Can the Cajuns' offense ever get its groove back?

[zephyr]

Yes, I'm basing Jennings performance on his games against McNeese State which is no better or worse than the New Mexico St. team we lost to and South Alabama which has beaten Miss. St. and San Diego St. He was perfectly adequate in both performances and managed the play book with no problems.

Where did you hear the starting QB didn't know the plays? Coach Hudspeth said he was simplifying the play book because we were not executing well. That contradicts everything I've heard from this staff when I was told Jennings knew more of the play book than Davis after the first week of fall practice. That is what I was told when I attended practice the first few weeks of fall and it came straight from them. So if that is what someone has said or what you have heard, it completely contradicts what the staff has stated since Jennings arrived on campus and what Hudspeth has stated about his preparations for games to the media.

BTW, do you actually believe that UL's playbook is more difficult than LSU's with a former Pro-Offensive Coordinator?

I saw some highlights of Jennings time in BR and they showed some really nice bombs he threw downfield. I'd like to know why we can't incorporate more of that with playaction on this team? People are going man on us and there has to be some deeper routes we can target. I know that the OL sucks but we had success against Tulane and USA. He obviously has the arm

[Turbine]

I saw some highlights of Jennings time in BR and they showed some really nice bombs he threw downfield. I'd like to know why we can't incorporate more of that with playaction on this team? People are going man on us and there has to be some deeper routes we can target. I know that the OL sucks but we had success against Tulane and USA. He obviously has the arm

He hasn't thrown the same since he got the wind knocked out of him.

[CajunNation]

The hardest thing for this university to recruit are offensive lineman. There are very few in the immediate area to get and the there are not enough in the rest of the state to go around.

We have had some of the best skill people in the country for a G5, and we still can't beat a P5 and we suck again......because our OL is outmanned.

[Just1More]

Great. So you are basing Jennings above average performance for two games against a high school team with a losing record and a sunbelt opponent (whom we face just about every year and should know their game plan) who is 3-3 on the year (0-3 in conference). Granted that high school team beat us soundly last time we played them years ago, but really? That is what you are basing Jennings execution soundness on and grasp of the offense? You can't make adjustments or changes if the starting QB only knows about a handful of plays. What are you going to adjust to? If you call a play from page two of the playbook, he wouldn't know what you are talking about.

No... he's countering your claims that Jennings doesn't know the offense (but 5 plays). If he can execute them against inferior opponents... because our OL can block against inferior DLs... then Jennings isn't exactly the whole issue. He doesn't do well when the play is busted. And if you actually take the time to go and watch where he's fallen apart... it's on busted plays. Hud didn't limit playbook because Jennings didn't understand the basics of the plays. He limited it because Jennings has a habit of trying to make a meal out of a ____ sandwich. It is Hud and the staff's job to design the entire meal and get the table set where our offense has the jump on the opposing defense... instead of us always having to depend on a skill player to bale us out.

Neither T nor I are blown away by Jennings. Don't get that twisted into this discussion. The issue is with the entire offense right now... and no QB can make this offense look good until the coaches realize how to teach how the play actually works to your advantage. Most defenses figure us out in about in one or two series. If they aren't inferior talentwise... we start getting punked. And it isn't just our QB. The QB looks the worst because he usually has his hands on the ball when the ____ show begins. Go watch the replays of the games and watch our other players... one by one... and then watch the opposing defenses. Have you ever seen defenses have so much fun? Go watch and come back and report. I'd like for you to try to pass the ball in the middle of a ____ storm and see how well you do.

[ManAboutTown]

The hardest thing for this university to recruit are offensive lineman. There are very few in the immediate area to get and the there are not enough in the rest of the state to go around.

We have had some of the best skill people in the country for a G5, and we still can't beat a P5 and we suck again......because our OL is outmanned.

Prior to Hudspeth, UL consistently had good to great offensive lines. While it is true that most G5s struggle to get quality interior line players, I don't think it has applied to UL very often in the last decade.

