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Can Terry Bowden lead ULM Football to a bowl game in year two?

By Dante Pryor

Sep 4, 2021; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Louisiana Monroe Warhawks head coach Terry Bowden stands outside the team huddle during a timeout in the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 4, 2021; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Louisiana Monroe Warhawks head coach Terry Bowden stands outside the team huddle during a timeout in the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jackson State University’s Warren Newman gains yards during their game against the University of Louisiana-Monroe at Malone Stadium in Monroe, La., Saturday, Sept 18, 2021.How much will the secondary improve this fall?
Jackson State University’s Warren Newman gains yards during their game against the University of Louisiana-Monroe at Malone Stadium in Monroe, La., Saturday, Sept 18, 2021.How much will the secondary improve this fall? /

The defense wasn’t all bad last fall. ULM football did allow 30 or more points five times last season, including 50 or more three times. However, the Warhawks did hold opponents under 30 four times last fall. Those three 50-point games skew the numbers a bit, and the ‘Hawks finished 111th in the country in scoring defense.

Like many schools in this tier of college football, ULM was light upfront and had issues pushing into opponents’ backfields to create negative running plays or forcing quarterbacks to throw before they wanted. As a result, the Warhawks finished 111th in total defense too.

The issue with the defense was the back end. The Warhawks finished 125th in pass yards, giving up 12 yards per completion. ULM’s inability to slow the pass kept the defense on the field and the offense on the sidelines.

Their best player, linebacker Zach Woodard returns but loses their two top corners, Josh Newton (TCU) and Nick Roberts (SMU), to the transfer portal. What the defense needs are playmakers. Their top defensive end, Ty Shelby, is gone, and the Warhawks need someone to step up and get after the quarterback.

Without playmakers, the defense could struggle.

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