Ole Miss @ Fresno State w/writeup

Nobody has mentioned this game so I will.  Ole Miss homer here for those that are unaware.  Take that fwiw but I've been fading this years Ole Miss team for weeks and certainly not stopping now. 

When everyone was on the Rebels @ Vandy, I tried to warn people.  Instead, the line went from pk to Vandy +3 by kickoff and I was buying Vandy the entire way and we saw what happened.  People got a clue after that game and everyone was all over UGA.  The score didnt quite indicate the ass whoopin that took place.  Ole Miss scored on a trick play on offense and a reverse punt return.  UGA shut it down in the 2nd half and just tried to get the game over as quick as possible. 

This isnt so much a play on Fresno as it is a fade on Ole Miss.  Making the cross country trip to play a revenge minded Fresno team at night who would like nothing better then to blow the doors off an SEC team for the home crowd.  Who in their right fucking mind would bet Ole Miss in this spot?  This Ole Miss offense is quite possibly the worst I have ever seen.  I believe as a group, its ranked 118th in the country.  A short breakdown:

vs BYU: 1 offensive touchdwon.  1 touchdown via pick 6.  208 total offense.

vs Southern Illinois:  They have a football team?  Not even going to bother with that one.

@ Vandy: 1 offensive touchdown in the 4th quarter via a 47 yard td pass.  234 yards of total offense

vs UGA: 1 offensive touchdown via trick play.  1 touchdown on reverse punt return.  183 yards of total offense.  (trick play went for 40)

Why is the Ole Miss offense so bad? 

#1.  Offensive line.  These guys couldnt block water if they fell out of boat.  Its so pathetic, its sad. 

 #2. Banged up running backs.   Jeff Scott is healthy and a homerun hitter but he is a scatback that needs the power guy to open up lanes.  That power back is Brandon Bolden and he is a legit NFL prospect.  But an ankle injury early in the BYU game has him hobbling around probably doing more harm then good. His cutback speed is gone and there of course are no holes being created for him to run thru because of reason #1. 

#3. Quality SEC quarterback.  Zack Stoudt is a statue and our offensive line is giving him all of .75 seconds to find a receiver.  There are some young playmakers on the outside but there isnt enough time to get them the ball. See reasons #1

#4.  Coaching.  QB#2, Randall Mackey is a mobile QB that could open up some things on offense running the read option.  He has a good arm and has shown in high school and juco the ability to light up a scoreboard.  Unfortunately our coaching staff thinks the best place for a 5'10" mobile qb is under center running a prostyle offense.  banghead, banghead.  See reason #1 etc

The Ole Miss defense is nothing to write home about but they are decent enough to keep the team in the game if the offense could get some 1st downs.  But 3 and out is what we are best at so they are gassed by the 3rd quarter.  I dont know much about this Fresno team other then they have a pulse.  Im on Fresno and the line keeps falling.  Had them at 4.5, got some more at 3.5. 

Good luck

reason #2 should be NO quality quarterback

Did I mention how bad the offensive line is?  Yea, they're terrible. 

TO9, at this point I'm not sure who to put in but if I were the coach you can bet your ass I would find someone who wants to give 100% effort.  Hell, put big Terrell Brown (who btw blew up some folks in the couple of snaps he got last week) at LT, atleast it would take a fraction of a second longer to run around him then it does Sowell.   The change in blocking schemes from last year didnt help either.  Which all goes back to coaching. 

Laroja, Boldens ankle is not good.  He can run staight forward at what looks to be 3/4 speed.  He has trouble planting and cutting back.  When he does cutback, his speed isnt there to get to the edge.  He is basically a nonfactor and is only being used because of his ability to pass block.  Our team is a mess. 

What happened to the offensive line this year. I thought they had all 5 starters back from last year and was supposed to be their strong point this year. Are there injuries in the mix? 

New OC and new blocking schemes.  But lets be honest, they were not that good last year.  Last years success (if you want to call it that) was centered around a great college quarterback in Jeremiah Masoli.  He ran the read option perfectly and had the mobility to escape pressure on obvious passing downs.  Sitting in the pocket for longer then 2 seconds is something he didnt do and his legs kept defenses honest opening up some running lanes.   I'm really not sure if we have an offensive lineman that could start for another SEC team at this point.  As recruits, minus Massie, none were coveted by other teams and they havent really improved since being on campus. 

