Preview 2019: Previewing and looking ahead to the ULM Warhawks season with what you need to know.
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– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Schedule Analysis
– ULM Previews 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015
2018 Record: 6-6 overall, 4-4
Head Coach: Matt Viator, 4th year, 14-22
5. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE ULM OFFENSE
– It was good last year, but it wasn’t quite the unstoppable juggernaut – at least in Sun Belt play – that it was expected to be. Everything once against works around QB Caleb Evans, who was solid for the league’s second-best passing game, but struggled to help put points on the board. The Warhawks were able to average 415 yards per game, but averaged a pedestrian 27 points per outing.
– Leading receiver Marcus Green is gone, and three of the top four targets are done, but there’s a good group of young options in place for Evans to work with. RJ Turner is a good enough veteran to be a No. 1 target, but he has to get over an offseason knee problem. Zachari Jackson caught 11 passes as a freshman, the tight ends are good, and there are plenty of other good parts who should be able to fill the void. Helping the cause …
– There should be a bit more of an emphasis on the running game. Evans cam move – he led the team with ten touchdown runs – and the backs are there despite the loss of leading rusher Derrick Gore. Everyone is back on an O line that was terrific in pass protection and at keeping defenses out of the backfield, and now it’s up to a rotation of little-used options to work behind the veteran front.
NEXT: What You Need To Know About the Defense, Top Players, Keys to the Season, What Will Happen
4. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE ULM DEFENSE
– Wildly inconsistent, the defense went from getting ripped to shreds early on last year, to finding a groove in the middle, to struggling late when the chances were there to have a big year. The top two tacklers are gone, but almost everyone else is back, starting with a defensive front that doesn’t have a lot of bulk, but the experience is there. It’s a good pass rushing front four with a good rotation around DE Kerry Starks and Jaylen Veasley on the inside.
– Leading tackler David Griffith is gone from his weakside linebacker spot in the 4-2-5 alignment, but Chase Day returns in the middle and all of the backups are back. Griffith led the team with 15.5 tackles for loss, but Day can get behind the line, and in all, seven of the top nine players at generating tackles for loss are back.
– The pass defense had a whole slew of issues, with the biggest problem of all a lack of big plays. It was among the least-efficient pass Ds in the country, allowing close to nine yards per pass attempt and picking off just five passes. On the plus side, it was a young group and three starters are back. Landing JUCO transfer Keilos Swinney was big to help the safety situation, but the corners have to come up with more big plays.
NEXT: Top Players, Keys To the Season, What Will Happen
3. TOP ULM PLAYERS
Best ULM Offensive Player
QB Caleb Evans, Sr.
Evans suffered from high explications. In a lot of ways, he was better than he was as a sophomore, but he threw 12 interceptions and the offense wasn’t quite as explosive. Even so, he ran for 632 yards and ten scores, and hit 62% of his passes for 2,869 yards and 16 touchdowns in an All-Sun Belt season.
2. C Bobby Reynolds, Sr.
3. OG TJ Fialoa, Jr.
4. WR RJ Turner, Sr.
5. RB Austin Vaughn, Sr.
Best ULM Defensive Player
DE Kerry Starks, Jr.
The 6-2, 228-pounder is built like a smallish linebacker, but he’s an end on the Warhawk D. Fast, he’s great at getting around the edge and into the backfield in a hurry, leading the team with five sacks and 11 tackles for loss, along with his 39 tackles. He’s always applying pressure.
2. DT Jaylen Veasley, Sr.
3. DE Donald Louis, Sr.
4. LB Chase Day, Sr.
5. S Jabari Johnson, Soph.
NEXT: Keys to the Season, Prediction & What Will Happen
2. KEYS TO THE SEASON
Biggest Key To The ULM Offense
The O has to score when it gets the chance. The Warhawks only came up with points 73% of the time when getting inside the 20, and only scored touchdowns 55% of the time. It might not seem like too much of a drop-off, but 2017 O scored 83% of the time in the red zone and scored five more touchdowns. ULM missed on two deep drives in the 31-28 loss to Louisiana, and was empty twice in the 35-27 loss to Troy.
Biggest Key To The ULM Defense
Start coming up with more interceptions. This program just doesn’t pick off passes. The 2014 defense came up with 11 interceptions, but over the last four seasons, ULM has come up with a mere 25. Last season, the D picked off three passes in the first two games, and got two over he last ten outings. Overall, the pass defense won’t be that bad, but after going 0-4 over those last ten games when giving up two touchdowns or more, the secondary has to use its experience to be stronger.
Key Player To A Successful Season
RB Austin Vaughn, Sr.
Or junior Kayin White. Someone has to rise up and take over the running game from Derrick Gore, who wasn’t used enough, but he still managed to lead the team with 662 yards and six scores averaging more than five yards per carry.
There should be more of a running back by committee thing happening with a whole lot of promising options, but it’s the 5-8, 218-pound Vaughn who has the upside to be a No. 1 guy and take the heat off of QB Caleb Evans.
Key Game To The ULM Season
at Louisiana, Nov. 30
If the Warhawks can get by Arkansas State – they get a week off to prepare for the Red Wolves – they should be good enough to be in the race to win the West. That’s not happening without a win over the Ragin’ Cajuns on the road to close out the regular season. ULM has lost four in the last five in the series, including a 31-28 bowl-crusher to close out last season.
– ULM Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
2018 ULM Fun Stats
– Time of Possession: Opponents 32:18 – ULM 27:40
– Sacks: ULM 34 for 222 yards – 22 for 143 yards
– Interceptions Thrown: ULM 12 – Opponents 5
NEXT: What Will Happen
1. ULM WIN TOTAL PREDICTION: WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN
The Warhawks should be a whole lot of fun, and they should be explosive as long as QB Caleb Evans is okay, but there has to be some semblance of consistency and the program has to finally come through in the clutch late.
They had a bowl bid right there for the taking after a 6-4 start, lost the last two games and didn’t get the call despite being eligible. 2012 is the last time the program went bowling, and this one should get close.
All five starters are back on the offensive line, and the defensive front – despite its lack of size – should be a major plus. But the secondary has to finally start picking off passes and start making more plays, and the offensive side needs the playmakers to emerge around Evans.
Set The Regular Season Win Total At … 6
There’s just enough in place to come close.
The offense should be closer to the 2017 level, while the defense should have its moments to be like it was over the second half of 2018. There aren’t enough sure-thing layups – assuming South Alabama is better and Texas State won’t be a total pushover in San Marcos – to be assured of another six-win season.
With road games at Florida State, Iowa State, Appalachian State, Georgia Southern and Louisiana, figure in at least four losses out of those five, and then worry about home games against Memphis and Arkansas State.
The win total should really be set around five, but hope for an upset somewhere to get to six.
– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– Schedule Analysis
