Smoke in the Southside: Your UAB Blazers Head to Lafayette

Photo credit: UAB Athletics

With the smell of victory still fresh in the air, lingering like the smoke that barrels off the chimneys of Full Moon BBQ, the Blazers of Birmingham get ready to roll into Lafayette after  a much-needed redemption win against our former coaches over in West Monroe. It hasn’t been easy, guys, but like our city, with scars and bruises that define the good, the bad, and the ugly, we are the flame that won’t go out.

And guess what, Louisiana? We ain’t done with y'he.

The Blazers head into Lafayette fresh off a W, and the Cajuns fresh off a long night in LA. Both enter the contest with 1-1 records. We both enter on a high note. The Cajuns put up 30 points on 14th-ranked USC Saturday night, and if you don’t know the name Lunch Winfield, you will come Sunday morning. The Cajuns have an electric offense, with Lunch being the key contributor with his legs and his arm. He rushed for nearly 100 yards and 2 tuddys against USC and threw for a little over 200 and a TD through the air.

When the Blazers play a running QB, all I can think of is my poor kid drenched the day we opened Protective and watching Malik Willis run amuck on us! There’s a little PTSD there. The good news is I think Austin Carlisle of ULM was the perfect prep for the Cajuns and what they will try to do. The Blazers D did a tremendous job making changes in the second half and kept ULM’s offense basically nonexistent.

The game plan should be simple. Tackle and tackle well, no stupid penalties, and do your job so the next guy can do his. ULL offense is fast; there are a ton of reads, and he can flick it to the boundary just as fast as he can hop in behind a guard. Sound, disciplined defense keeps us in this. Also, let’s bring some pressure. Lamar got to him multiple times and forced two picks. Let’s make him beat us with his arm. I expect my guys Muaaz Byrd and Ike Esonwune to be big all game long and have double-digit tackles.

Offensively, I haven’t seen anything that tells me Bam and RR2 won’t be able to run all over their defense. Ball control, clean up the penalties, and keep 3rd down short, and I don’t see them getting us off the field. Also, the passing game is there, and it is open. I think it’s Hindley’s business as usual: run the ball, pick up first downs, and we will make you quit. The O-line looks improved, and I love the three-headed dragon of Simpkins, Robinson, and Bam. We also know there’s some wheels in our receiving corps. I could see Ryder having a good day with his legs as well. As much as I love seeing Jonah trot out there for an automatic three, I want 7.

Also, I can tell you, this is not a Trent Dilfer team. This team is hungry. They show up to work, and they want to win now. No moral victories or glass and nails for breakfast, just results.