OFFENSE

The Ragin’ Cajuns were one of the nation’s top rushing teams from 2005-08, but they went to the spread offense for two seasons and failed to post a winning record in either of those years. So it shouldn’t be a surprise that new coach Mark Hudspeth and coordinator Jay Johnson are keeping options open on what to expect from what has been an inconsistent unit.

The Cajuns used three different quarterbacks last year due to injuries, and they still haven’t settled on a regular. Senior Chris Masson started most of the past two seasons, throwing for 1,842 yards and 11 scores with two 300-yard games in 2010, but backup Blaine Gautier actually wound up as the team’s second-leading rusher.

True freshman Aaron Spikes led the team in rushing but had more yards receiving (398) than rushing (339) last season. A more prolific aerial target is senior Ladarius Green, the nation’s leader in five receiving categories among tight ends last year and the second-leading receiver in the Sun Belt (79.4 yards per game). Junior Javone Lawson, returning from a midseason injury, and senior Andrew “Rico” Joseph are the top outside targets.

The offensive front allowed 39 sacks last year and lost two starters. Guard Kyle Plouhar and tackles Leonardo Bates and Jaron Odom are back.

DEFENSE

The Cajuns’ defense will have a different look, with their former 4-3 front morphing into a hybrid that will stretch from a 3-4 to an eight-man front. The hope is to improve a unit that gave up 37 points and almost 400 yards per game in last year’s 3–9 season.

The biggest improvement may be up front, where senior tackle Derreck Dean returns for his fourth year and senior end Bernard Smith may finally live up to his reputation after a solid spring.

Devon Lewis-Buchanan is the leading returning tackler with 63 last year and heads up a revamped linebacking corps that also includes converted wide receiver Lance Kelley and the oft-injured Richard Brooks. Arkansas transfer Jelani Smith, who sat out last season, is part of a unit that will alternate as many as eight different players.

Since the new alignments will pack the box, the Cajuns’ secondary will have to do better than the 2010 unit that allowed 62.7 percent completions by opposing quarterbacks. But improvement could happen with the return of veterans Dwight Bentley and Melvin White at the corners and the athletic Lionel Stokes at safety.

SPECIALISTS

Placekicker Brett Baer returns after going 7-of-7 on field goals last year, but he needs to improve his range on placements and kickoffs. Baer also handled spring punting chores, but that job is wide open. Darryl Surgent averaged over 20 yards per kickoff return last year and leads a close competition for all the return jobs.

FINAL ANALYSIS

The arrival of the effervescent Hudspeth pumped life into the UL Lafayette program in the offseason, and the Cajuns are ahead of the public relations game entering the 2011 season. But all that goodwill won’t be enough to cover several shortages that could carry over from last year, including an inconsistent offense and a defense that struggled mightily. If the running game doesn’t emerge and several newcomers don’t contribute heavily, the Cajuns will have a tough time winning more than two games in the Sun Belt.