Names on Defense to Remember

[CajunT]

Louisiana’s Ragin’Cajuns defense will need big years from a number of key performers to help the 2010 Team reach its goals of a Sun Belt Conference Championship. Which key defenders should impact this year’s ...

Story link

[DrumRoll]

Man Crush alert on Nate Douglass...

He is such a mild mannered polite kid...UNTIL HE PUTS ON THE PADS :-)

[CrappDaddy]

Was Douglas a true freshman in 08 when he had such a promising year? How is he looking compared to 08, bigger stronger?

[CajunT]

_ Was Douglas a true freshman in 08 when he had such a promising year? How is he looking compared to 08, bigger stronger? _

Nate looked great in spring and is doing well thus far in fall practice. He didn't participate yesterday because he tweaked a hamstring Friday,so they are being very careful with him and several others. He is extremely strong and fast for his size, 6-2, 245.

[zephyr]

Another key has to be in the interior of the D-Line. Watching teams like NT, FAU and Troy run the A gap all day against us last year and amass easily over 200 yards rushing was scary. We have to be able to stop up the interior run and put pressure on the oppposing QB with not only our DE's but also our interior rush.

I will also play Devil's Advocate here and likely not be any more popular than I already am...but, I'm not sure whether I expect this defense to be much improved at all this year. Actually, I'm kind of expected sort of a revival on offense and a same ole, same ole on the defensive side. My reasons come after looking at the roster and depth chart and seeing a lot of potential but few certains. Yes, we bring back a lot of starters which is always nice. For this reason, I initially thought this would, by far, be the strength of this team. However, I look at this defense and it is very similar to the defense of last year minus an NFL DE and one of our best defensive players and leaders to maybe ever play here. Losing Hall Davis and Zanders makes us slightly smaller as a unit even though some would say we are faster and we likely are. However, being faster has done nothing for us in recent years. What this defense lacks is physicality. Our ability to overpower our blockers and make plays in the front 7 has hindered this unit and I don't know if I see any improvement. We got run all over by the likes of NT, FAU and Troy last year and we have a tough time with physical teams. FAU comes to mind foremost as they run a pro style, physical offense who likes to run off tackle and playaction pass, both of which have been very productive against us. Again, I'm not sure how much more physical this defense can or will be this year but the SBC's best defenses in recent years have been those with not only good athletes but those who can put pressure on the QB and stop the run with the front 7.

[Just1More]

_ Another key has to be in the interior of the D-Line. Watching teams like NT, FAU and Troy run the A gap all day against us last year and amass easily over 200 yards rushing was scary. We have to be able to stop up the interior run and put pressure on the oppposing QB with not only our DE's but also our interior rush.

I will also play Devil's Advocate here and likely not be any more popular than I already am...but, I'm not sure whether I expect this defense to be much improved at all this year. Actually, I'm kind of expected sort of a revival on offense and a same ole, same ole on the defensive side. My reasons come after looking at the roster and depth chart and seeing a lot of potential but few certains. Yes, we bring back a lot of starters which is always nice. For this reason, I initially thought this would, by far, be the strength of this team. However, I look at this defense and it is very similar to the defense of last year minus an NFL DE and one of our best defensive players and leaders to maybe ever play here. Losing Hall Davis and Zanders makes us slightly smaller as a unit even though some would say we are faster and we likely are. However, being faster has done nothing for us in recent years. What this defense lacks is physicality. Our ability to overpower our blockers and make plays in the front 7 has hindered this unit and I don't know if I see any improvement. We got run all over by the likes of NT, FAU and Troy last year and we have a tough time with physical teams. FAU comes to mind foremost as they run a pro style, physical offense who likes to run off tackle and playaction pass, both of which have been very productive against us. Again, I'm not sure how much more physical this defense can or will be this year but the SBC's best defenses in recent years have been those with not only good athletes but those who can put pressure on the QB and stop the run with the front 7. _

I don't know what it is that has our players, coaches, and others believing we are going to be a much improved defense. But they do. They all know about Davis and Zanders being no more. I'm happy Hall Davis made the NFL, but his contribution to our defense was average at best. Zanders was a beast, but again, apparently our players and coaches believe they have more than made up for him in the defensive secondary. I'm in complete agreement that if our DL does not start getting more disruptive, we aren't going to do anything more than we always do... try to fight off blocks, hope to stay in our lanes, and gang tackle someone well beyond the line of scrimmage. I feel the coaches believe they have some more physical and experienced guys to make that step up. Even if you see some of the same guys on the roster... another year of experience, coaching, maturity and physical growth does make a huge difference.

I think your doubts are valid, but I'm not really going to go one way or the other with anything until I see them play.

[DrumRoll]

Again, I'm not sure how much more physical this defense can or will be this year but the SBC's best defenses in recent years have been those with not only good athletes but those who can put pressure on the QB and stop the run with the front 7. _

In an extremely convoluted explanation of why I think there is such excitement (why I am excited), let's do a grading system per position with the following:

Speed 1 2 3 4 5
Stamina 1 2 3 4 5
Strength 1 2 3 4 5
Acumen 1 2 3 4 5
Desire 1 2 3 4 5

Let's establish a scale of 1 to 5, but let's use bell curve point values so that a 1=5 2=10 3=15 4=10 and 5=5 that are cumulative, ie a rating of 4 = 45 points vs a rating of 2 = 15. If a player is not balanced, he is exploitable.

