Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns arrived back in Lafayette from Miami around 7pm Saturday evening, thanks to the early kickoff at FIU. The team put their disappointing loss behind them and started to prepare for Arkansas State on Sunday night. Following Monday's day off, the Cajuns worked their normal game preparation practices on Tuesday and Wednesday to get ready for their second of three straight road games. The team will practice on Thursday before flying out on Friday afternoon for Memphis. A one-hour bus ride awaits the team upon arrival to get to Jonesboro, Ark.
Five questions for defensive backs coach Hurlie Brown...
How has practice gone this week?
Brown: "It was more focused. The guys want it...they came out more focused and disappointed and upset that they lost last weekend and are ready to step it up and make sure we win a game."
What has contributed to the Cajuns collecting more interceptions than the past few seasons?
Brown: "We put more emphasis on it. Our motto is TNT (tackles and turnovers) and we've been preaching that to our players and they've accepted that. That's what they go out thinking and practice that way. Our game is to create turnovers, get the ball back to our offense and get off the field."
What are the strengths of the ASU offense?
Brown: "They have an exceptional running game with Corey Leonard and Reggie Arnold. That's probably one of the best one-two punches in the Sun Belt Conference. Corey Leonard is a great quarterback...not only can he run the football, but he has good arm. They have a great receiver in Brandon Thompkins. They can spread it out. It's a good, explosive offense and at any given time they can light up the scoreboard. Watching them on film, you can tell that they are a good football team."
The defense played well at FIU, but there is room for improvement?
Brown: "We left a lot of plays on the field, and that's what the players saw. The best characteristic this group has is that the defense as a whole wants to be great. They were hurting after the (FIU) game. They're looking for answers, wanting to know why we didn't win because they felt that they give it all that they had. But, when they reviewed the film they saw that we made mistakes. We didn't capitalize on several of the opportunities that were there."
This week is the second of three straight on the road, but nobody on the team looks at it that way?
Brown: "It's a credit to the routine. Coach Bustle does a great job of trying to keep everything the same...the only difference is that going on the road we have to get on an airplane. Our guys have grown accustomed to it. The players are mature enough to know how to focus. They understand that there's going to be distractions, but they police themselves in making sure they know how to handle it."
Official Louisiana Injury Report (as of Wednesday, November 4, 2009 for game on 11/7): Kyron Benoit, LB (ankle - probable), Brad Bustle, OL (shoulder - probable), Richard Brooks, LB (foreman - probable, upgraded from doubtful), Chris Fisher, OL (knee - probable), Ladarius Green, TE (neck - out, downgraded from doubtful), Dusty Mack, TE (shoulder - out), Brad McGuire, QB (foot - doubtful), Brandon Williams, TE (foot - out), LaQuincy Williams, DT (knee - probable, upgraded from doubtful); Trace Wilson, DL (knee - out).