UL Football: Defense will set tone for 2010

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Previous PageUL's football team wrapped up spring drills a few weeks ago, ending a competitive and intense stretch of workouts in preparation for the 2010 season.

Head coach Rickey Bustle was excited with what he saw in the spring from the Ragin' Cajun defense. With eight returning defensive starters, Bustle thinks that UL could be good enough to get that elusive seventh win next season.

UL has won six games in four of the past five years but hasn't played in a bowl game since 1970.
"There's no question that we could potentially have the best defense since I've been here with all of that speed and athleticism," said the ninth-year head coach. "We showed some flashes last year, but I hope we will be more consistent."

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[Boomer]

Can somebody give a lil juxtaposition of the team this coming Fall and last year------How are our UN-academic dudes doing this semester---I just wonder how the guys lost last year to the discipline problems could have helped---BTW where are they??????

[zephyr]

I have no doubt that this defense has the potential to be a solid unit. However, we've heard for the past several years that each year's defense will be fast and athletic and statistically, they've not been much better than the previous years' defense. What concerns me is our ability to stop the run. We will be small on defense, make no mistake about it and that concerns me as teams will run right at us. We couldn't stop teams like FAU, NT, Troy and Middle on the ground last year and it looks like that could be the case again. This D-Line needs to get disruptive and not only get to the QB but clog up holes in the line and allow our linebackers to fly around and make plays. I'd also like to see us, as a team, get 25-30 sacks although it is unlikely.

[HoustonCajun]

_ I have no doubt that this defense has the potential to be a solid unit. However, we've heard for the past several years that each year's defense will be fast and athletic and statistically, they've not been much better than the previous years' defense. What concerns me is our ability to stop the run. We will be small on defense, make no mistake about it and that concerns me as teams will run right at us. We couldn't stop teams like FAU, NT, Troy and Middle on the ground last year and it looks like that could be the case again. This D-Line needs to get disruptive and not only get to the QB but clog up holes in the line and allow our linebackers to fly around and make plays. I'd also like to see us, as a team, get 25-30 sacks although it is unlikely. _

Our D Line looks pretty solid and big at one tackle. But, the other tackle has a starter, Dean, at only 280 lbs. and his backup is only 250 lbs. I sure hope Pryor and other people coming in can provide size for our D Line. This is generally our weakest area year in and year out, usually because of size. Our DEs are not that big either at around 240 lbs. Hopefully, speed will make up for lack of size this year.

[zephyr]

_ Our D Line looks pretty solid and big at one tackle. But, the other tackle has a starter, Dean, at only 280 lbs. and his backup is only 250 lbs. I sure hope Pryor and other people coming in can provide size for our D Line. This is generally our weakest area year in and year out, usually because of size. Our DEs are not that big either at around 240 lbs. Hopefully, speed will make up for lack of size this year. _

Size is not as much of an issue there for me. We've had size in the past and they were no more effective. I've seen some good DT's play light at 275-285lbs but be disruptive and shoot gaps. We have Topp who is large and athletic since he played both DE and DT last year. Dean is pretty quick though at 280 and his size should not be an issue but rather how we get penetration on the line. Also, we have some large underclassmen. Don't forget Brandon McCray who is just about 300 pounds as a freshman. He was banged up in the spring which is why we didn't see him in the scrimmages but he should be a factor on the depth chart as well as Pryer. I don't find that we are that small at DE. Richardson is about 265-270 and Gaddies behind him is about 265. At rush end, Douglas is a decent size at 245 and the guys behind him are about the same size. However we need someone who can rush the QB at that spot and it shouldn't matter whether they are 235 or 275 as long as they can get in the backfield to make things happen.

Being small is not necessarily a bad thing if you use your athleticism to get in the backfield and stop the run or get to the QB. However, we've been unable to do this for a long time regardless of whether we are big or small.

[Sharp Square]

I agree we have heard the positive reviews early on about our improved defense only to hit the field and find out there is really little to no improvement at all. Always bothers me when the offseason reports claim "Defense will set tone for 2010" for the Cajuns because we have had really little response defensively for the last few years. Crossing fingers i guess !

[HoustonCajun]

_ Size is not as much of an issue there for me. We've had size in the past and they were no more effective. I've seen some good DT's play light at 275-285lbs but be disruptive and shoot gaps. We have Topp who is large and athletic since he played both DE and DT last year. Dean is pretty quick though at 280 and his size should not be an issue but rather how we get penetration on the line. Also, we have some large underclassmen. Don't forget Brandon McCray who is just about 300 pounds as a freshman. He was banged up in the spring which is why we didn't see him in the scrimmages but he should be a factor on the depth chart as well as Pryer. I don't find that we are that small at DE. Richardson is about 265-270 and Gaddies behind him is about 265. At rush end, Douglas is a decent size at 245 and the guys behind him are about the same size. However we need someone who can rush the QB at that spot and it shouldn't matter whether they are 235 or 275 as long as they can get in the backfield to make things happen.

Being small is not necessarily a bad thing if you use your athleticism to get in the backfield and stop the run or get to the QB. However, we've been unable to do this for a long time regardless of whether we are big or small. _

Maybe its coaching. I noticed the pros evaulating Hall say he is raw, i.e. somewhat undercoached. Could be our schemes. All in all, we haven't had a good defensive line in years, big or small. I still think you benefit from big bodies in the middle. McCray and Pryer are big bodies on the other side to match up with Topp and Rogers. All 4 of them are at least 6'4" and 290. On the other hand, Dean is only 5'11" and 280 and his back-up Moore is only 6'2" & 250. How do you play 1A football as a 250 lb. DT? You won't stop many people with that size and we haven't.