By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
April 8, 2004
HATTIESBURG During the University of Southern Mississippi's ninth practice of the spring session, some of the Golden Eagles' linemen got into a scuffle during drills.
The physical confrontation was nothing out of the ordinary on a football field, but it did get the attention of head coach Jeff Bower.
The 14-year Eagles coach questioned his team's ability to be physical after USM's first scrimmage of 2004 last Saturday, and the shoving match was a step in the right direction as the team tries to raise its level of intensity in the second half of spring drills.
Seeing a little fight in the players will be most important for USM on the defensive side of the ball, as the team tries to find replacements for seven starters from last season's unit.
USM's defense, which will be without All-Americans Rod Davis and Etric Pruitt for the first time in two season, has been shaken up quite bit.
Chad Ruffin has moved into a starting spot on the defensive line, and Akeem Lockett has moved off the line to bandit. Darrell Bennett has taken over duties as rover, and James Nelson has moved to left cornerback.
Boley, who was second on the team in tackles last season with 151, said it will definitely take time for the new unit to mesh.
Though there are a lot of new faces on defense, Bower said he is not overly concerned about the team struggling to stop opposing offenses.
USM doesn't have to worry about experience in its passing game. Dustin Almond, who played in 13 games last season, has all but sealed his spot as the starter this spring.
The sophomore quarterback threw for 263 yards and four touchdowns in Saturday's scrimmage, and with one year under his belt in offensive coordinator Rip Scherer's system, Almond said he is feeling more and more comfortable behind center.
USM is still searching for a running game to compliment its air attack. The Eagles rushed for just 1,587 yards in 2003, and the scrimmage didn't produce any eye-popping results. USM sophomore running back Anthony Harris led the ground assault with 40 yards on 14 carries.
The Eagles may be looking for a new defensive unit and a running game, but the team is certainly not lacking when it comes to finding motivation.
USM won an unprecedented fourth Conference USA title last season, going undefeated in league play, but the team was shut out 17-0 in the Liberty Bowl by Utah.