College Football 2010 Rankings: No. 103 Louisiana

[HoustonCajun]

_ When I saw the thread title I made a mental bet that there would already be a "These things mean nothing" post..... Well maybe not... Maybe we will be #95 or maybe # 105.... but the point is after 7 years this program remains bottom of the barrel..... Now before you trash me... and you will... i will for the 34th straight year (and 4 before that paid through my student fees) have season tickets and will be at every game... Just mark me as a guy who is frustrated at where this program is this deep into Coach Bustle's reign _

I'm with you on this. Everyone says these polls are meaningless. It is meaningless because we are rated so low. I suspect if we were rated #50, it would be a very big deal, at least to me it would. It would certainly say a lot about our program. Unfortunately, #103 also says a lot about our program, particularly the overall perception of our program. We are still rated among the worse programs in the country and one of the worse programs within the worse conference in the country. This has got to be a make it or break it year for us and certainly for this coaching staff, although Bustle just got a 2 year extension. The magazine rankings that appear to mean the most, however, are Phil Steele and Athlon College Football, so I'm curious as to where they will rank us. Phil Steel's magazine comes out on June 8. However, that said, if we are ranked in the middle of the pack of the worse conference in the country, where else can we be ranked but in the bottom 100. I think Troy and MT, given their recent success and bowl appearances, will likely make it into the 70s, which is where we need to strive for.

[Just1More]

I think the ranking has one meaning... when you are in the over #80 crowd... they don't spend much time analyzing you. No offense to Hall Davis, but they took his draft and translated that into a hurt for the UL defense. (Not a valid observation) We rallied our own troops last year around a strong offensive line (made up of two seniors with national accolodes)... to offset the wussy crowd's worry loss of MD, Chery and Fenroy. So, in many respects, we are to blame for sportswriters using simple information to assess our strengths/weaknesses. Other than that, when you are ranked above 75, the only takeaway is that you need to seriously get to work.

As for QB... I can't tell you who should be the #1. I would prefer UL get a solid passing attack, and I don't really care who does it. I want us to key on the pass to set up the run. That does not seem to be popular with others on here. I do agree... it is all up to the capabilities of our personnel. But, we got hooked on a mobile Babb and MD, and that opened up the rest of our running attack. Last year, we brought Marlin Miller into the backfield to give us some speed... it was cool at times... but we are not getting over the hump with a run first mentality. Bustle needs to go aerial and either succeed or go down in flames. 50/50 isn't getting it done and will be a staff killer at the end of this season.

As stated, health is always a bigger must with the Cajuns... especially since we usually, across the board, lack true depth (comparable skill and experience). Our defense and special teams are what have to step up. We cannot go to a bowl without a spectacular defense and special teams. We have to win the field position battle and stop giving everyone a short field and our offense a long field. The only stat that matters is the W/L stat. This is not a building year... this is a command performance year.

[Parrott]

Bustle got a one-year extension through the 2011 season. Looking at it right now.


igeaux.mobi

[ManAboutTown]

_ I think the ranking has one meaning... when you are in the over #80 crowd... they don't spend much time analyzing you. No offense to Hall Davis, but they took his draft and translated that into a hurt for the UL defense. (Not a valid observation) We rallied our own troops last year around a strong offensive line (made up of two seniors with national accolodes)... to offset the wussy crowd's worry loss of MD, Chery and Fenroy. So, in many respects, we are to blame for sportswriters using simple information to assess our strengths/weaknesses. Other than that, when you are ranked above 75, the only takeaway is that you need to seriously get to work.

As for QB... I can't tell you who should be the #1. I would prefer UL get a solid passing attack, and I don't really care who does it. I want us to key on the pass to set up the run. That does not seem to be popular with others on here. I do agree... it is all up to the capabilities of our personnel. But, we got hooked on a mobile Babb and MD, and that opened up the rest of our running attack. Last year, we brought Marlin Miller into the backfield to give us some speed... it was cool at times... but we are not getting over the hump with a run first mentality. Bustle needs to go aerial and either succeed or go down in flames. 50/50 isn't getting it done and will be a staff killer at the end of this season.

As stated, health is always a bigger must with the Cajuns... especially since we usually, across the board, lack true depth (comparable skill and experience). Our defense and special teams are what have to step up. We cannot go to a bowl without a spectacular defense and special teams. We have to win the field position battle and stop giving everyone a short field and our offense a long field. The only stat that matters is the W/L stat. This is not a building year... this is a command performance year. _

Good to see you around these parts again.

