I'd expect this game to be a bigger test than Rice (obviously) or Arkansas. This team ended the year ranked #15 and they return almost everyone. Moreover, the Cajuns are very well-coached. Billy Napier made the short list of quite a few programs searching for a coach during the off-season, and reportedly turned down at least one offer. They return almost all starters from a Sun Belt champion team. They also have utilized the portal with incoming transfers from Texas A&M (RB Jacob Kibodi), TCU (WR John Stephens Jr.), ULM (OL T.J. Fiailoa) and Nebraska (OL Matthew Anderson).
The Cajuns on offense:
They've got an experienced QB and a pretty good OL. QB Levi Lewis is a 5th year player and is 24-4 as a starter with 54 career TDs to 14 INTs. The Cajuns' OL was among the best in the nation in pass protection and was fifth in tackles for loss allowed. All five starters and most of the key backups return around all-stars Max Mitchell at tackle and O’Cyrus Torrence at guard. So up front, it's their strength vs our strength. There should be some serious smash mouth football in the trenches when we're on D. As good as their O line is, our D line is better. Still, it will be a solid early test of just how good our D front really is. Our Edge guys need to get at Levi Lewis while keeping contain, as he's also a pretty fair runner (5 rushing TDs). Our interior DTs need to show their Guards and Center what it means to play against a Texas D front!!! U. La. likes tall receivers. 6'3" Kyren Lacy led team with 28 catches for 364 yards and four scores, and 6'3" Jalen Williams made even more deep plays and scored four times. Adding another big body is 6'2" Peter LeBlanc*, who finished third with 23 catches.
*are there any posters on this board who don't know at least one LeBlanc from Louisiana...?
The Cajuns on defense:
They've got a rep for a good pass defense. The Cajuns allowed just 355 yards and 22 points per game. The pass D gave up just 171 yards per game and picked off 16 throws. Up front, Jake Majors will have an early test against big all-conference NT Tayland Humphrey 6'5" 333 lbs. Humphrey is joined by all conference Zi'Yon Hill 283 lbs up front on the D Line. Hill is quick and a good pass rusher, and finished third on the team behind 2 LBs. Their secondary looks pretty stout as well. All-star safety Bralen Trahan intercepted four passes, corners Eric Garror and Mekhi Garner each came up with three, and they can all tackle. LBs Lonenzo McCaskill and Ferrod Gardner aren't big, but they're fast and are the top two tacklers. Gardner is great at getting in the backfield – he’s the team’s best pass rusher – from his spot on the inside, and Chauncey Manac is like a hybrid pass rusher on the outside. Our pass blocking will get an early test.
"Louisiana ranked second nationally in pass efficiency D and held seven of 11 opponents below 200 passing yards."
I'd expect us to try to establish the run and work a lot of play action passes. Bijan and the blocking may carry the day, as Card or Casey will face one of the better pass defenses we'll see all year. Control the ball, wear out their defense--especially big 333lb NT Humphrey , and keep their D on the field and their O off the field. Humphrey and Hill sound good, but they don't have the sort of big DT depth we do--330lb+ guys wear out fast and need lots of rest. Look out if Card/Casey are finding angry Cajuns in their faces 2-3 seconds after the snap.
I expect to win. Bijan runs for 150+ and our outstanding D front beats their good O front. We'd better block at least so-so, or better, up front on O though...
Big NT Tayland Humphrey #99 leads the Cajun D. Jake Majors--be ready for a big early test against a good 'un.
5th year Senior QB Levy Lewis leads the Cajun O.
Oh yeah, we will have no early season hot weather advantage against this bunch. If anything, it's the opposite. Ever been in South Louisiana in late Summer?
Louisiana Football: 2021 Ragin' Cajuns Season Preview and Prediction
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns: CFN College Football Preview 2021
The top five Ragin’ Cajun football players
Ferrod Gardner - Football - Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
The Cajuns on offense:
They've got an experienced QB and a pretty good OL. QB Levi Lewis is a 5th year player and is 24-4 as a starter with 54 career TDs to 14 INTs. The Cajuns' OL was among the best in the nation in pass protection and was fifth in tackles for loss allowed. All five starters and most of the key backups return around all-stars Max Mitchell at tackle and O’Cyrus Torrence at guard. So up front, it's their strength vs our strength. There should be some serious smash mouth football in the trenches when we're on D. As good as their O line is, our D line is better. Still, it will be a solid early test of just how good our D front really is. Our Edge guys need to get at Levi Lewis while keeping contain, as he's also a pretty fair runner (5 rushing TDs). Our interior DTs need to show their Guards and Center what it means to play against a Texas D front!!! U. La. likes tall receivers. 6'3" Kyren Lacy led team with 28 catches for 364 yards and four scores, and 6'3" Jalen Williams made even more deep plays and scored four times. Adding another big body is 6'2" Peter LeBlanc*, who finished third with 23 catches.
*are there any posters on this board who don't know at least one LeBlanc from Louisiana...?
The Cajuns on defense:
They've got a rep for a good pass defense. The Cajuns allowed just 355 yards and 22 points per game. The pass D gave up just 171 yards per game and picked off 16 throws. Up front, Jake Majors will have an early test against big all-conference NT Tayland Humphrey 6'5" 333 lbs. Humphrey is joined by all conference Zi'Yon Hill 283 lbs up front on the D Line. Hill is quick and a good pass rusher, and finished third on the team behind 2 LBs. Their secondary looks pretty stout as well. All-star safety Bralen Trahan intercepted four passes, corners Eric Garror and Mekhi Garner each came up with three, and they can all tackle. LBs Lonenzo McCaskill and Ferrod Gardner aren't big, but they're fast and are the top two tacklers. Gardner is great at getting in the backfield – he’s the team’s best pass rusher – from his spot on the inside, and Chauncey Manac is like a hybrid pass rusher on the outside. Our pass blocking will get an early test.
"Louisiana ranked second nationally in pass efficiency D and held seven of 11 opponents below 200 passing yards."
I'd expect us to try to establish the run and work a lot of play action passes. Bijan and the blocking may carry the day, as Card or Casey will face one of the better pass defenses we'll see all year. Control the ball, wear out their defense--especially big 333lb NT Humphrey , and keep their D on the field and their O off the field. Humphrey and Hill sound good, but they don't have the sort of big DT depth we do--330lb+ guys wear out fast and need lots of rest. Look out if Card/Casey are finding angry Cajuns in their faces 2-3 seconds after the snap.
I expect to win. Bijan runs for 150+ and our outstanding D front beats their good O front. We'd better block at least so-so, or better, up front on O though...
Big NT Tayland Humphrey #99 leads the Cajun D. Jake Majors--be ready for a big early test against a good 'un.
5th year Senior QB Levy Lewis leads the Cajun O.
Oh yeah, we will have no early season hot weather advantage against this bunch. If anything, it's the opposite. Ever been in South Louisiana in late Summer?
Louisiana Football: 2021 Ragin' Cajuns Season Preview and Prediction
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns: CFN College Football Preview 2021
The top five Ragin’ Cajun football players
Ferrod Gardner - Football - Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
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