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ULM football pushing for bowl berth in Terry Bowden’s third year

By Dante Pryor

Sep 17, 2022; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Louisiana Monroe Warhawks head coach Terry Bowden prior to the game against Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2022; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Louisiana Monroe Warhawks head coach Terry Bowden prior to the game against Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 22, 2022; West Point, New York, USA; Army Black Knights running back Braheam Murphy (8) carries the ball against the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks during the first half at Michie Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports /

How much can the ULM defense improve?

The Warhawks got better defensively in 2022. In context, ULM allowed over 40 points per game in 2020, which makes the bar for improvement pretty low. The defense was last in the Sun Belt in points allowed and allowed the third-most points in the conference. ULM was 122nd in the NCAA in scoring defense.

Defense in today’s game means two things, pressure and coverage. The Warhawks need to get pressure on the quarterback and cover wide receivers. Last season’s leader in sacks was LU Tillery, a cornerback. While pressure from all over the field is good, linebacker Zack Woodard was the only other defender with more than one sack.

In short, the defensive front needs to get some push and be serviceable. Bowden and his staff got busy in the portal to address this. They brought in linemen Donell Harris (Texas A&M), Adin Huntington (Kent State), and Devante Keys (Idaho), as well as linebacker Ja’Terious Evans (Stephen F. Austin) hopes to help the team up front.

Everything gets better if they can move people upfront, including the rush defense. The Warhawks also added some pieces in the secondary around Tillery.

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