Offense is not the problem. 7th in the country, 2nd among G5s. Pec and the D are what worries me.

We know what is wrong with the defense...we have ONE d-lineman on our entire team who is over 300lb (Draper Riley, a converted TE). The rest of our DLs are in the 260 lb range, that isn't going to cut it in FBS...Rod Crayton was a bust. Robinson was a bust, Derick Dixon was a bust, Jon Michael Edwards transferred (not sure why), Naim Mustafa left (not sure why)...meanwhile, we're playing schools like UTSA and Troy and they've got massive DTs that are destroying our offensive line.

(10-15-2016 11:39 PM)TTT Wrote:  We know what is wrong with the defense...we have ONE d-lineman on our entire team who is over 300lb (Draper Riley, a converted TE). The rest of our DLs are in the 260 lb range, that isn't going to cut it in FBS...Rod Crayton was a bust. Robinson was a bust, Derick Dixon was a bust, Jon Michael Edwards transferred (not sure why), Naim Mustafa left (not sure why)...meanwhile, we're playing schools like UTSA and Troy and they've got massive DTs that are destroying our offensive line.

we need to load up on P5 transfers, grad students and GOOD Juco kids. of course, Hopson wants to build a team "the right way", so that wont happen and the result will be more EJ-type misery ahead, i'm afraid.

The only real complaint I have about the offense is our inability to control or even influence the tempo of the game when we have the ball.

The offense cost us the Troy game. Every other loss is on the defense.

(10-15-2016 11:04 PM)GCEagle Wrote:  

(10-15-2016 10:14 PM)shiftyeagle Wrote:  Other than Dylan Bradley, there are no D1 caliber players on our defense.

Elijah Parker had a very good game and has had a good career. Antoine is still very talented, though it seems this scheme takes away his ability to make plays. Cornell Armstrong and Curtis Mikell are growing into very good corners. We have talent, it's just inexperienced or underutilized.

No. I'm not being a dick, but just no.

(10-16-2016 03:01 PM)shiftyeagle Wrote:  

(10-15-2016 11:04 PM)GCEagle Wrote:  

(10-15-2016 10:14 PM)shiftyeagle Wrote:  Other than Dylan Bradley, there are no D1 caliber players on our defense.

Elijah Parker had a very good game and has had a good career. Antoine is still very talented, though it seems this scheme takes away his ability to make plays. Cornell Armstrong and Curtis Mikell are growing into very good corners. We have talent, it's just inexperienced or underutilized.

No. I'm not being a dick, but just no.

Walking out of the tunnel against Kentucky, I thought we looked pretty big and physical. This team at least passes the walking-off-the-bus test better than the 2012-2014 teams did.

Duggan worked at USM in seven of the last eight seasons and was a candidate to replace Monken as head coach after he left on Jan. 24 to become offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Hopson, who previously served as head coach at Alcorn State, was hired on Jan. 30.

"I'm very disappointed in being let go," Duggan said Friday in a statement to the Sun Herald. "I put everything I had in to getting Southern Miss back on the right track. I can't believe it is ending like this."

Former Alcorn State defensive coordinator Tony Pecoraro will play a large role in completely destroying what was a pretty damm good defense at Southern Miss.

(10-16-2016 03:28 PM)Nuggets Ghost Wrote:  Duggan worked at USM in seven of the last eight seasons and was a candidate to replace Monken as head coach after he left on Jan. 24 to become offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Hopson, who previously served as head coach at Alcorn State, was hired on Jan. 30.

"I'm very disappointed in being let go," Duggan said Friday in a statement to the Sun Herald. "I put everything I had in to getting Southern Miss back on the right track. I can't believe it is ending like this."

Former Alcorn State defensive coordinator Tony Pecoraro will play a large role in completely destroying what was a pretty damm good defense at Southern Miss.

it's now obvious Pecoraro has got to go....

this coaching staff could only screw up with this cast of characters....and they've done one helluva job to date....

it's tough watching how poorly we are performing as a group now....

(10-16-2016 05:21 PM)stinkfist Wrote:  

(10-16-2016 03:28 PM)Nuggets Ghost Wrote:  Duggan worked at USM in seven of the last eight seasons and was a candidate to replace Monken as head coach after he left on Jan. 24 to become offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Hopson, who previously served as head coach at Alcorn State, was hired on Jan. 30.

"I'm very disappointed in being let go," Duggan said Friday in a statement to the Sun Herald. "I put everything I had in to getting Southern Miss back on the right track. I can't believe it is ending like this."

Former Alcorn State defensive coordinator Tony Pecoraro will play a large role in completely destroying what was a pretty damm good defense at Southern Miss.

it's now obvious Pecoraro has got to go....

this coaching staff could only screw up with this cast of characters....and they've done one helluva job to date....

it's tough watching how poorly we are performing as a group now....

I agree. does anyone here think Hop will actually fire his boy after one season though? I don't. hope hes got the balls, dignity and respect for the program to do it.

(10-15-2016 11:42 PM)Reggie Favre Wrote:  We need to load up on grad students and GOOD kids.

Our kickoff coverage sucks too. Just throwing that out there.

(10-16-2016 07:56 PM)EagNBran Wrote:  Our kickoff coverage sucks too. Just throwing that out there.

...has been mentioned.....our special teams coverage is beyond pathetic....

if an F- can be given???....they've earned that grade....

Kickoff coverage has sucked for a few years now. I'm convinced it has to do with a lack of speed.

(10-16-2016 10:00 PM)BeagleUSM Wrote:  Kickoff coverage has sucked for a few years now. I'm convinced it has to do with a lack of speed.

I've said it too many times....

how we can't find someone that cannot kick it out of the EZ is beyond me with all the international soccer fiends on campus....

it just can't be that hard to find ANYONE! that can do that, and only do that.....

The defense wasn't any good last year either.

We have FCS level talent in almost every position, especially linebacker. CJ Perry....I have no idea how this guy keeps getting playing time.

I'm not saying Pecoraro isn't a problem, but the defense has almost zero talent outside of Dylan Bradley and Xavier Thigpen (who should be used on 3rd and long only)

(10-17-2016 03:31 AM)shiftyeagle Wrote:  The defense wasn't any good last year either.

We have FCS level talent in almost every position, especially linebacker. CJ Perry....I have no idea how this guy keeps getting playing time.

I'm not saying Pecoraro isn't a problem, but the defense has almost zero talent outside of Dylan Bradley and Xavier Thigpen (who should be used on 3rd and long only)

I hear ya.....however, too many missed assignments/big plays lends to coaching more than ability....hell when a greyhound bus can bust through a hole untouched or a defender isn't within 30 yds of a receiver, that's nothing but lack of preparation and coaching....missed tackles and lack of speed is on the player...

All but one of our recruits is a 2 star. We used to be almost entirely 3 stars with a four star every now and then. This wasn't twenty years ago. It was five. Have we really fallen that far perception wise?

Also, it's kinda frustrating to see how many Mississippi players would rather go far off to play for a G5 school than stay at home and play for us. What are we doing so wrong that they'd rather go to Western Kentucky than us?

(10-17-2016 09:33 AM)EagNBran Wrote:  Also, it's kinda frustrating to see how many Mississippi players would rather go far off to play for a G5 school than stay at home and play for us. What are we doing so wrong that they'd rather go to Western Kentucky than us?

There is a stigma around USM in Mississippi. That and a lot of HS coaches badmouth USM.