We've seen 3 weeks of Eagle football. How you feeling about Saturday's game?

Granted I haven't watched any Tulane games this year, I'm optimistic of the outcome. I don't see us losing by 13. I'm expecting a tight game.

I'm not very optimistic. Hopefully last week was a confidence booster but it looks like we're still figuring things out on offense.

I like the Superback offense as a change of pace but it can't be our offense going forward, not the way we approach it anyway.

Gore probably is the best player on the field but if we're going to run an option offense, why isn't a QB running it? Supposedly Keyes and Wilkie are very athletic and would be a much bigger passing threat. That being said, got to give Gore 20+ touches.

IF the offense can protect the ball and give a competent showing I think the defense is good enough to keep us in the game.

I agree.. Gore needs to touch the ball but we also gotta throw it around..

When we have a QB it seems we don't involve Gore much. Why can't Gore still be a focus while also having a QB? We get near the goal line and screw it up instead of letting Gore do his thing. And it seems like we hand off to the other RBs more with a QB, but maybe that's just me.

I think Keyes is definitely ahead of Wilkie right now.

We both have good defenses and not so great offenses. I think we are in it the whole game and we at least beat the spread. Not sure about winning, but I think we have a good chance.

(09-21-2022 11:11 AM)gdunn Wrote:  I agree.. Gore needs to touch the ball but we also gotta throw it around..

The only positive, consistent thing I've seen is Gore's ability to find or set up running lanes, he can be pretty slick at times. He's not big or particularly fast but he has the same quality Fletcher had, may even be better at it.

I'd love to see Keyes run some read-option plays, he may not be as athletic as Gore but I have to believe he's a much bigger passing threat.

(09-21-2022 02:10 PM)Eagleyed Wrote:  We both have good defenses and not so great offenses. I think we are in it the whole game and we at least beat the spread. Not sure about winning, but I think we have a good chance.

It's so depressing that this is the state of affairs, where beating freaking Tulane would be an upset. Hopefully better things are on the horizon.

We haven’t beaten a decent team in years. Nothing I’ve seen over the past 3 games indicates it’ll happen this week.

Saw too many missed wide open receivers last week. Will take a while for these young QB’s to grow up. Greenies 31-10.

Like most games I'll go in hoping for the best, but not surprised if the opposite happens.

Tulane's first two opponents were really weak, so it wasn't surprising that they won those games. But I figured Kansas State (who easily won against Missouri the week before) would defeat Tulane without much difficulty. That didn't happen, so it's hard to tell just how good Tulane is. I figure they will be similar to Liberty.

The offense needs a big breakout game here. If the defense plays well, but Southern Miss loses because the offense can't put enough points on the board I imagine it will be very demoralizing for the team. The defense shouldn't feel like they have to get pick 6s and fumble recoveries returned for TDs in order for the team to win. And the offense can't drive the ball to 1st and goal...then turn it over with a fumble or interception. If the defense plays great like they're capable of...AND the offense puts numerous TDs on the board, I think they have a chance.

(09-22-2022 03:05 PM)Feral Eagle Wrote:  Like most games I'll go in hoping for the best, but not surprised if the opposite happens.

Tulane's first two opponents were really weak, so it wasn't surprising that they won those games. But I figured Kansas State (who easily won against Missouri the week before) would defeat Tulane without much difficulty. That didn't happen, so it's hard to tell just how good Tulane is. I figure they will be similar to Liberty.

The offense needs a big breakout game here. If the defense plays well, but Southern Miss loses because the offense can't put enough points on the board I imagine it will be very demoralizing for the team. The defense shouldn't feel like they have to get pick 6s and fumble recoveries returned for TDs in order for the team to win. And the offense can't drive the ball to 1st and goal...then turn it over with a fumble or interception. If the defense plays great like they're capable of...AND the offense puts numerous TDs on the board, I think they have a chance.

I know we need to minimize turnovers.. Imagine if we'd only turned the ball over once or twice against Liberty.. We may would be sitting at 2-2.. Could still be 1-3..Who knows.

USM puts it all together and wins!

(09-22-2022 03:35 PM)gdunn Wrote:  I know we need to minimize turnovers.. Imagine if we'd only turned the ball over once or twice against Liberty.. We may would be sitting at 2-2.. Could still be 1-3..Who knows.

I still say Richard was down!

I think our D should be able to keep us in it, but I don't have confidence in this team to take the win. It always seems like there is a new way for them to screw up.

(09-22-2022 03:05 PM)Feral Eagle Wrote:  The defense shouldn't feel like they have to get pick 6s and fumble recoveries returned for TDs in order for the team to win.

To quote Cinderella (the band, not the fairy tale), "The more things change, the more they stay the same."

(09-23-2022 10:07 AM)HarborPointe Wrote:  

(09-22-2022 03:05 PM)Feral Eagle Wrote:  The defense shouldn't feel like they have to get pick 6s and fumble recoveries returned for TDs in order for the team to win.

To quote Cinderella (the band, not the fairy tale), "The more things change, the more they stay the same."

Or...to quote The Who: "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss".

I miss USM football actually being fun.

(09-22-2022 10:00 PM)Reggie Favre Wrote:  USM puts it all together and wins!

Nailed it

Zero turnovers. Tulane had one but blocked kicks are just as big as turnovers.

(09-25-2022 09:17 AM)Reggie Favre Wrote:  

(09-22-2022 10:00 PM)Reggie Favre Wrote:  USM puts it all together and wins!

Nailed it

Still too many dumb, ill-timed penalties and red zone woes (1st & goal from the 3, and we had 2 false starts, a time out, and zero touches by Gore), and we looked like dog poo falling behind 14-0, but they did what they had to do to beat a decent team, and it’s been a while since we could say that.

The biggest thing I’m happy about is seeing us just rolling with what we’re good at instead of trying to force things that aren’t there. Wilcke’s a good passer and we have guys who can catch the ball. Ditch all the perimeter dump offs and QB run crap and chuck it downfield. That only helps the run game.

If we build on this, things could get interesting.