Coach Napier Comments-Most Strkiing

[Cajunsmike]

For those of you that listened to some of Coach Napier's comments on the radio shows today from SBC media days, I have a question. It simply is which comment stuck with you. Mine is the point he made about having 15 new scholarship players on defense compared to when he took the job. He also moved three guys from offense to defense. I know these guys are unproven and it would be risky to project significant improvement from that unit based on these moves. However, it does tell me they are making a strong effort to address what was the major weakness on the team a year ago. I have lots of confidence they will be improved on that side of the ball. Hard to get worse from 40 points per game and over 550 yards per game given up. Offense will have to control the clock some to minimize time on the field from a questionable defense, at least at this stage.

[NewsCopy]

Four of the most interesting things new UL coach Billy Napier said during his first Sun Belt Conference football Media Day.

Advertiser
subscription

[Policarp]

Coach Napier's confidence in our top 2 QBs was very high. It was good to hear this so convincingly.

Mike....Running clock as a strategy worries me. 0-1 1st downs then punt by running ball/dinky passes to attempt run clock takes more out of defense vs an offense that is always taking the initiative to score by any means necessary. IMO attack offensively to score as many pts as you can, if that runs clock its langiappe

[CajunT]

Coach Napier's confidence in our top 2 QBs was very high. It was good to hear this so convincingly.

Mike....Running clock as a strategy worries me. 0-1 1st downs then punt by running ball/dinky passes to attempt run clock takes more out of defense vs an offense that is always taking the initiative to score by any means necessary. IMO attack offensively to score as many pts as you can, if that runs clock its langiappe

You want to be able to run the clock in the 4th quarter to protect a lead. We could not do that last season, so it is important that we can run the ball consistently and make the defense pay with the passing game when they load the box. The OL and WR positions are out best units, but with Mitchell coming back we have a good group of backs in the stable. The QB only has to use the weapons at his disposal and we have a number guys like Barnes, Bradley, Malone, Ragas, Mitchell, Patterson, Aucoin and Calais just to name a few.

Our defense needs to improve, which won't be hard when you have given up 40 pts and 500 yards a game. People are concerned about not having a reliable FG kicker, I don't think we've had one the past two seasons. We should be able to find someone to kick Xpoints and hit 50% of FGA.

My 3 keys for the season are; 1) No major injuries 2) Good QB play 3) Consistent running game.

[cajun_lannister]

You want to be able to run the clock in the 4th quarter to protect a lead. We could not do that last season, so it is important that we can run the ball consistently and make the defense pay with the passing game when they load the box. The OL and WR positions are out best units, but with Mitchell coming back we have a good group of backs in the stable. The QB only has to use the weapons at his disposal and we have a number guys like Barnes, Bradley, Malone, Ragas, Mitchell, Patterson, Aucoin and Calais just to name a few.

Our defense needs to improve, which won't be hard when you have given up 40 pts and 500 yards a game. People are concerned about not having a reliable FG kicker, I don't think we've had one the past two seasons. We should be able to find someone to kick Xpoints and hit 50% of FGA.

My 3 keys for the season are; 1) No major injuries 2) Good QB play 3) Consistent running game.

Napier said he has a kicker coming in soon I wonder who this kid is .

[nlucajun]

You want to be able to run the clock in the 4th quarter to protect a lead. We could not do that last season, so it is important that we can run the ball consistently and make the defense pay with the passing game when they load the box. The OL and WR positions are out best units, but with Mitchell coming back we have a good group of backs in the stable. The QB only has to use the weapons at his disposal and we have a number guys like Barnes, Bradley, Malone, Ragas, Mitchell, Patterson, Aucoin and Calais just to name a few.

Our defense needs to improve, which won't be hard when you have given up 40 pts and 500 yards a game. People are concerned about not having a reliable FG kicker, I don't think we've had one the past two seasons. We should be able to find someone to kick Xpoints and hit 50% of FGA.

My 3 keys for the season are; 1) No major injuries 2) Good QB play 3) Consistent running game.

Agree 100% with these three keys. This is going to be a fun team to watch and will be very competitive in a conference that is getting stronger.

[CajunJeaux]

You want to be able to run the clock in the 4th quarter to protect a lead. We could not do that last season, so it is important that we can run the ball consistently and make the defense pay with the passing game when they load the box. The OL and WR positions are out best units, but with Mitchell coming back we have a good group of backs in the stable. The QB only has to use the weapons at his disposal and we have a number guys like Barnes, Bradley, Malone, Ragas, Mitchell, Patterson, Aucoin and Calais just to name a few.

Our defense needs to improve, which won't be hard when you have given up 40 pts and 500 yards a game. People are concerned about not having a reliable FG kicker, I don't think we've had one the past two seasons. We should be able to find someone to kick Xpoints and hit 50% of FGA.

My 3 keys for the season are; 1) No major injuries 2) Good QB play 3) Consistent running game.

Mitchell is coming back?...great news if so

[Cajunsmike]

Mitchell is coming back?...great news if so

He said that today. He did not say exactly when Mitchell would be available at some point this season and they are looking forward to that.

[Cajunsmike]

You want to be able to run the clock in the 4th quarter to protect a lead. We could not do that last season, so it is important that we can run the ball consistently and make the defense pay with the passing game when they load the box. The OL and WR positions are out best units, but with Mitchell coming back we have a good group of backs in the stable. The QB only has to use the weapons at his disposal and we have a number guys like Barnes, Bradley, Malone, Ragas, Mitchell, Patterson, Aucoin and Calais just to name a few.

Our defense needs to improve, which won't be hard when you have given up 40 pts and 500 yards a game. People are concerned about not having a reliable FG kicker, I don't think we've had one the past two seasons. We should be able to find someone to kick Xpoints and hit 50% of FGA.

My 3 keys for the season are; 1) No major injuries 2) Good QB play 3) Consistent running game.

No argument with those three keys. However, improved defense is also critical.

[CajunT]

Mitchell is coming back?...great news if so

Yes sir, apparently my information on his status was post spring game. He has since met with a specialist at UAB and his treatment/pt was changed. He is on target according to sources inside the program.

[Cajunsmike]

He said that today. He did not say exactly when Mitchell would be available. He just said it would be at some point this season and they are looking forward to that.

NM-Just corrected a grammar error in the previous post.

[Hudsheen#Fired]

He said that today. He did not say exactly when Mitchell would be available at some point this season and they are looking forward to that.

he said he is participating in team drills. if not ready for week 1, id assume he would be ready for miss state

[CajunJeaux]

Great news...thanks T and Mike...

[CajunEXPRESS]

Coach is very high on the guys who moved to defensive side. I'm buying into everything he's peddling.

He’s also selling UL.

[Duckster]

Napier said he has a kicker coming in soon I wonder who this kid is .

Hear it's a freshman, lives in Oklahoma.