Rebels notes Vs. Tigers

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After a hype-filled off-season, the real challenge begins


The Ole Miss football program hasn't been this highly regarded since quarterback Archie Manning roamed Oxford in the late 1960s. At No. 8 in the Associated Press preseason poll, many college football analysts see the Rebels as a legitimate threat to win the Southeastern Conference Western Division and advance to the league championship game in Atlanta for the first time since the event's inception in 1992. Coach Houston Nutt has tried to tune down the hype at times, but has mostly embraced the team's new role as the hunted. Nutt appeared on a regional Sports Illustrated cover this summer, as did quarterback Jevan Snead and center Daverin Geralds. Now we'll find out if this team was worth the publicity.

# How's Hardy's foot?: UM defensive end Greg Hardy is as healthy as he's been in more than a year, since a stress fracture in his foot caused him to miss a chunk of last season. Hardy is up to about 270 pounds and should be monster off the edge this season - provided he can stay healthy.

# Can Sowell handle the blind side? The Rebels will debut a new starting left tackle - sophomore Bradley Sowell (right) . The 6-foot-7, 310-pounder is no Michael Oher, who is now in the NFL after an All-America senior season. But coaches have been cautiously optimistic about Sowell's development.


Look Out For These Tigers

Carlos Singleton, receiver

There's not many offensive weapons as unique as Carlos Singleton, who stands 6-feet-9 and towers over the majority of defensive backs. The fifth-year senior was quarterback Arkelon Hall's favorite target last year, catching 52 passes for 791 yards and five touchdowns. Singleton was the leading receiver in last year's game between the two teams, catching six passes for 89 yards. A basketball star in high school, he played alongside Jarvis Varnado (the Mississippi State basketball star) in the post at Haywood (Tenn.) High. Singleton is especially dangerous in jump-ball situations near the end zone.

Arkelon Hall, quarterback: Threw for 2,275 yards and 12 TDs last season.

Duke Calhoun, receiver: Has caught a pass in 37 straight games.

Curtis Steele, running back: Rushed for 1,223 yards and 7 TDs last season.

Greg Jackson, linebacker: Led team with 11.5 tackles for a loss in 2008.


3 Keys to a Rebel Victory

1. The defensive line dominates Memphis

Ole Miss have a nasty defensive line led by Kentrell Lockett, Greg Hardy, Ted Laurent and Marcus Tillman. They will face a Memphis offensive line that's breaking in four new starters. The Rebels must use this lopsided advantage to blow up plays in the backfield.

2. Snead stays sharp, takes care of the ball

When Ole Miss quarterback Jevan Snead is making smart decisions, the Rebels' offense is awfully tough to stop. During last year's six-game winning streak, Snead threw just three interceptions. During the team's 3-4 start, he threw 10 INTs. That's not a coincidence.

3. Manage the hype of a No. 8 ranking

Make no mistake, there is quite a bit of pressure on this Ole Miss team. The Rebels enter the season with almost unreal expectations. They must figure out a way to ignore the hype and play the same outstanding football they were at the end of last season.





Stat That Counts

Ole Miss led the nation with 111 tackles for a loss last season and returns most of the defensive line that created that havoc last season. Kentrell Lockett (11 1/2 TFL), Greg Hardy (8 1/2 sacks), Ted Laurent (7 TFL) and Marcus Tillman (6 TFL) may eat the Memphis offensive line for lunch.

 

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Unkown Memphis team awaits Rebels
Patrick Ochs
Assistant Sports Editor

Fear of the unknown awaits the No. 8 Ole Miss Rebels in its season opener at Memphis on Sunday.

While the Memphis program itself isn?t an unknown ? the two programs have been facing one another since 1921 ? this year?s Tigers roster has 22 transfers on it.
Some transfers will act as reserves to start out the season, but several players are expected to make an immediate impact, making the Tigers a dangerous opponent to start the season.

?I?ve never had a team like this with transfers and junior college guys. There will probably be somewhere between 13-16 guys that are going to play major roles who haven?t been with us before,? Memphis coach Tommy West said. ?Its like some of the other coaches in the league have said, ?we have no clue what Memphis is capable of. If we get some chemistry we could surprise some people.?

Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt said his team has relied on what they know about past West-coached teams to prepare for Sunday?s game.

?That?s the most difficult thing because you don?t have much film on the guys,? Nutt said. ?You don?t really know how to truly give a report on each of these new guys. You go back with the guys that you know for sure are going to play. Then you look at the philosophy of Coach West and you just go from them preparing.?

