Why? Had time to look at, I guess
UL's offensive woes continue
Mike Desormeaux suffered a torn meniscus in the fourth quarter of a 59-30 win over North Texas on Oct. 11. Since setting the program's modern-day scoring record that night, UL's playbook was cut back and the offensive production has dipped as opponents have keyed on running back Tyrell Fenroy. Desormeaux even missed one game before returning to wear a specialty brace on his injured knee, which will require surgery after the season.
The idea was opposing defenses would rather give up some yards to a banged-up Desormeaux instead of a relatively healthy Doak Walker Award semifinalist. That defensive shift has kept UL from scoring on any plays longer than 50 yards in the past three weeks.
After losing their 1st 2 games to Smiss and Ill, the Cajuns won three of their next four games while producing plenty of offensive fireworks. During that span, they averaged 46 points and 623.5 yards per game and had 11 touchdowns covering at least 50 yards - still the most in the nation this season.
Now on a three-game losing streak, UL (5-6 overall, 4-2 Sun Belt) saw its offense bottom out in last week's 48-3 loss to Troy. Desormeaux had his best rushing effort since getting hurt with 136 yards, but Fenroy was held to 23 yards. The Cajuns finished with a season-low 255 yards and failed to score a touchdown for the first time since 2006. That came one week after being held to seven points through the first 52 minutes of a 40-29 loss to Florida Atlantic.
Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns continued to struggle with injuries to key players, losing 48-3 at Troy on Saturday. Running back Tyrell Fenroy injured his shoulder in the first half and was limited to 10 carries for 23 yards. He did make two receptions for nine yards.
Injuries:
LaLa
Most inj’s for Wed listed as ? and none are starters except for RB Fenroy ( Probable). A little banged up at BURB, CB and LB.
Running back Tyrell Fenroy injured his shoulder in the first half and was limited to 10 carries for 23 yards. He did make two receptions for nine yards.
MTS:
No key inj.
"I think that thing (offensive play-calling) has kind of snowballed a little bit toward being too predictable," HC Bustle said. "That's why I'm saying that we've got to open our playbook back up and do some things and get other people involved in the game.
A good place to start going into Wednesday's regular-season finale against Middle Tennessee (5-6, 3-3) would be with wide receiver Jason Chery and tight end Ladarius Green.
Chery gained national attention for his production in wins over ULM and UNT, accounting for 657 yards and seven touchdowns on a combined 23 touches. That's an average of nearly 29 yards per touch
In the five games since his back-to-back outbursts, Chery has gained 527 yards and scored once on 46 touches. The past two weeks the senior has even taken five snaps out of the shotgun in UL's version of the "Wild Hog" formation made famous last season by Arkansas and running back Darren McFadden. But he's only gained 16 yards on five rushes.
Chery's 1,783 all-purpose yards this season are the third-most in league history behind current Florida International wideout T.Y. Hilton (1,937 yards) and former UNT back Jamario Thomas (1,815 yards). He's 12th in the nation in all-purpose yards per game (162.1) and has scored 10 touchdowns, so he's obviously dangerous when he gets the ball in space
Green's involvement in the offense is limited to the passing game, but the true freshman has emerged as one of the league's top young receiving threats. The one-time Tulane basketball recruit is second on the team in receiving yards (263) and touchdown receptions (four) and third in receptions (21).
But his role has also diminished.
Green caught touchdown passes in three consecutive weeks against FIU, UTEP and FAU but against Troy was held without a catch for the first time in his career.
Desormeaux said he hasn't helped the offense by throwing six interceptions in the past three games. He had five in his previous seven games this season.
UL's offense, which had averaged more than 35 points per game, moved the chains on only one of 12 third-down tries and hardly resembled the nation's third-best running attack. The Cajuns got 136 rushing yards from quarterback Mike Desormeaux, who is playing with a torn meniscus in his right knee. But running back Tyrell Fenroy was held to 23 yards as UL rushed for only 183 yards - 100 yards below its season average.
Desormeaux also threw for only 72 yards, including a 34-yard completion to wide receiver Jason Chery in the second quarter, and was picked off once.
Going into the weekend, UL had the fifth-most penalties in the league with 80 and was tied for third-worst in the conference in penalty yards per game (59.8).
The winner becomes bowl eligible, while the loser will finish the season with a losing record. With a win, the Cajuns would gain bowl eligibility for the third time in four years. The Blue Raiders would become bowl eligible for the second time in three years with a win
UL's most recent bowl appearance came in a 26-25 loss to Tennessee State in the 1970 Grantland Rice Bowl. MTSU's most recent bowl berth came in a 31-14 loss to Central Michigan in the 2006 Motor City Bowl
Desormeaux now has 993 rushing yards this season, leaving him just short of making history with Fenroy as the Cajuns (5-6 overall, 4-2 Sun Belt) prepare for their final home game of the year. If Desormeaux can hit the 1,000-yard mark against the Blue Raiders (5-6, 3-3), he and Fenroy would become the first quarterback and running back combo in NCAA history to do so in back-to-back years.
The Blue Raiders won their third consecutive game with last with a 52-13 win over UNT, as running back Phillip Tanner set a Sun Belt record with six total touchdowns, five rushing and one kickoff return.
