|
WR
Mike Wallace |
|
|
2007
Statistics |
Coach:
Houston Nutt
1st
year |
2007
Record: 3-9 |
|
at
Memphis |
WON
23-21 |
MISSOURI |
LOST
25-38 |
at
Vanderbilt |
LOST
17-31 |
FLORIDA |
LOST
24-30 |
at
Georgia |
LOST
17-45 |
LOUISIANA
TECH |
WON
24-0 |
ALABAMA |
LOST
24-27 |
ARKANSAS |
LOST
8-44 |
at
Auburn |
LOST
3-17 |
NORTHWESTERN
ST |
WON
38-31 |
LOUISIANA
STATE |
LOST
24-41 |
at
Mississippi State |
LOST
14-17 |
|
2007
Final Rankings
AP-UR, Coaches-UR, BCS-UR
|
2008
Outlook |
Landing
on his feet right away, Houston
Nutt became the 36th Ole Miss
Head Coach with great expectations
placed upon his arrival. The
past three years under ex-head
man Ed Orgeron never quite found
the few lucky bounces needed
to make things even a little
better. Last year saw the offense
really struggle, so securing
an offensive mind like Nutt’s
pretty much guarantees things
will be different, if not better
under Little Rock’s native
son.
Nutt
has two new coordinators, neither
of which he brought from Arkansas.
Ex-Reb QB Kent Austin led Ole
Miss from 1981-85 (strangely,
three of his campaigns as a
QB here ended up 4-6-1) and
then he led Saskatchewan to
the Grey Cup title as both a
player (1989) and rookie head
coach (2007). Austin will bring
a passing edge Nutt lacks, and
as an alum, Austin’s commitment
to making Jevan Snead the latest
local hero has been evident.
Nutt and Austin have a large
backfield dilemma, and by that,
we mean they have too many big
backs and not enough speedy,
elusive types. The receivers
are adequate, if not extremely
promising for Snead to have
found special connections with
some of them by October.
On
defense, Tyrone Nix comes in
from South Carolina, where he
proved his formulas work. Just
as many expectations are there
for a defense that has returning
starters everywhere. The patience
of Jerrell Powe to work through
his issues and to now be poised
to make this one of the country’s
best DLs is a dividend the new
staff has to thank Orgeron for
(one of many great prospects
awaiting Nutt). This kid has
NFL written all over his huge,
athletic build. Powe joins some
talent that is already in place,
but has yet to show the right
stuff on every play…and
inconsistency on D spells trouble
in the SEC.
Both
sides of the ball have the potential
to really improve at a rapid
rate. Will this happen? Guessing
that it won’t seems safe,
but then again, quick turnarounds
have been occurring more often
these days for teams (like Wake
Forest, Kansas and Kentucky)
that seem to be perennial bottom
dwellers. Stranger things in
the college football world happened
in 2007.
Speaking
of Wake Forest, an early trip
there seems like a watershed
game of sorts. If they can win
it, Ole Miss can build some
confidence and really think
about making a bowl in their
new coaches’ first year
here. If they lose, the Vandy
game two week later will seem
that much more uphill, and the
SEC onslaught will then keep
the Rebels from a winning record.
Going to Arkansas, Alabama,
LSU and Florida for away games
will build character, but growing
tighter through losses doesn’t
buoy this year’s destiny.
Like their in-state rival, the
Bulldogs, just experienced,
building quickly probably won’t
happen, but enough signs of
improvement should surface so
2009 can be the year this great
program returns to its competitive
form.
Projected
2008 record: 5-7
|
|
MISSISSIPPI
*POWER RATINGS |
Offense |
Defense |
QB
- 3 |
DL
- 3.5 |
RB
- 2.5 |
LB
- 3 |
WR
- 3.5 |
DB
- 3.5 |
OL
- 3.5 |
.. |
|
MISSISSIPPI
2007 Statistical Rankings |
OFFENSE |
|
National |
Conf. |
Rushing: |
84 |
11 |
Passing: |
66 |
7 |
Total
Off: |
91 |
9 |
Sacks
Allow: |
75 |
10 |
|
DEFENSE |
|
National |
Conf. |
Rushing: |
101 |
11 |
Passing: |
52 |
10 |
Total
Def: |
88 |
12 |
Sacks: |
81 |
9 |
|
|
RETURNING
LEADERS |
Passing:
None
Rushing: Dexter McCluster,
6 att., 63 yds., 0 TD
Receiving: Shay Hodge,
43 rec., 593 yds., 6 TD
Scoring: Joshua Shene,
11-17 FG, 24-25 PAT, 57 pts.
Punting: Justin Sparks,
51 punts, 39.7 avg.
Kicking: Joshua Shene,
11-17 FG, 24-25 PAT, 57 pts.
Tackles: Ashlee Palmer,
89 tot., 50 solo
Sacks: Greg Hardy, 10
sacks
Interceptions: Ashlee
Palmer, 3 for 28 yds.