But, I do agree that we need to stop recruiting size and start recruiting skilled players with good technique. Everyone I've spoken to that has experience with lineman has told me the technique on our last 2 offensive lines have been very poor.

[Just1More]

I saw some highlights of Jennings time in BR and they showed some really nice bombs he threw downfield. I'd like to know why we can't incorporate more of that with playaction on this team? People are going man on us and there has to be some deeper routes we can target. I know that the OL sucks but we had success against Tulane and USA. He obviously has the arm

Jennings can play well in play action. He can't be flushed and succeed over and over. But he should roll out a lot more. And our route tree should accomodate him. He has the arm and we have some deep threats. What our staff is doing right now, I cannot comprehend. He makes some mistakes... clearly out of desperation... and they shut off plays and entire areas of the field. Their cure could not be further from the disease.

[CajunEXPRESS]

Whatever, Boomer you've got nothing.

[CajunSaint08]

No... he's countering your claims that Jennings doesn't know the offense (but 5 plays). If he can execute them against inferior opponents... because our OL can block against inferior DLs... then Jennings isn't exactly the whole issue. He doesn't do well when the play is busted. And if you actually take the time to go and watch where he's fallen apart... it's on busted plays. Hud didn't limit playbook because Jennings didn't understand the basics of the plays. He limited it because Jennings has a habit of trying to make a meal out of a ____ sandwich. It is Hud and the staff's job to design the entire meal and get the table set where our offense has the jump on the opposing defense... instead of us always having to depend on a skill player to bale us out.

Neither T nor I are blown away by Jennings. Don't get that twisted into this discussion. The issue is with the entire offense right now... and no QB can make this offense look good until the coaches realize how to teach how the play actually works to your advantage. Most defenses figure us out in about in one or two series. If they aren't inferior talentwise... we start getting punked. And it isn't just our QB. The QB looks the worst because he usually has his hands on the ball when the ____ show begins. Go watch the replays of the games and watch our other players... one by one... and then watch the opposing defenses. Have you ever seen defenses have so much fun? Go watch and come back and report. I'd like for you to try to pass the ball in the middle of a ____ storm and see how well you do.

I agree with you that it is not just Jennings. However, the defenses are collapsing on the offense because we are having to play catch up. And that is usually by the 2nd or 3rd series like you mentioned. Why are we playing catch up so early, because of our ineptness to move the ball in the first 2-3 series because of false start penalties, incomplete passes to wide open receivers, or running the same plays over and over because Jennings doesn't have grasp of any other plays to run.

Now if we don't get in another QB for the rest of the season, we will be in the same boat next year with: Do we bring in a transfer QB which had playing time at another school but does not know our system (Jennings) or play a QB from our roster who has been in the system for a minimum one year but hasn't played. I say play another QB on our roster to give them playing time experience for next year. This year is shot if we stay the course. What is the definition of insanity? Do the same thing over and over, but expect different results.

You said our QB looks worse because he has his hands on the ball when the show begins. He looks worse because he doesn't know what to do with the ball when he has his hands on it. He should have progressed by now. He hasn't progressed from week one, but regressed.

We may all be disgusted with what is going on on he field. We just have different beliefs why it is happening. But if we are going 3-9 or 4-8, we might as well try another on field leader because the one we have now is not effective nor will he be here next year.

[CajunT]

I agree with you that it is not just Jennings. However, the defenses are collapsing on the offense because we are having to play catch up. And that is usually by the 2nd or 3rd series like you mentioned. Why are we playing catch up so early, because of our ineptness to move the ball in the first 2-3 series because of false start penalties, incomplete passes to wide open receivers, or running the same plays over and over because Jennings doesn't have grasp of any other plays to run.

Now if we don't get in another QB for the rest of the season, we will be in the same boat next year with: Do we bring in a transfer QB which had playing time at another school but does not know our system (Jennings) or play a QB from our roster who has been in the system for a minimum one year but hasn't played. I say play another QB on our roster to give them playing time experience for next year. This year is shot if we stay the course. What is the definition of insanity? Do the same thing over and over, but expect different results.

