As Tropical Storm Hanna approaches the North Carolina coast this weekend, there is another storm to look at heading into the Tar Heel state. Ole Miss, fresh off its 41-24 win over Memphis in the opener, appears as ready and able to win a game away from Oxford as it has in a long, long time.
While the challenge of defeating the No. 20 Wake Forest Demon Deacons (1-0) at BB&T Field is still great, the Rebels (1-0) are a lot more potent on offense under new coach Houston Nutt than they were at any time under former coach Ed Orgeron.
Thanks to the installation of the ?Wild Rebel? formation, Ole Miss has the ability to run or pass at any time during a game. The ?curveball? formation helped account for 27 points in the opener, which means opposing defenses, starting with Wake Forest, have to be ready for it at all times.
McCluster sets the tone
The trigger-man of the formation, junior wide receiver Dexter McCluster, said earlier this week that he was really looking forward to hitting the road and showing his talents against a Demon Deacon defense that returns nine starters from last season. McCluster didn?t know how much time an opposing team would work on the formation during the week, but he did say that he would be worried about facing the ?Wild Rebel? if he were a defensive player.
?If we execute, I think we can get the job done any time against any team,? McCluster said. ?I know time will tell if we can just line up and run it because so many people will be keying on it, but I think we can do it. If we focus and get done what we need to get done, we can be very productive.?
How the ?Wild Rebel? does against Wake Forest remains to be seen, but the formation definitely started to come together once McCluster, a former quarterback in high school, got comfortable taking snaps again.
?I?m happy that (Nutt) chose me for the job because it?s very fun. It got better pretty fast. At first it was me trying to get the timing right with the snap because I hadn?t played quarterback since high school. But once it started rolling, it got my confidence up and it?s been rolling ever since,? McCluster said.
Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe said the key to the new formation revolves around the diminutive McCluster, who has the ability to hide behind his mammoth offensive line.
?The thing that makes it tough to defend is McCluster. A lot of schools, if their quarterback isn?t a very good runner, they will try to use a running back in that shotgun position. Everybody has different variations off it, but I think the thing that makes it go for Ole Miss is Dexter McCluster,? Grobe said. ?I think he?s the guy that is probably the best athlete on the football team back there and of course he has some very talented people that he hands the ball off to. It changes the pace of the game and gives you a lot of problems. I think the ability to change defensively is really going to be key because they can keep you off balance by being able to jump into that at any time.?
Win would be huge for UM
Earning a win over the Demon Deacons would be huge for the Rebels as they continue to try and build momentum under Nutt. With two straight home games on the horizon, a victory on the road would only give a developing team more confidence.
?It would naturally do a lot, but again, in order to reach that point we have to have great focus,? Nutt said. ?We really have to zero in and take that focus on the road like never before. It?s their home opener. You have to have all three teams ? special teams, offense and defense ? to be at their best.
?I like the challenge of going on the road, that us against the world mentality,? Nutt added. ?We?ll get in close, it will only be 70 of us and the coaches. We won?t have as many fans in the stands as they?re going to have, so it?s just you against the world. There?s nothing like it in the locker room if you can get it done.?
During the week Nutt talked about the skill of quarterback Riley Skinner, but he also talked just as highly about the Demon Deacons? defensive unit.
?Skinner is so efficient and an excellent operator. You see why they have been to bowl games the last couple of years and been successful. It all starts with him. He?s a big-time leader and he handles things well under pressure,? Nutt said. ?Their defense, though, is outstanding. They have a lot of fifth-year seniors. (Cornerback) Alfonso Smith is one of the best corners we will see all year long. That guy can play. When you watch their film from last year, as well as this year, they get turnovers. They?re like magnets to the ball.?
Extra Points
...Ole Miss has won seven of its last 12 road openers, but the last time the Rebels defeated an ACC opponent was in 1971 when they beat Georgia Tech 41-18 in the Peach Bowl. Ole Miss is 0-1 all-time against Wake Forest with the lone meeting coming in 2006, a 27-3 win by the Demon Deacons...The Rebels are making their first TV appearance of the year Saturday and first on ABC since the 2002 season...Skinner, who led the nation in completion percentage (72.6) last year, was 27 of 36 for 220 yards and three touchdowns in Wake Forest?s opener against Baylor...All 22 of Wake Forest?s starters on both offense and defense redshirted to start their college career, while 19 of the 22 backups listed in the two-deep lineup have redshirted. Twelve of Wake?s players have also started at least 10 or more games during their career, while six have 24 or more starts.
