Bustle says Cajuns won’t go quietly

[duggie85]

I'm not Red Lerille, so there could be more to it than I can see, but I have a hard time blaming the strength program for UL's injury's. Coach Phillips was here for the last 5 years and obviously, there has been injury after injury. I just don't see how a guy like him could coach at Tennessee, then for the Miami Hurricanes where he literally trained guys like Reggie Wayne, Clinton Portis, Andre Johnson, etc. and then went off to train guys for the Cleveland Browns for 5 years and he not know what he is doing.

Like I said, I know nothing about working out so there could be more to it, but I have a hard time (with my little knowledge) blaming the strength program with a guy like Coach Phillips in charge (well, was in charge) for all the injuries. And as far as the football team goes, I believe a supplement program was put in place a few years ago so its not like they aren't getting the necessary supplements to help their bodies.

[zephyr]

_ I'm not Red Lerille, so there could be more to it than I can see, but I have a hard time blaming the strength program for UL's injury's. Coach Phillips was here for the last 5 years and obviously, there has been injury after injury. I just don't see how a guy like him could coach at Tennessee, then for the Miami Hurricanes where he literally trained guys like Reggie Wayne, Clinton Portis, Andre Johnson, etc. and then went off to train guys for the Cleveland Browns for 5 years and he not know what he is doing.

Like I said, I know nothing about working out so there could be more to it, but I have a hard time (with my little knowledge) blaming the strength program with a guy like Coach Phillips in charge (well, was in charge) for all the injuries. And as far as the football team goes, I believe a supplement program was put in place a few years ago so its not like they aren't getting the necessary supplements to help their bodies. _

I would agree. The problem is that the issue is so widespread and set over several years that people tend to start thinking a trend is continuing. My only thing is that many of our injuries are of the nature that really has nothing to do with your S&C program. Bernard Smith and McGuire have ligament issues in their hand that McGuire is now having surgery on. Masson has a knee issues because he took some hard shots. Streeter suffered the most gruesome injury I've seen in sports. Lawson broke a collarbone etc..These things have nothing to do with how you've trained to that point. Now, I would certainly think that Goodlett's inability to reach the field in his time here along with maybe Falgout and a couple of others that are chronically injured may have some validity to that claim. However, most of our injuries are of the freaky nature that may or may not be able to be explained. I'll say this, I think it is logical to assume that we are often injured due to the fact that we tend to be undersized at a lot of positions. Having Bernard Smith at DT, Grant Fleming at MLB etc..those guys are going to take a pounding for the frames they have. I have no idea if that has anything to do with their injuries but when you have undersized players at many positions in a game like football, I have to assume you're going to see more injuries or at least your chances are greater for them.

[zephyr]

_ With 105 players floating around there should always be enough talent to step in and fill the roll.

A big deal was made when Baldwin left Bustle with 48 scholarships, well what good does having 85 scholarships and 20 walk ons if they can't fill in and do the job. _

Come on Turb, you can't really think that once you start reaching redshirt freshman in your depth chart that you're going to maintain a level of play that your starters or their immediate backups provide. It is rediculous to assume that you can keep rolling players out on the field and expect the same level of play.

[RaginWaldo]

I was always taught that injuries reflect how hard you workout and condition in the offseason. Idk if this was used as a motivational tool but I know I had nagging injuries but they never amounted to miss any games. meh.

[Just1More]

_ I would agree. The problem is that the issue is so widespread and set over several years that people tend to start thinking a trend is continuing. My only thing is that many of our injuries are of the nature that really has nothing to do with your S&C program. Bernard Smith and McGuire have ligament issues in their hand that McGuire is now having surgery on. Masson has a knee issues because he took some hard shots. Streeter suffered the most gruesome injury I've seen in sports. Lawson broke a collarbone etc..These things have nothing to do with how you've trained to that point. Now, I would certainly think that Goodlett's inability to reach the field in his time here along with maybe Falgout and a couple of others that are chronically injured may have some validity to that claim. However, most of our injuries are of the freaky nature that may or may not be able to be explained. I'll say this, I think it is logical to assume that we are often injured due to the fact that we tend to be undersized at a lot of positions. Having Bernard Smith at DT, Grant Fleming at MLB etc..those guys are going to take a pounding for the frames they have. I have no idea if that has anything to do with their injuries but when you have undersized players at many positions in a game like football, I have to assume you're going to see more injuries or at least your chances are greater for them. _

Our higher-than-normal injuries may be compound issues... as opposed to a single issue. It could be the strength and conditioning program to some extent, warming up and stretching, practice regiments, blocking and tackling technique, style of play, dietary, nutritional, rest... and others. We may simply be weak in every or the majority of these areas... not just a single area.

Every school suffers from losing key starters. UL and the lower third of the FBS suffer worse due to depth issues. I have no doubt about that. I believe that our injury bug is masking its ugly twin sister... the wrong play strategy for a below 80 ranked FBS program.

We all know that we have historically left our defense on the field way too long. That has to contribute to some defensive injuries. We continuously leave them on the field with short fields to defend. It leads to exhaustion both physical and mental... and that certainly can lead to injury.

On offense, I feel we play a little too much power football and not nearly enough fast, edge and space football. In the south, we can get a good supply of skill people. I do not believe we are ever in the running for depth at interior lineman. Our coaching staffs never seem to adjust to this fact. They play every weekend like they are playing a scrimmage against "our" team. We need to assume the underdog... David versus Goliath... role... and get OL that can move... even at the expense of some height and weight. If you play uptempo... snap and fire football... you do not require lineman to dominate the line. They buy you a little time and that's all you need.

