Tight Games Problem

[ZoomZoom]

I don't think Chandler transfers until after spring at the earliest. Prior to Ben's injury, I would have said that it would be likely he moves on as soon as the season ends. The injury to Woolridge changed my view. Chandler did play very well in the last three games of the season. That Chandler can win for us next season with a better running game. Now, he will get also lots of snaps in spring. Chandler also graduates next fall from what I have been told. No reason to leave now. Still, the QB issue is not why we had trouble winning close games in my view. Other issues need to be addressed.

As you stated CF graduates in December. That definitely plays in the equation.

Besides CF has been a true Cajun from day one. A lot like Chris Smith, think he’ll be a C4L guy. Sure he’s also looking at life after football.

[Bandwagon King]

In looking back over the season, I realized that all six of our victories were double digit wins. Three of our losses (USA, Troy, and Houston) were lost by the opponent scoring in the final seconds. The ULM game went down to the wire while the Rice and USM games were within one possession in the fourth quarter. This concerns me going forward. You are not going to blow out all your opponents and you have to be the team that executes the best in the fourth quarter to have a truly successful season. How do we get back to being the team that usually did so from 2019 to 2021? Perhaps it is as simple as not putting your defense in a position to have to make the final stop. More effective offense earlier in the game may result in a fresher unit at that stage. I wonder if a "special" back can be that difference maker despite our OL concerns. In 2021, Emani Bailey was that guy late in the season. He seemed to pick up the key first downs which kept the offense on the field. I am hoping Elijah Bill Davis can be that guy. Relying on a pure freshman to be that much of a difference maker is wishful thinking and not realistic. What do the rest of you think needs to occur for us to start being able to pull out the close games again?

Excellent observation Mike, & a question which gets down to the root cause of the difference between the last season of Napier & the first season of Desormeaux. Both coaches had 10 win teams. What each coach did with those ten win teams determined the over, or underachievement of each team. One over challenged & over believed in his group & his decision making. One under challenged & under believed in his decision making. That belief, or lack thereof is what caused every reaction by every assistant, every analyst, every trainer & every player to either over, or under achieve to cause the outcomes the fans ended up witnessing.

The question now is can the person who took the reigns & allowed the looseness with which the horse ran that caused the horse to galavant when the horse should have been galloping realize the error of his judgement & correct without over correcting & causing a self inflicted catastrophe another way? The truth is no one knows. But for the sake of the team, if one is incapable, the greatest disservice would be to allow the horses to exit the barn in the wrong manor running in all sorts of directions multiple times without addressing the issue properly. The fear I have is that the trainer is not capable of allowing himself ALL of the proper necessary tools with which to continue to grow & realize the people around him are either completely on his side, or they have flown the coup & just don't care.

Quit obsessing over an us against the world mentality, when the world just doesn't give a rip. Realize that all of those around you are doing their best to support you. If you fail it is ultimately all your own fault because of your personal failure to realize just how many friends you had. I hope this rant makes sense to you because you asked the question of the year.

[cajun tom]

The sunbelt teams have gotten a lot better.

[mxpxfr690]

We need to go in the portal or JUCO and grab 2 OL that are ready to compete for a starting job now and push everyone else for time. We need an OT and a center.

[60swerethebest]

I still wonder if db speed didn’t hurt us esp against Houston. On deep balls their WR beat us on every play. In first half we put pressure on QB. Not in second half. We really missed Andre. His outside speed was missing on some of their QB runs
Inability to score TDS vs FG and then missed FGs cost us.
OL development is key. We can’t compare Dez’s first year to Napier’s last. They each performed about same in first year in similar circumstances. In fact Napier walked into an amazing OL. We’ll see in 2023.
Merry Christmas to all.

[Cajun Soldier]

In 3 4th quarter loses we lost the game not because of play calling, nor coaching discipline, but player errors. Errors that ordinary players with ordinary skills make almost every time. Yes, with bigger leads those plays probably don’t matter. Also we’ve got to reduce some players unsportsmanlike behavior. That’s on the players and coaches.

I respectfully disagree with you against Troy, USM, ULM, S Al games the defense were either out of position due to called defense or in a state of flucks with players running in and out and the opposing team scored on those plays late in the game to take the lead or secure the win.

[cajun4life]

The difference in tight games this year is we couldn’t lean on people and smash it down their throats. We were missing McGowan and a healthy Burton.

Next season we will demolish people in the trenches again.

[KajunKrazy]

Here is what I think should be the offseason focus:

1. Either let Leger call the offensive plays or find someone capable of doing so. I would like for Des to concentrate on overall game management. I think sometimes the offense was a bit too predictable in the 2nd half of some of the games.

2. Do whatever it takes to keep Lamar. I believe he is one of the up and comers as far as young Defensive Coordinators.

3. Hopefully, some of the new linemen will be able to provide some depth. One way or another, I think Des should seriously reconsider his aversion to the use of the portal and try to get a couple of plug and play linemen.

4. I believe that there is a good chance that CF will transfer out. I hope that Chris can learn the playbook in the offseason. After seeing him play in limited action, I think the job is his to lose, if he can learn the playbook.

Hopefully, the freshman running back can hit the ground running. (pun intended)

CF is not transferring. There was a time he was considering doing so but he has scratched that idea. Agree on the 2nd half we took a huge step back this year in making half time adjustments.

[CajunVic]

Don’t count Ben out as the game 1 starter . . .

/The Bird

[wscoog]

From my view in the stands Saturday I was very impressed with the Cajun gameplan. They used the pass to set up the run very effectively and kept the Cougar defense on it's heels. Game has a very different feel if the tight end catches the pass in the end zone before the end of the half. In the second half the playcalling was undone by the 3 drive killing mistakes with the 2 fumbles and dumb personal foul by the receiver turning a 3rd and 1 into a 3rd and 16. On short yardage situations Des was much more effective than Holgersen. UH has to have to the lowest 3rd and 1 along with 4th and 1 conversion rate in the country. The deep draw on short yardage drives me nuts. The Cajun conversion on 4th and 1 to the tight end was a great playcall and executed perfectly. The only other Cajun game I saw in person was South Alabama. This team looks to me like it improved throughout the season and was much aggressive in the 2nd half this time. I feel much better about the future of the Cajuns under Des than I did 2 months ago. Just stick with 1 qb though.

[CajunVic]

I don’t think we played more than one QB . . .

[wscoog]

I was referring to the platoon system at the beginning of the season. Sorry If I was not clear.