Saturday, December 28, 2013

Music City Musings

Bowl season is a time when young players get more practice, more reps, more time with coaches and a chance to step up their games. It's what sophomore running back I'Tavius Mathers did last year in preparation for the BBVA Compass Bowl.
“Freshman year I didn’t really know much of the blocking scheme or much of the plays, so I spent much of the offseason in the film room learning ... I got a head start on last year with the bowl game and spring ball.”
Mathers had a breakout performance in the Compass Bowl, leading the team with 96 yards and a busting loose for a 62-yard touchdown. He lead the team in rushing this season with 505 yards on 82 carries.

Hopefully, Ole Miss will get more out of its running game on Monday. Poor rushing performances were the common denominator in nearly every loss the Rebels had this season.
Ole Miss rushed for just 126 yards against Missouri, just 117 against MSU and for the last two games is averaging just 3.8 yards per carry. 
“For us it’s about being able to run the ball. The games we haven’t done well in are the games we didn’t run the ball well. I don’t think this one will be any different,” Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze said.
With Jeff Scott seemingly finally healthy, the Rebels should have a fully-stocked backfield, but they will be without starting left tackle Laremy Tunsil, which could make a critical difference up front.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Who will be this year's I'Tavius Mathers? Keep an eye on freshman receiver Quincy Adeboyejo. With senior receiver Ja-Mes Logan academically ineligible, Adeboyejo figures to see much more playing time. A 4-star receiver out of high school, Adeboyejo had 6 catches for 65 yards and one touchdown this season. He's a player to watch in Music City.

IS MONCRIEF GOING PRO? It sounds like this very well could be star receiver Donte Moncrief's last game in an Ole Miss uniform according to this report from the Clarion Ledger's Hugh Kellenberger:
Moncrief said Friday that he has not received any paperwork back yet from the NFL Draft Advisory Committee, which will provide for him a realistic expectation for where he could expect to be drafted. And he’s repeatedly said that it’s a decision he’ll trust his parents and coach Hugh Freeze to make for him. He did offer somewhat of a hint though, saying it’ll be a “bad feeling” after the Music City Bowl. 
“Because this is my home, this is my (family) for the past three years and I love these guys,” Moncrief said. “It’ll be hard.”
Those don't sound like the words of a guy planning to be a Rebel next year.

In other news the Rebels lost the Rib eating contest to Georgia Tech last night, but at least they were eating ribs.