UL's run defense needs a major overhaul after allowing Troy to gain 391 of its 459 yards on the ground. While the Trojans threw only 20 times for 68 yards - they entered last week leading the league in passing yards per game (270.2) - running back DuJuan Harris ran for a career-best 234 yards and two touchdowns and threw for another score
At home this season, UL is 3-1. Its only loss came to UTEP, 37-24, on Nov. 8 in its most recent home game.
MTS is 1-6 on the rd TY with L’s at Troy, Ky, Ark St, FIU, Looville, and MsSt. Only rd W was vs. Wky. A pretty tough rd sked with biggest loss at Loo by 19. MTS scored at least 14 and 21-23 at MsSt, LOO, and FIU.
Louisiana
*Oct 04, 2008 at ULM W 44-35
*Oct 11, 2008 at North Texas W 59-30
*Oct 18, 2008 ARKANSAS STATE W 28-23
*Nov 01, 2008 FIU W 49-20
*Nov 15, 2008 at FAU L 29-40
*Nov 22, 2008 at Troy L 3-48
Middle Tennessee
Aug. 28 TROY* 17-31 L
Sept. 20 at Arkansas State* 14-31 L
Sept. 30 FLORIDA ATLANTIC* 14-13 W
Oct 11 at FIU* 21-31 L
Nov. 8 ULM* 24-21 W
Nov. 22 North Texas* 52-13 W
UL is 4-1 SU L5 vs. MTSt, losing at home in ‘06 34-20.
Last year Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns shocked Middle Tennessee 34-24 on Saturday, spoiling the Blue Raiders Senior Day and homecoming. Louisiana piled-up 528 yards of total offense, more than
double the 256 yards of total offense by MT. In addition to allowing the fewest yards this season, the defense recorded 14 tackles-for-loss and four sacks. UL won the game in the second half, outscoring the Blue Raiders 20-3 and gaining 305 yards of offense compared to just
84 yards by MT.
UL (5-6, 4-2) can still capture a share of the Sun Belt Conference title, but must defeat Middle Tennessee and hope Arkansas State (5-5, 3-2) tops Troy (7-4, 5-1) on Dec. 6.
The Cajuns Record in 2008 when…
Trailing 1st Q 2-5
Leading at half 4-0
Trailing at half 1-6
Came back from a two touchdown or greater deficit –
11/10/07 at Middle Tennessee, trailed 14-0 at 13:59 of 2nd quarter
Under 30 is the mark…
UL is 21-9 in Sun Belt Conference play when holding their opponent under 30 points. The Cajuns are 4-19 all-time when allowing 30+ points in SBC play.
TEAMS WITH THE FEWEST SCHOLARSHIP SENIORS
1. Alabama – 9
Middle Tennessee – 9
11. Illinois – 13
Indiana – 13
Iowa – 13
Kent State – 13
Louisiana - 13
MTS has a chance for PaPa John bowl as SEC did not fill it’s contracted spot, but must win vs. LaLa. Finishing win 4 str wins and a win over Maryland coupled with good play vs. BCS schools looks appetizing to bowl exec Mark Meadows. MTS’s also located just 184 miles from bowl site.
MTSU coach Rick Stockstill said he was confident that a win Wednesday would put his team into a bowl somewhere, but exploring such possibilities was pointless before earning bowl eligibility.
MTS Sr SQB Craddock needs 315 Pyds to set the single season record. He has just 6 INTs in 339 Patt.
In 36 games of the Rick Stockstill era, the Blue Raiders are an impressive +24 in turnover margin
MT ranks 15th nationally in tackles for loss (7.14)
NCAA TEAM RANKINGS
CATEGORY………………… MT ULL
Rushing Off………………… 106 5
Passing Off………………….. 36 92
Total Off……………………… 75 14
Scoring Off ………………….. 88 27
Passing Effi ciency …………..53 42
Rushing Defense …………….80 111
Pass Effi ciency Defense ……51 94
Total Defense ………………..68 106
Scoring Defense ……………..50 104
Pass Defense …………………65 71
Net Punting……………………102 59
Punt Returns……………………89 25
Kickoff Returns ………………..89 86
Turnover Margin ………………28 100
3rd Down Conversion (off .) ….70 18
Middle Tennessee has allowed just two 100-yard rushers in the series
and both came in last year’s game when Michael Desormeaux (175 yards) and
Tyrell Fenroy (100) topped triple digits.
DEFENSE KEY TO WIN STREAK
�� A major reason for Middle Tennessee’s current three game
winning streak has been the steady play of the defense.
Over the past three games, the defense has allowed just 14.7
points per contest and an average of 364.3 yards of total off ense.
The unit has also been very disruptive as they have recorded 32
tackles for loss, 15 sacks, forced six turnovers, and blocked two kicks.
When Middle Tennessee outscores its SBC opponent in
the second half it carries a mark of 8-0 and have a record of 3-5 when the opponent puts up more points than the Blue
Raiders in the final two periods (the three wins were against FIU, twice, and ULM). On the road in SBC play the Blue
Raiders have won the second half scoring, 156-111, in 10 games.
The Blue Raiders are 41-8 in the I-A era when leading at the half and are 44-8 when leading a game entering the 4th quarter during that time.
Obvious advantage to MTS in SOS. MTS has better o’all defensive numbers which includes 4 BCS school opps. LaLa’s poor pass D plays into MTS’s strength as does LaLa’s rush O vs. MTS’ rush D. This is a degenerative gambler’s Game from the Crypt to even think about playing.
