Five Keys to Beating Texas State – From the Bird's Nest

[CajunEXPRESS]

I'd prefer to think our defense had more to do with it than you want to give them credit for. We are top 50 in total defense in the country and this has been a trend now through the first half of the season. They are a top 50 passing team and average 24 pts per game so they are capable of putting points up as they have put up over 50 twice I believe.

BTW, their problem is not Jones. He has played well this year. It is their OL. They are one of the worst rushing teams in the country and they clearly have problems in pass protection.

Somebody on the staff did an outstanding job of scouting and preparing for their offense. The announcer kept commenting on how the Cajuns defense seemed to be in complete knowledge of the play they were running.

[31Ragin97]

Actually I disagree, the interception was a typical 50/50 throw that is part of our game plan each week. Barnes had both hands on the ball and the CB hit the ball , and the safety made a great play to get the ball before stepping out. Anytime a receiver gets both hands on the ball, I don't blame the QB for the interception. It's Barnes job to make the reception at its highest point or knock it down against a 5-10 DB. He threw the ball high where it needed to be placed.

Are those two diff types of ints tracked statistical? Asking seriously....

[Cajunsmike]

Yes, I'm just astounded about how bad TxSt offense played. Clearly they've established themselves as the worst offense in FBS. Jones was a pretty good QB in his first three seasons. Did he regress, or is this new coaching stafff that depleted of talent? Sixty-six scholarship players. Ricky Bustle started with forty-eight.

I'm going to refrain from expressing more specific criticism of any individual players.

Texas State had scored over 30 points in every game but Houston. Prior to Saturday, their offense was more than solid. Now the Cajuns offense has struggled some in most games. Protection issues may improve as the line gets developed but Jennings has to be able to run more effectively for real progress. Ankle may limit that all year.

[CajunT]

Are those two diff types of ints tracked statistical? Asking seriously....

From an official statistics standpoint,no. From coaches grading his play,yes.

[Just1More]

From an official statistics standpoint,no. From coaches grading his play,yes.

But many fans do not evaluate turnovers at all. I find it very hard to listen to a coach tell his defense to "go force turnovers". Then listen to him tell his offense "don't turn the ball over". I completely understand teaching fundamentals. But to act as if "your" defense forced the turnover... but their defense didn't... is one ignorant coach. And to act as if "your" offense coughed up the ball... but their offense didn't... is one ingorant coach.

I cannot tolerate talking about "turnover battles" any more than I can tolerate "tighter shoestring battles". You teach players a multitude of things. If you're going to give speeches to a "team" about "turnovers"... I'd like to smash your head with a iron skillet. And to have explained it 1000 times to people... and still get a jock's interpretation of it... infuriates me.

But as you stated... you don't capture all of the circumstances surrounding a turnover... but the coaches with a smidgeon of sense... certainly grade out the play and look for opportunities to teach the individuals involved.

[Crawfish]

I was watching a game a couple weeks back, and the defense was stripping the ball. They did this at least twice, once right before the ball carrier crossed the goal line. This was a game changer. In these cases, the ball carriers were somewhat at fault for not having the ball tucked away well enough, but the defenders were well schooled in recognizing the opportunity tho strip the ball and took advantage of it. So I can see both sides of this.

But many fans do not evaluate turnovers at all. I find it very hard to listen to a coach tell his defense to "go force turnovers". Then listen to him tell his offense "don't turn the ball over". I completely understand teaching fundamentals. But to act as if "your" defense forced the turnover... but their defense didn't... is one ignorant coach. And to act as if "your" offense coughed up the ball... but their offense didn't... is one ingorant coach.

I cannot tolerate talking about "turnover battles" any more than I can tolerate "tighter shoestring battles". You teach players a multitude of things. If you're going to give speeches to a "team" about "turnovers"... I'd like to smash your head with a iron skillet. And to have explained it 1000 times to people... and still get a jock's interpretation of it... infuriates me.

But as you stated... you don't capture all of the circumstances surrounding a turnover... but the coaches with a smidgeon of sense... certainly grade out the play and look for opportunities to teach the individuals involved.

[CajunJack55]

But many fans do not evaluate turnovers at all. I find it very hard to listen to a coach tell his defense to "go force turnovers". Then listen to him tell his offense "don't turn the ball over". I completely understand teaching fundamentals. But to act as if "your" defense forced the turnover... but their defense didn't... is one ignorant coach. And to act as if "your" offense coughed up the ball... but their offense didn't... is one ingorant coach.

I cannot tolerate talking about "turnover battles" any more than I can tolerate "tighter shoestring battles". You teach players a multitude of things. If you're going to give speeches to a "team" about "turnovers"... I'd like to smash your head with a iron skillet. And to have explained it 1000 times to people... and still get a jock's interpretation of it... infuriates me.

But as you stated... you don't capture all of the circumstances surrounding a turnover... but the coaches with a smidgeon of sense... certainly grade out the play and look for opportunities to teach the individuals involved.

I think its possible when you have a great offense to build a defense that gives up yards, plays with cushion, but relies on turnovers via blitzing and surprising the offenses. Those coaches know their offenses are sound and if they turn the ball over its not a big deal, so you do not hear them talking about the turnover battle. Our case is different. We cannot afford to rely on turnover to stop the other team because we can't find the end-zone. Our coaches are insinuating that the only reason we are losing games is because we are losing the turnover battle, which is absolutely false.

[CrappDaddy]

I think its possible when you have a great offense to build a defense that gives up yards, plays with cushion, but relies on turnovers via blitzing and surprising the offenses. Those coaches know their offenses are sound and if they turn the ball over its not a big deal, so you do not hear them talking about the turnover battle. Our case is different. We cannot afford to rely on turnover to stop the other team because we can't find the end-zone. Our coaches are insinuating that the only reason we are losing games is because we are losing the turnover battle, which is absolutely false.

Partially correct. When the QB makes a terrible decision and throws a pass he never should have and the opponent scores 6 points off of it, that directly affects the outcome of the game.

[Just1More]

I was watching a game a couple weeks back, and the defense was stripping the ball. They did this at least twice, once right before the ball carrier crossed the goal line. This was a game changer. In these cases, the ball carriers were somewhat at fault for not having the ball tucked away well enough, but the defenders were well schooled in recognizing the opportunity tho strip the ball and took advantage of it. So I can see both sides of this.

As I've stated before, teaching certain players (after they've mastered tackling) to strip the ball, or put their helmet on the ball... is a technical teaching issue. Teaching a RB or WR to properly handle, hold and protect the football is a technical teaching issue. There's no "battle" for turnovers. There's very specific skill training. There are fumbles that I 98% blamed on the ball carrier. There are fumbles I 98% credited the tackler. For a coach to jaw off like they're all the same... is a coach I don't want to pay to be on our sideline.

To "win" a "turnover battle"... implies that if you "lost" the "battle" 1-2 in week one... you're bad with turnovers. But if you "won" in week two 12-11... you're doing good with turnovers... is stupid. There's no battle. You teach good fundamentals and technical skills... to each player... according to his assignment... period.

[Just1More]

I think its possible when you have a great offense to build a defense that gives up yards, plays with cushion, but relies on turnovers via blitzing and surprising the offenses. Those coaches know their offenses are sound and if they turn the ball over its not a big deal, so you do not hear them talking about the turnover battle. Our case is different. We cannot afford to rely on turnover to stop the other team because we can't find the end-zone. Our coaches are insinuating that the only reason we are losing games is because we are losing the turnover battle, which is absolutely false.

It's all skill teaching. It's not a game battle... any more than its a season battle. There's no team turnover trophy.