You said our QB looks worse because he has his hands on the ball when the show begins. He looks worse because he doesn't know what to do with the ball when he has his hands on it. He should have progressed by now. He hasn't progressed from week one, but regressed.

We may all be disgusted with what is going on on he field. We just have different beliefs why it is happening. But if we are going 3-9 or 4-8, we might as well try another on field leader because the one we have now is not effective nor will he be here next year.

The most popular QB on a losing team is the guy on the bench. I thought Jennings would be good enough to manage Hud's offense and I saw nothing in the first three games that changed my opinion. Unfortunately, the offense hasn't evolved with him and I don't think it will going forward with Davis. Today in the press conference he once again stated, "we want to run the football". That doesn't sound like the same guy that stated in the spring that we were changing the offense with more balance and running a true spread. He stated after the game Wednesday night, "I thought I knew who we were offensively, now I'm not certain." Well just like last season when the offense struggles, Hudpseth returns to what he knows well, the ZONE READ. If he intends on running it, then by all means start Davis, but SBC programs like ArkState and Georgia Southern have already proven they can defend it. I hope Davis can turn the season around because that means we are back on the winning track again and we have something to look forward to next season. Without the threat of a passing game, it's an offense that is easily defended.JMO

[Just1More]

I agree with you that it is not just Jennings. However, the defenses are collapsing on the offense because we are having to play catch up. And that is usually by the 2nd or 3rd series like you mentioned. Why are we playing catch up so early, because of our ineptness to move the ball in the first 2-3 series because of false start penalties, incomplete passes to wide open receivers, or running the same plays over and over because Jennings doesn't have grasp of any other plays to run.

Now if we don't get in another QB for the rest of the season, we will be in the same boat next year with: Do we bring in a transfer QB which had playing time at another school but does not know our system (Jennings) or play a QB from our roster who has been in the system for a minimum one year but hasn't played. I say play another QB on our roster to give them playing time experience for next year. This year is shot if we stay the course. What is the definition of insanity? Do the same thing over and over, but expect different results.

You said our QB looks worse because he has his hands on the ball when the show begins. He looks worse because he doesn't know what to do with the ball when he has his hands on it. He should have progressed by now. He hasn't progressed from week one, but regressed.

We may all be disgusted with what is going on on he field. We just have different beliefs why it is happening. But if we are going 3-9 or 4-8, we might as well try another on field leader because the one we have now is not effective nor will he be here next year.

I've stated that I do not care if we do switch to Davis... for giving him the experience leading into next year. But I feel you're pushing for it because you think he can outperform Jennings. I do not have that feeling. I believe we may just get Davis hurt, or blow his confidence. The play on the field just doesn't look as much of a QB issue as it does a complete offensive system failure... to me. And sticking Davis in as a solution right now... is not a solution. We have a lot of things to fix to get the offense on track. I still believe the athletes are not even close to the primary culprit. And I'm not just slinging out the blame on the coaches for the heck of it. I see things that just look fundamentally unsound. And until, at the very least, we get the OL to understand (if their capable) of when and how to run block... and when and how to pass block... we are toast. They are not good when they face a decent defense. I know it looks like the ball carriers and hurlers are the problem... but you are at a huge disadvantage if at the snap of the ball... the other side is owning your big uglies. They aren't there just for eye candy. They are supposed to buy you a precious extra second. That magic second means EVERYTHING to a QB.

PS Even with the early penalties against App State, we WERE moving the ball. We got in the red zone and collapsed. Hud has a very hard time understanding that we are not a power run team. And once we're in the red zone... we just about have to use play action passing. Most teams bull rush us and tilt us. We moved the ball... got in scoring position... and for whatever reason we tried to pretend Jennings would have the time to drop back and look for a receiver. After that, I think App State had no fear of us. Why would any decent team? And they started shoving us off the ball every snap.