|
OT
Michael Oher |
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2006
Statistics |
Coach:
Ed Orgeron
7-16,
2 years |
2006
Record: 4-8 |
|
MEMPHIS |
WON
28-25 |
at
Missouri |
LOST
7-34 |
at
Kentucky |
LOST
14-31 |
WAKE
FOREST |
LOST
3-27 |
GEORGIA |
LOST
9-14 |
VANDERBILT |
WON
17-10 |
at
Alabama |
LOST
23-26 (OT) |
at
Arkansas |
LOST
3-38 |
AUBURN |
LOST
17-23 |
NORTHWESTERN
ST |
WON
27-7 |
at
Louisiana State |
LOST
20-23 (OT) |
MISSISSIPPI
STATE |
WON
20-17 |
|
2006
Final Rankings
AP-UR, Coaches-UR, BCS-UR
|
2007
Outlook |
The
first two years of the Ed Orgeron era have
not shown the kinds of improvements that
are reflected through increased win totals.
The game’s top assistants have joined
on, and that has meant their recent top-heavy
recruiting classes. The seeds are planted
and everything seems in place for the Rebels.
And like watching cotton grow…now,
we wait. The rushing attack looks solid
and deep – the spring game was highlighted
by the performances of the alternate backs.
The most need is at quarterback, and the
switch to Seth Adams will hopefully cure
former starter Brent Schaeffer’s lacking
as a leader. The only other unproven/weak
link is amongst the linebackers, and in
the SEC, any problems there will be costly.
The talent is there; they just have to get
used to each other and the pace of things
in America’s toughest college football
conference. This league itself is another
major reason you may not realize just how
much better Ole Miss is getting - when they
face Georgia, Auburn, Arkansas, Alabama,
LSU, Florida annually, as well as non-cons
Memphis and Mizzu for ’07, improvements
often seem fleeting. But true Rebels remember
their recent streak of seven winning seasons
(1997-2003). It was capped off by their
10-3 effort of four years ago that fell
17 points short of Ole Miss going undefeated.
It may not be Eli behind center, but besides
the signal caller, the difference in talent
between this year’s team and that
one isn’t much at all. The determining
factor as to whether they can finish at
.500 or better will simply be how they do
against those better teams. Seeing how competitive
Ole Miss was in ‘06 against Georgia,
Bama, Auburn and LSU – they lost by
another combined total of 17 points (and
two of the losses were in OT) – we
think this is a team that could be anything
from a simple spoiler to an ironclad Cinderella.
Any way you slice it, this Rebel squad cannot
be ignored when breaking down the possibilities
for what happens in the SEC this year.
Projected
2007 record: 5-7
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MISSISSIPPI
*POWER RATINGS |
Offense |
Defense |
QB
- 3 |
DL
- 3.5 |
RB
- 4 |
LB
- 2 |
WR
- 3 |
DB
- 2.5 |
OL
- 2.5 |
.. |
|
RETURNING
LEADERS |
Passing:
Brent Schaeffer, 115-244-10, 1442 yds.,
9 TD
Rushing: BenJarvus Green-Ellis, 234
att., 1000 yds., 7 TD
Receiving: Mike Wallace, 24 rec.,
410 yds., 2 TD
Scoring: Joshua Shene, 14-17 FG,
20-20 PAT, 62 pts.
Punting: Rob Park, 58 punts, 38.9
avg.
Kicking: Joshua Shene, 14-17 FG,
20-20 PAT, 62 pts.
Tackles: Jamarca Sanford, 64 tot.,
33 solo
Sacks: Greg Hardy, 3 sacks
Interceptions: Dustin Mouzon, 1 for
0 yds.
Kickoff Returns: Marshay Green, 14 ret.,
25.2 avg., 0 TD
Punt Returns: Marshay Green, 20 ret.,
11.2 avg., 1 TD
|
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DE
Greg Hardy |
|
|
|
OFFENSE
- 10 |
----RETURNING
STARTERS---- |
DEFENSE
- 6 |
|
KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Lawrence Lilly-TE, Andrew Wicker-OG |
DEFENSE:
Hayward
Howard-DT, Garry Pack-SLB, Patrick Willis-MLB,
Quentin Taylor-WLB, Trumaine McBride-CB, Bryan
Brown-SS, Charles Clark-FS, Rory Johnson-WLB
(NFL) |
|
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2007
OFFENSE |
At
his other coaching stops, coordinator Dan Werner
has gotten results. Unfortunately, his experience
here in finishing 111th for total offense in ‘06
has us focused on his current campaign and determining
whether he is possibly the wrong fit or if the
talent is lacking, or both. Coach Orgeron’s
recruiting efforts have been piling in the three-
and four-star prospects, so Werner may need to
just simplify things further until the offense
can find their collective groove. The system he
runs is subtle in its play-action fakes and classic
use of the run to set up the pass. But one of
the main reasons the offense didn’t click
was due to Tennessee-transfer Brent Schaeffer’s
failure to complete even half of his passes (47.1%).
