Life After SLU

[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..

[Cajunfanatico]

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..

Further to your comments MAT, what's the word on Tanner's injuries? Jeffries? Again, I love the Cajuns, love to see us win, but am not a student of the game, especially as it relates to defense.

[ManAboutTown]

Further to your comments MAT, what's the word on Tanner's injuries? Jeffries? Again, I love the Cajuns, love to see us win, but am not a student of the game, especially as it relates to defense.

Hud expects Tanner Holmes back and Jordan Jeffries back for Tulsa. I can not stress enough how important it is that Holmes stays healthy. Depth is the biggest problem at LB right now.

Another thing I should have noted earlier: Yes, Tracy Walker is just one player. But he and TJ Posey run the defense. Not having either one of those guys on the field changes everything.

[GeauxCajuns]

I also know for a fact that the team has marked Tulsa as a W on their goal schedule.

not directed at you, because i know all teams do this, but shouldnt every game me marked as a W on the goal schedule.

[RaginScotsman]

Life after SLU is not all doom and gloom. One of the ESPN guys picked us to play Tulane in the Cure Bowl this week.

[CajunJack55]

Life after SLU is not all doom and gloom. One of the ESPN guys picked us to play Tulane in the Cure Bowl this week.

Agree, hardly doom and gloom just have a lot of work to do and most fans aren't sure our staff has what it takes to fix things, we shall see.

[Hark Mudspeth]

I think everything was compounded in this game and it looked worse than it will be going forward. New guys, bland scheme like hud always does. Ron Roberts knows hud very well from coaching against him back in the day. There are people at SLU that also are familiar with Lucas and his defense since he coached there which gave them a solid gameplan against a team they had zero film on. There are still concerns but I don't think we are nearly as bad as we were Saturday but probably not as good as last year, not yet anyway. They gameplanned it safe and simple and almost got bit by it, with so many new guys it's hard to make too many adjustments in game if you haven't installed any.

[cajun_lannister]

Ziyon hill might get to play sat .. will be interesting to see

[ManAboutTown]

I think everything was compounded in this game and it looked worse than it will be going forward. New guys, bland scheme like hud always does. Ron Roberts knows hud very well from coaching against him back in the day. There are people at SLU that also are familiar with Lucas and his defense since he coached there which gave them a solid gameplan against a team they had zero film on. There are still concerns but I don't think we are nearly as bad as we were Saturday but probably not as good as last year, not yet anyway. They gameplanned it safe and simple and almost got bit by it, with so many new guys it's hard to make too many adjustments in game if you haven't installed any.

I can see all of this being plausible.