Yahoo! Inside Slant
The Warhawks, who went just 4-8 last season, are
a bit of an unknown.Chances are they will
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still be after opening the 2009 season at Texas
Saturday.
ULM, like a lot of teams in the Sun Belt, has
questions at quarterback after losing three-year
starter Kinsmon Lancaster.However, coach
Charlie Weatherbie is excited
about his defense that will employ a new 3-3-5
scheme. The Warhawks return 10 starters and the
group should certainly be the team's strength.
ULM is typically a slow starting team that
improves. However, that didn't happen a year
ago. Winning close games has also been a
problem.
"(In 2007) we were 6-6 and last year we were
five points away from being bowl eligible,"
Weatherbie said. "It's important for us to win
those close football games. We lost a couple by
one point and lost one by three."
ULM isn't expected to be a factor in the
league race, but in the past it has exceeded
expectations when picked to finish low in the
Sun Belt. While the defense should be a force in the
Sun Belt, it will ultimately come down to the
offense and first-year starter Trey Revell at
quarterback.
The running game is sound with junior Frank
Goodin, and there are playmakers at receiver. Replacing a three-year starting quarterback,
however, could be most difficult.
This Week's: at Texas, Sept.
5-The Warhawks pulled off a huge upset two years
ago when they beat Alabama. However, Sun Belt
teams have not fared well against Texas, and
nothing figures to change this week. ULM is
inexperienced at quarterback, and its
highly-touted defense will likely be overmatched
by the Longhorns' offense.
Series: Texas 0, ULM 0 (first
meeting)
NOTES, QUOTES
•Junior RB Frank Goodin rushed for
more than 600 yards as a freshman and led the
team with 783 yards last season. He'll likely
have the opportunity to eclipse the 1,000-yard
mark this season because he figures to get more
carries.
•Senior WR Darrell McNeal, who led
the team with 51 receptions last season, should
be the team's top playmaker. He also has been
used in fall drills at quarterback in a
Wildcat-type formation, known as Warhawk.
Scouting The Offense: The Warhawks
lost three-year starting quarterback Kinsmon
Lancaster to graduation. Junior
takes over after throwing just 28 passes in nine
games a year ago. Helping Revell are very athletic wideout position
players, headlined by McNeal,
LaGreggory Sapp, and
Anthony McCall. The offensive line's play, however,
will likely dictate how successful the offense
will be in 2009. Junior tailback
should be a 1,000-yard rusher.
Scouting The Defense: The Warhawks
allowed just 23 points a game last season, and
they return almost their entire unit intact. The
defensive line is solid, but the linebacking
corps led by
Cardia Jackson and Josh Thompson
stacks up with any in the Sun Belt. The
secondary also is talented and deep, and
anxiously awaits the return of senior safety
James Truxillo, an all-conference caliber player
who missed last season with a knee injury.
Quote To Note:
"I believe we've got
to continue to improve in
different phases in a lot of
different areas,. The best thing
is to learn the little things
that make the big things happen
and doing that down in and down
out when you're tired, when it's
hot - being able to take the
right steps and the right
assignments."
-ULM
coach Charlie Weatherbie.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
Players To Watch:
RB Frank Goodin-The junior could be more of a
focal point in the offense this season. He
gained a team-high 783 yards and scored five
touchdowns last season.
LBs Cardia Jackson and Josh Thompson-The duo
combined for 235 tackles, including 11 for
losses and five sacks last season.
DB James Truxillo-The senior sat out last
season with a knee injury, but will add to an
already talented secondary. His experience and
leadership should be invaluable.
Roster Report:
•ULM senior WR
Darrell McNeil, who
missed the spring due to academics, is eligible.
•Senior LB Cardia Jackson has been
named to the Lombardi Award watch list.
•True freshman RB
Isaiah Newsome was
a pleasant surprise in fall drills and could be
a good section option to go with junior Frank Goodin.