2007 Football preview and offseason fan talk

[DestinCajun]

I told him not to worry about this year, because Cowboy fans would take care of the average for them. Now next year, with your typical 4-6, 5-5 season, . . .

Memo to 1AA fan:

1A plays 12 games, not 10 or 11 or however many 1aa is allowed.

Still receiving reports from the UL fans that visited the McNeese scrimmage. Once they are all received and the information is forwarded to coach Bustle, I will reprint the scouting report for all to see...

Z.

PS

I heard from a normally very reliable source that during the Cowpie scrimmage someone pointed to the sky and there was a cloud they swore looked exactly like Ronald Regan when he starred in the movie, "The Gipper". Freaky stuff, man.

[eaddy1847]

Any of ya'll going to the game in Columbia? I will be there. Can't wait!!

[ShowDog]

_ It seems like a predictable, disrespectable spread. We will be trying to run the ball down opponent's throats this year, with a mix of "we caught you napping for the run" passing. If done effectively, I think it will work very well. It all has to do with our play calling mix and the team's ability to execute.

The new attacking style defense and the hurry up no huddle offense will be interesting against SC. I like these styles regardless of the first game outcome.

My attitude about the line is... play to win and screw the line. _

Disrespectable or not, it is pretty accurate. Oddsmakers try to be right on.

[NewsCopy]

  UL head football coach Rickey Bustle is looking for consistency, and he can't afford to be patient.

His team is less than two weeks away from a trip to face highly-regarded South Caro-lina in its Sept. 1 season opener, and through two scrimmages his team has shown Jekyll-and-Hyde tendencies.

One week ago, in its first Saturday scrimmage, UL's offense free-wheeled its way to some big numbers.

Two days ago, the Cajun defense controlled the action almost from start to finish.

"We can't come out one week and be good on offense and one week later the defense be good," Bustle said. "We have to have much better execution on both sides."

The rest of the story

Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com

[DestinCajun]

Disrespectable or not, it is pretty accurate. Oddsmakers try to be right on. _

Since I do not gamble I really do not care but doesn't a "line" represent what those who are gambling on the outcome of the game believe it will be?

If, for example, the "line" moves to say 10 points, doesn't that represent a feeling among those gambling on it that the game will be closer than the book believes it will? So, in that case, who is more accurate?

[Jeaux]

yep.. If to many people bet on one, the line will adjust accordingly. It all about making money for the bookie. A line is really only about general public perception. Nothing more than that.

[CajunCherokee]

I think 29 points is about right. I would be happy if we covered that. Remember, we are looking for a positive performance, something that we can continue to grow on. And no injuries (but it is football!).

[Sonsissymia]

_ I just saw that South Carolina is favored to beat the Cajuns by 29. Do y'all think that is pretty accurate or will it be closer (or worst!)? _

cajuns are playing the worst 'run it up' coach in the country, one of the few that doesn't call off the dogs even tho' the 'margin of victory' component has been dropped. i'd call it an upset if the cajuns held it below the spread, and that's no knock on the team, but more against spurrier.

[rhineaux]

_ cajuns are playing the worst 'run it up' coach in the country, one of the few that doesn't call off the dogs even tho' the 'margin of victory' component has been dropped. i'd call it an upset if the cajuns held it below the spread, and that's no knock on the team, but more against spurrier. _

Ah, but he would have to get to the 29 point lead first. He can't run it up if we don't let him get that far ahead.

My thoughts on this line are this. we came within a touchdown the last time we played them. While they might have upgraded their coach a lot; as a team, we've improved a lot more than them since then. this really doesn't have anything to do with this game, nor does it automatically mean that we are going to stay within a touchdown again or anything, but it does mean that the game is very winnable, because a team as bad as that one almost knocked off SC. I would be very surprised if UL goes to SC and loses by that many points. I would certainly take UL and the points.

they probably have speed at the skill positions, and that may be the difference in the game, but our guys are pretty fast as well. I don't think their O-Line is that great, at least compared to what we saw our first game last year. They didn't have a consistant group of starters until something like the 8th game of last season. I think there was a link on here the other day about them not having much luck with that position set again this year. I don't know if QB will be a strong suit for them. I did read that everyone thought the Freshman would start, but because of some time he spent out of practice for rules violations or something, he missed some much needed work and might get red-shirted. And, if a freshman was slated to be the starter, then I would assume that anything ahead of him wouldn't be as good.

On our side, our guys are hungry. they are all buying into the new systems, and they all want to get some revenge on themselves for the way they performed last year. Our offense will go at a very fast pace, and if we don't tire out before them, then that is an advantage for us. and if we can work the passing game like we want, and make the plays that our playbook allows us to make, another advatage to get the running game going. Our front 7/8 will be much more aggressive and attack the QB, while we certainly upgraded our defensive backfield. And, unless they are having scouts out at practice watching us, and filming us, then they likely don't ahve a lot of data about the plays we're running or the types of things we are trying to accomplish, which is certainly another advatage for UL.

I'm not saying UL's a lock, but I don't think a 29 point beatdown is either.

[Just1More]

_ cajuns are playing the worst 'run it up' coach in the country, one of the few that doesn't call off the dogs even tho' the 'margin of victory' component has been dropped. i'd call it an upset if the cajuns held it below the spread, and that's no knock on the team, but more against spurrier. _

No problem. I talked to Bustle and he said that he would not run up the score on the Gamecocks if we maintain a substantial lead late in the 4th quarter. He said that it would be foolish on our parts to leave our starters in and risk injury. Now, if we put in our 2nd and 3rd string and fire away... that is just the way is goes.