2025 Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Defensive Analysis
The 2025 defense struggled to contain opposing offenses, surrendering 29.23 points per game and allowing 410.8 yards of total offense per game. While the unit was active in the backfield with 60 tackles for loss and 23 sacks, they were often gashed by high-efficiency passing attacks, allowing opponents to complete 66.5% of their passes.
1. Run Defense
Opponents found consistent success on the ground, averaging 186.7 rushing yards per game and scoring 25 rushing touchdowns.
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Production in the Backfield: Despite the yardage allowed, the defense managed to create negative plays. Jordan Lawson led the team with 15.0 tackles for loss (and 5.0 sacks), proving to be the most disruptive force up front. Jaden Dugger followed closely with 13.0 tackles for loss.
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Leading Tacklers:
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Jaden Dugger (LB/S): The clear anchor of the defense, recording a massive 125 total tackles (64 solo), more than double the next closest defender.
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Terrence Williams: Second on the team with 95 tackles, providing support at the second level.
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2. Pass Defense (The Achilles’ Heel)
The secondary had significant trouble stopping the pass, allowing 224.1 passing yards per game and 18 touchdowns.
- Opposing Efficiency: Quarterbacks completed 66.49% of their passes against this unit with a high efficiency rating of 141.98.
- Turnovers: The defense managed 9 interceptions, but this was fewer than the offense’s 14 giveaways. Courtline Flowers led the team with 2 interceptions.
- Pass Rush: The defense recorded 23 sacks for 137 yards. Jordan Lawson was the top pass rusher with 5.0 sacks, followed by Jaden Dugger (4.0 sacks).
3. Situational Defense
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Third Down: The defense allowed opponents to convert 42.77% of third downs (74-of-173), struggling to get off the field in critical situations.
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Red Zone: Opponents were highly efficient in the red zone, scoring on 36-of-45 trips (80%). More damaging was the high touchdown rate: 26 of those 36 scores were touchdowns.
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Quarter Splits: The defense struggled most in the 2nd quarter, surrendering a season-high 134 points. They also faded late in games, giving up 90 points in the 4th quarter, their second-worst period.
4. Impact Plays & Turnovers
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Fumbles: The defense was opportunistic in the scrum, seeing opponents fumble 16 times and successfully recovering 9 of them.
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Defensive Scoring: The unit recorded one defensive touchdown: an interception return by Courtline Flowers. In contrast, opponents scored three defensive touchdowns (2 INT returns, 1 fumble return).
Conclusion
The defense was led by the prolific tackling of Jaden Dugger and the disruption of Jordan Lawson, but as a unit, they lacked consistency. The inability to limit completion percentage or get stops in the 2nd quarter put too much pressure on an offense that was already struggling with turnovers.
