U. of Louisiana Preview (& injury updates)

[Chop]

Two women--one a smokin' hot 21 one year old, and the other an elderly woman accompanying her--walk into Dr. Thibodeaux's office.

"We have come for an examination" said the gorgeous young woman.

"Mais alright. Go behind dat curtain and take you clothes off", said Dr. Thibodeaux.

"Oh, it's not for me", said the young femme, "It's for my old auntie here."

"Oh, well in dat case", Dr. Thibodeaux said to the older woman, "stick you tongue out cher."

 

[Sangre Naranjada]

Wait a minute... Are you suggesting we have offensive coaches who can effectively make in-game adjustments?

Is that even legal? I would hate to be penalized for doing something like that.

 

[Chop]

Is that even legal? I would hate to be penalized for doing something like that.

Maybe we can stretch the rules a bit (since we'll be going to the SEC soon) and make some effective halftime adjustments as well. Or really go out on a limb and come in prepared for the game from the kickoff forward (that might be asking a bit much...).

Earnestly, I really do think this new regime can coach (and in a way we haven't seen around here in a long, long time), but we'll soon find out.

 

[Chop]

Winning this game by a good margin may even help sway some of the Louisiana recruits we're after.

Per the AP:

Texas #21
Louisiana #23
Arkansas - Not rated, not a single vote received

AP Top 25 Poll

Yeah, the Cajuns should be a tougher opponent than the Hogs. Our coaches and players better treat this game like we're playing #16 LSU. And starting around 4:40, and again around 6:45, in the video below is a preview of what would happen if this year's U. La. team played this year's Hogs.

 

[BevoJoe]

Thanks for analysis Chop
Except now I will agonize for next 2 weeks 1 day and 18 hours

I'm in that boat with you Horn6721 . . .did you bring any beer?

 

[old65horn]

 

[WorsterMan]

As Bill In Sinton would say: FOCUS !!!

 

[WorsterMan]

Chop, just now read your post about Humphrey...

Gosh this guy is a BEAST and scares me what Majors and the guards are going to have to do game day. They may not be able to effectively block him but only double team him, get in his way, slow him some, while we run away from him....

 

[BevoJoe]

Winning this game by a good margin may even help sway some of the Louisiana recruits we're after.

Per the AP:

Texas #21
Louisiana #23
Arkansas - Not rated, not a single vote received

AP Top 25 Poll

Yeah, the Cajuns should be a tougher opponent than the Hogs. Our coaches and players better treat this game like we're playing #16 LSU. And starting around 4:40, and again around 6:45, in the video below is a preview of what would happen if this year's U. La. team played this year's Hogs.

Is that the Louisiana or Arkansas halftime show? Looks like it was filmed on one or the other's campus.

 

[Chop]

Chop, just now read your post about Humphrey...

Gosh this guy is a BEAST and scares me what Majors and the guards are going to have to do game day. They may not be able to effectively block him but only double team him, get in his way, slow him some, while we run away from him....

Definitely a huge test for our C and Guards. We may contain him, but don’t look for us to regularly drive him back 3 yards, or anything like that… Looks like he was the best DL in the nation (or close to it) coming out of high school, but must have had some academic issues as he went to junior college. NFL type raw talent.

A preview or two also suggested that Hill (the smaller quicker interior DT) messes stuff up in the backfield a lot because Humphrey draws so many double teams. These guys are for real. Our OL will be tested early.

 

[BevoJoe]

Maybe we can stretch the rules a bit (since we'll be going to the SEC soon) and make some effective halftime adjustments as well. Or really go out on a limb and come in prepared for the game from the kickoff forward (that might be asking a bit much...).

BINGO!!! That would be quite novel in and of itself. When was the last time we saw a "fully prepared" team or effective HT adjustments made?

 

[BevoJoe]

I noticed over the past 7 seasons that our coaching staffs have generally adopted Einstein's definition of insanity as they "keep doing the same things over and over again, expecting a different outcome each time", and ignoring Murphy's law which states, "anything that can go wrong, it will go wrong."

I hope Sark and Co. changes that mind set.

 

[Chop]

More Rajin Cajun perspective:



I don't think QB Levy Lewis is all that good. We might bring a lot of numbers up near the line and make Lewis try to beat us in the air. I don't see them scoring many points on us. Their D seems to be legit though, DL and secondary especially, so we'll find out real quick how good our O is. As mentioned upthread, superior talent at our RB position may carry the day. I've also heard somewhere that Sark is a pretty good play caller...

C'mon Horns! Let's turn the Rajin Cajuns into the Mild-Mannered Acadians at our opener.

 

[RainH2burntO]

Winning this game by a good margin may even help sway some of the Louisiana recruits we're after.

Per the AP:

Texas #21
Louisiana #23
Arkansas - Not rated, not a single vote received

AP Top 25 Poll

Yeah, the Cajuns should be a tougher opponent than the Hogs. Our coaches and players better treat this game like we're playing #16 LSU. And starting around 4:40, and again around 6:45, in the video below is a preview of what would happen if this year's U. La. team played this year's Hogs.

Is that real footage of a Louisiana-Lafayette tailgate??

 

[Chop]

More Tayland Humphrey, if there's not enough already to motivate Jake Majors and our guards.

 

[Chop]

Montrell Johnson (RB) and Mason Narcisse (Freshman DL) shined for the Cajuns in a 145 play scrimage. The fact that they have other good DL, besides just Tayland Humphrey, like Hill and now Narcisse, means it will be a big test for our entire OL. The tackling was apparently a bit weak though (15 missed tackles), and they fumbled a lot...

