Literally and figurative, Tulane’s offense went down with a thud in the spring football game a year ago.
Year No. 3 under coach Willie Fritz should be different on both counts.
Thanks to better depth, Fritz will allow tackling to the ground in Friday night’s conclusion to spring ball after prohibiting it a year ago. With stronger personnel, the offense figures to score more than the one touchdown it managed in a 65-play “scrimmage” last April.
Here are five things to look for when Tulane caps off spring ball with a real scrimmage (only the quarterbacks will be off-limits to hits) that starts 7:30 p.m. Friday at Yulman Stadium. The Green Wave is getting in front of the downpours expected for the originally scheduled time Saturday morning.
Tulane Green Wave Head coach: Willie Fritz (9-15, third year)
2017 record and S&P+ ranking: 5-7 (89th)
Projected 2018 record and S&P+ ranking: 5-7 (98th)
Five key points:
Tulane was literally inches away from only its second bowl bid in 15 years but faces a pretty rugged path to getting those last few inches this fall.
Fritz just signed an awesome recruiting class and boasts a potential sophomore stars on defense. That’s great for 2019, but … 2018? Less certain.
That’s most true up front — the defensive line returns just one of last year’s top five and all sorts of young three-stars. Their development could dictate the team’s fate.
Cornerback Donnie Lewis Jr. is a keeper, and the secondary is pretty experienced.
For all the defensive questions, the offense could be fun. Four-star transfer Corey Dauphine joining QB Jonathan Banks, a seasoned skill corps, and most of last year’s line. Tulane might not win a ton of games, but those games will be pointsy.
Outlook: Fritz landed his best recruiting class since he was hired in 2016, picking up three players ranked among the best in school history. That’s a good sign for a program that’s played in just two bowl games since 2000 and has won just 28 percent of its games during the past decade.
The defense has some serious question marks and with a schedule that features Wake Forest, UAB, Ohio State and Memphis in the first month, answers will need to be found in a hurry.
This team is going to make some noise. I think they surprise/upset a couple of teams, I just hope it isn’t UH again.
They open with Wake, then Nicholls St and @UAB before going to Ohio St. I think they can take down Wake Forest at home and be 3-0 going to Ohio. Who knows… maybe the Meyer turmoil can make some crazy stuff happen?
They get Memphis, SMU, ECU and Navy all at home. I think they beat SMU and ECU, then pull off another upset out of those four.
They have a short week before traveling to face us. We have a home game 5 days before. It is set up nicely for us if they do make some noise in-conference.
Nov. 15: at Houston The Green Wave travel to Houston on short rest for a Thursday night battle with the Cougars. Cougars defensive tackle Ed Oliver is one of the best players in college football and he leads the AAC’s best defensive line unit. The Green Wave won’t sneak up on Houston after upsetting the Cougars 20-17 last season. Tulane’s upset chances might hinge on Houston peaking ahead to a showdown with West Division rival Memphis. But that seems remote given the ESPN2 national stage. Houston 35, Tulane
Seems that we’re going to shut Tulane out since the writer didn’t include a score for the Green Wave