Ask the Expert: USM defense will shift to pressure approach in 2016
The Southern Miss defense played conservatively in 2015. Expect a shift in emphasis to pressure and forcing mistakes.
Golden Eagle expert and insider Lanny Mixon of BigGoldNation.com goes in-depth on the Southern Miss defense heading into the UK-USM opener just more than a week from now.
The Southern Miss offense was the story of their program's success last season. Now they've got a new offensive coordinator. But in spite of those two realities, the defense could be the really intriguing unit as the shift to 2016 becomes complete. There's a much different approach to defense in Hattiesburg heading into the Sept. 3 opener for Kentucky and Southern Miss.
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Cats Illustrated: What can we expect to see from the Southern Miss defense in terms of approach, strengths and remaining question marks going into the season?
Lanny Mixon, BigGoldNation.com: When you look at the Southern Miss defense that's where the big changes came from with this coaching staff. I think what you're going to see is a defensive coaching staff that's more of a high-risk, high-reward type of coaching staff. I think you're going to see a more aggressive defense as far as the front seven.
They're going to put their cornerbacks on an island more. They've got some corners that are good and they feel like they can do that.
It's kind of a 4-2-5 with a hybrid, which they call a Rover, which is kind of a smallish linebacker who can run well. They're going to utilize that. Overall it looks like the kids are excited about it. They're going to have the opportunity to get after people a little bit more than what they played last year.
Link: Ask the expert - Breaking down the USM offensive line
Premium link: Florida defensive line says the Cats are his early favorite
Last year they played kind of a read-react defense under Dave Duggan (last year's defensive coordinator). It's more of a pressure defense now.
If there's a concern about the defense, and really I would only have a concern about this in three games - Kentucky, Marshall and LSU - they only have one guy in their two-deep rotation on the inside who's over 300 pounds. So they're kind of leaning athletic up front. If you're going up against the bigger offensive lines, like at Marshall, Kentucky or LSU, you have to worry about some fatigue simply because of the size difference. That's the big concern.
I think they're strong at linebacker. They feel comfortable putting nine linebackers out there right now. Two years ago I don't know that you could have found three linebackers they felt decent about. So they've come a long way in a short period of time.
The defensive line talent is fine, but they don't have the 300 pounders or the big guys that you'd like to see against the bigger offensive lines.