Louisiana-Lafayette's offense presents
some serious challenges to the Aztec defense. The Ragin'
Cajuns are averaging 32.3 points per game with their
lowest scoring total of the season coming in a 20-12 win
over Kent State. Quarterback Blaine Gautier has thrown
for 2,488 yards with 20 touchdowns and just five
interceptions for a 150.33 passing efficiency. ULL has
four players with at least 400 receiving yards and
another three with at least 46 catches. Javone Lawson
has team highs of 54 receptions and 899 yards, while
All-American tight end candidate Ladarius Green has 46
grabs for 485 yards and seven scores. Alonzo Harris
leads the team with 638 rushing yards and eight
touchdowns, while the duel-threat Gautier has 464
rushing yards and three scores.
Long and his staff are trying to keep the team
acclimated during this week and preparing them for the
Superdome.
"We try and keep the same daily routine we have
during a normal week of the season. We will try and get
everything done for the next opponent. This is something
special because we are inside. Most of our kids have not
played inside. The lighting is a little bit different. I
am sure when the University of Louisiana fans get here
the sound will be a little bit different because I heard
a bunch of them are coming. It is their home game. We
have to get use to the stadium and lights."
ROCKY LONG on what
scares him about the
Louisiana offense:
"Everybody. They
started off and were not
picked to be very good
and I saw them get
better and better every
week. The quarterback is an
excellent player. They
have the freshman of the
year at running back.
They have multiple
all-conference guys at
tight end and wide
receiver. Their
offensive lineman was
first-team
all-conference. There
whole offense is
explosive. Everything
about them scares me."
LEON
MCFADDEN on some challenges that the Louisiana-Lafayette
offense brings:
"They have multiple threats at wide
receiver. They have an All-American tight end, which is
pretty interesting seeing him play. We're going to have
to key in like we do every week and shut them down."
DEMETRIUS BARKSDALE on Louisiana-Lafayette's
offensive line:
"They're a nice sized offensive line. We'll have
our hands full. We'll have to get the job done to have
an opportunity to get to their quarterback."
LARRY GIBBS on what the defense's plan is against
Louisiana-Lafayette:
"With every great defense, you want to stop the
run. That's always how it is. If the other team is
running the ball, you are done for. The most important
thing is that we come out fast. Obviously we've had
trouble with that, so we come out fast, everything
should be OK."
AZTEC DEFENSE NOTES
In the second half of
the 12 games this
season, the Aztec
defense has allowed 72
points, 1,616 yards and
forced 18 turnovers
(that equates into the
following second-half
averages: 6.0 points,
134.7 yards and 1.5
forced turnovers).
San Diego State has
forced 27 turnovers (14
INT's, 13 FR's) on the
year. In 13 outings last
season, the Aztecs only
came up with 16
turnovers (10 INT's, 6
FR's).
SDSU has held four of
its 11 opponents under
the century mark in
passing yards including
Michigan (93 yards),
Army (43 yards), New
Mexico (88) and Colorado
State (52).
The Aztecs are tied for
11th in the country with
a +0.92 turnover margin.
