It’s August now.
The UL Ragin’ Cajuns reported on Thursday and begin practicing on Friday to kick off the fourth camp under coach Michael Desormeaux.
On paper, there’s enough areas of known strengths for UL fans to get excited about and also enough questions to contain that enthusiasm for now.
Of the many things the coaching staff needs to achieve during camp this month, here are the five that top the list:
Build depth at QB
Coming out of the spring, it would shock everyone involved if Ole Miss transfer Walker Howard isn’t the starting quarterback coming out of camp.
With that said, the issue in the quarterback room runs deeper than finding a starter.
Certainly, Howard needs to take a big step forward in mastering the new offense and deepening relationships with his receiver corps.
But no one has to remind Desormeaux he’s needed three quarterbacks to get through each of his first three seasons as head coach. Perhaps the Cajuns are due for a healthy starter for double-digit games, but you can’t count on that.
That means either redshirt sophomore Lunch Winfield or redshirt freshman Daniel Beale will also need to make huge strides.
However you slice it, UL will be playing the most inexperienced quarterbacks in a long time.
Season WRs quickly
Is it possible we’ll all be able to join Desormeaux in chuckling over the preseason fears about the inexperienced wide receivers crew in December? Certainly.
But we’ve also seen plenty of examples of highly touted transfers not panning out and promising backups never able to reach the next level when called upon.
Yes, LSU transfer Shelton Sampson looked the part in the spring. He’s tall, runs routes well and has an obvious connection with Howard.
But he also has zero collegiate receptions, so he’s still got a lot to prove.
It’s hard not to like Robert Williams and he’s got 57 collegiate receptions for 675 yards and five scores, but still hasn’t taken that next step heading into his final season.
Desormeaux often expresses KeDarius Wade’s potential, but again, it’s time to see it.
Speedy sophomore Rahji Dennis needs to get more comfortable to make an impact, but his upside is exciting.
Sports is largely about proving it. That’s where the receivers are.
Find a kicker
How do you replace the Lou Groza Award winner at kicker?
Unfortunately, you just don’t.
What you hope for is to find somebody who can make the easy kicks with the potential to nail a long one here and there. Before Kenny Almendares came on the scene, kicking was a revolving door. The Cajuns nailing the long ones and missing the chip shots.
That’s a bad scenario for a head coach.
It’s a wide-open race between Logan Klotz, Brek Schultz and Tony Sterner.
Making or missing kicks are easy to chart. There will definitely be some pressure kicks attempted for all three in this camp.
Replace KC Ossai
When senior linebacker KC Ossai wasn’t on the field last season, stopping the run was a tough task.
Well, Ossai is gone now, so it’s time to find another way to limit ground games.
The biggest move to help fill that hole was moving former safety and outside linebacker Jaden Dugger inside to better utilize his athleticism. He’s up to 250 pounds now to handle the pounding.
It’s also time for former running back Terrence Williams to make an impact at linebacker after moving into that role two years ago.
And Kailep Edwards redshirt last season for this opportunity. Having that plan work to perfection would be very gratifying for Edwards and the coaching staff.
Get corners ready
There’s little doubt there’s more raw talent at cornerback than the Cajuns had a year ago.
But again, potential doesn’t always equate to reality. August camp is the time to show the coaching staff who is ready to take that next step.
The spring seemed to show Richmond transfer Trae Tomlinson is going to be a good replacement for Keyon Martin.
After that, it’s a matter of the potential guys to elevate their games. That group includes a more experienced guy like redshirt junior Lorenzell Dubose, but also younger prospects like redshirt freshman Avery Demery and redshirt sophomore Jeremiah Moses.
Desormeaux has said he believes Demery’s 6-foot-1 frame will help him to be perhaps the most promising prospect at the position in a long time.