Louisiana-Monroe’s mascot isn’t the only thing changing in time for 2006. The football team’s offense is undergoing a significant tinkering as well.
The Warhawks (no longer the Indians at the urging of the NCAA) are working to smooth out the wrinkles of new personnel on offense, brought about by the loss of coordinator Todd Berry, quarterback Steven Jyles and wide receivers Drouzon Quillen and Joey Trappey.
A tall order, but ULM coach Charlie Weatherbie is pleased at how the preparation is coming along. Now it’s a matter of applying it to the 2006 season, which includes a Sept. 9 contest at Kansas University.
“It seems to be going pretty good,” said Weatherbie, a native of Fort Scott and father of former KU quarterback Jonas Weatherbie. “We’ve got several guys staying around here, working out and sticking around.”
Weatherbie is counting on one to lead an offense that quickly needs to find an identity. His name is Kinsmon Lancaster, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound quarterback who red-shirted in 2004 and backed up Jyles, the Sun Belt Conference offensive player of the year, in ’05.
“He’s been the backup the last couple of years,” Weatherbie said of Lancaster. “He’s really had limited opportunities. Usually it was in the second half or in for a drive.”
The limited snaps did spread out over 10 of ULM’s 11 games. But Lancaster primarily tucked the ball and ran in those contests – he attempted just 24 passes but rushed 55 times for 232 yards for Weatherbie’s 5-6 squad.
With Jyles off to the Canadian Football League, the torch has been passed at ULM – so long as Lancaster proves this summer that he wants it.
“We’ve always felt like he’d be the guy,” Weatherbie said.
Lancaster, a native of Shreveport, La., is undersized but has a strong throwing arm to go with his legs. He’s not unlike Jyles, a dual-threat quarterback who led the Sun Belt’s top passing attack in 2005.
Weatherbie doesn’t anticipate the transition – which includes Lancaster and new offensive coordinator Bob Leahy – to be seamless.
But if all goes well, it won’t be so glaring once ULM travels to Lawrence for the second game of the 2006 season.
“He’s pretty athletic. He can run and throw,” Weatherbie said of Lancaster. “He seems to be a pretty heady quarterback. It will be interesting to see how he does.”