Kickoff Returns: Marshay
Green, 27 ret., 23.4 avg., 0
TD
Punt Returns: Marshay
Green, 48 ret., 4.0 avg., 1
TD
|
|
|
LB
Ashlee Palmer |
|
|
|
OFFENSE
- 6 |
----RETURNING
STARTERS---- |
DEFENSE
- 9 |
|
KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Seth Adams-QB, BenJarvus Green-Ellis-RB,
Robert Lane-TE, Corey Actis-C,
Thomas Eckers-OG |
DEFENSE:
Brandon
Jenkins-NT, Jeremy Garrett-NT,
Viciente DeLoach-DE, Jamie Phillips-WLB,
Nate Banks-CB |
|
|
2008
OFFENSE |
In
the new era, the offense really won’t
change that much, except for how the
pass will be leaned upon more and
more as Jevan Snead develops. In a
Houston Nutt offense where coordinator
and No.2 all-time Rebel passer Kent
Austin will oversee everything but
the play calling (Nutt is handling
that), the shape of the new-look offense
will be built around the Texas transfer
who sat out last year per NCAA requirements.
Snead was the No.3 dual-threat recruit
in 2006 but lost the competition for
Vince Young’s job to Colt McCoy…like
most players who know they are too
good to sit and wait indefinitely,
we find Snead the clear starter here
in Oxford. The staff is playing its
cards slowly, keeping what they show
prior to the first snaps against Memphis
close to the chest, so to speak. Tapp
will be tapped early to see what the
second-stringer has in case of emergency.
Hopefully, his strong arm and durable
running approach can offer a change
of pace from the leaner build of Snead.
Nate Stanley is likely redshirted,
but if he isn’t put off for
further development, injuries to Snead
and Tapp mean the newbie gets his
first legitimate chance. The offense
would suffer during Stanley’s
trial-by-fire.
The
rushing attack has talent, but lacks
experience. Meridian’s Cordera
Eason heard promises from the former
regime that he would be brought along,
but he had to wait until this year
to be given a real shot. Having turned
down Auburn, big Cordera will bring
it to bear on any wanna-be tacklers.
Auburn wanted and even signed a LOI
from the nation’s top prep school
back, Enrique Davis, but his grades
have landed him here. Along with Derrick
Davis (no relation) and incumbent
fullback Jared Cook, this team has
a corner on the big, hulking backs
(Hartmann too). No small, scat-type
will hurt, so expect someone to eventually
fill the shifty role.
The
line has to bank on experience and
the new schemes for improvements.
Four of the starters are the same,
and Mike Oher coming back is the biggest
boon from a personnel standpoint.
John Jerry bumping back outside (to
the position he played in high school)
looks like a better fit than it was
for Miller. Miller switching inside
will help, but can Jerry handle the
rush ends of the SEC better? Along
with new hat Daverin Geralds, this
switch-off is the main concern up
front. Neely will keep developing
by playing next to Oher…it seemed
to rub off last year, so expect Neely’s
upside to keep revealing itself. Harris
started at center in 2005 and then
at tackle in ’06. He gives Austin
and Nutt a versatile man who can help
wherever the need may arise. TEs Traxler
and Harris are mostly pushers.
These
WRs have more to offer as targets,
especially big Shay Hodge, the team
leader for catches as a mere reserve.
Deep threat Wallace is ready to fly.
Hicks can also prove to be a field
stretcher with his size, and that
size could easily slip him past McCluster
for his downfield blocking. The passing
game will ramp up as Snead feels more
and more comfortable. Hi decision
making skills will be a major pivot
for how well this offense can become.
