Otha Peters Speaks For Ragin’ Cajuns Defense [VIDEO]

Junior Linebacker Otha Peters transferred to the Ragin' Cajuns, and in his first year of action he quickly became a leader on defense.

After sitting out a season, Peters took his skill set onto the field for the Cajuns, and his connection with Dominique Tovell is a definite bright spot on a unit with some serious issues.

"My group as a whole inside, we have to do a lot for our team," Peters said, referencing some depth issues and injuries that stretched them thin.

Even though he's not a four-year member of the squad, Peters' teammates look to him for leadership. He said he was more of a lead-by-example type guy, and his performance so far this year reflects the respect he now commands.

"I don't really do a lot of talking," Peters said. "Not one of those rah-rah guys."

He might not be vocal, but he's definitely perceptive and honest when asked about his defense.

The glaring issue on that side of the ball starts with creating and forcing turnovers. All year, Head Coach Mark Hudspeth preached how his men were in the right positions, the football simply wasn't going their way. Peters saw things a bit differently from the New Mexico State loss.

Sometimes players cut right to the heart of the issue.

"We dropped maybe five or six interceptions this Saturday...we got to capitalize on that," Peters said.

Peters also admitted to a certain amount of frustration mounting. Peters, alongside Tovell and some of the other members of the defense, would love to channel it against a dangerous Appalachian State squad. They can come in charged up and emotional, but if they don't execute better on third down it won't make a difference.

Playing well on the early downs helps, but if you allow the opponent to move the chains over and over again, it gets demoralizing. What makes it more frustrating is when you can't find the solution.

"We just can't get off the field on third down," Peters said. "I don't know what goes on, but we have to find a way to get off the field."

If Peters and the defense can't figure it out, App State's QB Taylor Lamb could pick them apart. It's absolutely do-or-die time for the Cajuns, so they better start listening to their leader by example.

Peters can work his butt off in the middle and make every play he wants, but if he doesn't get any help the Cajuns' season could end in very disappointing fashion over the next two weeks.