Tight end DajLeon Farr (Miami, Fla.), safety DeRon Furr (Auburn), linebacker Jamon Hughes (Mississippi State), linebacker Derek Odom (LSU) and running back Lance Smith (Wisconsin) all open up the season on Memphis? 2-deep depth chart.





Talented duo

The Tigers? roster is full of newcomers, but several familiar playmakers will also be starting on Sunday.

Among those, the talented receiver duo of Duke Calhoun and Carlos Singleton could pose the biggest problems for Ole Miss.

Last season Singleton led the team with 52 receptions,

791 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns, while Calhoun contributed 40 receptions, 487 receiving yards and three touchdowns.

Both receivers pose a big height advantage over Ole Miss? senior-laden secondary, with Singleton standing 6-foot-8 and Calhoun at 6-4.

?That?s what is very difficult, when you have a height advantage,? Nutt said. ?You have to play great technique, get your eyes back, and time-it up. It takes everybody though. It takes the front and linebackers. Everybody has to do their job to help that corner out.?

Last year Singleton caught six passes for 89 yards and Calhoun pulled in four passes for 43 yards.

Memphis? talented offense also returns senior quarterback Arkelon Hall and Conference-USA Newcomer of the Year Curtis Steele.

Last season Steele rushed for 1,223 yards and seven touchdowns and Hall passed for 2,275 yards and 12 touchdowns.

 

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Memphis-Ole Miss story lines


Memphis Commercial Appeal
Sunday, September 6, 2009

WE MUST PROTECT SNEAD

Ole Miss allowed 20 sacks last year, fourth lowest in the SEC. But that was with now-departed all-American left tackle Michael Oher guarding quarterback Jevan Snead's blind side. Replacement Bradley Sowell has to immediately prove he can give Snead the peace of mind required to confidently stand tall in the pocket and fire away. If Snead can do that, the Rebels might put 40 points on the scoreboard.
Ole Miss quarterback Jevan Snead will challenge the Memphis secondary with his passes.

Ole Miss quarterback Jevan Snead will challenge the Memphis secondary with his passes.



IT'S A HARDY PARTY

There's still a bit of anxiety in the Rebels' camp surrounding the health of All-SEC defensive end Greg Hardy, who underwent off-season foot surgery and re-aggravated the foot in a July car wreck. Hardy has had good and bad days in the preseason, with the foot being sorer some days than others. He won't start today, but if he's blowing and going on passing situations, he'll have the UofM quarterbacks dancing on hot coals.

FOCUS ON THE MOMENT

Ole Miss players have said all week they don't have to prove their worthiness of their preseason top 10 ranking. To an extent, that's true. What the Rebels need today is steady-as-she-goes with no turnovers and few penalties. They need an efficient effort, something which is required weekly of championship-caliber teams. They can't be close to flawless one week and totally sloppy the next. They don't have the talent and depth to overcome such inconsistency.


ANOTHER YEAR OLDER, ANOTHER YEAR WISER?

Tigers quarterback Arkelon Hall has shown he's finding his touch when throwing the long ball. If he's poised, as well, he will make his team better.



Tiger coach Tommy West has been quick to point out the strides Arkelon Hall, a senior, has made after a year in the system. He was better with his decision-making in the preseason scrimmages and showed a better touch on the deep ball. Despite an attempt by West to make the preseason a hotly contested quarterback battle, Hall never flinched. How he reacts in crunch-time today may determine this game's outcome. The better the Tigers can run the ball -- and they did one of the better jobs against the Rebs last season -- the better Hall will operate.

SHUFFLING THE DECK

Four starters had to be replaced, which may not be the best scenario going against one of the nation's better defensive fronts. Tiger offensive line coach Rick Mallory has done a masterful job through the years finding a cohesive unit and he's been pleased with the effort he's received from Ronald Leary, Joel McCleod, Brad Paul, Dominik Riley and Tommy Walker. Riley is the lone returnee. Leary and McLeod have experience, but McCleod's is as a defensive lineman.

A CHALLENGE FOR DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD

Here's where the Memphis defense, under first-year defensive coordinator Kenny Ingram, will receive its biggest challenge. Ole Miss quarterback Jevan Snead is as good as the Tigers will face this season. The former Texas quarterback, who possesses a strong arm and is accurate, helped the Rebs close the season with six straight wins. Improving the secondary was a priority for West, who adds former Auburn DB DeRon Furr and ex-Florida State DB Marcus Ball to the defensive backfield this fall. Veteran D.A. Griffin starts at one corner and Deante Lamar at the other, but remains somewhat concerned here.