Tweet
For posting any advance intel about our opponents.
I'll start with some recent stuff I've picked up on Ole Miss. I'm sure there will be gaps.
*QBs - pretty widely known that their QB situation is chaotic - 3 guys, not one has seen meaningful D1 action. One, Randall Mackey, allegedly has Vince Young-esque mobility and Houston Nutt has indicated that if he had to make a decision today Mackey would be the starter. But also indicated that he's been frustrated with him at multiple points and that the only thing to be really happy about with him is better "huddle etiquette" - not sure if that means there were a lot of pull-my-finger jokes going on in the huddle with Mackey previously, but apparently there have been some real improvements on the etiquette front. Mackey might end up defaulting to starter as one of the other guys (oddly named Zack Stoudt) recently got held out of a couple of practices for some sort of team infractions and the other (Brunetti?) is a transfer and it's unclear if his one-year sitting requirement will be waived or not.
*OL - All five back and it's not just experience - they actually yielded the fewest sacks in the SEC last year and helped push the conf's 3rd best rushing attack. Given this fact I'd guess that they'll plan on riding the hogs and their (fairly strong) set of backs in giving an inexperienced QB room to breathe.
*RBs - they have a fast, physical back in Brandon Bolden and the smart money would be on them trying to establish the running game with Bolden moving behind that big and experienced line. Soph Jeff Scott is a pocket-size (5'8 170) playmaker who will play a complimentary role to Bolden. Enrique Davis is another physical back who returns to give Ole Miss a full compliment of quality in the backfield.
*WRs - Junior WR Melvin Harris one-ups BYU on the new tall/physical WR standard at 6'7 205 and I'm sure they'd love to isolate him on either Buckner or Eason a bit.... might add to the case for seeing some Preston Hadley early in the year. Ja-Mes (yes, Ja-Mes) Morgan caught 29 passes and looks like he got more than half of those in games against Arkansas, LSU, Auburn and Bama - so he's made catches against some pretty tough competition. OM also has two freshman WRs that were in Scout's Top 25 at the position, one of which is a burner of a slot type so we could also expect them to try and take some pressure off their new QB with some inside screens and anything else that can get the ball to these guys in easy ways. RS frosh Vincent Sanders is going to be in the mix as well based on spring performance.
*DL - Two senior defensive ends Kentrell Locket and Jason Jones are key players and leaders. Locket is a 6th year senior (MRS) who had 22 tackles for loss in 2008-2009 and looks likely to be the defensive leader in the absence of Shackleford. A 6'4 315 JUCO NG transfer, Gilbert Pena, is likely to get the nod.
*LB - the loss of D.T. Shackleford is crushing, but the incoming talent is formiddable. 5-star recruit CJ Johnson is expected to step in directly to the 2-deep, though starting ILB Mike Marry looks to be moved to the starting role. RS frosh Ralph Williams moves over to replace Marry on the inside. It's obvious from reading the articles that the other members of the LB unit are disheartened by the loss of Shackleford. If you'd like to feel bad for the guy but good about there being good kids in CFB here's a free writeup http://olemiss.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1212300
*DBs - these guys were the main culprits in Ole Miss having the worst pass D in the SEC and the 109th in the nation last year but they have a new coach, some new talent and it would be hard for them to not be better than they were. Charlie Sawyer will start at one CB spot as a RS soph and the other will be filled by JUCO transfer Wes Pendleton. I haven't come across any info on the safeties, so maybe someone else can fill that in.
I'll start with some recent stuff I've picked up on Ole Miss. I'm sure there will be gaps.
*QBs - pretty widely known that their QB situation is chaotic - 3 guys, not one has seen meaningful D1 action. One, Randall Mackey, allegedly has Vince Young-esque mobility and Houston Nutt has indicated that if he had to make a decision today Mackey would be the starter. But also indicated that he's been frustrated with him at multiple points and that the only thing to be really happy about with him is better "huddle etiquette" - not sure if that means there were a lot of pull-my-finger jokes going on in the huddle with Mackey previously, but apparently there have been some real improvements on the etiquette front. Mackey might end up defaulting to starter as one of the other guys (oddly named Zack Stoudt) recently got held out of a couple of practices for some sort of team infractions and the other (Brunetti?) is a transfer and it's unclear if his one-year sitting requirement will be waived or not.
*OL - All five back and it's not just experience - they actually yielded the fewest sacks in the SEC last year and helped push the conf's 3rd best rushing attack. Given this fact I'd guess that they'll plan on riding the hogs and their (fairly strong) set of backs in giving an inexperienced QB room to breathe.
*RBs - they have a fast, physical back in Brandon Bolden and the smart money would be on them trying to establish the running game with Bolden moving behind that big and experienced line. Soph Jeff Scott is a pocket-size (5'8 170) playmaker who will play a complimentary role to Bolden. Enrique Davis is another physical back who returns to give Ole Miss a full compliment of quality in the backfield.
*WRs - Junior WR Melvin Harris one-ups BYU on the new tall/physical WR standard at 6'7 205 and I'm sure they'd love to isolate him on either Buckner or Eason a bit.... might add to the case for seeing some Preston Hadley early in the year. Ja-Mes (yes, Ja-Mes) Morgan caught 29 passes and looks like he got more than half of those in games against Arkansas, LSU, Auburn and Bama - so he's made catches against some pretty tough competition. OM also has two freshman WRs that were in Scout's Top 25 at the position, one of which is a burner of a slot type so we could also expect them to try and take some pressure off their new QB with some inside screens and anything else that can get the ball to these guys in easy ways. RS frosh Vincent Sanders is going to be in the mix as well based on spring performance.
*DL - Two senior defensive ends Kentrell Locket and Jason Jones are key players and leaders. Locket is a 6th year senior (MRS) who had 22 tackles for loss in 2008-2009 and looks likely to be the defensive leader in the absence of Shackleford. A 6'4 315 JUCO NG transfer, Gilbert Pena, is likely to get the nod.
*LB - the loss of D.T. Shackleford is crushing, but the incoming talent is formiddable. 5-star recruit CJ Johnson is expected to step in directly to the 2-deep, though starting ILB Mike Marry looks to be moved to the starting role. RS frosh Ralph Williams moves over to replace Marry on the inside. It's obvious from reading the articles that the other members of the LB unit are disheartened by the loss of Shackleford. If you'd like to feel bad for the guy but good about there being good kids in CFB here's a free writeup http://olemiss.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1212300
*DBs - these guys were the main culprits in Ole Miss having the worst pass D in the SEC and the 109th in the nation last year but they have a new coach, some new talent and it would be hard for them to not be better than they were. Charlie Sawyer will start at one CB spot as a RS soph and the other will be filled by JUCO transfer Wes Pendleton. I haven't come across any info on the safeties, so maybe someone else can fill that in.
Comment