Rapid Reaction: What we learned from the Louisiana game

A tough 28-26 loss to the Ragin' Cajuns on Saturday night was perhaps the most painful of the year. The Jags went on the road looking for their fifth win of the year but instead found their fifth loss. With three quarters of the season behind them, time is growing short for USA to achieve what remains of their goals.

Here are some thoughts about lessons learned from this game.

The quarterback question

There is enough evidence to say with some certainty that the two quarterbacks used this year provide very different results. With Jared Hollins, the offense is capable of great heights thanks to his ability to stretch the field, but when defenses make him uncomfortable the offense can go into a shell. On the other hand, when Bishop Davenport is at the controls the production is steady, but unspectacular. He can help extend possessions with his deft execution of the RPO, but blowing the top off of opposing defenses is not as likely. Until science figures out a way to combine two people into one, Coach Applewhite will have to decide which circumstance he prefers and ride with it the rest of the way.

Freebury was fed

Davis Little has not been bad this season, but has been shaky enough that trust in him has obviously been in short supply. In the preseason he won a tight competition with Dylan Freebury and it seemed like we'd never see the Colorado State transfer except for the occasional kickoff attempt. Then came Saturday night in Lafayette. Special teams coordinator Tommy Perry obviously decided it was time to give him a try with an extra point attempt. Then another. Then a kick resulting in the longest field goal of the year at 44 yards. And, then, amazingly, breaking that mark with a 50-yarder. With every kick he seemed to get more and more confident and confidence in him grew as well. Could it be that USA finally has a kicker with range they can believe in? Something tells me that questions will be answered throughout the rest of the season.

Defense developing or devolving?

The defensive issues visible since the beginning of the year appeared again, with missed tackles leading to some big runs by ULL backs and Lunch Winfield. Certainly Winfield, easily the best running quarterback in the conference, helped make this happen by forcing the defense to account for him on every running play, helping their backs get more space at the line and break into the second level. Undoubtedly the defense has matured since earlier in the year when they were giving up big numbers to ULM and Arkansas State and missing safeties Cole Blaylock and DJ Moore against the Cajuns made the assignment even tougher. South Alabama held ULL's offense to 21 points (of the 28 given up, seven came from a kickoff return for a touchdown), but there were opportunities to do even more. Younger players are getting snaps and developing, but this unit will need an influx of more experience and talent for next year.

The class of 2026 is getting their shot

Freshmen are getting more and more time, partially out of necessity and partly because of their ability to contribute. Offensive lineman Elliott Chaney wasn't perfect, but performed well as he started in place of the injured Shalik Hubbard. Camen Upshaw was in for the sidelined Cole Blaylock and produced two tackles and broke up a pass that was nearly an interception that may have changed the result of the game. Xavious Anderson wasn't officially listed as a starter but he's been playing like one for weeks. Against the Cajuns he was the second-leading tackler with seven, trailing only Seidrion Langston's eight. These three and others (Teryn Green was a force on special teams Saturday night) are the reasons to be optimistic about the future.

The margin is shrinking

Three games are left and USA must win two if they want to make it back to a bowl. Troy, USM and App State remain to be played. While none of them are world-beaters, all of them are more than capable of taking out the version of the Jaguars that have played the last three games. It'll start next week when the Trojans come to Mobile for the Battle of the Belt. If USA wins that, it would dramatically increase the odds of getting to six wins. The old adage of not looking past the next game has never been more applicable than the coming week.