We won't know whether a better coaching staff can take the same personnel and eliminate both the injury plague and the lack of success... but it is time to find out.

[Turbine]

_ Come on Turb, you can't really think that once you start reaching redshirt freshman in your depth chart that you're going to maintain a level of play that your starters or their immediate backups provide. It is rediculous to assume that you can keep rolling players out on the field and expect the same level of play. _

Can we expect them to play at a 90%, 80% 70% of level play?

What about fresh over tired? Is a tired starter playng at 100%

[zephyr]

_ Can we expect them to play at a 90%, 80% 70% of level play?

What about fresh over tired? Is a tired starter playng at 100% _

That's just it. I don't know if you can put a value on losing a team leader or more importantly, a playmaker and filling in with a guy who has less experience or less practice time etc.. At times, I'm sure it is logical to assume that a guy can come in and fill in for a starter such as Masson and McGuire per this year. However, I don't think it was fair to assume we would get the same production out of Fenroy's replacement..Do you?

[zephyr]

_ Our higher-than-normal injuries may be compound issues... as opposed to a single issue. It could be the strength and conditioning program to some extent, warming up and stretching, practice regiments, blocking and tackling technique, style of play, dietary, nutritional, rest... and others. We may simply be weak in every or the majority of these areas... not just a single area.

Every school suffers from losing key starters. UL and the lower third of the FBS suffer worse due to depth issues. I have no doubt about that. I believe that our injury bug is masking its ugly twin sister... the wrong play strategy for a below 80 ranked FBS program.

We all know that we have historically left our defense on the field way too long. That has to contribute to some defensive injuries. We continuously leave them on the field with short fields to defend. It leads to exhaustion both physical and mental... and that certainly can lead to injury.

On offense, I feel we play a little too much power football and not nearly enough fast, edge and space football. In the south, we can get a good supply of skill people. I do not believe we are ever in the running for depth at interior lineman. Our coaching staffs never seem to adjust to this fact. They play every weekend like they are playing a scrimmage against "our" team. We need to assume the underdog... David versus Goliath... role... and get OL that can move... even at the expense of some height and weight. If you play uptempo... snap and fire football... you do not require lineman to dominate the line. They buy you a little time and that's all you need.

We won't know whether a better coaching staff can take the same personnel and eliminate both the injury plague and the lack of success... but it is time to find out. _

That's just it. I don't think you can put your finger on one aspect of this program and assume its the reason for injuries. I think its likely multiple factors that compound one another and feed the beast so to speak.

[HoustonCajun]

_ That's just it. I don't know if you can put a value on losing a team leader or more importantly, a playmaker and filling in with a guy who has less experience or less practice time etc.. At times, I'm sure it is logical to assume that a guy can come in and fill in for a starter such as Masson and McGuire per this year. However, I don't think it was fair to assume we would get the same production out of Fenroy's replacement..Do you? _

I sure hope they let Gauthier play his kind of game. He is not a drop back passer like Masson and will get killed if he tries that. We can't afford to lose yet another QB. Gauthier has now had 2 years in the system. It is time for him to take advantage of this opportunity. Who knows, he just might have a break-out game.

[Mitch]

_ I sure hope they let Gauthier play his kind of game. He is not a drop back passer like Masson and will get killed if he tries that. We can't afford to lose yet another QB. Gauthier has now had 2 years in the system. It is time for him to take advantage of this opportunity. Who knows, he just might have a break-out game. _

Finally, someone with some positve comments! It's been a tough year. Everyone knows it. Is everyone actually throwing the S&C coach under the bus? Look, injuries happen. It's the nature of the beast. I hope i don't hurt anyone's feelings but we don't have the recruits to step in as freshman and sophmores and be productive. Thats just the way it is. Oh, maybe if we didn't schedule 2 SEC schools and 1 big 12 school our injuries might be minimal!

[CajunZ1]

Oh, maybe if we didn't schedule 2 SEC schools and 1 big 12 school our injuries might be minimal! _

A common misconception.

[Just1More]

_ I sure hope they let Gauthier play his kind of game. He is not a drop back passer like Masson and will get killed if he tries that. We can't afford to lose yet another QB. Gauthier has now had 2 years in the system. It is time for him to take advantage of this opportunity. Who knows, he just might have a break-out game. _

Every Cajun fan wants Blaine to have a great day. It is a little tough to have him get his debut without a healthier starting group around him. Regardless, the whole unit may play like we should have played all year... dangerously... and you never know what can happen. Why in the world we would play anything but dangerous from here on out is a mystery to me.

When Bustle says "Cajuns won't go quietly"... it makes me want to go back in time and tell Bustle "Never ever let the Cajuns play any way but noisy". I don't feel heavily backed up in my way of viewing the future Cajun football program. A lot of people want to believe you can go get a "solid football coach" and outcoach the Bustle program. They think the Cajuns "only" need that solid football coach and staff. They are DEAD DAMN wrong.

The Cajuns need a coach and staff that play outside the boundaries of straight up football in order to overcome the headlock 75 other FBS programs have on us. If we remain in the FBS and do not TOTALLY ENJOY .500 and less football... the next coach has to have as the number one bullet on his resume... "DANGEROUS!".

Cajun football that just takes coaches that just kind of know football like every other coach and try to execute on that knowledge... are doomed to fail here. It is time for the Cajuns to become aquainted with high risk football. Extreme execution speed, bordering on error. Speed at every position... independent of perfect dimensions... NO powering it up the middle under any circumstance whatsoever... unless to the opponent it is viewed as a "Cajun trick play". Or... of course... we can try to mimick other programs and just keep on losing.