USM sports tough offensive line

By By Stan Caldwell / EMG Sports Writer
Sept. 15, 2002
HATTIESBURG Prior to the 2002 season, the University of Southern Mississippi thought the offensive line might be one of its strong suits.
But nobody expected the Golden Eagles to be this good up front. Quite simply, if you want to zero in on why USM is 3-0 and 1-0 in Conference USA, you have to point directly at the offensive line.
They have certainly done that. Saturday night against Memphis, the line led the way to a season-high 524 yards of offense, including 356 on the ground. Tucker and his mates helped tailbacks Derrick Nix and Anthony Harris past the 100-yard mark, Nix getting 196 and Harris 121.
In addition, the big guys up front kept the pressure off sophomore quarterback Micky D'Angelo. Memphis did record two sacks for 10 yards in losses, but both of those were coverage sacks. Otherwise, D'Angelo had all the time he needed to make the plays.
Certainly, everyone in black and gold recognized the play of the USM line.
The Eagles did an especially good job of attacking Memphis at the corners. USM backs were getting 4, 5,sometimes 6 yards downfield, and were able to turn the corner and get squared up for extra yards.
I thought we did a good job of getting to the edge," said weak tackle Jeremy Bridges. "They played a lot in the middle of the line, and we were able to attack them on the corners."
The line has led Nix to 474 yards and seven touchdowns so far this season, and the senior is most appreciative of that help, seeing as how he is still coming on after missing all of last season due to illness.
USM returned starters at four line positions, and after taking their lumps the past two seasons, that experience is starting to tell for the Eagles.
Besides, Tucker and Bridges, USM has a senior in strong tackle Jason Jimenez and a returning starter in center Jim Hicks. Only redshirt sophomore Jeremy Parquet is new to the offensive line.