Cajuns aiming for a shootout
AggieYell.com continues its look at the matchup between Louisiana-Lafayette (1-1, 0-0 Sun Belt) and Texas A&M (1-1, 0-0 SEC) with a breakdown of the Ragin' Cajun offense against the Aggie defense.
Louisiana-Lafayette likely starters
QB: Jordan Davis (Jr.; 6'3", 205; 33-55, 471 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT passing; 22 carries, 149 yards, 2 TD rushing)
RB: Trey Regas (RS-Fr.; 5'11", 223; 15 carries, 191 yards, 4 TD)
WR (Z): Ja’Marcus Bradley (Soph.; 6'1", 195; 3 catches, 51 yards)
WR (Y): Michael Jacquet (Soph.; 6'2", 185; 5 catches, 41 yards)
TE: Raynard Ford (Sr.; 6'5", 294)
WR (X): Keenan Barnes (Jr.; 6'3", 208; 9 catches, 172 yards, 1 TD)
LT: Grant Horst (Sr.; 6'5", 302)
LG: Robert Hunt (Soph.; 6'5", 328)
C: Cole Prudhomme (Soph.; 6'3", 292)
RG: Kevin Dotson (Soph.; 6'4", 309)
RT: D’Aquin Withrow (Sr.; 6'6", 307)
Louisiana-Lafayette by the numbers
Scoring offense: 46.5 PPG (13th nationally, 1st Sun Belt)
Rushing offense: 244 YPG (24th nationally, 1st Sun Belt)
Passing offense: 235.5 YPG (61st nationally, 6th Sun Belt)
Total offense: 479.5 YPG (34th nationally, 3rd Sun Belt)
First downs: 42 (63rd nationally, 3th Sun Belt)
3rd down conversion percentage: 48% (31st nationally, 3rd Sun Belt)
4th down conversion percentage: 50% (54th nationally, 4th Sun Belt)
Red zone conversion percentage: 100% (1st nationally and Sun Belt)
Sacks allowed: 2 (23rd nationally, 1st Sun Belt)
Turnover +/-: +1 (2 takeaways, 1 giveaway)
Penalties/Yards: 11 for 40 yards
Texas A&M likely starters
DE: Jarrett Johnson (Sr.; 6'3", 265; 1 tackle, 1 TFL, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble)
DT: Kingsley Keke (Jr.; 6'4", 305; 4 tackles, 1 fumble recovery)
DT: Zaycoven Henderson (Sr.; 6'2", 305; 5 tackles, 1 TFL)
DE: Landis Durham (Jr.; 6'3", 255; 6 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack)
WLB: Otaro Alaka (RS-Jr.; 6'3", 240; 13 tackles)
MLB: Tyrel Dodson (Soph.; 6'2", 242; 13 tackles, 2 TFL, 2 sacks, 3 passes broken up, 1 INT)
Nickel: Priest Willis (RS-Sr.; 6'2", 205; 4 tackles)
S: Armani Watts (Sr.; 5'11", 205; 18 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 2 passes broken up)
S: Larry Pryor Jr. (RS-Soph.; 6', 205; 8 tackles, 1 pass broken up)
CB: Debione Renfro (Fr.; 6'2", 190; 1 tackle, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery)
CB: Myles Jones (Fr.; 6'4", 177; 5 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 fumble recovery, 1 pass broken up)
A&M's defense by the numbers
Scoring defense: 34 PPG (53rd nationally, 7th SEC)
Rushing defense: 68.5 YPG (14th nationally, 5th SEC)
Passing defense: 377.5 YPG (125th nationally, 14th SEC)
Total defense: 446 YPG (100th nationally, 13th SEC)
First downs allowed: 41 (82nd nationally, 11th SEC)
Tackles for loss: 11 (78th nationally, 11th SEC)
Sacks: 5 (36th nationally, 5th SEC)
Turnover +/-: +5 (5 takeaways, 0 giveaways; 3rd nationally, 1st SEC)
3rd down conversion percentage against: 32.1% (48th nationally, 8th SEC)
4th down conversion percentage against: 75% (104th nationally, 12th SEC)
What Louisiana-Lafayette wants to do
Keep A&M off balance with their run-pass option mix. This is the first really mobile quarterback A&M has seen, a type of player that has given A&M fits. Add in a running back that is averaging 12 yards a carry and ULL looks like it may have the best ground game the Aggies have seen.
Once the Aggies start sneaking up to the line, then the Ragin' Cajuns can take their shots down the field using playaction, misdirections and just flat out dropping back and going for broke. They've got size at all the receiver positions and a tight end who may as well be another tackle, so they've got guys who can get deep and solid protection. They go up tempo (102nd in time of possession), so they want to get a rhythm and keep going.
What A&M wants to do
Make the run-pass option a pass option. That means key on Davis as a running back, then either attack him or the back as soon as the reveal what they're doing. Then, press the pocket with blitzes. They need to do what they did in the second half against Nicholls and the first half against UCLA, not the quarters in between. If the Aggies attack defensively, then they should be able to slow down, if not shut down, ULL.