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.