I'd love to see Chris Masson take a major step forward from last season, and become an all conference QB. Of course I would. It's just hard for me to believe he can get the team to play as hard for him as B Mac does. Theres is something about McGuire, and MD had this quality, that fires up the troops. I think Brad learned a lot about being a leader and a football player first from Mike. As he gets older, those things are starting to show even more. For some reason, I'm just more confident with Brad in the huddle. JMO

[Just1More]

_ Bustle got a one-year extension through the 2011 season. Looking at it right now.


igeaux.mobi _

That just means we owe him the money. That does not mean he gets to stay.

[CajunT]

_ That just means we owe him the money. That does not mean he gets to stay. _

With the one year extension, Bustle agreed to a lower buy out clause. That number is significantly less then the previous buy out.

[Just1More]

_ Good to see you around these parts again.

I'd love to see Chris Masson take a major step forward from last season, and become an all conference QB. Of course I would. It's just hard for me to believe he can get the team to play as hard for him as B Mac does. Theres is something about McGuire, and MD had this quality, that fires up the troops. I think Brad learned a lot about being a leader and a football player first from Mike. As he gets older, those things are starting to show even more. For some reason, I'm just more confident with Brad in the huddle. JMO _

I know what you mean, but it seems Brad hasn't proved himself solidly to the coaching staff at QB. Why aren't they confident enough to use that Lion's heart and team leadership and put him in at #1? There has to be a reason. I think it is a throwing accuracy issue that has allowed Chris and/or Blaine to capture their attention.

I want to get away from a dominant running type QB and start recruiting QBs because they can pass ("Have legs? Good for you. Now, put on these 15 pound ankle weights and figure out whether you want to pass it to all these fleet footed friends of yours or run for your life son."). There are too many other skill people that have to factor into the offense to keep defenses guessing, and keep not just drives alive in particular games... but seasons alive. I do not like counting on a running QB's legs when he is such a critical component to ball distribution to many, many other skill players.

Honestly, I do not know enough about the particulars on our current QBs. Chris did not do poorly last year. I was not overly impressed with our OL in pass blocking or run blocking. We were not real solid at RB, and our offense was trying figure out how to go from being a MD read option to a "little" more traditional. I think we stacked a lot on Chris's plate and judged the results. He actually did quite well. I'm not as concerned about who the coaches go with at QB. I am much more thoughtful about what offensive mentality they will key on and how well the whole group can execute it.

The read option with dive blocking is stale on me. We need pass protection like we seem to grant every other SBC offense and start spreading it around to our nice cast of receivers IMO. I do not want us to have to count on the "expected to be talented" running back corps. It will take IMO a passing attack... or constant threat of one... to allow these solidly credentialed backs to get their legs. If we could develop some underneath stuff, it also opens up the deep threat. You do not have to have a 4.3 WR to go deep. You have to cross up coverage with your brain... and a QB that gets enough short and medium reps begins to feel it and take command. We never give them the chance. We love the read option too much and piling big boys up and hoping a little RB can find his way around them.

I am major league serious about getting back to the old days of a super UL defense and special teams. The game changing moments we have to see in order for UL to be in postseason must come from defense and special teams. <---- now that... is oversimplification.

[VObserver]

_ Mega Dittos. Considering everything that has been said here, I'll over simplify with this..

Keys to the Season:
1 - Defensive line plays well = we shut down most of the belt.
2 - Brad McGuire under center.
3 - WE HAVE TO STAY HEALTHY

A few X factors: If Blaine Gauthier is allowed to play, he needs to have a role in the offense. Also, we need to treat Ladarius Green like Phil Jackson treated Shaq, and run our entire offense THROUGH him. We have a huge advantage there, and we need to exploit it. Get the defense collapsing on him in the middle, then use our speed outside.. _

Exactly what he said.

[VObserver]

_ I know what you mean, but it seems Brad hasn't proved himself solidly to the coaching staff at QB. Why aren't they confident enough to use that Lion's heart and team leadership and put him in at #1? There has to be a reason. I think it is a throwing accuracy issue that has allowed Chris and/or Blaine to capture their attention.

I want to get away from a dominant running type QB and start recruiting QBs because they can pass ("Have legs? Good for you. Now, put on these 15 pound ankle weights and figure out whether you want to pass it to all these fleet footed friends of yours or run for your life son."). There are too many other skill people that have to factor into the offense to keep defenses guessing, and keep not just drives alive in particular games... but seasons alive. I do not like counting on a running QB's legs when he is such a critical component to ball distribution to many, many other skill players.

