 |
| |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
There is much work to do on the bayou. Only eight starters return from last season's team that finished 3-9 (2-4 Sun Belt) and lost all seven road games. Among other things, Bustle is looking for new starters at quarterback, running back and in the entire secondary. Throw in an ambitious schedule and any improvement over last year's record can be deemed a success. OFFENSIVE KEYS: Louisiana-Lafayette was second in the Sun Belt in passing offense last season but second-to-last in total offense. You guessed it: The Ragin' Cajuns were dead last in rushing, averaging less than two yards per carry and a woeful 61 yards per game.Quarterback Eric Rekieta , who started three games and appeared in all 12, missed spring practice after breaking his throwing hand and undergoing elbow surgery. Rekieta had a higher efficiency rating than 2002 starter Jon Van Cleave, so he could be quite an asset. Whoever emerges as the starting quarterback could grow up in a hurry thanks to Fred Stamps. Stamps was a first-team all-conference selection last year and has caught at least one pass in all 32 games of his collegiate career. Chester Johnson and Dwight Lindon both have experience and will try to muster up something that resembles a rushing attack. Johnson played in all 12 games as a true freshman and is more versatile. Up front, starting tackle Demetrios Brooks moves from the right to left side to make room for Corey Glover, who missed last season for personal reasons. DEFENSIVE KEYS: The defense ranked in the middle of the Sun Belt last year, but a depleted secondary and the loss of two starting tackles will hurt.Justin and Daniel Taylor could move into the tackle spots. The Cajuns look forward to a healthy Antonio Floyd, who led the squad with 14 tackles for a loss and five sacks, despite numerous nagging injuries. Ross Brupbacher returns at linebacker, having been granted a medical redshirt after going down with an injury in the third game last year. Returning starter Stanley Smith was third on the squad in tackles. The secondary will feature four new starters. The only player on the two-deep with experience is rover safety Jamal Smith, the team's top returning tackler. Cornerbacks Jerrell Carter and Terryl Fenton will need to step up after serving behind NFL prospects Charles Tillman and Ivan Taylor. An injury sidelined Carter for the final seven games, while Fenton's playing time increased significantly over the final month. SPECIAL TEAMS: There are talented toes on board with kicker Sean Comiskey and punter Grant Autrey. Comiskey converted 9-of-18 field goals last year while Autrey averaged nearly 40 yards per punt. In 2002, the Cajuns blocked seven kicks, but only one player with a deflection returns.FINAL ANALYSIS: Louisiana-Lafayette averaged a measly 42 yards rushing in its nine defeats last year. The number swelled to 118 in its three victories, illustrating the importance of a running game for the Ragin' Cajuns. Turnover margin, which was minus-8 a year ago, must also get closer to even if Louisiana-Lafayette wants to pull off an upset or two. A .500 record would be deemed a remarkable success for this squad.• Click here for complete index of 2003 team previews
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
