Luke Johnson: Cajuns are close, but they won't turn the corner until they get better at QB

[Just1More]

Until this offense can establish a passing game, this team will always be mediocre, able to beat poor teams, not able to compete with top G5 or middle P5. I don't see it happening under Hud. Too many problems for him to overcome including his own philosophy.

I think most of us are thinking the same thing. Hud is content competing for a bowl. That doesn't require we beat any P5... or maybe even a top G5 program on our schedule. He is not going to veer from his basic philosophy. It worked in his first 4 years... so he is basically trying to reconstitute that capability. I do not see him ever moving into a change in approach that will slay a top G5 or anything but a floundering P5.

To even get back to Hud's first 4 years... one that most have forgotten were not spectacular in any regard... we must recruit better QBs. I'm not stupid about all of the other essentials... but in watching Hud's system closely for 6 years... he requires hitting the jackpot with skill players. He isn't building on top of a "system"... that improves year to year. He is just running the numbers every year. And he needs to get lucky with a combination of skill players... that includes a premium athlete at QB. This is football checkers... not chess.

[ManAboutTown]

I don't think we need "the second coming of Brian Mitchell." That's a little bit much. We just need a serviceable QB. Gauthier and Broadway had success under Hud, so it's not impossible. Unfortunately we fell for the "He sucked in the SEC but he will dominate against the inferior SunBelt" trick. And we got burned

The difference is, Gautier and Broadway were cultivated under different coaches. QB development is an issue here. Of course, an offensive line would help..

[ManAboutTown]

I think most of us are thinking the same thing. Hud is content competing for a bowl. That doesn't require we beat any P5... or maybe even a top G5 program on our schedule. He is not going to veer from his basic philosophy. It worked in his first 4 years... so he is basically trying to reconstitute that capability. I do not see him ever moving into a change in approach that will slay a top G5 or anything but a floundering P5.

To even get back to Hud's first 4 years... one that most have forgotten were not spectacular in any regard... we must recruit better QBs. I'm not stupid about all of the other essentials... but in watching Hud's system closely for 6 years... he requires hitting the jackpot with skill players. He isn't building on top of a "system"... that improves year to year. He is just running the numbers every year. And he needs to get lucky with a combination of skill players... that includes a premium athlete at QB. This is football checkers... not chess.

Been saying this since the first Tech disaster. If our goal is 6-6, 7-5, we should give Hud a lifetime contract. He can deliver that.

But.. there's a new sheriff in town.. and 6-6 ain't gunna cut it, partner.

[ULGrad@HOU]

I think most of us are thinking the same thing. Hud is content competing for a bowl. That doesn't require we beat any P5... or maybe even a top G5 program on our schedule. He is not going to veer from his basic philosophy. It worked in his first 4 years... so he is basically trying to reconstitute that capability. I do not see him ever moving into a change in approach that will slay a top G5 or anything but a floundering P5.

To even get back to Hud's first 4 years... one that most have forgotten were not spectacular in any regard... we must recruit better QBs. I'm not stupid about all of the other essentials... but in watching Hud's system closely for 6 years... he requires hitting the jackpot with skill players. He isn't building on top of a "system"... that improves year to year. He is just running the numbers every year. And he needs to get lucky with a combination of skill players... that includes a premium athlete at QB. This is football checkers... not chess.

All true, J1M.

[ULvictory]

I think most of us are thinking the same thing. Hud is content competing for a bowl. That doesn't require we beat any P5... or maybe even a top G5 program on our schedule. He is not going to veer from his basic philosophy. It worked in his first 4 years... so he is basically trying to reconstitute that capability. I do not see him ever moving into a change in approach that will slay a top G5 or anything but a floundering P5.

If this is true, then we are back to the Bustle days. The only difference is that there's more bowls now to where 6 wins pretty much guarantees a bowl slot.

[ManAboutTown]

If this is true, then we are back to the Bustle days. The only difference is that there's more bowls now to where 6 wins pretty much guarantees a bowl slot.

Exactly

[CajunAmos]

The games Jennings had protection he was good. Do we need a better QB, yes. But we won't see better QB play in this offense with these coaches.

I didn't consider him good. Plenty of games with time to throw he threw jump balls or ones that receivers had to make great catches on to complete. Those were a lot more prevalent than hitting a receiver in stride to allow them to make a play after the catch.

The other thought is you'll have a difficult time recruiting a great throwing quarterback when you run an offense like ours. You have to allow the quarterback and skill position player to showcase their ability to get them to come on campus, and we don't do that here.

[Just1More]

I'm with you. I want a QB, if he can run then great. But I'd rather have a guy who could carve up a defense and make heady decisions than a guy who wows at a combine.

Many of us do. But Hud isn't in our camp. He'll obviously "take" a QB with a great arm and mind... but since he knows he's not going to match minds with a cerebral QB... he's going to instinctually defer to a dual threat athlete QB.

I believe when Hud sees video of a HS QB throwing long jump balls... and then running like a RB... he gets a head rush. He knows if he gets that kid to come to UL, 90% of his offense has been developed at that high school.

[Just1More]

If this is true, then we are back to the Bustle days. The only difference is that there's more bowls now to where 6 wins pretty much guarantees a bowl slot.

Bingo. But we pay more for it.

[CajunNation]

After thinking about this season, the way it progressed, and the play of the QB, it is clear to me that Davis should have gotten the starting job and taken as many snaps as possible.

Very probable we would have ended up with 6 wins no matter who was QB. Only now, we are really screwed for next season at QB.

[CajunAmos]

After thinking about this season, the way it progressed, and the play of the QB, it is clear to me that Davis should have gotten the starting job and taken as many snaps as possible.

Very probable we would have ended up with 6 wins no matter who was QB. Only now, we are really screwed for next season at QB.

My thought as well.

[31Ragin97]

---Tell ya what---we need 2-3 LBs cause the guys we lost were VERY VERY GOOD players!!!

how does that improve the offensive line?

[Just1More]

After thinking about this season, the way it progressed, and the play of the QB, it is clear to me that Davis should have gotten the starting job and taken as many snaps as possible.

Very probable we would have ended up with 6 wins no matter who was QB. Only now, we are really screwed for next season at QB.

That may be a little too heavy on the retrospection. I agreed that once we were a long shot at 6-6, we probably should have started the grooming of Davis. But we probably did make it to the bowl on Jennings. And it is too important that we made it to the bowl... for our future recruiting... to discount that achievement. Saying Davis would have also got the 6 wins... not sure about that.

We weren't going to beat USM with any one of our current QBs. We can't place not putting Davis in this year as an excuse for next year. If Davis is good enough... he's good enough. This offense doesn't require a lot of mental gifts to run as a QB. You either have it, or you do not have it.

[Just1More]

how does that improve the offensive line?

Boomer likes to think way outside of the box just opened. In fact, I'm pretty sure while he's opening a gift box under the Christmas tree, he'll immediately start testing the secondary sexual characteristics of the box on the other side of the tree. It's just a Boomer thing. But he's our Boomer!

[chauncey]

Can the kid from Scotlandville throw?