SPORTS

USM's passing collides with Tech's strong defense

By Sean Isabella | Gannett Louisiana | sisabella@thenewsstar.com

MONROE – It's been a long, drawn out eight weeks, but Louisiana Tech coach Skip Holtz will finally get to show why he was so high on his secondary during the preseason.

Less than a month ago, Tech had its first look at a pure passing team against Northwestern State then dabbled in Auburn's improved aerial game, but the Bulldogs finally get a true, old fashioned spread passing team Saturday at Southern Miss.

Southern Miss and former Peabody High running back Jalen Richard (30) rushes against North Texas in Southern Miss’ 30-20 win Oct. 18.

And with the way Tech's defense has been playing with nine turnovers in the last two games, it couldn't be more of a perfect matchup.

"This will be the best passing team we've had the opportunity to play to this point," Holtz said Wednesday. "This will be the biggest test we've had in the air and to play coverage's and do all those types of things."

Southern Miss, which is hardly the same team that barely mustered up 13 points in a 2013 loss to Tech, has put up 500 yards of total offense in back-to-back games, led by sophomore quarterback Nick Mullens, who is coming into his own as a young signal caller.

Mullens has piled up 731 yards and five touchdowns in the past two games, the latter of which he helped USM earn a 30-20 win over North Texas, just its second league victory in as many years.

For the year, Mullens is 169-of-285 for 1,909 yards with 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions — a number that bodes well for Tech's turnover-seeking defense.

USM enters as the third-ranked passing offense in Conference USA with 272.7 yards per game. Tech comes in with the third-best passing defense, allowing just 203.1 yards per game.

"They are one-dimensional pretty much in that they have four-wide, 10-personnel and throwing the ball all over the yard," Holtz said.

But just when Southern Miss lines up to play street ball, the Golden Eagles will hit teams with their running game, just like they did against North Texas with 201 rushing yards.

"You have the honor the fact that it could be a run play," Tech defensive coordinator Manny Diaz said. "Certainly they have improved each week. It is very obvious when you watch them chronologically on film, and it does have a lot to do with up front and the way they are able to run the football."

Monken's offense and Diaz's defense should provide entertainment value alone considering the two have roots dating back to the Big 12 shoot out days. Monken was the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma State in 2011-12 when Diaz was Texas' defensive coordinator.

"Defensively adding Coach Diaz adds an element of confidence," Monken said. "I think he's always had a swagger to him, a confidence, and I think their players feed off of that."

Like Tech with its ability to spread the ball to multiple receivers, USM has three pass catchers with at least 22 catches. The big-play receiver is Michael Thomas who leads the team in yards (370) and touchdowns (4).

Tech's safeties — Kentrell Brice and Xavier Woods are playing at an All-Conference USA level — while defensive backs Le'Vander Liggins and Adairius Barnes have struggled at times on the outside.

Brice leads the team with 43 tackles and two forced fumbles. Woods is third on the team in tackles with 32 to go along with four interceptions.

But arguably the star of the defense of late has been safety turned linebacker Terrell Pinson, who returned a fumble for a touchdown and picked off two passes in last weekend's win over Texas-San Antonio. "This is a guy that seven games ago didn't know he was a linebacker, so it gives him confidence that he not just survives the position, but thrive at that position. It gives our whole team a big boost in the arm," Diaz said.

Connect with Sean Isabella on Twitter @ST_IsabellaTNS