Southern Miss football coach Larry Fedora gave more details Sunday on the injuries suffered by three important players during Saturday's loss to Kansas, but wouldn't comment on their status for Thursday's game against UAB.
# Fedora said that running back Tory Harrison suffered a lower leg contusion on the opening kickoff in Saturday's 35-28 defeat and only had one carry for 3 yards against the Jayhawks.
# Running back Damion Fletcher had a groin injury and didn't take part on USM's final three drives when the Eagles were unable to get past midfield in their comeback effort.
# Receiver DeAndre Brown suffered a shoulder injury on his 49-yard reception in the third quarter, but did return to the game for a pair of receptions for 14 yards. Like Fletcher, he was also absent on the final three drives.
The Eagles have a quick turnaround this week as they play UAB at 7 p.m. on Thursday at Legion Field in Birmingham. Fedora said he and his coaching staff have put in the early work to get ready for the Blazers.
"When we flew in last night, the coaching staff came back to the office for quite a while last night to start putting a game plan together," Fedora said. "We're doing it all day and we're going to practice tonight and finish implementing the game plan tomorrow. Tuesday will just be a polish day. It's not much time on the turnaround and you hope your kids respond well."
One problem for the Eagles in the last two games has been slow starts against Virginia and Kansas.
Freshman defensive back Jamie Collins even mentioned following the loss to Kansas that the Eagles have become the dreaded "second-half team."
"I've got a lot of concerns, and that's not one I worry about," Fedora said of his team's slow starts. "I know our guys are ready to play when they go out on the field. Obviously as a coach, you like to go out and start on all cylinders right away. It just didn't happen."
The Golden Eagles gave up 135 total yards to spot Virginia a 14-0 lead before earning a come-from-behind 37-34 victory over the Cavaliers two weeks ago.
Against Kansas on Saturday, Southern Miss gave up 207 first-quarter yards, including a 62-yard pass from Todd Reesing to Kerry Meier to help give KU a 14-7 lead at the conclusion of the quarter.
"Our kids were playing hard at the beginning," Fedora said. "They just got a big play on us in single coverage."
Fedora said after Saturday's game that his greatest concern was his team's inability to run the ball with just 64 yards on the ground against Kansas. That area may be a greater problem if Harrison and Fletcher aren't at 100 percent on Thursday against UAB.
"I was concerned we couldn't run the ball effectively," Fedora said. "We had the turnover down in the red zone and we couldn't convert on fourth and short. We just didn't finish in the quarter after the defense got the ball back. We had opportunities. We just didn't get it done.
"Special teams-wise, I thought we played really well in all phases. It was maybe one of our best games on special teams until the late kickoff returns. Until those two, we had won the kicking game."
If Harrison or Fletcher are unable to go, V.J. Floyd has shown in the past that he's capable of carrying the load. Tracey Lampley and Desmond Johnson have also both shown the ability to make big plays.
# Fedora said that running back Tory Harrison suffered a lower leg contusion on the opening kickoff in Saturday's 35-28 defeat and only had one carry for 3 yards against the Jayhawks.
# Running back Damion Fletcher had a groin injury and didn't take part on USM's final three drives when the Eagles were unable to get past midfield in their comeback effort.
# Receiver DeAndre Brown suffered a shoulder injury on his 49-yard reception in the third quarter, but did return to the game for a pair of receptions for 14 yards. Like Fletcher, he was also absent on the final three drives.
The Eagles have a quick turnaround this week as they play UAB at 7 p.m. on Thursday at Legion Field in Birmingham. Fedora said he and his coaching staff have put in the early work to get ready for the Blazers.
"When we flew in last night, the coaching staff came back to the office for quite a while last night to start putting a game plan together," Fedora said. "We're doing it all day and we're going to practice tonight and finish implementing the game plan tomorrow. Tuesday will just be a polish day. It's not much time on the turnaround and you hope your kids respond well."
One problem for the Eagles in the last two games has been slow starts against Virginia and Kansas.
Freshman defensive back Jamie Collins even mentioned following the loss to Kansas that the Eagles have become the dreaded "second-half team."
"I've got a lot of concerns, and that's not one I worry about," Fedora said of his team's slow starts. "I know our guys are ready to play when they go out on the field. Obviously as a coach, you like to go out and start on all cylinders right away. It just didn't happen."
The Golden Eagles gave up 135 total yards to spot Virginia a 14-0 lead before earning a come-from-behind 37-34 victory over the Cavaliers two weeks ago.
Against Kansas on Saturday, Southern Miss gave up 207 first-quarter yards, including a 62-yard pass from Todd Reesing to Kerry Meier to help give KU a 14-7 lead at the conclusion of the quarter.
"Our kids were playing hard at the beginning," Fedora said. "They just got a big play on us in single coverage."
Fedora said after Saturday's game that his greatest concern was his team's inability to run the ball with just 64 yards on the ground against Kansas. That area may be a greater problem if Harrison and Fletcher aren't at 100 percent on Thursday against UAB.
"I was concerned we couldn't run the ball effectively," Fedora said. "We had the turnover down in the red zone and we couldn't convert on fourth and short. We just didn't finish in the quarter after the defense got the ball back. We had opportunities. We just didn't get it done.
"Special teams-wise, I thought we played really well in all phases. It was maybe one of our best games on special teams until the late kickoff returns. Until those two, we had won the kicking game."
If Harrison or Fletcher are unable to go, V.J. Floyd has shown in the past that he's capable of carrying the load. Tracey Lampley and Desmond Johnson have also both shown the ability to make big plays.
