šŸˆ Looking ahead to Ole Miss

How Alabama can attack Ole Miss
Ole Miss’ season opener vs. Florida State showed that the Rebels are vulnerable on the back end of their defense.

Florida State quarterback Deondre Francois threw for 419 yards and 2 touchdowns. Ole Miss has an aggressive front seven, but the Rebels can be exposed if the opposing quarterback has time. Ole Miss had success defending the run, so it may be tough for Alabama to establish the ground game. The Rebels kept Florida State running back Dalvin Cook in relative check at 4 yards per carry.

Alabama’s offensive line must play its best game to date in order to give Hurts time to find receivers. Given all the weapons Alabama has, Ole Miss may have a tough time defending everyone.

If the offense struggles early, Alabama’s defense is built to contain Ole Miss. Ole Miss doesn’t have much of a running game, so a lot of the offense runs through quarterback Chad Kelly.

Kelly showed in the Florida State game that he can be turnover prone by throwing 3 interceptions and losing 1 fumble. Ole Miss’ offensive line also showed they have holes. Florida State had 5 sacks.

Tim Williams, Jonathan Allen, Ryan Anderson and Co. should have plenty of success getting in the backfield. The key will be keeping Kelly contained so he doesn’t scramble for a 1st-down on a key 3rd-down.
 
I looked up the forecast thinking about the Ole Miss rushing attack—or lack thereof.

In 2014 the team had 76 total rushing yards against the Tide. Their leading rusher had 39 yards on the day, second guy (Bo Wallace) had 32.
In 2015 the team had 92 total rushing yards against the Tide. Their leading rusher had 39 on the day, second team RB had 33, and Kelly had 21.

2016 isn't a lot of difference with the Ole Miss squad—to date. Excluding their game with Wofford this past weekend (trip option attack with 174 on the ground) the rush defense at FSU held them to 67 on the ground.

With Friday being wet, Saturday being wetter?

Just sumpin' to chew on.
 
Here's my concern. Usually to beat Bama, you have to have a QB that plays like a pro, Bama makes mistakes, and you have 2-3 big plays.

USCe won a couple of years back in that scenario. Auburn won with Newton and kick 6. Ole Miss won with Wallace and Kelly.

Kelly can beat you with his arm and make you pay with his legs. FSU got burned early with his legs with no LB spy in the middle.

Hopefully we can get some long sustained drives to wear down their defense. I think key is our O-Line play. If Ole Miss gets pressure with just 4, we will struggle.
 
Along with other "changes" to the OM field in Oxford they went back to natural grass this year from the field turf crap they had

Not sure how the new grass will hold up this early in the season if it gets a few days of soaking rain

May end up being a mess
 
I feel really good about us stopping their run, my question is how well our O-line gels, being the third game of the season. Will we establish the run and start mauling defenses? This will be a test. OM has a pretty good front 4.
 
Here's the thing. Someone in another thread compared our current Jalen Hurts offense to that of the "pussy finesse" version of *uBurn's.

Far from the case. We can, and will, be a power spread team. It's possible. UF under CUMwad comes to mind.

They may have been a spread option team, but they were pretty adept at running the dive, because their OL, with the Pouncey brothers, was stout up front.

No reason we can't have the BAMA version of a spread powerful enough that we can run it down your throat at will and with success.

That is, if the OL gels into a cohesive unit.
 
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Saban's had time to study the film. Should be entertaining.

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Florida State gave us a really good view as to what will work. Obviously Ole Miss will switch up some things, but I feel if Pruitt can watch Florida State's D, we'll be in good shape. Add in the weather, our balm hawking secondsry, pass rush, I think we keep in the game solely because of defense, thus allowing our offense opportunities to find their footing.
 
Why? Is it not clear who has "taken the bull by the horns", coach? Or is this a passive statement about continuing to develop BB8 as a quality backup?

I think that Jalen getting most of the QB1 practice reps and game reps last week tells the tale.

Maybe he's just being diplomatic to keep BB8's mom off his ass.

 
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