Bustle plans to go with 2 quarterback format

MeanGreen61 · November 1, 2005

http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll.../511010344/1006

Bustle plans to go with two-quarterback format

Dan McDonald

dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com

The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns expect to use a two-quarterback system in Saturday's road game at North Texas, with a decision on the starter to be made just before kickoff.

Redshirt freshman Michael Desormeaux has skippered the squad since junior and three-year starter Jerry Babb suffered a shoulder injury on the fifth play of the Oct. 1 Central Florida game. UL lost that game and its next two, but has won its last two in last-minute fashion, 13-10 at Middle Tennessee and 31-28 in overtime against Troy last Saturday.

Desormeaux played the first two series against Troy when UL took a 14-0 lead, and Babb made his first appearance in four weeks in playing the next three series. Desormeaux was in for the final series of the first half and the entire second half.

"Jerry came in and did a nice job," Bustle said. "He had some drops and we had three drives stall around the 35. He was a little rusty on a couple of reads, but it was good to see him back in there. If we catch a couple of balls, we're not even talking about it ... he could have been 6-for-6 right off the bat."

Desormeaux threw for 86 yards on 6-of-10 completions and was the team's second-leading rusher with 64 yards including a three-yard touchdown run.

"Mike's had a couple of really good games and has been much more consistent," Bustle said.

Bustle said the two shared time in practice last week, but their shares would be even more balanced beginning in today's 3:45 p.m. practice.

"Last week Mike got all the work with the ones and Jerry all the work with the number twos," he said. "This week, we'll get equal work with the ones for both of them. We're not going to get far off our game plan with either one. I feel good that we've got two that are capable of getting the job done."

HOOTERS AWARDS: Fenroy was among the honorees of the Cajun coaching staff's weekly awards sponsored by Hooters and Credeur's Specialties. He was picked as offensive Player of the Game, while Tony Hills and Brenton Burkhalter were honored as defensive Players of the Game and Justin Lee was named special teams Player of the Game.

Deon Wallace and Brad Bustle were the offensive and defensive scout team players of the week and Rodney Hardeway won the Hammer Award for the team's biggest defensive hit.

TAKING THE KNEE: Bustle was queried both at Monday's Quarterback Club meeting and by media members about kneeling on the ball in the final 17 seconds of regulation Saturday, setting up the overtime. The Cajuns, tied 28-28 at the time, had two time outs remaining and were at their own 35-yard line.

"We hadn't really trained Mike for that situation," he said, "and Jerry hadn't played in two and a half quarters. With the passing game we've got in there for Mike, we didn't have anything that really fit there. And Jerry hadn't been in there to see what was going on in the game. I really felt that we were going to win it in overtime."

ANOTHER FROSH: For the second straight week the Cajuns will face a freshman quarterback, with Daniel Meager having started all year for the Mean Green. Meager, taking over for graduated two-time all-Sun Belt Conference pick Scott Hall, has completed 47.5 percent of his throws for 603 yards and only two touchdowns in seven games.

"You don't underestimate anybody just because they're a freshman," said safety Johnny Felders. "We still have to play sound. He's the leader of their offense and he's the first guy we have to stop."

FREDRICK'S PICK: Junior wide receiver Corey Fredrick has been UL's top receiver over the last two weeks, and said Monday he prefers catching the left-handed Desormeaux's passes. But it has nothing to do with a dislike of Babb's throwing.

"In junior college we had a left-handed quarterback both my years there," said Fredrick, who has eight catches for 141 yards in the last two games. "I'm just used to that. The ball spins differently and it's like a lefthander has more zip on it. But I'll catch them from either hand."

TRAVEL QUESTION: The Cajuns don't have a definite travel mode for Saturday's UNT game. Original plans for a charter flight were changed to buses due to university-wide budget cuts, but that could switch back.

"Right now we're planning on busing," Bustle said. "We're going to leave early Friday, stop and eat, and get there around 4:30 and do a walk-through."

TOP TEN: The Cajuns are ranked 10th nationally in rushing this week with a 227.4 average yards per game. Fenroy is tied for 55th nationally with 80.0 yards per game, and Desormeaux is 72nd with a 71.8 average.

UL's 1,819 team rushing yards this year is already the most since 1995 when the Cajuns totaled 1,970 ground yards. It's also in range of the school record of 2,273 season rushing yards, a mark set way back in 1951.

meangreendork · November 1, 2005

The D has handled a situation like this before, wasn't it this UL team or ASU who ran this format in that game>?

LongJim · November 1, 2005

Watched Babb this year vs. UT. He definitely has toughness, and will move the ball with his feet when necessary. UNT will have to contain him when he's on the field.

UNTFan23 · November 1, 2005

The D has handled a situation like this before, wasn't it this UL team or ASU who ran this format in that game>?
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NMSU used to rotate QBs based on what they wanted to accomplish on offense. One QB was a runner, the other was a better passer.

meangreendork · November 2, 2005

NMSU- there you go. One of the maroon/red and black teams.

greenwangy · November 2, 2005

Watched Babb this year vs. UT. He definitely has toughness, and will move the ball with his feet when necessary. UNT will have to contain him when he's on the field.
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[/quote
While Babb is a good runner, Desormeaux is by far the better of the two with his feet. He will surprise you with his speed and cuts.