|
|
OT
Michael Oher
|
|
|
MISSISSIPPI
2008 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Jevan
Snead-So (6-3, 215) |
Billy
Tapp-Jr (6-4, 230) |
FB |
Jason
Cook-Sr (5-11, 248) |
Andy
Hartmann-Jr (5-10, 243) |
RB |
Cordera
Eason-Jr (5-10, 224) |
Derrick
Davis-So (5-10, 224)
Enrique Davis-Fr (6-1, 215) |
WR |
Mike
Wallace-Sr (6-0, 180) |
Markeith
Summers-So (6-2, 197) |
WR |
Shay
Hodge-Jr (6-1, 207) |
Michael
Hicks-Jr (6-2, 222) |
WR |
Dexter
McCluster-Jr (5-8, 165) |
Lionel
Breaux-So (6-0, 191) |
TE |
David
Traxler-Sr (6-6, 255) |
Gerald
Harris-Jr (6-5, 250) |
OT |
Michael
Oher-Sr (6-5, 318) |
Bradley
Sowell-Fr (6-7, 310) |
OG |
Reid
Neely-Jr (6-6, 310) |
Mark
Jean-Louis-Jr (6-2, 355) |
C |
Daverin
Geralds-Jr (6-2, 312) |
Brandon
Green-Jr (6-2, 300) |
OG |
Maurice
Miller-Sr (6-4, 343) |
Darryl
Harris-Sr (6-3, 300) |
OT |
John
Jerry-Jr (6-5, 350) |
Alex
Washington-Fr (6-4, 337) |
K |
Joshua
Shene-Jr (5-8, 170) |
.. |
|
|
2008
DEFENSE |
Tyrone
Nix at the defensive helm is a good
thing. Like on offense, all the ways
that the D has recently drooped will
have a good chance to bounce back
in relatively little time. The talent
is in place, but getting it to gel,
and then effectively handle what the
SEC annually throws at its members
will be a tall order. The biggest
jump should be in the line’s
performance. Greg Hardy is already
in place for former Outland Trophy
winner (1988, Auburn) and DL coach
Tracy Rocker to build around. Hardy’s
breakout sophomore year proves he
has to be marked every play. The best
tackle in 2007, Peria Jerry, benefits
from the distraction and can bounce
outside effectively. But this senior
gets even another Rebel monster to
pull linemen from his immediate space
– man-child Jerrell Powe. Powe’s
story took him to perennial powerhouse
Hardgrave in 2005 after signing here
since his grades weren’t there
yet. Then Powe was held up for the
past two years awaiting NCAA clearance,
and he was forced to enroll in classes
in Oxford without participating in
any practices last year. Finally,
the 340-pounder with 4.8 speed and
superior footwork has been cleared
to play. This line is as good as any
in the land, but having it all come
together for higher than a 40th ranking
in run stopping might be dreaming
too big.
Ex-DB
Allen Walker is the guy good enough
to start, passing a former starter
who is now behind him on the two-deep.
Palmer led the team in tackles and
seems solid at SLB. Cornell was slated
to replace Patrick Willis but got
sidelined by a shoulder injury. Four-year
Iraqi vet Fein filled in nicely at
MIKE, and he had a huge JUCO year
prior to last year’s impressive
performance. Trahan (another guy who
started out at Auburn) is this year’s
junior college find. (Also the LB
coach) Nix has to be excited for the
possibilities knowing his line is
going to be able to handle itself
without extra help from the LBs.
Outside
coverage has had its troubles, so
Ole Miss will move its third-leading
receiver, Marshay Green, to corner
(a position he’s never played).
His skill package fits nicely. Corners
Mouzan and Vaughn have gambled and
won, but each has gambled and lost
much of the time, too. What Johnny
Brown did in just his first campaign
was enough to make us think the entire
safety unit will be at least a notch
better. Compliment SS Jamarca Sanford
cleans up many plays, but this year
he and Brown can hopefully keep the
plays from happening rather than chasing
ball carriers that have made it to
their second tier. Kendrick Lewis
is another former offensive player
(WR); he can play either safety spot,
affording Nix much depth for dime
packages. Arguably 11 starters return,
and with the reinvigorated staff,
the possibility that the D gets much
better very quickly are real and their
sudden prowess will catch foes napping.
|
|
DE
Greg Hardy
|
|
|
MISSISSIPPI
2008 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
Greg
Hardy-Jr (6-4, 265) |
Kentrell
Lockett-So (6-5, 240) |
DT |
Ted
Laurent-So (6-0, 303) |
Justin
Sanders-Fr (6-4, 300) |
DT |
Peria
Jerry-Sr (6-2, 290) |
Lawon
Scott-So (6-1, 322) |
DE |
Marcus
Tillman-Jr (6-4, 260) |
Emmanuel
Stephens-Jr (6-3, 235) |
SLB |
Ashlee
Palmer-Sr (6-2, 222) |
Lamar
Brumfield-Jr (6-0, 224)
Patrick Trahan-Jr (6-3, 225) |
MLB |
Tony
Fein-Sr (6-2, 245) |
Brandon
Thomas-Sr (5-11, 245) |
WLB |
Allen
Walker-So (6-1, 215) |
Jonathan
Cornell-So (6-1, 225) |
CB |
Dustin
Mouzon-Sr (5-11, 175) |
Cassius
Vaughn-Jr (5-10, 185) |
CB |
Marshay
Green-Jr (5-9, 170) |
Jeremy
McGee-So (5-10, 178) |
SS |
Jamarca
Sanford-Sr (5-10, 200) |
Terrell
Jackson-Sr (5-10, 200) |
FS |
Johnny
Brown-So (5-11, 207) |
Kendrick
Lewis-Jr (5-11, 192) |
P |
Justin
Sparks-Jr (6-2, 187) |
Rob
Park-Sr (5-11, 194) |
|
|
|
2008
SPECIAL TEAMS |
Justin
Sparks has the right touch. The new staff
has to find better net results if the defensive
depth is so good. Shene gets the three needed
points on most important occasions. Sparks
should keep the kickoff duties since he
averages five more yards per KO than Shene.
Green will keep his PR job since his new
DB status fits so well. He wasn’t
so great, but the potential is there along
with the safety valve factor. Green gives
way to 60-minute man Mike Wallace and his
TD-making abilities on KRs.
|
|