Southern Miss, Utah remain wary of each other's trickery
By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
Dec. 30, 2003
Deception may rule the play on the field when the University of Southern Mississippi (9-3) and the No. 25 University of Utah (9-2) meet in the AXA Liberty Bowl on Wednesday.
From the USM defense's "odd-stack" 3-3-5 defense to the Utes spread offense, the Conference USA champions and the Mountain West champs will be trying to keep each other off balance after the ball is kicked off at 2:30 p.m. on New Year's Eve.
The Eagles defensive alignment is similar to the schemes implored by the Utes' conference rivals Air Force, BYU, New Mexico and UNLV.
The 3-3-5 alignment breaks down to three lineman, three linebackers and five defensive backs, but the Eagles the scheme using four defensive backs deep and using the other back play like a nickel back.
Through the chaos and confusion USM has caused with its defensive scheme, the Eagles have held opponents to 17.4 points per game this season and only allowed an average of 13.6 points over the final six games of the year.
Utah players are quick to point out though they are familiar with the defensive scheme, none of the Utes previous opponents play it quite the same as the Eagles.
Of course, a lot of things can happen with the Utes on offense.
Utah throws virtually every offensive formation at an opponent through out a game. The Utes, like USM's Nov. 8 opponent Houston, string together running options, flanker screens, full-protection routes, West Coast passing variations and the occasional gadget plays.
Utah's wide varying offense has averaged 29.7 points and 387.8 yards per game this season.
Smith, who took over the signal calling duties in the Utes' third game, completed 66.8 percent of his passes and threw for 2,123 yards. He has thrown 15 touchdowns to just two interceptions in 247 attempts.
Utah junior wide receiver Paris Warren has been the team's main target when it goes to the air, hauling in 71 catches for 737 yards, and freshman receiver Steve Savoy has been a big-play threat with seven touchdowns and a 15.9 yards-per-catch average.
Warfield, who appears to have recovered from a late-season knee injury, is Utah's main threat on the ground.
The Utes running back accumulated 885 yards and 10 touchdowns this season, and he could cause a problem for the Eagles defense that has been vulnerable against the run this season. USM has allowed 1,920 rushing yards, 160 per game, this season.
USM has proven to be a more than potent offense over its last six games of the season.
After a slow start that saw the Eagles post a 3-3 record, the offense found its stride to help the team post a perfect 6-0 record to close out the year.
USM went from scoring just 81 points in the first six games of the year to scoring 212 in the final half of the season.
The Eagles' running game gained 406 more yards in the final six games than in the first six, and the team's passing total increased from 1,122 to 1,371 yards.
USM's mid-season offensive surge will be important against a stingy Utah defense, that has let up the big play at times.
The Utes have allowed 20.8 points and 349.7 yards per game this season, but they have allowed both New Mexico and Air Force to score 40-plus points.
USM will kick off against Utah at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at Liberty Bowl Stadium in Memphis, Tenn. The game will be aired nationally on ESPN.
