Post by fwp on May 16, 2010 7:19:35 GMT -5
www.theadvertiser.com/article/20100516/SPORTS/5160360/1006/Wildcatters-have-hopes-for-postseason-run
Lafayette Wildcatters coach Skip Foster doesn't really believe in the approach that losing games on the road is OK, because you're going to be able to make up for it at home.
With that said, his Wildcatters are now entering into a six-game stretch with five of those at the Cajundome. The first five games resulted in a 1-4 record with four road losses and one home win.
So beginning with today's 3 p.m. contest against the North Texas Crunch, Foster knows it's time for the Wildcatters to make some noise in the Southern Indoor Football League standings.
While North Texas(6-0) is technically a non-conference opponent, today's game is the first chance to begin playing at the level necessary for a postseason run.
"The organization has done a great job of making this a first-class situation," Foster said. "I've played in the very best AFL arenas in the country and believe me, the Cajundome is a first-class facility. Now it's up to us to make sure we're pretty together things on the field."
In the Wildcatters' case, Foster's primary focus is on the offensive side. Lafayette is third in the league in scoring defense at 52 points a game, but only fifth in scoring offense at 40.6 points a game.
"Our biggest thing right now is creating more offensive consistency," Foster said. "We've got to do a much better job of protecting the quarterback. We attempted three field goals from inside our own 5 (in the last game), because our offense is not on track.
Quarterback Bo Bartik is fifth in the league with 963 yards passing in five games on 79-of-167 passing with 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
His top receiving threat is Clyde Edwards, who has 27 receptions for 441 yards and nine touchdowns. The problem is that Edwards is the only Wildcatter among the league's top 10 receivers.
One thing the Wildcatters have done well on offense is rush the ball better than everyone else in the pass-happy league. Steven Korte is the league's leading rusher with 92 yards on 16 carries and one touchdown in four games on the 50-yard field.
Bartik is seventh in rushing himself with 42 yards on 17 carries.
If the offense becomes more explosive during this upcoming homestretch, the Wildcatters' defense appears ready to hold up its end.
"I thought we had a really good pass rush against the Swashbucklers and I think we've got the right defensive backs out there in order to play good defense," Foster said. "We just have a few things to clean up on defense, but we're very close to being where we need to be on defense.
"We just need to be more consistent on offense. And believe me, I'm not pointing any fingers. I'm the offensive coordinator. We're working on things on offense. We just have to put it together and score."
In order to reach the postseason, the Wildcatters must finish in the top four in the SIFL standings. As a result, Foster foresees Lafayette needing to win five of the next six games to be in position to legitimately make a late run.
Lafayette Wildcatters coach Skip Foster doesn't really believe in the approach that losing games on the road is OK, because you're going to be able to make up for it at home.
With that said, his Wildcatters are now entering into a six-game stretch with five of those at the Cajundome. The first five games resulted in a 1-4 record with four road losses and one home win.
So beginning with today's 3 p.m. contest against the North Texas Crunch, Foster knows it's time for the Wildcatters to make some noise in the Southern Indoor Football League standings.
While North Texas(6-0) is technically a non-conference opponent, today's game is the first chance to begin playing at the level necessary for a postseason run.
"The organization has done a great job of making this a first-class situation," Foster said. "I've played in the very best AFL arenas in the country and believe me, the Cajundome is a first-class facility. Now it's up to us to make sure we're pretty together things on the field."
In the Wildcatters' case, Foster's primary focus is on the offensive side. Lafayette is third in the league in scoring defense at 52 points a game, but only fifth in scoring offense at 40.6 points a game.
"Our biggest thing right now is creating more offensive consistency," Foster said. "We've got to do a much better job of protecting the quarterback. We attempted three field goals from inside our own 5 (in the last game), because our offense is not on track.
Quarterback Bo Bartik is fifth in the league with 963 yards passing in five games on 79-of-167 passing with 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
His top receiving threat is Clyde Edwards, who has 27 receptions for 441 yards and nine touchdowns. The problem is that Edwards is the only Wildcatter among the league's top 10 receivers.
One thing the Wildcatters have done well on offense is rush the ball better than everyone else in the pass-happy league. Steven Korte is the league's leading rusher with 92 yards on 16 carries and one touchdown in four games on the 50-yard field.
Bartik is seventh in rushing himself with 42 yards on 17 carries.
If the offense becomes more explosive during this upcoming homestretch, the Wildcatters' defense appears ready to hold up its end.
"I thought we had a really good pass rush against the Swashbucklers and I think we've got the right defensive backs out there in order to play good defense," Foster said. "We just have a few things to clean up on defense, but we're very close to being where we need to be on defense.
"We just need to be more consistent on offense. And believe me, I'm not pointing any fingers. I'm the offensive coordinator. We're working on things on offense. We just have to put it together and score."
In order to reach the postseason, the Wildcatters must finish in the top four in the SIFL standings. As a result, Foster foresees Lafayette needing to win five of the next six games to be in position to legitimately make a late run.