Through two games, Louisiana-Monroe’s defense looks much improved from a year ago. After giving up more than 30 points per game in 2013, the Warhawks have held their first two opponents to 20.5 points per game. That average is helped by bludgeoning Wake Forest, 17-10, in their season opening win over the ACC Demon Deacons. Much of the credit for their defensive success can be chalked up to defensive coordinator Troy Reffett’s unusual alignment.

The Warhawks line up in a 3-3-5 formation, something that you don’t see every day. They employ a ton of motion and like to blitz from all over. That’s a big reason they’ve already generated 10 sacks, more than half of what they had all of last season. They have eight players who have registered at least a half-sack so far, so LSU can expect to see pressure coming from all angles. Ray Stovall, a senior linebacker, leads the team with 2.5 sacks, while three defensive linemen coming in right behind him with at least one each.

The Tigers are going to see a change along their offensive line for the first time all season. Ethan Pocic started the first two games at center as senior Elliott Porter, on the Rimington Award watch list before the season, served a two-game suspension. Pocic struggled in the first half against Wisconsin, as the Badgers ran stunts all along the line in hopes of creating confusion for the sophomore making just his second career start. It probably would have continued to work in the second half of that game had the Badgers not lost their two senior defensive tackles.

Pocic suffered an ankle injury last week, but it’s likely that Porter would have reclaimed his starting role regardless, no matter what Les Miles said about performance in summer camp. He steps back into a veteran O-line, with two other seniors in La’el Collins and Hoko Fanaika, junior Vadal Alexander and sophomore Jerald Hawkins. Collins, Alexander, Hawkins and Porter all started at least 12 games last season, so there shouldn’t be any chemistry issues welcoming Porter back to the field.

Keeping the pressure off of Anthony Jennings and Brandon Harris will be crucial. As the Warhawks blitzes and pass rushes have gotten home, it’s taken a ton of heat off of their secondary. Thanks in part to the 10 sacks, ULM has only given up two pass plays of 20 or more yards. The Tigers have hit on four pass plays of 30 or more yards through their two games, with Travin Dural, John Diarse and Trey Quinn finding ways to beat the single coverage they’re seeing as a result of teams gearing up to slow down the LSU rushing attack. Getting off of their coverage before Louisiana-Monroe’s pressure can reach Jennings or Harris will be key as LSU hopes to keep the sack total down.