Life After SLU

[Cajunfever]

What happened to Trey Ragas? I saw him walking off the field holding his arm. Looked like a shoulder injury. I don't remember him playing after that.

He injured his shoulder. They took the pads off and went back into the locker room. He did come back from the locker room with his pads on but did not go back into the game.

[HOUCajun]

Did the freshman DL Hill play?

[zephyr]

Tracy Walker only played 2nd half and was still the leading tackler for game and most of those were solo. Apparently slu was attacking that part of the defense as part of their gameplan, knowing our other starting safety was out. They have experienced coaches and will win many games this season.

You can only attack the safety position in the running game by dominating the D Line and Linebackers. Tracy was the leading tackler and that's never good for a defense who's safety plays off the line like he does as that means we are not doing our job up front.

[zephyr]

Middleton does not show up in the box score. No solo or asst tackles.

He definitely played as I remember seeing him quite a few times. We also played guys I've never heard of but i don't think they recorded tackles either.

[Cajunfanatico]

He definitely played as I remember seeing him quite a few times. We also played guys I've never heard of but i don't think they recorded tackles either.

I neither know, nor study the game and players like some of you guys, and while I realize losing a guy like Otha Peters was a hit, I don't recall that anyone here seemed to be particularly concerned about our D before that first game.

So what happened?

Coaching, conditioning, personnel, practicing for an offense outside the normal? And most importantly, can it be fixed, and fast? Inquiring minds want to know.

[Just1More]

I neither know, nor study the game and players like some of you guys, and while I realize losing a guy like Otha Peters was a hit, I don't recall that anyone here seemed to be particularly concerned about our D before that first game.

So what happened?

Coaching, conditioning, personnel, practicing for an offense outside the normal? And most importantly, can it be fixed, and fast? Inquiring minds want to know.

Everyone has been concerned about our LBs. From the 30,000 foot view, I felt like our defense over pursued, and then got caught in some well devised traps. We didn't get burned deep or get chewed up because we played too soft off the line. We were manhandled on the line of scrimmage by SLU's OL. If we are to believe what was stated, the Lions OL is the strength of their team. It is not inconceivable that they have an OL comparable to the better teams in the SBC. My gut is that we should be sounding all of the alarms based on our defensive play outcomes... but that the only thing that counts is whether Lucas and staff recognize what went sour... and how to sweeten it. But as for LBs, we've all known that we were in a bind with our LB'ing corps.

[Cajunfanatico]

Everyone has been concerned about our LBs. From the 30,000 foot view, I felt like our defense over pursued, and then got caught in some well devised traps. We didn't get burned deep or get chewed up because we played too soft off the line. We were manhandled on the line of scrimmage by SLU's OL. If we are to believe what was stated, the Lions OL is the strength of their team. It is not inconceivable that they have an OL comparable to the better teams in the SBC. My gut is that we should be sounding all of the alarms based on our defensive play outcomes... but that the only thing that counts is whether Lucas and staff recognize what went sour... and how to sweeten it. But as for LBs, we've all known that we were in a bind with our LB'ing corps.

Thanks for the response J1M.

I assume the "over pursuing" and getting caught in well-devised traps would be on the coaches, right? Also assume that can be fixed.

Last year we seemed to have gotten burned deep often so hopefully that's improved for this year.

Is there anything we can do to improve the LB situation other than playing better on the line of scrimmage and not allowing opposing running backs to get into our secondary?

[zephyr]

I neither know, nor study the game and players like some of you guys, and while I realize losing a guy like Otha Peters was a hit, I don't recall that anyone here seemed to be particularly concerned about our D before that first game.

So what happened?

Coaching, conditioning, personnel, practicing for an offense outside the normal? And most importantly, can it be fixed, and fast? Inquiring minds want to know.

LB was a point of concern to me and many. We just thought that the returning guys could at least hold the fort down so to say while we had a ton of returners both up front and in the backfield that could help them.

[zephyr]

Thanks for the response J1M.

I assume the "over pursuing" and getting caught in well-devised traps would be on the coaches, right? Also assume that can be fixed.

Last year we seemed to have gotten burned deep often so hopefully that's improved for this year.

Is there anything we can do to improve the LB situation other than playing better on the line of scrimmage and not allowing opposing running backs to get into our secondary?

Last year's defense was the best we've had here under Hud. We were ranked in the top 50 in total defense and in the top quarter of so in the country in run defense. No, I would not put over pursuit on the coaches. I would put it on the players who have had little experience in games up to this point. The coaches can put the proper scheme out there all day but the players have to go execute. This is the same scheme we ran last year where we were amongst the top teams in the country in stopping the run.

I believe that it can be fixed to where they improve on their reads but I also don't think we have the athletes at the position like we obviously did last year and that is concerning.

[ManAboutTown]

Thanks for the response J1M.

I assume the "over pursuing" and getting caught in well-devised traps would be on the coaches, right? Also assume that can be fixed.

Last year we seemed to have gotten burned deep often so hopefully that's improved for this year.

Is there anything we can do to improve the LB situation other than playing better on the line of scrimmage and not allowing opposing running backs to get into our secondary?

LB was the biggest concern in camp.

Keep in mind, Tanner Holmes went out early, which was the Will LB (weak side), and that was the area SLU exploited. The difference between Tanner and the 2 and 3 deep at WLB is Mt Everest right now. Also Posey started his first game at Mic. He will only get better. An intelligent guy, very athletic and understands that we need to hate the opposing offense. Brings some grit.

Also, we played a very basic Skeleton defense. Having Jeffries out at DLine was another big reason for the gaping holes.

I agree with J1M that we were caught over pursuing all game long. In that regard, great game plan by SLU staff..