Southern
Miss Golden Eagles
Preview 2007
By
Richard Cirminiello
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2007 USM Offense Preview
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2007 USM Defense Preview
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2007 USM Depth Chart
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2006 CFN Southern
Miss
Preview
One decade after the formation of Conference USA, Southern Miss stands
alone as the league’s most consistent, successful and recognizable
member, a reputation it’s poised to enhance in 2007.
With Jeff Bower at the helm throughout the run, the Golden Eagles
have strung together 13 straight winning seasons, nine bowl games in
ten years and three postseason wins in a row, capped by last year’s
GMAC Bowl defeat of Ohio to close a better-than-expected 9-5
season. Still, the program that used to be on everyone’s short list
of most dangerous mid-majors hasn’t had a ten-win season since 1988,
leaving it hungry for the national attention Boise State and Utah
have enjoyed the past few years. The Eagles will get a chance this
year to prove they’re more than just the class of their conference,
with September trips to Knoxville and Boise.
Head coach: Jeff Bower
18th year: 112-77-1
Returning Lettermen:
Off. 19, Def. 19, ST 2
Lettermen Lost: 23 |
Ten
Best USM Players
1. RB Damion Fletcher, Soph.
2. TE Shawn Nelson, Jr.
3. LB Gerald McRath, Soph.
4. DE Robert Henderson, Sr.
5. OT Chris Clark, Sr.
6. DT Martavius Prince, Sr.
7. ROV Brandon Sumrall, Sr.
8. FS LeVance Richmond, Sr.
9. QB Jeremy Young, Sr.
10. OT Ryan McKee, Jr. |
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2007 Schedule
CFN Prediction: 9-3 |
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Sept. 1 |
Tennessee Martin |
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Sept. 8 |
at
Tennessee |
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Sept. 15 |
at
East Carolina |
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Sept. 22 |
at
Boise State |
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Oct.
3 |
Rice |
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Oct.
13 |
SMU |
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Oct.
21 |
at Marshall |
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Oct.
28 |
UCF |
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Nov.
3 |
at UAB |
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Nov.
10 |
Memphis |
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Nov.
17 |
at UTEP |
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Nov.
24 |
Arkansas State |
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2006
Schedule
2006 Record:
9-5 |
| 9/2 |
at Florida L 34-7 |
| 9/9 |
SE Louisiana W 45-0 |
| 9/16 |
NC State W 37-17 |
| 9/25 |
at UCF W 19-14 |
| 10/3 |
at Tulsa L 20-6 |
| 10/14 |
Houston W 31-27 |
| 10/21 |
at Virginia Tech L 36-6 |
| 10/28 |
E Carolina L 20-17 OT |
| 11/4 |
at Memphis W 42-21 |
| 11/11 |
at Tulane W 31-3 |
| 11/18 |
UAB W 26-20 |
| 11/25 |
Marshall W 42-7 |
| 12/1 |
C-USA Championship
Houston L 34-20 |
| 1/7 |
GMAC Bowl
Ohio W 28-7 |
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With a stocked backfield and the league’s best defensive front seven,
Southern Miss likes its nucleus for 2007, but also recognizes that
without reinforcements on the offensive line, at wide receiver and in
the secondary, another four- or five-loss season will be as good at it
gets. Sophomore backs Tory Harrison and Damion Fletcher, a
record-setting rookie in 2006, will lead the charge to prevent
mediocrity from setting in, provided the remade interior can create
running lanes.
After winning the East a year ago but losing to Houston in the
Conference USA title game, the Golden Eagles have a sense of unfinished
business heading into the upcoming season. With a reputation to uphold,
anything less than a league championship from this group will be a
disappointment.
What to watch for on offense: With his shifty feet and great
vision, Fletcher came out of nowhere to debut with 1,388 yards and 11
touchdowns last season. Harrison has an extra gear and was actually
considered the better prospect out of high school. Incoming recruit
Antwain Easterling, who had offers from Notre Dame, Florida and Miami,
has the biggest upside. Together, they give Bower as much backfield
depth as he’s had in Hattiesburg, a nice start for the balance he
desires. Just how far this offense goes will depend on quarterback
Jeremy Young’s development in his final year, and the Eagles’ ability to
replace George Batiste, Travis Cooley and Robby D'Angelo, the heart of
last year’s line.
What to watch for on defense: The defense has long been the
calling card of the Southern Miss program. It’s typically fast,
attacking and a training ground for future NFL players. This year’s
edition will maintain that tradition with a top-notch front seven that
welcomes back six key contributors from a unit that allowed just 308
yards and 18 points a game in 2006. If his first season was any
indication, sophomore Gerald McRath is on his way to becoming the next
really productive Eagle linebacker. The defensive focus this summer
will be on rebuilding a secondary that parted ways with starting corners
Jasper Faulk and Caleb Hendrix.
The team will be far better if …Young blossoms into a playmaker
behind center, now that a season of experience is in the vault and last
year’s painful turf toe has healed. He has the size and athleticism to
be much more than just a decoy, which is why the offense may experiment
with some read-option wrinkles this fall. An unleashed Young, combined
with the running game, would make the Eagle offense dramatically harder
to contain.
The Schedule:
USM likely will be
everyone's favorite to win the Conference USA title, but the schedule
doesn't help with road games against the East's top teams, East Carolina
and Marshall. Missing Houston and Tulsa from the West is nice, but the
Golden Eagles have to go on the road to face UTEP. The non-conference
slate is interesting, with chances to make national noise on the road
against Tennessee and Boise State, along with cupcake wins against
Tennessee Martin and Arkansas State.
Best Offensive Player:
Sophomore RB Damion Fletcher. A yardage machine with tremendous
quickness and a nose for the goal line, Fletcher ran for 1,388 yards and
11 touchdowns despite being the focal point of every opponent’s game
plan. He’ll be used even more as a receiver this season in order to get
him the ball in space.
Best Defensive Player: Senior DE Robert Henderson. A tweener at
the Bandit position, a hybrid of defensive end and linebacker, Henderson
came up with a nice year, delivering 59 tackles, four sacks and 12
tackles for loss. At 280 pounds, he has the size to be even more of a
factor against the run while being given the room to move as a pass
rusher.
Key player to a
successful season:
Senior QB Jeremy Young. He has the receiving corps, the
franchise running back and the tackles necessary for a big year. Now he
has to be a more effective passer to make Southern Miss more than just a
running team. If he can make just a few more big plays, be a bit better
on third downs and keep the offense moving, he could be the difference
between a nice year and a Conference USA title.
The season will be a
success if ... Southern Miss wins the league championship. It’s gotten to the point
where it’s title or bust. While there are big holes to fill on the
interior of the offensive line, at cornerback and at kicker, and while
the schedule isn’t a peach, anything other than a title, considering the
overall returning talent level, will be a major disappointment.
Key game:
Sept. 15 at East
Carolina. This is the game ECU wants to use to springboard its way into
the East lead, and to show it's back as a conference powerhouse. Coming
off a trip to Tennessee, and with a long flight to Boise State the
following week, this is more than just a tough road sandwich game for
Southern Miss.
2006 Fun Stats:
- Second quarter scoring: Southern Miss 132; Opponents 59
- Penalties: Southern Miss 75 for 589 yards; Opponents 106 for 848 yards
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- Third down conversions: Southern Miss 75 for 181 (41%); Opponents 54
for 179 (30%)