Ole Miss

Ole Miss Rebels

"I think with that ranking comes a lot higher expectations. As far as the team goes I don't think we're handling it any differently said quarterback Jevan Snead on SEC Media day. However, things might need to be handled differently. Coming to the 2008 season the Ole Miss Rebels were entering the season with a new coach, a new quarterback and a 3-9 record. No one expected the Running Rebel offense to be such a big hit in year one. No one expected Houston Nutt to go down to The Swamp and upset the best team in the country. No could have thought that the Rebels would go to Baton Rouge and win handily. No one even gave the Rebels much credit against a very good Texas Tech team in the Cotton Bowl. The Rebels snuck up on people last year and finished the season strong. But to say they aren’t coming into this season with different preparations might be the wrong way to go about it. Everyone is choosing the Rebels to be in Atlanta at the end of the year contending for a SEC title. The schedule is lighter this year and if the Rebels can live up to expectations Houston Nutt should be hailed as one of the best coaches in college football.
OFFENSE
Last season Ole Miss had four starters back on the offensive line averaging 322 pounds. This line gave time to Jevan Snead and opened running holes. The Rebels averaged 186 yards rushing per game and the massive line gave up just 20 sacks all season. What really helped the Rebels was thier strongest quarterback play since Eli Manning. Jevan Snead, a transfer from Texas threw for 2,762 yards and 26 touchdowns. His play has put him on Heisman watch and has the Rebels primed to take a run in the SEC and the National title. However, the Rebels must an two star lineman. If the replacements can do half as well as last years, the Running Rebel formation should thrive. The receiving corps return their 2, 3, and 4 leading receivers from a year ago and their Running Rebel formation player Dexter McCluster.
DEFENSE
Last season the Rebels defense stepped up big but no position stepped up more than the line backing corps. With seven players with solid experience the Rebels held opponents to just 86 rushing yards per game and an average of just 2.7 yards per carry. With 8 returners on defense the Rebels look to match or better their mark this year. The key to the defensive side of the ball will be senior free safety Kendrick Lewis. Lewis led the team with 86 tackles and 4 interceptions last season. Along with Lewis in the defensive backfield, both corners who combined for another 5 interceptions last year.
SEASONAL PREDICTION
Entering the season, Ole Miss is the SEC West favorite. They finished the season strong taking down LSU in Baton Rouge and embarrassed Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl. This year the heat will be on the Rebels to perform to expectations. They host Alabama and LSU and face East opponents South Carolina, Vanderbilt, and Tennessee. The Rebels don’t even face Alabama until mid October and have big games followed by non-SEC games. But the hype machine will be too large for the Mississippi Rebels to handle. They should improve on their 9-4 mark but fall short of the SEC West title game.
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