Honestly, I do not know enough about the particulars on our current QBs. Chris did not do poorly last year. I was not overly impressed with our OL in pass blocking or run blocking. We were not real solid at RB, and our offense was trying figure out how to go from being a MD read option to a "little" more traditional. I think we stacked a lot on Chris's plate and judged the results. He actually did quite well. I'm not as concerned about who the coaches go with at QB. I am much more thoughtful about what offensive mentality they will key on and how well the whole group can execute it.

The read option with dive blocking is stale on me. We need pass protection like we seem to grant every other SBC offense and start spreading it around to our nice cast of receivers IMO. I do not want us to have to count on the "expected to be talented" running back corps. It will take IMO a passing attack... or constant threat of one... to allow these solidly credentialed backs to get their legs. If we could develop some underneath stuff, it also opens up the deep threat. You do not have to have a 4.3 WR to go deep. You have to cross up coverage with your brain... and a QB that gets enough short and medium reps begins to feel it and take command. We never give them the chance. We love the read option too much and piling big boys up and hoping a little RB can find his way around them.

I am major league serious about getting back to the old days of a super UL defense and special teams. The game changing moments we have to see in order for UL to be in postseason must come from defense and special teams. <---- now that... is oversimplification. _

J1M, I don't necessarily disagree with any of what you say except for this: Forget what the coaches see in practice: The TEAM does not respect Masson and will not follow him. I don't know why that is, it just obviously IS. Our best chance to win THIS YEAR is with Brad. If our coaches can't watch what goes on in games and on the sidelines and see that Masson does not have the respect of the team, they need to be run off, anyway. We don't have enough talent to win 7-8 games with our schedule behind a QB that is not THE leader of his team.

[cajunfan32]

_ "Losing Hall Davis and Garren Blount is huge"..

Umm, no its not. Hall Davis was an "ok" defense player for us. This guy saw his name in the draft and figured it was a 'huge loss'. Also, the inexperience at RB is fair, but he fails to tout what kind of talent is back there, and how many options we have. Brad McGuire is NOT going to be a running back. Maybe, MAYBE and H back, but not a tailback. I think this defense is going to surprise some people, and again, he failed to talk about the incoming JC's and other guys who are expected to contribute. He's also failed to talk about Ladarius Green being the best pass catcher and big play threat in the Belt (and the overall development of Pierre Hill and Javone Lawson, who came on late last season).

He also failed to say that even though we're losing some damn good Offensive line guys, we're stacked with depth there, and those players have seen playing time due to injury..

This guy is just another half ass reporter.. _

exactly. how many sacks did hall have for us? like 3? that's not losing much... Did this reporter actually say we are lacking depth at RB? yes we are inexperienced there but we have a bunch of young talent. Julian shankle, Draylon Booker, Aaron Spikes, Robert Walker all will have a opportunity to make an impact this year.

[Turbine]

_ Bustle got a one-year extension through the 2011 season. Looking at it right now.


igeaux.mobi _

Is this new? If so, silly move it's not even recruiting season. 10 years at the helm.

If Bustle gets to 7 wins he will have earned his premature reward, however if he only gets to 6 wins (again) his average after 9 years will be no better than Jerry Baldwin’s who was able to pull off a single game record improvement in his 3 years at the helm.

Bustle inherited a 3 win team and after 3-3 year stints it is time to take win production beyond the Baldwin (1 per 3) improvement threshold. 3 more wins than Baldwin over a 9 year period is not worthy of contract extensions.

jmo

[Just1More]

_ J1M, I don't necessarily disagree with any of what you say except for this: Forget what the coaches see in practice: The TEAM does not respect Masson and will not follow him. I don't know why that is, it just obviously IS. Our best chance to win THIS YEAR is with Brad. If our coaches can't watch what goes on in games and on the sidelines and see that Masson does not have the respect of the team, they need to be run off, anyway. We don't have enough talent to win 7-8 games with our schedule behind a QB that is not THE leader of his team. _

I did qualify my comment by not being sure which guy should come out as the #1. If our coaches cannot tell who should be the #1, then they will fail and we will have to kick them to the curb. I am pretty confident that no matter who takes the #1, if he cannot pass effectively, we are doomed.

It actually bothers me to think our team lets up because they may not like one or more of the players they are playing with. I know chemistry is a big part of the operation. But... if I were the coach... you would not want me to get a hint of a "preference" on your part. If you made me think you were ever letting up because of it, you'd walk funny for the rest of your life.