Last year we had positions that may have been a 5 in 2 categories, but were a 2 in 2 others (exploitable), with a total score of 165 in this rating system. I think we have a front 7 1st string lineup with no ratings below a 4, with a backup in 4 of those positions with no ratings below a 4, and that no player on the 2 deep chart has below a 3 now in any rating.

Basically this is a long drawn out explanation that means we do not have a weak position to pick on, we are solid, much more consistent. We are deeper, bigger, faster, and stronger, with more swagger and attitude...

Sit back and enjoy the Koolaid on a hot summer day...

[zephyr]

_ In an extremely convoluted explanation of why I think there is such excitement (why I am excited), let's do a grading system per position with the following:

Speed 1 2 3 4 5
Stamina 1 2 3 4 5
Strength 1 2 3 4 5
Acumen 1 2 3 4 5
Desire 1 2 3 4 5

Let's establish a scale of 1 to 5, but let's use bell curve point values so that a 1=5 2=10 3=15 4=10 and 5=5 that are cumulative, ie a rating of 4 = 45 points vs a rating of 2 = 15. If a player is not balanced, he is exploitable.

Last year we had positions that may have been a 5 in 2 categories, but were a 2 in 2 others (exploitable), with a total score of 165 in this rating system. I think we have a front 7 1st string lineup with no ratings below a 4, with a backup in 4 of those positions with no ratings below a 4, and that no player on the 2 deep chart has below a 3 now in any rating.

Basically this is a long drawn out explanation that means we do not have a weak position to pick on, we are solid, much more consistent. We are deeper, bigger, faster, and stronger, with more swagger and attitude...

Sit back and enjoy the Koolaid on a hot summer day... _

I do agree that this defense is seemingy more experienced and pretty athletic. I tend to just have mixed feelings about what my expectations are for them. My concerns do not stem from the defensive backfield, as I think it is one of the more underrated in all of the SBC. However, this defense returns just about everybody from a defense that had its moments of inconsistency to say the least and loses two of its leaders. I agree that Hall Davis may have better days ahead of him as I was less than impressed with the numbers he left with and impact he had on any one game. However, I just wonder how improved we truly can be unless we get some serious kickstart from one or more of the newcomers.

[CrappDaddy]

The defense at times last year was pretty damn good IMO. Much better than in 08, just as they were predicted to be. I see no reason to doubt that they will improve more this year.

[zephyr]

_ The defense at times last year was pretty damn good IMO. Much better than in 08, just as they were predicted to be. I see no reason to doubt that they will improve more this year. _

You are right, especially when watching them in the first half against LSU. That is why I'm somewhat torn in predicting for them. However, we lack the ability to hit an offense in the face with a physical style and attitude that changes the complexion of a game and season. Until we show that we can stop the run off guard and tackle with some physical play, we will go no further defensively.

[CajunT]

_ Another key has to be in the interior of the D-Line. Watching teams like NT, FAU and Troy run the A gap all day against us last year and amass easily over 200 yards rushing was scary. We have to be able to stop up the interior run and put pressure on the oppposing QB with not only our DE's but also our interior rush.

I will also play Devil's Advocate here and likely not be any more popular than I already am...but, I'm not sure whether I expect this defense to be much improved at all this year. Actually, I'm kind of expected sort of a revival on offense and a same ole, same ole on the defensive side. My reasons come after looking at the roster and depth chart and seeing a lot of potential but few certains. Yes, we bring back a lot of starters which is always nice. For this reason, I initially thought this would, by far, be the strength of this team. However, I look at this defense and it is very similar to the defense of last year minus an NFL DE and one of our best defensive players and leaders to maybe ever play here. Losing Hall Davis and Zanders makes us slightly smaller as a unit even though some would say we are faster and we likely are. However, being faster has done nothing for us in recent years. What this defense lacks is physicality. Our ability to overpower our blockers and make plays in the front 7 has hindered this unit and I don't know if I see any improvement. We got run all over by the likes of NT, FAU and Troy last year and we have a tough time with physical teams. FAU comes to mind foremost as they run a pro style, physical offense who likes to run off tackle and playaction pass, both of which have been very productive against us. Again, I'm not sure how much more physical this defense can or will be this year but the SBC's best defenses in recent years have been those with not only good athletes but those who can put pressure on the QB and stop the run with the front 7. _

I think the Cajuns get a little larger and quicker up front because they added Benay Pryer, Chris Tucker, Darrell Green-Wallace and Benard Smith. The return of Nate Douglas only adds to the arsenal of weapons up front.

In speaking with some of the def. leaders like Grant Fleming, Terrell Richardson, Daylon McCoy and Orkeyes Auriene, this is the most talented collection of athletes on defense they have played with. The defense still has to put things together and play the game, but now is the time for this defense to step up.

[RaginDave]

_ _

How can our two top corners not be on this list. Bentley has a good chance to play at the next level, and Auriene is a solid performer as well. There is a chance that both #2 and #5 could play professionally.