Relish the Execution

[ManAboutTown]

Obviously the offensive execution was excellent and was fun to watch. I really liked how UL spread the ball around and mixed up the run and pass. That said, those were two of the worst defenses I have ever seen. There is no reason to ever punt against either team. If you cannot get 10yards in four plays you are calling the wrong plays. I have no idea how many more games we can win with a defense this bad. Our offense could conceivably control the clock and limit possessions, but against better teams how will we stop them? The stats my not bear it out at the end of the season, but I think this is one of the 3 worst defenses we have had over the past 30 years...and that is saying something.
To beat App St or Ark St I think we have to score in the upper 40’s to win.

From the standpoint of being a football fan, the game was gross. That’s not football.

But specific to just pure execution on offense, particularly the offensive line, it was fun to watch.

[fanof71]

Anywhere we can watch a replay of game?

[Esqueleto]

Anywhere we can watch a replay of game?

ESPN+

[Cajunsmike]

Agreed. It seems by just blind luck we could have 3 or 4 studs on defense. If you watch the defense you see they are mixing up calls and blitzing from different angles. The players just are not fast enough. To me Middleton and McDowell look like they have the speed to play their positions. I'm sure there are others, but those are the two that caught my eye.

When McCaskill and Hill get back to 100 percent the defense will be improved. They may need Manac back as well to be an effective group. Need for all those guys points to lack of depth. However Basin Bear is encouraged by the incremental progress he sees many of the young guys making.

[basinbear]

Agreed. It seems by just blind luck we could have 3 or 4 studs on defense. If you watch the defense you see they are mixing up calls and blitzing from different angles. The players just are not fast enough. To me Middleton and McDowell look like they have the speed to play their positions. I'm sure there are others, but those are the two that caught my eye.

There are more.....some are very young and until the scheme is natural to them they will be a step slow in reaction time.....some others are just not good enough

[angeleast]

We are improving week to week.. Naps and co. are slowly changing things around. Cant wait until they have better players to work with. Having 7 scholly players who used to be walk ons is never a good sign. Time will heal.

[VObserver]

It's hard for me to rationalize the disparity in our offense and our defense. In consecutive years of recruiting slumps, I would think the offense would take a greater hit than the defense.

In a re recruiting slump, defence will almost always suffer more than offense. This is because on offense, even a blown play can succeed if the guy with the ball is good enough, and even a bad play usually results in the loss of only a few yards. Great defence requires every player to do his job on every play, and one mistake can cost a touchdown.

[Cajunsmike]

In a re recruiting slump, defence will almost always suffer more than offense. This is because on offense, even a blown play can succeed if the guy with the ball is good enough, and even a bad play usually results in the loss of only a few yards. Great defence requires every player to do his job on every play, and one mistake can cost a touchdown.

Beyond the recruiting slump, we also had limited scholarships. Coach Napier told the QB Club it will take a couple more years before he has the roster at the no. of players he wants and just as importantly at the quality he likes. Defense may struggle for another year due to the points made by the VObserver. It can't happen any faster these days because of the new rules preventing over signing. It the old days you could sign 35 players and run off 10 to get to 25. You can't run off guys anymore without cause. In fact, he said there are currently some of the guys playing as walkons that he would like to give scholarships to even if it meant yanking some from guys currently on scholarship. He can't do that due to the current rules. Obviously no names were given.

[angeleast]

Beyond the recruiting slump, we also had limited scholarships. Coach Napier told the QB Club it will take a couple more years before he has the roster at the no. of players he wants and just as importantly at the quality he likes. Defense may struggle for another year due to the points made by the VObserver. It can't happen any faster these days because of the new rules preventing over signing. It the old days you could sign 35 players and run off 10 to get to 25. You can't run off guys anymore without cause. In fact, he said there are currently some of the guys playing as walkons that he would like to give scholarships to even if it meant yanking some from guys currently on scholarship. He can't do that due to the current rules. Obviously no names were given.

The last two sentences sums up our situation best. We have some scholly hold overs that are not winners and are negative baggage. But yet we are stuck with them. I'm guessing some of the questionable character guys that Hud took a chance on.

[Cajunsmike]

The last two sentences sums up our situation best. We have some scholly hold overs that are not winners and are negative baggage. But yet we are stuck with them. I'm guessing some of the questionable character guys that Hud took a chance on.

Some guys were let go at the end of summer. Obviously that happened with cause, most likely academics. I don't think we have many character issues to deal with. Players who he feels may have walkons deserving of their scholarship are likely simply lacking talent needed to reach the goals he has for the program.