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Rebels could be good

The first act in the tenure of Ole Miss head coach Ed Orgeron was a complete disaster, with the Rebels going 3-8 and capping off a dismal season with a 35-14 loss to Mississippi State that cemented their standing at the bottom of the SEC. The game was a synopsis of the season that saw the Rebels compile just 189 total yards, of which only 31 came on the ground. The lackluster offense finished 111th in Division I-A with 281.7 yards per game and were last in the SEC with averages of 13.5 points and 73 yards rushing per outing. That left Orgeron to do what any sane head football coach that likes his job would do: fire offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone. Following similar events in South Florida (A shocking 40-3 Miami loss to LSU in the Peach Bowl), one team’s loss became an Ole Miss windfall when the Hurricanes fired long-time offensive line coach Art Kehoe and offensive coordinator Dan Werner. Coach O wasted no time reuniting with his former Miami counterparts (Orgeron did a two-year stint with the Hurricanes in 1988 and 1989 as a graduate assistant and defensive line coach), immediately signing them on. The two Miami cast-offs will join talented transfers, former Tennessee quarterback Brent Schaeffer and former Indiana running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis in their bid to resurrect the offense. The influx of new talent also includes wide receiver Burnell Wallace, who originally signed with Oregon State, and defensive tackle Hayward Howard, originally a Michigan State signee. Top recruits, safety Allen Walker, wide receiver Markeith Summers, and defensive tackle Jerell Powe could also be instrumental in turning things around.

With two former Hurricane coaches at the helm on the offensive side of the ball, the alternating backfield of Green-Ellis and last season’s leading rusher, Mico McSwain, along with 6-6, 330 lb NFL-caliber offensive tackle Michael Oher, the running game should easily put last season’s debacle (only Kent State rushed for fewer yards than the 73 per game and six touchdowns the Rebels managed) far behind it. Green-Ellis, a rising star at Indiana, ran for 1,732 yards in two seasons with the Hoosiers. At 5-11, 212, he’s a solid back that possesses a combination of quickness and power that should translate into a 1,000-yard season. He’ll be the workhorse, with the added bonus of above average receiving and blocking skills. Number two tailback, Mico McSwain carried the ball well last season, rushing for 612 yards and 3 touchdowns on 124 carries. The speedy, 6-1, 202 lb sophomore should play a central role as an all-around threat, backing up Green-Ellis and even seeing some playing time at receiver. Sophomore FB Jason Cook, who suffered a season-ending injury halfway through last year’s campaign, could also start garnering some attention as Kehoe molds the running game into a winner.

That said, mobile junior QB Brent Schaeffer, who got a crash course in life as an SEC quarterback in his limited, but educational role at Tennessee, will have some work to do with the passing game. An adept runner with an untested arm, Schaeffer’s success will hinge on his ability to deliver the ball consistently, a concept that eluded all members of the Ole Miss quarterback carousel last year. Experience at the wide out position will be a missing piece of the puzzle for the Rebels. With the departure of last season’s leading receiver, Mike Espy, they’re anemic at the position, to say the least. Without so much as one of the four wide outs listed on the depth chart having recorded a single catch, it could be up to fledgling receivers Brunell Wallace, Marshay Green and Markeith Summers to develop into reliable targets. Green and Summers, both true freshmen, and sophomore Wallace, all possess deep threat speed, but have yet to prove their abilities. The number one tight end on the depth chart, converted quarterback Robert Lane, will be the only pass catcher with some familiarity of the offense. Although a bit light for the position at 6-3, 225, he could be a popular target early on, as the young wide outs scramble to figure out the offense. Look for Schaeffer, Green-Ellis, and Oher to be offensive standouts.

On the defensive side of the ball, Ole Miss should be strong, led by senior preseason all-American linebacker Patrick Willis. Willis, who led the nation in solo tackles last season, will not only be the biggest impact player on defense, but overall as well. His play will dictate how well the Rebel offense will need to perform to keep from getting dismantled by the SEC elite. The pass defense was just about the only break in the clouds for Ole Miss last season, ranking a better than respectable 14th in the nation. The defensive backfield returns three starters in addition to burgeoning junior cornerback Nate Banks. They’ll be quick at the corners and they’ll need to be, as speed is king in the SEC and teams like LSU, Georgia and Auburn have plenty of it. Banks, a backup last season, has word-class speed and the athleticism to blossom into a true shutdown corner. He’ll be the only replacement in the defensive backfield, taking over the left slot for Travis Johnson. At 5-11, 180, he’s solid and has the jets, on paper at least, to matchup well with most SEC receivers. Senior corner Trumaine McBride is the other burner in the Rebel secondary. A speedy magnet that doubles as a punt returner, he should emerge as the top cover guy. Senior free safety Charles Clark is a strong hitter at 6 feet, 200, and should provide veteran leadership in the secondary. Returning at free safety after a successful freshmen campaign is 5-10, 200 lb Jamarca Sanford, the hardest hitting Rebel DB.

With the defensive line replacing all four starters from last season, it will be vital for this group to step it up and turn out some surprises. Potential does abound here, with super recruit Jerell Powe waiting in the wings for defensive stardom, and Peria Jerry, who moved from tackle to end this season, looking to make his mark as a pass rusher. At 6-2 and 290, Jerry is a monster on the outside, but a quick one. His ability to transform himself into a legitimate sack threat will be paramount. Junior College transfer Heyward Howard is a question mark. The 6-4, 300 pounder has the size to be an effective interior pass rusher, but he’s raw and unproven. Junior nose tackle Brandon Jenkins and sophomore defensive end Chris Bowers round out the starting defensive line. Both Bowers and Howard saw some playing time last season as backups and should provide the defensive line with some level of leadership. The nation’s leader in solo stops last season, senior Patrick Willis will anchor the defense. The preseason all-america, who recorded 128 tackles and 3 sacks in just 10 games last season, could emerge as the nation’s top defensive player this season after sitting out the spring following foot surgery. If he stays healthy, Willis will be a sure first round pick in next year’s NFL draft. Linebackers Gary Pack, a junior who finished third on the team with 61 tackles last season, and sophomore Quentin Taylor will need to develop into big playmakers on the outside, with Taylor needing to fill a bigger role as offenses will try to steer clear of Willis in the middle and exploit the unproven weakside backer.

Will the Rebels improve enough to land themselves in their first bowl game in the Coach O era and their first in three years, or their first-ever SEC title? Not likely. But a solid offense coupled with an outstanding defense will yield a better overall record, albeit a probable 5-5 or, at best, a 6-5 finish.

You can reach Rick Sarlat at rsmc10@aol.com.