Southern Miss prepares for James Madison after coach urges sharper play

Southern Miss coach Blake Anderson said his team must play with greater consistency and avoid critical mistakes when it hosts James Madison in a Thursday night game at Renasant Stadium. The Golden Eagles are 3-5 overall and 2-2 in the Sun Belt, while the Dukes are 7-2 and 4-2.

Anderson, speaking Monday, said Southern Miss was pleased to earn a road conference win in its previous game but was mindful of mistakes and a third-quarter stretch when the team failed to put the game away. He said the performance was not enough to expect success every week and that the short turnaround left little time to prepare.

Anderson expects James Madison to test the Golden Eagles physically, particularly with its front seven. He said Southern Miss must tackle well in space and perform across all phases, including special teams. He also noted the Dukes were coming off a two-game slide but said their roster remained talented.

Offensively, Anderson said Southern Miss needs to become more balanced after relying heavily on its running game in recent weeks. He said the team’s struggles were not limited to quarterback Landry Lyddy, citing protection, route running and playmaking. Anderson also criticized Lyddy for forcing passes into coverage and said he needs to take checkdowns or throw the ball away rather than risk turnovers.

Receiver Grant Page returned to action and made what Anderson called an important catch, despite playing with a brace and discomfort. Anderson said Page’s experience in the system and presence could help the offense as the season continues. He also praised Mario Sanders for providing consistency and making plays, while saying he hopes to involve him more.

Anderson said the defense has improved since a poor performance against Troy, citing fewer assignment errors and missed tackles. He credited the players and coaching staff with assessing problems and adjusting, including simplifying some responsibilities and playing more aggressively. The defense, he said, helped Southern Miss win its last two games while the offense lacked balance and explosiveness.

Injuries have forced changes on the offensive line, with Christian Young and Larry Edwards taking snaps at tackle and Zerian Hudson playing the full game at left guard, Anderson said. He expects Luke Rogers and Greg Nunnery to return, though he was unsure whether either would be ready for a full game. The team plans to emphasize recovery and mental preparation during the short week.

Anderson called for fan support at Thursday’s home game, saying a loud crowd could help the team. The game was scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. and air on ESPN2. Southern Miss’ radio pregame show was listed to start at 1 p.m.

Source: Original Article