(Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
Add in Allen Walker and Jonathan Cornell and this group seems to have it’s clear favorite of starters. Can Patrick Trahan be half as good as another former Reb named Patrick who played LB? Reb fans can only hope.
After redshirting his freshman season, Jason Jones has gotten rave reviews from his coaching staff and his peers and looks to be the quality backup man aside Lamar Brumfield for the linebacker corps.
Secondary
At the secondary, Ole Miss looks to be improved but not out of the water yet. Losing James Scott to dismissal really took the secondary back, but they do have good experience and did improve over the course of the season last year.
The staff is hoping to see Marshay Green work hard on covering fade routes, as during some parts of the ‘08 season it became evident of the team’s picking on his size. Jeremy McGee looks to have improved a bundle.
It’s imperative for Ole Miss to get either Jamar Hornsby or Darius Barksdale in from the ‘09 class for immediate help. Johnny Brown will be okay, but there needs to be some depth there in case he goes down. Kendrick Lewis, from spring practice reports, seems to be keeping up where he left off from 2008.
Cassius Vaughn, after a terrific performance in the Cotton Bowl, looks to have locked up a starting position at corner. The 5'10 185lb. senior had an interception in the postseason bowl game to go along with 2 others and has the size to lock down receivers for the Rebs next fall.
Overall
As most have seen or heard, the 2009 Ole Miss Rebels football team has some definite hype and expectations. For the spring, the Rebels clearly have the look of a top 10 team. Solid athletes across the board, 17 starters returning, and a seasoned quarterback at the helm.
Head coach Houston Nutt has stressed consistency throughout spring practice, telling his players that the same people picking them to win the SEC West was the same people picking them last the previous season.
The main holes on the team seem to definitely be the offensive line and, at times, the secondary. It's not so much that the Rebs lacks in talent at the offensive line, but experience on the offensive line seems to leave a void for some players to step up. If the Rebs can fill Michael Oher's spot, they'll be okay.
The strengths are obviously on the offensive side of the ball and the defensive line. Giving a quality SEC quarterback an array of receivers to work with can be deadly. Sophomore Brandon Bolden looks poised to break out, and the Wild-Rebel will again be key for the Rebel's offense to keep defenses off-balance.
The defensive line needs to keep up where they left off, after producing a school record 11 sacks in the Egg Bowl and getting to Graham Harrell time and time again in the Cotton Bowl. Losing Peria Jerry is a tough loss, but the Rebs seem to have the talent with Jerrell Powe, Ted Laurent, and Lawon Scott to find a quality replacement.
Derek Stephens is the Ole Miss Community Leader for BleacherReport.com. He can be reached at his bulletin board. Be sure to check out his personal blog, OleMissAthletics.net, as he covers all Ole Miss sports.
We're going to send you the most entertaining Ole Miss Football articles, videos, and podcasts from around the web.
0 Comments
Loading more comments...
This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete