Louisiana Tech Bulldogs College Football Preview 2021: Keys To The Season
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Biggest Key: Offense
Get the running game going again. The offensive line has the parts, and the backfield has a good transfer in Appalachian State’s Marcus Williams. Now it’s time to make the whole thing work.
The Bulldogs ran for 4.6 yards per carry with 27 touchdowns in 2019. ran for over five yards per pop in 2016 and 4.5 yards per carry in 2017. There were a few seasons when the O struggled and couldn’t hit the four-yard mark, but 2020 was a whole other level of problems.
The ground game not only averaged under three yards per carry, but it wasn’t close to consistent. It scored four times against North Texas, three against Houston Baptist and UTEP, and didn’t run for a touchdown in the other seven games.
However, get to 150 yards and good things happen – the program has won its last 18 games going back to 2017 when hitting the mark.
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Biggest Key: Defense
Come up with more third down stops. That starts with generating more pressure.
The 2019 Bulldogs averaged 1.9 sacks per game and allowed teams to convert on 35% of their third down chances. The 2018 pass rush was devastating and the D also allowed teams to convert just 35% of their tries. The 2020 pass rush struggled, and teams converted on a whopping 48% of the time on third downs.
It didn’t always lead to losses, but it made things harder. Five teams converted 50% or more of their chances and two more came up with 40% or more.
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Key Player To A Successful Season
QB Luke Anthony, Sr.
And/or sophomore Aaron Allen. J’Mar Smith was a steady leader and terrific three-year playmaker for the Bulldogs. The combination of Anthony and Allen – and go ahead and throw in freshman JD Head in there, too – came up with close to 2,100 passing yards and 20 touchdowns with 13 picks.
The interceptions were a problem, but consistency was the biggest issue.
Considering the running game couldn’t be counted on, it was tough when the offense couldn’t get big plays out of the passing game, averaging under six yards per pass in four of the last five games. The downfield plays have to return and the mistakes have to slow.
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Key Game To The 2021 Season
at UAB, Nov. 6
Louisiana Tech has to slay the Blazer dragon again. The 2020 team had its problems, but it managed to get by the eventual Conference USA champion 37-34. Now it has to happen again, but on the road.
This is hardly a perfect Bulldog team, but it should be strong enough to get to five wins in the first eight games – four at worst. With Charlotte, Southern Miss and at Rice to close, there’s a chance to come up with something big with the finishing kick, too.
But lose at UAB – who gets a week off to get ready – and that might be it.
– Louisiana Tech Football Schedule
2020 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Fun Stats
– Fumbles: Opponents 6 (lost 4) – La Tech 9 (lost 2)
– Punt Return Average: La Tech 18.56 – Opponents 1.88
– 4th Down Conversions: La Tech 15-of-17 (88%) – Opponents 10-of-18 (56%)