The Rebels run it nearly twice as often as they
pass, so the aerial efficiency they require means
fellow senior Seth Adams has been given the tentative
nod, displacing Schaeffer under center, for now.
Adams doesn’t have the same speed to run
the rock as well as Schaeffer, but his ability
to limit mistakes while completing a higher percentage
of his passes will surely expand production. No
one is more disappointed in last year’s
starter than Schaeffer himself, and he knows what
he has to do to step up his game enough to be
more effective when given his next chance(s).
There is no doubt about how good the ground game
will be, especially if All-SEC workhorse BenJarvus
Green-Ellis stays healthy. One of three backs
in school history to ever reach the 1000-yard
mark (set Rebel single-season record with 234
carries), the Indiana-transfer was the league’s
No.3 rusher with his bowl ‘em-over technique
and unusual speed for his size. Ex-QB Bruce Hall
is worthy of more than 30+ carries, and Cordera
Eason, 2005’s Gatorade Player of the Year
and Max Emfinger’s No.1 national RB prospect
that year, seems ready to contribute. The one
person who guarantees that the ground game will
work even better, regardless of which back is
in, is fullback Jason Cook and his bruising efforts.
As the team’s main arm of attack, the running
dimension also sees four starters and three senior
backups return along the Rebel front. Legendary
line coach Art Kehoe already has his first All-American
in junior left tackle Mike Oher, and with heady
bookend Maurice Miller, a fortified outside seal
will provide needed lanes through which to run.
The off-season improvements to hulking Freshman
All-American John Jerry’s game (after he
started at right guard every week) were apparent
throughout spring. Former JUCO-All-American Corey
Actis also started every game in his first year
in Oxford; the senior’s fruition exemplifies
why Kehoe’s bunch looks to be (that much)
better in ’07. Senior TE Robert Lane has
adapted well after starting behind center a few
years ago; both he and Rob Hough can block as
well as they release into the pattern during play-action.
Receiver Dexter McCluster’s return after
missing the last half of 2006 due to injury (head,
shoulder) should have fans salivating at his open-field
potential, and Mike Wallace, the Rebel’s
main aerial weapon last year, gives a full 60
minutes of productive effort. Marshay Green, Shay
Hodge and WR/RB Mico McSwain all will again find
themselves weapons of choice – the liberal
rotations amongst the receivers and their expanding
roles can hopefully equal more production with
their ample talent(s). Top JUCO-transfer A.J.
Jackson will hopefully be given the reps to prove
why USC, Cal and Nebraska all coveted his 6’6
potential. We’ll know things are getting
better here when they are converting closer to
40% of their third-down tries rather than the
29% they achieved last year. With all of this
talent, how can Werner not produce at least a
marginally better result? Oh, that’s right,
Ole Miss plays in the SEC…results must be
proven, not just assumed.
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RB
BenJarvus Green-Ellis
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|
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MISSISSIPPI
2007 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Seth
Adams-Sr (6-4, 225) |
Brent
Schaeffer-Sr (6-2, 205) |
FB |
Jason
Cook-Jr (6-0, 240) |
Andy
Hartmann-So (5-10, 230) |
RB |
BenJarvus
Green-Ellis-Sr (5-11, 225) |
Bruce
Hall-Sr (5-11, 210) |
WR |
Mico
McSwain-Jr (6-1, 203) |
Mike
Wallace-Jr (6-0, 180)
Shay Hodge-So (6-2, 195) |
WR |
Dexter
McCluster-So (5-9, 165) |
Marshay
Green-So (5-10, 170)
Michael Hicks-So (6-3, 215) |
TE |
Robert
Lane-Sr (6-3, 240) |
Robert
Hough-Sr (6-4, 230) |
OT |
Michael
Oher-Jr (6-5, 325) |
Terry
Freeman-Jr (6-3, 330) |
OG |
Reid
Neely-So (6-6, 300) |
Darryl
Harris-Sr (6-4, 300) |
C |
Corey
Actis-Sr (6-5, 290) |
Thomas
Eckers-Sr (6-2, 300) |
OG |
John
Jerry-So (6-5, 360) |
Mark
Jean-Louis-So (6-3, 350) |
OT |
Maurice
Miller-Jr (6-3, 350) |
Marcus
Cohen-Sr (6-5, 290) |
K |
Joshua
Shene-So (5-9, 170) |
Justin
Sparks-So (6-2, 170) |
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2007
DEFENSE |
The
rebuilding efforts here are obvious - the linebacking
corps is essentially gutted, the line is revamped
but stocked, and the secondary can prove 2006’s
decent results were no fluke, even with many new
members. Loads of talent has influxed during the
Orgeron era, especially linemen who know all about
their leader’s days of trench tutelage at
USC and Miami. The head coach will have more time
to give one-on-one lessons with top assistant
John Thompson finally taking over the reigns of
the D after two year’s of Orgeron pulling
double-duty. Thompson’s knowledge of this
league is deep (this is his sixth SEC stop), so,
like at his other stops, improvements are soon
to come. The most experience is found in the middle
up front, where senior and ex-DE/starter Brandon
Jenkins will play (barely) behind Peria Jerry.