DLs Kendall Wilkinson (upper body day-to-day), Jasper Williams (upper body day-to-day), and Sonny Hazard (wrist surgery 3-4 weeks) suffered injuries. Their lack of DL depth means we may wear out big Humphrey if we can sustain drives. Maybe some up-tempo for that purpose as well. OL King McGowan is also out 2-3 weeks.

Montrell Johnson, Mason Narcisse open some eyes for No. 23 Cajuns in first scrimmage

This game will be no promenade de gateau--certainly not our O vs their D.
Above all, let's BLOCK and TACKLE well.
So much of winning football is executing the fundamentals.

 

[FWHORN]

One word:

MUDHOLE!

 

[Chop]

I also hope we mudhole U La.
I think we’re more likely to just get the W vs the Cajuns, and then mudhole Rice and Arkansas.
If we mudhole this year’s Cajun team, we’ve got ourselves a top 10 team this year no doubt.
These former directional schools get no respect.

 

[NRHorn]

Guys and Gals,
Major has been going against Coburn.
He will be good.

 

[Chop]

I think Majors is good. His quick and low fire-out from the line results in him frequently beating bigger and stronger players. Majors gets into the DT/NT's body right off the bat and at a low/good-leverage level. Coburn is one of the few NTs out there equal to or better than Tayland Humphrey. So yeah, that's some good practice. Has Majors been besting Coburn more often than not in practice? Could be, but I'd be surprised.

Folks, this is the tough pre-conference test. Arkansas sucks compared to this year's Cajun team. (of course, some might say Arkansas sucks as a matter of principle... )

Arkansas got 0 votes in the AP poll.
Arkansas got a whopping 3 votes in the coaches poll, putting them at #52 in the nation according to the coaches (or their grad assistants).
Louisiana is #23 in both the AP and the coaches poll.

2021 College Football Rankings for Preseason | ESPN

 

[nashhorn]

Nice report chop but my feelings are always pre season polls are meaningless.

 

[BevoJoe]

Above all, let's BLOCK and TACKLE well.

^^^^This IS the key.

 

[zztx1]

Game week walk through makes a lot of sense. Hopefully, Sark has the results we all anticipate and expect. He seems to be much more organized than Herman.

 

[RainH2burntO]

Some of this has been posted...but I feel worth noting again...
Louisiana quarterback Levi Lewis is 24-4 as a starter, and the team is returning 20 of its starters, along with the addition of six Power Five transfers. THAT is 20 Returning Starters + 5 P5 transfers for any aggy readers.
Also important to note Lala defeated Iowa St, one of the better, more talented defenses in the Big12...not barely... but 31-14....in Ames.
It has been said don't sleep...I think the warning should go beyond that and anyone who knows anything about football can watch the two teams and know this needs to be treated like the most important game of the year...not code yellow...code red.....and play like your life depends on it.
Never thought I'd be saying this, but I believe it an objectively informed opinion to say winning this game would be big, from a purely on-field perspective, in particular with our new-look, new-era timing and Lala peaking. I'm talking on the field...all perception, momentum, and all other factors aside.

 

[ViperHorn]

Some of this has been posted...but I feel worth noting again...
Louisiana quarterback Levi Lewis is 24-4 as a starter, and the team is returning 20 of its starters, along with the addition of six Power Five transfers. THAT is 20 Returning Starters + 5 P5 transfers for any aggy readers.
Also important to note Lala defeated Iowa St, one of the better, more talented defenses in the Big12...not barely... but 31-14....in Ames.
It has been said don't sleep...I think the warning should go beyond that and anyone who knows anything about football can watch the two teams and know this needs to be treated like the most important game of the year...not code yellow...code red.....and play like your life depends on it.
Never thought I'd be saying this, but I believe it an objectively informed opinion to say winning this game would be big, from a purely on-field perspective, in particular with our new-look, new-era timing and Lala peaking. I'm talking on the field...all perception, momentum, and all other factors aside.

Last year was last year, but Rain has convinced me that ULaLa will probably be a bigger test than the pig people on the 11th.

The weather will take a toll, but Texas has more talent down the roster. It may turn out like LSU in 2019, but this time ULaLa will not get away with the fake injuries to slow Texas down.

 

[IvanDiabloHorn]

We have better talent and should win by 10. However, a Texas 3 man defensive line against a fast opposing qb that can pass is not a good situation.

 

[ViperHorn]

We have better talent and should win by 10. However, a Texas 3 man defensive line against a fast opposing qb that can pass is not a good situation.

There will be four rushing on most downs (one will be standing up but might not always be the same guy).

 

[Chop]

Last year was last year, but Rain has convinced me that ULaLa will probably be a bigger test than the pig people on the 11th.

The weather will take a toll, but Texas has more talent down the roster. It may turn out like LSU in 2019, but this time ULaLa will not get away with the fake injuries to slow Texas down.

No question that the Cajuns are better than the Hogs this year.

 

[SabreHorn]

No question that the Cajuns are better than the Hogs this year.

Never discount hate; the Hogs hate us, and they finally appear to have a good coach without a motorcycle. Playing in Washington County can be worse than playing in Brazos County.

Are we more talented? Yes
Should we win? Yes
Are we hungrier? Not even close

I expect a brutal first half. Hold on to the football, make the right reads, we should be ok. Give the Hogs life, and we will be in trouble.

 

[Chop]

Probably a good game for a lot of misdirection and play action passes. Use their hog hate against them.