While the challenge of defeating the No. 20 Wake Forest Demon Deacons (1-0) at BB&T Field is still great, the Rebels (1-0) are a lot more potent on offense under new coach Houston Nutt than they were at any time under former coach Ed Orgeron.
Thanks to the installation of the ?Wild Rebel? formation, Ole Miss has the ability to run or pass at any time during a game. The ?curveball? formation helped account for 27 points in the opener, which means opposing defenses, starting with Wake Forest, have to be ready for it at all times.
McCluster sets the tone
The trigger-man of the formation, junior wide receiver Dexter McCluster, said earlier this week that he was really looking forward to hitting the road and showing his talents against a Demon Deacon defense that returns nine starters from last season. McCluster didn?t know how much time an opposing team would work on the formation during the week, but he did say that he would be worried about facing the ?Wild Rebel? if he were a defensive player.
?If we execute, I think we can get the job done any time against any team,? McCluster said. ?I know time will tell if we can just line up and run it because so many people will be keying on it, but I think we can do it. If we focus and get done what we need to get done, we can be very productive.?
How the ?Wild Rebel? does against Wake Forest remains to be seen, but the formation definitely started to come together once McCluster, a former quarterback in high school, got comfortable taking snaps again.
?I?m happy that (Nutt) chose me for the job because it?s very fun. It got better pretty fast. At first it was me trying to get the timing right with the snap because I hadn?t played quarterback since high school. But once it started rolling, it got my confidence up and it?s been rolling ever since,? McCluster said.
Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe said the key to the new formation revolves around the diminutive McCluster, who has the ability to hide behind his mammoth offensive line.
?The thing that makes it tough to defend is McCluster. A lot of schools, if their quarterback isn?t a very good runner, they will try to use a running back in that shotgun position. Everybody has different variations off it, but I think the thing that makes it go for Ole Miss is Dexter McCluster,? Grobe said. ?I think he?s the guy that is probably the best athlete on the football team back there and of course he has some very talented people that he hands the ball off to. It changes the pace of the game and gives you a lot of problems. I think the ability to change defensively is really going to be key because they can keep you off balance by being able to jump into that at any time.?
Win would be huge for UM
Earning a win over the Demon Deacons would be huge for the Rebels as they continue to try and build momentum under Nutt. With two straight home games on the horizon, a victory on the road would only give a developing team more confidence.
?It would naturally do a lot, but again, in order to reach that point we have to have great focus,? Nutt said. ?We really have to zero in and take that focus on the road like never before. It?s their home opener. You have to have all three teams ? special teams, offense and defense ? to be at their best.
?I like the challenge of going on the road, that us against the world mentality,? Nutt added. ?We?ll get in close, it will only be 70 of us and the coaches. We won?t have as many fans in the stands as they?re going to have, so it?s just you against the world. There?s nothing like it in the locker room if you can get it done.?
During the week Nutt talked about the skill of quarterback Riley Skinner, but he also talked just as highly about the Demon Deacons? defensive unit.
?Skinner is so efficient and an excellent operator. You see why they have been to bowl games the last couple of years and been successful. It all starts with him. He?s a big-time leader and he handles things well under pressure,? Nutt said. ?Their defense, though, is outstanding. They have a lot of fifth-year seniors. (Cornerback) Alfonso Smith is one of the best corners we will see all year long. That guy can play. When you watch their film from last year, as well as this year, they get turnovers. They?re like magnets to the ball.?
Extra Points
...Ole Miss has won seven of its last 12 road openers, but the last time the Rebels defeated an ACC opponent was in 1971 when they beat Georgia Tech 41-18 in the Peach Bowl. Ole Miss is 0-1 all-time against Wake Forest with the lone meeting coming in 2006, a 27-3 win by the Demon Deacons...The Rebels are making their first TV appearance of the year Saturday and first on ABC since the 2002 season...Skinner, who led the nation in completion percentage (72.6) last year, was 27 of 36 for 220 yards and three touchdowns in Wake Forest?s opener against Baylor...All 22 of Wake Forest?s starters on both offense and defense redshirted to start their college career, while 19 of the 22 backups listed in the two-deep lineup have redshirted. Twelve of Wake?s players have also started at least 10 or more games during their career, while six have 24 or more starts.
