need to step in and carry some of the load. The OL, I'm thinking, will be improved. This was a huge problem last year and one of the reasons this team fell into the abyss. They have to be improved, by a lot. QB is the icing on the cake, and I'm optimistic with Dez on the staff and Munoz as OC, this position will steadily improve as the season goes on. So, there it is. Cautious optimism, and hope that by the end of September, we are seeing an energized, pumped up, surprisingly organized and talented team, as opposed to what we saw last year.

[cajun_lannister]

Tough year for prognostication. I like to be optimistic, like most fans, and I'm going with 7-5. I don't have any real justification, because if I go by what I saw last year, it would not be positive. When a football team has a struggling QB, or a coaching staff that misuses a QB, you need a strong defense with a quality running game to be able to win. We had none of the above. Football teams, especially college, are always in constant change and rarely have the same strengths and weeknesses. I know most people realize this, but I'm laying out my own fuzzy justification in my mind. Because of this, I believe this team will improve in most areas. There is talent. The defensive backfield could be solid, and the linebackers are athletic with some experience. The DL is a big question mark to me, hopefully some young guys step up to add depth. Overall, the defense is more experience with this staff and we should be able notice. The WR's are a strength going into the season, if someone can get them the ball. I love McGuire at RB of course, but others need to step in and carry some of the load. The OL, I'm thinking, will be improved. This was a huge problem last year and one of the reasons this team fell into the abyss. They have to be improved, by a lot. QB is the icing on the cake, and I'm optimistic with Dez on the staff and Munoz as OC, this position will steadily improve as the season goes on. So, there it is. Cautious optimism, and hope that by the end of September, we are seeing an energized, pumped up, surprisingly organized and talented team, as opposed to what we saw last year.

RB position will be the most talented with Wright ,McGuire, Raggas and Nixon

[ULGrad@HOU]

RB position will be the most talented with Wright ,McGuire, Raggas and Nixon

I hope so, but I like to see it first.

[Just1More]

RB position will be the most talented with Wright ,McGuire, Raggas and Nixon

The talent is there... but are the plays? How goes the full attack, with the full cast (QB/OL/WRs)... so goes the play of the RB. One thing that we all can solidly understand from last year... Elijah was not the problem with Elijah. We had a cerebral issue at the very top of the thinking tree. I almost puke when I think of how our QBs were utilized last year.

I'm like-minded with ULGrad@HOU... I actually think MD is going to have an impact on this program. If he and Munoz work well together, I think they can orchestrate some plays, teach the details, and string together some great drive sustaining plays. MD is going to seriously help our QBs, WRs and RBs succeed. Something tells me the guy has that ability. And when the plays actually utilize the talent we have in the skill positions... the OL will click.

[zephyr]

Tough year for prognostication. I like to be optimistic, like most fans, and I'm going with 7-5. I don't have any real justification, because if I go by what I saw last year, it would not be positive. When a football team has a struggling QB, or a coaching staff that misuses a QB, you need a strong defense with a quality running game to be able to win. We had none of the above. Football teams, especially college, are always in constant change and rarely have the same strengths and weeknesses. I know most people realize this, but I'm laying out my own fuzzy justification in my mind. Because of this, I believe this team will improve in most areas. There is talent. The defensive backfield could be solid, and the linebackers are athletic with some experience. The DL is a big question mark to me, hopefully some young guys step up to add depth. Overall, the defense is more experienced with this staff and we should be able to notice. The WR's are a strength going into the season, if someone can get them the ball. I love McGuire at RB of course, but others need to step in and carry some of the load. The OL, I'm thinking, will be improved. This was a huge problem last year and one of the reasons this team fell into the abyss. They have to be improved, by a lot. QB is the icing on the cake, and I'm optimistic with Dez on the staff and Munoz as OC, this position will steadily improve as the season goes on. So, there it is. Cautious optimism, and hope that by the end of September, we are seeing an energized, pumped up, surprisingly organized and talented team, as opposed to what we saw last year.

Out of curiosity, what tells you that the WR's are a strength?

[ManAboutTown]

The talent is there... but are the plays? How goes the full attack, with the full cast (QB/OL/WRs)... so goes the play of the RB. One thing that we all can solidly understand from last year... Elijah was not the problem with Elijah. We had a cerebral issue at the very top of the thinking tree. I almost puke when I think of how our QBs were utilized last year.

I'm like-minded with ULGrad@HOU... I actually think MD is going to have an impact on this program. If he and Munoz work well together, I think they can orchestrate some plays, teach the details, and string together some great drive sustaining plays. MD is going to seriously help our QBs, WRs and RBs succeed. Something tells me the guy has that ability. And when the plays actually utilize the talent we have in the skill positions... the OL will click.

You're talking me into this.

[Just1More]

Out of curiosity, what tells you that the WR's are a strength?

We've got some serious playmakers in that WR group. It's a shame that our coaches pulled a vacuum with them last year. I expect giant leaps in WR performance this year. The talent is there. It is all about coaching and play selection. I don't even have the fear our fellow fans do about the QBs. MD should have a really good impact on the QB/WR operation. When WRs are actually running routes that compliment each other (back off the coverage)... and they're actually open for a throw... unlike last year... pretty simple things can go well for an offense. I guarantee you that among that list of WRs... there's some substantial playmakers. And to have two defenders having to keep an eye on Elijah... and the QB... there are lanes for WRs to be wide open. It's about coaching.

[zephyr]

We've got some serious playmakers in that WR group. It's a shame that our coaches pulled a vacuum with them last year. I expect giant leaps in WR performance this year. The talent is there. It is all about coaching and play selection. I don't even have the fear our fellow fans do about the QBs. MD should have a really good impact on the QB/WR operation. When WRs are actually running routes that compliment each other (back off the coverage)... and they're actually open for a throw... unlike last year... pretty simple things can go well for an offense. I guarantee you that among that list of WRs... there's some substantial playmakers. And to have two defenders having to keep an eye on Elijah... and the QB... there are lanes for WRs to be wide open. It's about coaching.

You are going by faith. We've seen no plays being made by this group for almost 2 years. Maybe they step up this year and I hope they do but I certainly wouldn't list them as a "strength" based on what we've seen thus far. There's been little talent that has come out thus far and really none have shown an ability to get separation from DB's

[Just1More]

You're talking me into this.

I have a feeling MD is going to be a hands on coach. Our offensive coaching was so rotten last year... it's wasn't even funny. We've become so gullable to pitch and catch football from nothing but athletes... and no cerebral play generation to pull coverages (like everyone else does to us)... it's comical. Watch how well MD gets our QBs to pull of the Houdini handoff. That alone is going to break the back of some of the defenses we face. If Hud lets MD/Munoz to operate the offense... I think we'll become the dangerous offense we've waited a long to see.

[zephyr]

I have a feeling MD is going to be a hands on coach. Our offensive coaching was so rotten last year... it's wasn't even funny. We've become so gullable to pitch and catch football from nothing but athletes... and no cerebral play generation to pull coverages (like everyone else does to us)... it's comical. Watch how well MD gets our QBs to pull of the Houdini handoff. That alone is going to break the back of some of the defenses we face. If Hud lets MD/Munoz to operate the offense... I think we'll become the dangerous offense we've waited a long to see.

Our offensive coaching was the same coaching we've had for 4 years. I think its clear that we don't have the talent at the WR spot that we've had in the past. Period. And there is really no visible evidence that suggests otherwise except for people just going on faith that it has to get better and coaching somehow stopped guys from getting open or catching balls last year.