NT prepares for run-heavy offense

MeanGreen61 · November 4, 2005

Linebackers look to stun Ragin’ Cajuns ground game

Rian Johnson

Staff Writer

November 04, 2005

The Mean Green linebackers have been one of the most consistent aspects of its roster this season. That unit will play a key role in determining the outcome of NT’s game against Louisiana-Lafayette Saturday.

The Ragin’ Cajuns team brings a style of offense similar to that of Texas, in which the quarterback has various options on every play. NT coach Darrell Dickey said the linebackers will play a big role in stopping that type of offense.

“Against this style of offense, you have to play your assignments correctly,” Dickey said. “You can’t just run up the field. The linebackers are going to have to do a good job of keying [where the ball is].”

The Louisiana-Lafayette offense relies mostly on the run. And thus far, it has proved very effective in Sun Belt play. The Ragin’ Cajuns squad is number one in the Sun Belt in rushing offense, averaging 265.5 yards per game on the ground. What’s more impressive, that stat has Louisiana-Lafayette ranked as the number ten offense in the NCAA.

Dickey is very impressed with the offense the Ragin’ Cajuns has shown.

“Their offensive line is really good…They are getting big plays off of it, they are not making mistakes,” Dickey said.

In addition to its top ranking in rush offense, the Ragin’ Cajuns offense is in the top three of five additional offensive categories in the Sun Belt. It is third in both scoring offense (22.5 points per game) and total offense (369.5 yards per game). It is second in the conference in both first down yardage and third-down conversions. It is the number one Sun Belt team in the red zone, coming away with points on all 13 trips against conference opponents.

Louisiana-Lafayette has two different players averaging more than 85 yards per game on the ground against conference opponents in Michael Desormeaux and Tyrell Fenroy. Josh Harrison also adds 50 yards per game on the ground in Sun Belt play for an offense that has put up 30 points or more in two of its last three games.

“They have really been a team that has gotten stronger as the season has gone on…This is a team we are going to have to be at our best to beat,” Dickey said.