Injured his first two campaigns here, Jerry is
also (like Jenkins) athletic enough, even at his
size, to slide anywhere along the front to create
matchup problems. Senior Jeremy Garrett’s
huge performance against LSU was a major reason
they barely lost in OT to their highly ranked
division rival, so his healthy return has this
line stacked with talent. The on-again/off-again
status of the country’s top (five-star)
tackle prospect, Jerrell Powe, need not be considered
for this dimension to garner high expectations.
The ends are another potentially top-rated group
– Kentrell Lockett has impressed enough
to displace two former starters, though, Hardy
and Bowers have much to prove as they battle for
reps they are hungry/sure to get. Tillman is another
Rebel who earned Freshman All-American honors,
and his ability to stay in front of worthy senior
DeLoach speaks volumes for the quality and depth
in the trenches. The front four will have to hold
their own with so many new faces at linebacker.
Svelte Jonathan Cornell won’t be everything
Pat Willis was, but he especially needs to prove
his toughness/size inside if he is to keep bigger
foes from having success by running it right at
him. Cornell has the most I-A experience here
with six tackles, but JUCO All-American MLB Anthony
Fine will impact things upon arrival. Ex-RB Antonio
Turner is still adjusting to the finer points
of his strongside, but he is doing well enough
to hold off former JUCO All-American Ashlee Palmer.
The weakside has seen Jamie Philips pass ex-safety
Allen Walker on the two-deep, but, like at the
other linebacking positions, there was nothing
that impressive to report after spring ball. Thompson
took over the secondary during spring. Notable
was the unit’s improved ability to break
on the ball, and after notching division I-A’s
lowest INT total (3), this can only help. Corners
Cassius Vaughn and Dustin Mouzon, along with oft-seen
(nickel) Nate Banks, are the strength of the secondary.
Safety Jamarca Sanford was a Freshman All-American,
and though solid, he needs to shift his efforts
up another gear if Ole Miss is to make marked
improvements amongst its back seven’s efforts
with so many new faces in front of them. See,
Kendrick Lewis is still adjusting to switching
from receiver – his old role will help his
defensive intuition once he gets comfortable,
but he will have to stay sharp or Terrell Jackson
will take over. The one aspect needing real game
reps to grow is the group chemistry. Once the
DBs know each other well enough so they don’t
have to look over each other’s shoulder(s)
anymore, we will see the Rebs back above .500.
This team held nine of their 12 opponents under
28 points, and four of them to 17-or-less, meaning
Thompson should have a measurable impact with
his hungry bunch.
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DB
Jamarca Sanford
|
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MISSISSIPPI
2007 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
Marcus
Tillman-So (6-4, 260) |
Viciente
DeLoach-Sr (6-3, 260) |
DT |
Peria
Jerry-Jr (6-2, 300) |
Brandon
Jenkins-Sr (6-4, 300) |
NT |
Jeremy
Garrett-Sr (6-1, 290) |
Daverin
Geralds-So (6-2, 305) |
DE |
Kentrell
Lockett-Fr (6-5, 225) |
Greg
Hardy-So (6-5, 255)
Chris Bowers-Jr (6-2, 245) |
SLB |
Antonio
Turner-Jr (6-1, 235) |
Ashlee
Palmer-Jr (6-2, 214) |
MLB |
Jonathan
Cornell-So (6-1, 220) |
Brandon
Thomas-Jr (5-11, 245) |
WLB |
Jamie
Phillips-So (6-0, 220) |
Allen
Walker-Fr (6-1, 200) |
CB |
Dustin
Mouzon-Jr (5-11, 175) |
Rob
Campbell-So (5-10, 160) |
CB |
Cassius
Vaughn-So (5-11, 180) |
Nate
Banks-Sr (5-11, 180) |
SS |
Jamarca
Sanford-Jr (5-10, 200) |
Markeith
Summers-Fr (6-2, 190) |
FS |
Kendrick
Lewis-So (6-0, 185) |
Terrell
Jackson-Jr (5-10, 200) |
P |
Rob
Park-Jr (6-0, 185) |
Justin
Sparks-So (6-2, 170) |
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2007
SPECIAL TEAMS |
Regardless
of his misses against Georgia and LSU – which
ostensibly cost the Rebels two possible wins –
Joshua Shene’s 14-for-17 first-year campaign earned
him all-frosh honors across the board. Punter Rob Park’s
controlled efforts could easily equal a better (team)
net result. Appropriately named, Marshay Green makes
would-be tacklers’ feet appear stuck in the nearby
Delta’s…ahem…marshy green. Simply
put, he flies by them on punt returns. Also, Green could
wrangle the KR duties from fellow-WRs McSwain and McCluster.
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