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ULM Spring Football Spotlight: Linebackers

ULM Spring Football Spotlight: Linebackers

Football Mar 30
By Paul Letlow, ULMWarhawks.com Online Columnist
 
MONROE, La. – A veteran coach like Scott Stoker knows the drill. 

To win football games, it helps to win the turnover battle. ULM finished on the wrong side of the equation in 2018 and has plenty of room to improve. The Warhawks on defense came away with just 11 takeaways with five interceptions and six fumble recoveries, which wasn't enough to offset their 23 turnovers (11 fumbles lost, 12 interceptions). 

"To get away with what we did last year, to get as few turnovers as we did and still come away 6-6 and bowl eligible and be minus-12 in turnovers," said Stoker, ULM's linebacker coach, "I've been coaching a long time and don't think I've ever seen that. It's definitely a point of emphasis and we've got to create takeaways.
 
"We've got an offense that's got a lot back. We've got a four-year starter at quarterback back. We've got to get those guys the football as much as we can."

A veteran linebacker corps can help improve those numbers and upping the turnover count is a point of emphasis for the unit this spring.  

"Turnovers," senior Chase Day said. "That's why we came up short of the bowl game. To be where we want to be, we've got to have more turnovers."

Even with the loss of senior leader and top tackler David Griffith, there's reason for optimism that ULM can stick the landing in 2019. 

Day made 48 tackles with a sack last year at mike linebacker. He'll likely be joined in the starting lineup by fellow senior Cortez Sisco Jr. (53 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 INT, 1 fumble recovery, 3 pass break-ups), a playmaker who only appeared in nine games. Junior Rashaad Harding added 43 tackles and 1.5 sacks while starting much of the season. 

"Look at how we've evolved over the years to have this much experience," ULM head coach Matt Viator said. "To have guys like Chase and Cortez. And Harding's been a starter. Hunter Smith played a lot and Traveion Webster played a lot. We've got guys who have played, and that's fun." 

Said Stoker: "Rashaad has started multiple games over the last two years. There's not a lot of difference in him and Chase. (Keyshawn Johnson) is right in there with them, which enables us to do a lot of things defensively."

The playing experience allows Stoker to really hone in on the finer points of the game during spring drills. 

"There's so much carry over," Stoker said. "Those guys have been in my room at least two years and those older guys have been in there four. That's fun because you get to coach the small things. You can split hairs with them."

When ULM recruits linebackers, Viator said coaches have a certain model in mind. 
        
"We're looking for guys who can run and tackle," Viator said. "That's the style defense we play and those guys have to be able to run. In this defense traditionally, you don't have to be the biggest guy, but you have to be able to run. We blitz a lot and pressure, with guys who are tough and competitive."

Junior Traveion Webster, who played in 12 games and made 23 tackles, is part of what projects as a deeper linebacker rotation. Red-shirt sophomore Hunter Smith added 11 tackles in 10 games. Depth is important for this impact group whose biggest red flag has been injuries.   

"Web played in two or three games when Cisco got hurt and was very productive," Stoker said "He's behind Cisco right now, and there's not a lot of difference in the ones or twos. That will give us the chance during the season to take reps off them. They don't have to play 60 reps. They can play 35 and try to keep them fresh.

"None of them have stayed healthy through the entire year, none of that group. Hopefully, if we take some reps off them, they can stay healthy throughout the season." 

Red-shirt freshman Keyshawn Johnson saw limited action on special teams last year, but coaches and teammates rave about his potential. 

"KJ is an intelligent football guy," Stoker said. "He's an intelligent academic guy, but he's got good 'FBI,' football intelligence. He picked up on things really quick to give us some depth in there."

Added Sisco: "I'll go with Keyshawn, number 35. He's showing me a lot this spring. He's a lot more physical. Since he was young, he didn't know the plays or know what he needed to do last year. But now, he's stepping up and really showing me a lot. Last practice, I was going up and slapping him on the head because he kept making tackle after tackle."

Watch the linebackers during spring ball and they are clearly motivated by their position coach. Stoker typically provides one of the loudest soundtracks on the practice field.  

"If we don't bring the energy, I know for sure Coach Stoker is going to bring the energy," Sisco said. "He's going to wake us up. If you don't want to get hollered at during practice, you better do the right thing because Coach Stoker is going to get on you."

For Sisco, the lingering image of a season-ending loss to Louisiana-Lafayette that cost his team a bowl berth is also food for thought as he puts in his work. 

"Finishing," Sisco said when asked what pushes him each day. "The game against ULL is still in the back of my mind. We didn't finish. That game was all on us. We've got to finish. That's the big emphasis, just finish, finish, finish."


This positional spotlight is part of a continuing spring series you can find at ULMWarhawks.com over the next few weeks.  
 
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