UL Monroe 2005 Season | Team Page	Select Conference ACC Big East Big Ten Big 12 Conference USA Independents MAC Mountain West Pac-10 SEC Sun Belt WAC Select Team

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The Lowdown 2006 Schedule Coach: Charlie Weatherbie (3rd season, 6-17) 2005 record: 5-6 Sun Belt finish: 5-2 (t-1st) 2005 I-A offensive rankings: Rushing: 67th (139.2 ypg) Passing: 73rd (210.2 ypg) 2005 I-A defensive rankings: Rushing: 100th (190.1 ypg) Passing: 48th (210.3 ypg) Date Opponent Sept. 2 Alcorn State Sept. 9 at Kansas Sept. 16 at Alabama Sept. 30 Florida Atlantic Oct. 7 at Arkansas State Oct. 14 at Troy Oct. 21 Middle Tennessee Oct. 28 #Arkansas Nov. 11 at FIU Nov. 18 at Kentucky Nov. 25 North Texas Dec. 2 at UL Lafayette #Little Rock AR Depth Chart: Offense 7 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. WR 9 Joe Merritt Sr. 84 J.J. McCoy So. WR 6 Marty Humphrey So. 18 LaGregory Sapp So. WR 16 Adam Hogan Jr. 82 Robert Mingo Fr. LT 75 Kyle Cunningham Jr. 72 Nicholas Silva Sr. LG 70 Aaron Schutz So. 55 Patrick Avinger Jr. C 62 Brent Gregston Jr. 65 Brett Thompson Fr. RG 79 Adam Hill Jr. 77 Joseph Joseph Jr. RT 76 Larry Shappley So. 94 Kyle Kersten Fr. TE 88 Mitch Doyle So. 81 Justin Waller Fr. QB 7 Kinsmon Lancaster So. 13 Chance Payne So. TB 22 Calvin Dawson Jr. 20 Erroll Hogan Sr. Depth Chart: Defense 4 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. DE 97 Christiaan Cambridge Sr. 58 Alaric Coleman Fr. DT 90 DeMarcus Carmouche So. 99 David Cooper Jr. NT 53 Ricky Williams Jr. 52 Justin Fulmer Fr. DE 43 Travis Eickman Fr. 95 Jameson Jordan Fr. LB 49 Josh Alexander Sr. - Cardia Jackson Fr. LB 44 Harry Bradley Sr. 35 Jeremy Moll So. CB 21 Quintez Secka Sr. 38 Eddie Webb Jr. CB 24 Chaz Williams Jr. 32 Greg James Fr. SS 5 Austin Willis Sr. 39 James Wright Jr. SS 28 Josh Thompson So. 12 Lee Livesay Jr. FS 14 Kevin Payne Sr. 34 James Truxillo Fr. Special Teams Ps. No. Player Yr. Ps. No. Player Yr. K 10 Ragan Walters Jr. KR 9 Joe Merritt Sr. P 14 Kevin Payne Sr. PR 84 J.J. McCoy So.

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Changes from top to bottom are the theme at UL Monroe this season. ULM switched mascots from Indians to Warhawks as a result of new NCAA regulations. But that's only cosmetic. On offense, ULM must replace four-year starting quarterback Steven Jyles, offensive coordinator Todd Berry, leading receiver Drouzon Quillen and dependable tight end Joey Trappey. ULM coach Charlie Weatherbie promoted Bob Leahy to offensive coordinator and tabbed redshirt sophomore Kinsmon Lancaster as his starting quarterback. Defensively, ULM will have four new starters on the line.

With so many questions, it might be difficult for ULM to build on last year's tri-championship in the Sun Belt Conference.

OFFENSE

With a four-year starter at quarterback last season, Louisiana-Monroe was one of only two Sun Belt teams to attempt more passes than rushes. But the ratio could shift back toward the run this season as ULM breaks in a new starting quarterback and a less experienced receiving corps. Look for the Warhawks to lean more on junior running back Calvin "Taz" Dawson. Dawson ranked sixth in the Sun Belt with 666 rushing yards on 135 attempts as a sophomore.

Once the youthful question mark at ULM, the offensive line will now feature third-year starters in tackle Kyle Cunningham and guard Adam Hill. Tackle Larry Shappley and guard Aaron Schutz also became starters as true freshmen in 2005, and Brent Gregston is also back after starting at center as a sophomore.

In addition to the loss of Jyles, ULM must also replace offensive coordinator Todd Berry, leading receiver Drouzon Quillen and dependable tight end Joey Trappey. Different voices in the meeting room could tweak ULM's offensive identity. Weatherbie promoted veteran receivers coach Bob Leahy to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Offensive line coach Steve Farmer, who has done a commendable job grooming youngsters the last two years, added running game coordinator to his title. "I can see us become a more physical offense - a team that can run the football when we want to run the football," Weatherbie says.

DEFENSE

Defensive coordinator Kim Dameron takes pride in takeaways. Last season ULM forced 26 turnovers to tie for the lead in the Sun Belt Conference. But despite its ball-hawking ways, the defense last season ranked near the bottom of the Sun Belt Conference in most statistical categories, allowing 30.8 points and 400.4 yards per game.

Of particular interest is the defensive line, which is under construction after losing five seniors. The linemen performed well in spring drills and left ULM coaches feeling good about their ability to perform.

The secondary is the playmaking portion of the unit. The cornerback position is talented, starting with junior Chaz Williams, who led ULM with five interceptions.

At linebacker, ULM has veterans in Josh Alexander and Harry Bradley. Newcomer Matthew Freeman, a junior college transfer, has also looked good.

SPECIALISTS

Finding a replacement for All-Sun Belt Conference punter Joel Stelly won't be easy. Stelly ranked as one of the nation's best during his career at ULM.

In addition to playing free safety, Kevin Payne could be asked to serve double duty as a punter. Payne has a good leg but is erratic. ULM's other options are walk-on Chris Symmes and freshman Scott Love. ULM signed Love hoping he could fill Stelly's shoes.

Junior Ragan Walters will be the placekicker again.

FINAL ANALYSIS

ULM shared the Sun Belt championship with a 5-2 league mark, but with so many questions, especially on offense, repeating that record could be a stretch. However, the schedule could be forgiving in spots. The combined 2005 record of the 12 teams on the '06 schedule was 57-75.

ULM coaches believe there's a foundation in place to continue an upward surge. "The program has gone from not being very successful to one that has a conference championship now under its belt," Dameron says. "The kids are totally different. They hit the practice field ready to work and on a mission."

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