Clean-Up Week Awaits Cajuns

Clean-Up Week Awaits Cajuns

BOBBY ARDOIN

Editor/Consulting Writer

There were apparently enough self-inflicted mistakes committed by his football team on Saturday to make Louisiana head football coach Mike Desormeaux declare a clean-up emergency.

Practices this week will no doubt feature several days of fundamental corrections and introspection as the Louisiana players erase issues that featured prominently in a 41-33 loss to Tulane before 22,534 on a broiling hot Cajun Field playing surface.

“We are still not where we need to be,” Desormeaux said shortly after the game.

Television camera crews reported temperatures reaching as high as 138 degrees on the artificial turf and the final result had Desormeaux visibly simmering with concern.

It was also a final result that denied the Cajuns a first 3-0 start since 2020.

At his postgame press conference Desormeaux had already compiled a mental list of problems  the Cajuns (now 2-1) will need to address.

One of them won’t be handling sauna-like afternoon playing conditions.

“We embrace (hot weather). It’s who we are. We live in Southwest Louisiana,” Desormeaux said.

Instead there will be special practice emphasis on kickoff coverage, tackling technique and handling third down situations defensively.

Each played a crucial role in a loss that Desormeaux said occurred “in a game that mattered.”

Tulane ran for 272 yards. Much of that yardage, Desormeaux said, came because the Cajuns tackled sloppily.

“They ran through a lot of arm tackles. We had a guy there (to make a tackle) and they ran right through us. You’ve got to make tackles, wrap up, knock them back. (Tulane) teed it up and ran at will. We are going to challenge (his players) to get this corrected,” Desormeaux pointed out.

Louisiana and Tulane (2-2) traded touchdowns and field goals for most of the first half until one of two pivotal Cajuns’ mistakes affected the outcome.

Tulane defensive back Jack Tichienchou returned an interception 38-yards that helped put the Green Wave ahead 17-10 with a minute and 40 seconds left before halftime.

Louisiana responded with a game-tying Ken Almondares field goal to deadlock things at 17 with 25 seconds left.

Then Wave returner Rayshawn Pleasant opened the third quarter with a 94-yard kickoff return. The Cajuns afterward faced a continued uphill climb.

The pick six, Desormeaux felt, was a result of a miscommunication between receiver and quarterback.

“It was an option route and (quarterback Ben Woolridge) thought one way and our receiver thought another way. That is one that I would like to have back,” said Desormeaux.

Desormeaux was also concerned about the kickoff return.

Louisiana stresses kick coverage rather than kicking into the end zone to prevent runback.

“We have good athletes to cover (kickoffs). We need to cover better than that,” said Desormeaux.

Tulane converted nine of 14 third down situations. Louisiana was two of nine.

“Third down is something that is huge for us every week. Sometimes you get that stop and I don’t think we got that key stop when we needed it,” Desormeaux added.