USM is my favorite C-USA team so I usually follow them. This year I haven't seen a game yet though. Looking at the stats (including Auburn) it seems you guys are legit on D. Is their D one of the best in the nation this year? What are the strengths? How much youth? What's the ceiling for this team?

I think the jury is still out on the defense. The run defense is pretty stout, but the passing defense has not yet been tested by a good passing offense. The secondary is young and inexperienced, but pretty talented, although bigger WRs have given them trouble at times. They seem to give up a couple of big plays each game. If they can cut those out, they have a chance to be special on defense with the caveat that they still have not faced a formidable passing offense.

We've had great defenses to compare to, so we know what 'elite' is. The '97-'00 team had a top-10 defense. The 1981 team as well. The 2003 and 2011 defenses were solid too. Those are our measuring sticks.

The defense this year, like last year, doesn't have anyone that jumps out at you as obviously 'all-world'. We had 2 DBs drafted this past draft that didn't even make all-conference. This year, after Spring, I was really high on our front-7. I still am. We're big and fast here. Our secondary is talented though inexperienced. They have 2 weeks to get ready for Fine/Guyton. I like our chances.

Our pass rush might determine our fortunes. We had 3 sacks versus Auburn, but none versus ULaMo. I like our cover skills, but we need to hit Fine and JMar if we want to beat them. Our DLine needs to keep playing like they did versus Auburn. We'll shutdown everyone in C-USA if they do. Keep watching the stats.

I'd put our DL/LBs up against anyone in our conference. Harris, Smith, Turner, Landry, Sykes, Yancy, Boothe, Sangster, Schrimsher, Ruff, Davis...those guys threw around Auburn's o linemen.

Collectively as a group....it's shaping up to be pretty good. Like what was previously said, it could be one of our best, and it could be possible that any of them won't make all-conference.

I will debate that our run d has been stout. Ironically, the run d's best game was against Auburn; but it gave up the most pass yards that game as well. Albeit, a 47-yard TD pass negatively skews the total [pass numbers.

Not elite.

Take the Auburn game with a grain of salt. They haven't needed much help stopping themselves this year.

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(10-02-2018 07:14 PM)Smaug Wrote:  Take the Auburn game with a grain of salt. They haven't needed much help stopping themselves this year.

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Plus the weather and the long delay.

(10-02-2018 07:58 PM)eaglenjxn Wrote:  

(10-02-2018 07:14 PM)Smaug Wrote:  Take the Auburn game with a grain of salt. They haven't needed much help stopping themselves this year.

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Plus the weather and the long delay.

I think both teams had the same delay and weather.

(10-02-2018 07:14 PM)Smaug Wrote:  Take the Auburn game with a grain of salt. They haven't needed much help stopping themselves this year.

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BUT BUT SEC SEC SEC

All of the previous 'elite' defenses had some of our greatest players. Jamie Collins, Michael Boley, and Adalius Thomas from the last 3: '11, '03, '99.

Time will tell when they play UNT, LT, and UAB

The defense is improving. To what level, don't know. It isn't an elite defense. When we play UNT we will know where our defense is at.

Technically, this is a rebuilding year. We lost our entire secondary on defense, our 3 most productive WRs (which includes Ito), our star RB who got us out of a lot of trouble when we needed to move the ball, a new O line anchored by a true freshman center and we have a new QB (his first year on team).

Our D line and LB group are our only experienced groups. Our secondary was supposed to be our problem, but I think they are play well and getting better.

This team will finish better than they started, as these young players get more PT. Next year, we should be a really good team.

Let's calm down. We've played Jackson State, Monroe, and Rice in 3 of our first 4 games.

We will learn a lot about the team when we play UNT.

You know, our own fans are our worst enemies sometimes, constantly searching for something negative to say about us. Actually, the best thing that happened to us this year was losing Peccaro to FAU and moving Billings up. Thanks FAU.

(10-03-2018 09:08 AM)nastybunch Wrote:  You know, our own fans are our worst enemies sometimes, constantly searching for something negative to say about us. Actually, the best thing that happened to us this year was losing Peccaro to FAU and moving Billings up. Thanks FAU.

Just think how much better we'd be if Marshall had hired our OC.

(10-03-2018 07:38 AM)shiftyeagle Wrote:  Let's calm down. We've played Jackson State, Monroe, and Rice in 3 of our first 4 games.

We will learn a lot about the team when we play UNT.

Why conveniently leave out Auburn?

(10-03-2018 02:39 PM)TTT Wrote:  

(10-03-2018 07:38 AM)shiftyeagle Wrote:  Let's calm down. We've played Jackson State, Monroe, and Rice in 3 of our first 4 games.

We will learn a lot about the team when we play UNT.

Why conveniently leave out Auburn?

Because Auburn isn't a crappy team like the other 3. I was listing crappy teams we've played. Defense was fantastic against Auburn honestly.

But like I said, we will learn quite a bit against UNT. They gashed us last year.

(10-03-2018 03:07 PM)shiftyeagle Wrote:  

(10-03-2018 02:39 PM)TTT Wrote:  

(10-03-2018 07:38 AM)shiftyeagle Wrote:  Let's calm down. We've played Jackson State, Monroe, and Rice in 3 of our first 4 games.

We will learn a lot about the team when we play UNT.

Why conveniently leave out Auburn?

Because Auburn isn't a crappy team like the other 3. I was listing crappy teams we've played. Defense was fantastic against Auburn honestly.

But like I said, we will learn quite a bit against UNT. They gashed us last year.

I agree, we'll find out a lot vs UNT. I said it before the season started...we won't lose a conference game at home all year and we'll at least get a W against either @ UNT or @ UAB.