Defensive staff

[Turbine]

Losing creates lockerroom problems when there otherwise would have been none

Conversely winning can mask a multitude of lockerroom problems.

When I hear "chemistry problems" I hear "players are not on the same page"

[HoustonCajun]

"

We had a CB playing safety who gave up 2 touchdowns because he never played safety in his life. We were playing against a QB who just left a memorial for his recently murdered father, it was the best game of his life which was 15-39 or something? 2 blown coverages by a guy who should have never been in that position. No TJ worthy, no Crawford, no lightfoot, no posey,no Alexander, no Thomas, Watson just returned from injury only to be shoved in a position he never played before. That's just on the defensive side and half the guys are playing hurt. While tovell has played great since moving inside, you still took him away from the outside. Emtire new staff, system and verbiage...10 games and we haven't started the same 11 yet on defense.

As I recall, we started the season with HUD saying we didn't want to practice too hard because we didn't want to risk injuries. Tackling was at a minimum. We never hear anymore about how tough our training camps are anymore. Seems like the harder we trained and practiced, the fewer injuries we had and we were a much better tacking team than this year. Did we go soft in practice and now the injuries are taking their toll? I don't know if that is a valid observation or not. Just asking because we have never been decimated by injuries like we have this year.

[ManAboutTown]

"

As I recall, we started the season with HUD saying we didn't want to practice too hard because we didn't want to risk injuries. Tackling was at a minimum. We never hear anymore about how tough our training camps are anymore. Seems like the harder we trained and practiced, the fewer injuries we had and we were a much better tacking team than this year. Did we go soft in practice and now the injuries are taking their toll? I don't know if that is a valid observation or not. Just asking because we have never been decimated by injuries like we have this year.

We reaching for answers now. The injuries fiasco is just a law of averages catching up to us. While "technique tackling" isn't a huge point of teach at the high school level anymore, it doesn't take a reasonably intelligent player to figure it out once they get to college.

Listen to the interviews. The players are telling you guys what's going on. It's what a handful of guys have been reporting on this site since Akron: chemistry (aka locker room issues).

[CrazyCajun]

"

As I recall, we started the season with HUD saying we didn't want to practice too hard because we didn't want to risk injuries. Tackling was at a minimum. We never hear anymore about how tough our training camps are anymore. Seems like the harder we trained and practiced, the fewer injuries we had and we were a much better tacking team than this year. Did we go soft in practice and now the injuries are taking their toll? I don't know if that is a valid observation or not. Just asking because we have never been decimated by injuries like we have this year.

I think that has something to do with it, some of it is just luck or bad luck. It's easy to say it but when you are watching people drop like flies at practice, it's hard to keep turning up the intensity. Not only that, a lot of guys had offseason surgery and were also recovering from injuries suffered during the season. If you have limited number of bodies at practice, you can't go like you want. It's not a science but I agree it seems what made us tough and finish games was our offseason program. It made us mentally tough and that's how you close out games.

[duggie85]

Have the team captains called any team meetings or jumped the problematic teammates @$$'?? Done anything to take hold of the situation as leaders??

[CajunT]

Losing creates lockerroom problems when there otherwise would have been none

Conversely winning can mask a multitude of lockerroom problems.

When I hear "chemistry problems" I hear "players are not on the same page"

Turbine, I'm certain at times that is the case. But players may not be on the same page for a number of reasons, including not buying into your system. Coach Robichaux has always stated one person can become a cancer in your locker room and chemistry is important in winning or losing.

[CajunNation]

Who did the players select as Team Captain?

Has that Team Captain been treated fairly by the Coaching Staff?

[Just1More]

Turbine, I'm certain at times that is the case. But players may not be on the same page for a number of reasons, including not buying into your system. Coach Robichaux has always stated one person can become a cancer in your locker room and chemistry is important in winning or losing.

That's interesting. I wonder what aspect of the defensive system they're not buying into? Regardless, it sure seems odd for a Hud staff to lose control of player chemistry. He's such a good motivational guy. I have no doubt Hud has seen players that disrupt the system before and knows how to deal with them. I imagine keeping all of your student-athletes pulling the rope in the same direction isn't all that easy. And if the disruptive athletes are starters, there's no solution that doesn't harm the team... at least in the short run. Bummer to hear that.

[Turbine]

Turbine, I'm certain at times that is the case. But players may not be on the same page for a number of reasons, including not buying into your system. Coach Robichaux has always stated one person can become a cancer in your locker room and chemistry is important in winning or losing.

Thanks for the clarification.

Generally when I say "on the same page" I mean cut left< >throw right.

[duggie85]

I have an idea: whoever the bad apples are, tell them to pack their shat. We're about to go 4-8, we sure as hell won't miss them.

A simple conduct detrimental to the team explanation and a best of luck. Off you go.