I am very optimistic the offense will be improved, but I see no reason why the defense will be better. Our best 3 lineman are all gone. The kids taking their place have never been productive on the college level. Our DB's played mostly soft zone and when they did play man they were burned regularly. It is quite possible we could be worse at rushing the passer and defending the pass than we were last year. This will equate to coverted 3rd downs, big plays and no turnovers. If this scenario plays out we will be getting a new coach.
BTW, I think we can go 6-6 or 7-5 if our offense can hold on to the ball and keep the defense off the field. If we do not win time of possesion we will only get a few wins.
I definitely understand your concern about the defense. If they do improve, it will be because they are more comfortable with the scheme, Fleming becomes the superstar we think he can be, Dean is the defensive freshman of the year and the two JC corners we brought in last year have live up to their potential. I am not saying any of these will happen. I am saying it is not impossible we will improve and these factors could lead to that improvement.
I remember the days when we would beat Southern Miss and didn't have to worry about what things we had to do to win. We used to be on the same level as USM, Tulane, Memphis, Tulsa and the like. I want to go back to days like that. How to beat USM? Win the turnover battle, play sound defense & avoid 3rd and long.
I am not sure what game it was but this past season our fullback Chancellor Roberson who is 260# threw the worst looking pass that I ever seen (15 yard duck) that came up maybe 15 yards short. Very embarrassing. Huge turnover on the opponents side of the field and the throw was forced. He should have ate it.
I think that was the Florida Atlantic game.another game we snatched defeat from the jaws of victory!!!
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This will be a very exciting game. I hope many of your fans make it to Hattiesburg for the game. It will be a day of firsts for Southern Miss. A new head coach after 17 years. A whole new coaching staff. A new freshman qb. A whole new defensive line. Most exciting will be the opening of our new stadium additions.
We will be expecting a tough contest against your Cajuns. Our team will be very talented on offense, but defense is a big question mark. Anyway, I look forward to visiting with you guys before the game.
I like our chances in this one. For the first time since 2004 we open against a non bcs team. We got Senior QB, RB and receivers to go against a questionable defense. I not saying we are running them out of their own stadium but we have done pretty well against CUSA. Hopefully it stays that way and we are 2 and 2 once conference play begins. If we lose then Kent ST is a must win.
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im not sure if it was ohio of florida atlantic but we were driving the ball down the field. the defense could not stop des and fenroy. Des was getting off nice dink and dunk passes. i want to say we never even got to third down on the drive. every 2 plays we would get a first down. then out of the "playbook for idiots" comes this stupid full back pass from chancellor roberson that gets intercepted at the 5. Absolutely the crappiest thing i have ever seen. at that moment i realized for sure that our coaches were idiots. whoever called that play is a moron. i hope to god it was blake anderson!
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