Four Keys to Cowboys

By Jim Gazzolo

McNeese has officially flipped from training camp mode to game preparations.

Just a week away from starting the new season, one with a lot of buzz, the Cowboys have begun getting ready for Louisiana Christian on Aug. 30.

It has been a wild offseason for sure.

After finishing 6-6 last season, the Cowboys made the most significant change when they went back to Matt Viator as their head coach. That alone fired up a fanbase that has been down during this McNeese rebuild.

Viator coached 10 seasons at McNeese and was the last man to lead the program to the postseason. That was in 2015, which is why so many Cowboy fans are thinking about a big fall in the newly named Navarre Stadium.

However, Viator himself has warned that he is no magician and there is no magic pill the Cowboys can take to turn the program around. He has said it will take time and hard work to turn things around.

There is hope, though, and that is what the fans wanted most. As for camp, here are a few things that took place over the last four weeks this summer.

WORK: The Cowboys put in the effort during camp, with a physical style that was a return to years past. The players enjoyed that.

“It has been great,” said safety Javon Davis. “It has been tough, and we have put in the work, but it has been great to get out there and hit each other.”

One thing Viator talked about when he took over was to make McNeese a more physical team.

ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT: The Cowboys appear to be a much closer team than in years past.

Players have talked about being held accountable for their actions, and they have taken to the new staff. They also look to be on the same page with each other, something that was not always the page with what they are trying to accomplish.

“We are all pulling for each other,” said running back Bryce Strong. “We have a lot of guys who can make plays.”

DEPTH HELP: This appears to be the deepest McNeese team in years.

Depth has been a major problem in the past for the Cowboys, as they have at times had to limit practices because of injured players or limited rosters. 

This year’s team has a solid number at most positions, with just the offensive line depth in question heading into the first game week. The defensive line group has 19 players, which will allow for better rotations to keep players fresh.

DEFENSE: McNeese will be led by the defense, especially early in the season. 

While several key players are gone from last year’s improved group, the Cowboys brought in a lot of skilled guys who have college experience in other programs. That side of the football is a lot faster, stronger, and deeper than in years past.

Viator has said that what he really likes about the group is how fast it runs to the football and how much fun they have playing together. That goes a long way when it comes to playing defense.

Stopping the run and putting pressure on the quarterback will be the main goal of this group. 

Jim Gazzolo is a freelance writer who covers sports in Southwest Louisiana. He is also the host of Poke Nation, which airs weekly on CBS-Lake Charles.