G5 Final: Louisiana 17, South Alabama 20

[Bandwagon King]

Yep. Levi was a huge loss. That coupled with the offensive line losses is the biggest factor in our poor performance

You might want to throw in that the scheme sucks ditch water. You can't run a spread offense effectively without a dual threat QB. That is a fact. And you can't pass with any success from a spread offense if the the defense doesn't respect your running game & your dual threat QB. And this offense doesn't take advantage of any RB screens & doesn't attack the middle of the field enough with their big tight ends. They are in essence trying to take what the defense is going to give them instead of attacking the other defense & manipulating them. Say what you want, Levy was damn good at that. even though he never used his tight ends enough by design. This scheme sucks with the guys they have running it the way they have them running it. But since critiquing the coach fairly is out of the question, Let us say rah, rah boys, you fought a good battle tonight. We have participation trophies for everyone in the locker room.

[USL]

While I believe Ben played well, and was happy to him lead us to tying the game, I believe we are seeing it’s tough to move on from a leader like Levi Lewis.

We’ve had a contingent of fans who thought Levi was holding us back the last three seasons. Now it’s evident that was not the case.

So you think Levi would have been the difference in all these games?

[Bandwagon King]

I'm probably going to post the same thing on some board about the Saints coaches tomorrow.

And you may very well be right on that one as well.

[IberiaCajun]

I do want to give props to Zion Hill.

That dude does not quit, does not take a play off, and he’s our best dude on this team. His motor is non-stop.

Thank you, Zion!

+1

[Boomer]

I do want to give props to Zion Hill.

That dude does not quit, does not take a play off, and he’s our best dude on this team. His motor is non-stop.

Thank you, Zion!

……yes what a great leader!

[JMV JustMyView]

So you think Levi would have been the difference in all these games?

Doubt it with this current line.

[angeleast]

I have always felt that what you do as a coach in that situation depends on not only the situation, but knowing your own team. We have anything but a high octane offense. With a South Alabama 3rd and 10 from their own 25 and 0:30 remaining, you are likely to get the ball back with between 15 and 20 seconds if you hold them. With likely field position inside your own 35 ... and our offense ... and our FG kicking situation, I do not like those odds. The smart play is to back them up to their own 15 and make the field longer. Time and distance are your friend. And it is only one more play. If South does not advance the ball on 2nd and 20, the Cajuns could have put pressure on them by calling timeout after either 2nd or 3rd down ... forcing South to potentially change their play calling. That extra play is only a handful of seconds. Meanwhile, backing them up to their own 15 places considerably more pressure on South Alabama ... and the Cajuns may not have been caught off guard on the draw play ... but expecting it.

One way it easily could have gone down ...

2nd and 20 from their own 15, South Alabama calls a draw play ... but the Cajuns are expecting something more conservative given the field position. The play gains 5 and the Cajuns call timeout with 0:25 seconds remaining and the ball at the 20. I like the chance of the Cajuns stopping a 3rd and 15 from the 20 ... and they likely get the ball back. Even if South Alabama converts, the extra ten yards (acceptance of penalty) does not allow them to get into field goal position and the game goes to OT.

Now if you have Elway running your offense ...

Brian

In depth analysis... When Brian speaks with all his statistical knowledge , you can take it to the bank.

[CajunJeaux]

This is exactly what I was screaming at the TV. There is no excuse for this. Complete mismanagement of the clock in a crucial situation. In fact, I was yelling at the officials to wind the clock on the previous play after the first down (they took a long time). What did the Cajuns do? They snapped it immediately, running no additional time off of the clock.

Simply not smart at all ... utterly frustrating and disappointing. That cannot happen at the college level.

I was also not happy when Coach declined the holding penalty on 2nd and 10 when South had the football at their own 25. In that situation, you want to make them traverse a longer field. Game situation management 101 and the coaching staff flunked.

Brian

Another thing not mentioned: the passing play that set up the USA winning field goal, our secondary must have been playing 20 yards deep. No idea why we were in prevent defense when all they needed was about 10 yards.

[JMV JustMyView]

Another thing not mentioned: the passing play that set up the USA winning field goal, our secondary must have been playing 20 yards deep. No idea why we were in prevent defense when all they needed was about 10 yards.

Good observation. Folks have been saying all season long that the db's have been playing further back than in the past.

[barisaxman]

I have always felt that what you do as a coach in that situation depends on not only the situation, but knowing your own team. We have anything but a high octane offense. With a South Alabama 3rd and 10 from their own 25 and 0:30 remaining, you are likely to get the ball back with between 15 and 20 seconds if you hold them. With likely field position inside your own 35 ... and our offense ... and our FG kicking situation, I do not like those odds. The smart play is to back them up to their own 15 and make the field longer. Time and distance are your friend. And it is only one more play. If South does not advance the ball on 2nd and 20, the Cajuns could have put pressure on them by calling timeout after either 2nd or 3rd down ... forcing South to potentially change their play calling. That extra play is only a handful of seconds. Meanwhile, backing them up to their own 15 places considerably more pressure on South Alabama ... and the Cajuns may not have been caught off guard on the draw play ... but expecting it.

One way it easily could have gone down ...

2nd and 20 from their own 15, South Alabama calls a draw play ... but the Cajuns are expecting something more conservative given the field position. The play gains 5 and the Cajuns call timeout with 0:25 seconds remaining and the ball at the 20. I like the chance of the Cajuns stopping a 3rd and 15 from the 20 ... and they likely get the ball back. Even if South Alabama converts, the extra ten yards (acceptance of penalty) does not allow them to get into field goal position and the game goes to OT.

Now if you have Elway running your offense ...

Brian

CMD was asked about that decision and said he had no regrets for making it—said even though analytics SAID to take the penalty, his gut told him not to—he was banking on us running the punt back to great field position for the game winning FG…..

[angeleast]

A losing season with one of the easiest schedule in the country is realistic. WOW how we have nose dived.

[JMV JustMyView]

A losing season with one of the easiest schedule in the country is realistic. WOW how we have nose dived.

We might have to blow off some of that steam on the row machine this week.