This offene has no identity.  The preseason plan was to be a power running team behind what our coaches believed was a great offensive line and power back in Bolden.  When your top 2 power backs go down with injury in the 1st half of game #1 and you quickly realize your offensive line isnt that great without a qb that must be respected, your kinda up shit creek without a paddle.  We dont know if we want to run or pass or spread it out or go 2 tight, we just have no clue and it only takes one look at Nutt on the sidelines to realize he has no clue either. 

IMO, the way to fix this is to insert Mackey, keep his ass in the shotgun 98% of the time and let him do his thing.  Option, read option etc.  Unless that happens this week, I dont see how we score more than 24 points and that would be monumental if we do.  Fresno will stack 8 in the box and shut us down just like everyon else has done.  I'm not a great totals player but the under looks to be the only play here.  Fresno 38 OM 13

Yea I understand that they are nothing special but they did give Nebraska fits on the road and showed some heart, which we dont have.  That game is really all I needed to know to bet them in this spot.  Any talent advantage we might have is negated due the teams total lack of confidence, long travel and our coachings staffs ineptitude and stubborness to make adjustments to fit their personel. 

This is just a terrible spot for Ole Miss.  Fresno at night vs an SEC team.  It probably isnt often, if ever, an SEC team as traveled to Fresno.  They would love nothing more then to send us home with an embarrasing loss.  And Ole Miss has already shown once this year against Vandy that they will quit midgame. 

Wolf   read my write up last week about Georgia vs Miss, I am with you this Ole Miss team is awful at running the ball, I believe that more than half of there TDs ytd are from special teams or defense.   they cannot drive the football down the field on anybody.  They have quit on the coach,   Revenge game with Pat Hill, and  this is classic Fish out of Water theory, this is going to be the longest plane ride for a lot of people.

I want to come to the Grove next year, done  Athen, Knoxville, Cocktail Party, Baton Rouge, want to all the SEC schools, but Grove is next.

Thanks.  I'm torn on the MSU/UGA game and will probably lay off.  UGA's defensive line doesnt impress me and you must dominate the line of scrimmage against MSU or they will run over you.  At the same time, MSU has some major injuries across their front 5.  UGA's offense is starting to come into their own and I think MSU's major weakness on defense is defending the edges and the pass.  I'm almost talking myself into a UGA play here but I will just lay off.  I do think MSU is going to UGA fully expecting to win this game, if they can have some good things happen early they have a very legit shot to win this game.  Good luck

Nice write up and it was spot on.  The grove is one of the greatest places on earth.  You will not find a larger collection of beautiful women anywhere else in the world.  Eye candy for days.  2 things ole miss is good at, partying and producing hot chicks.  As the old saying goes, we redshirt Ms Americas.  At the same time, the grove can be a thorn in our side because people would rather spend their time there then in the stadium.  Years like this, I cant really blame them.  Have fun!

But remember this.  We are OLE MISS.  Calling us Mississippi might get you run out of the grove.:)  I know there is large push in the media to rid us of our name, so we take it personally!  Other then that one thing, you are good to go!

He should be imo.  Instead we have a stupid bear that nobody wanted.  It's all a bunch of political bullshit.....

Well damn, let me get in on the Ole Miss thread.  These are few and far between...

First of all, I strongly agree with the whole playcalling/Mackey under center deal.  We have no identity on offense.  David Lee was an awful hire. End of story.  However, Mackey has serious trouble progressing through his reads.  When his primary target is not open, he shits down his legs and takes off. 

Secondly, I can't understand for the life of me as to why Brunetti was the starter out of Spring and Fall camp, yet he hasn't played since the first half of the BYU game.  I have two problems with it....1) the evaluation of talent sucked ass and he shouldn't have been starting in the first place. 2) If he WAS the best, hell, go back to him. 

This team is in dissary and obviously, all convidence is lost.  The only bright spot last week was freshman LB Senderious Bryant (sp? too lazy to look it up).  His little ass was all over the field during the 2nd half, so maybe we are developing some depth there. 

Maybe getting away from here will help them focus and actually put together a sound game.  (If the left side of the line jumps offsides one more time I might find the Tallahatchie Bridge).  However, according to a few of their tweets, it sounds like the players think they are going to Cali!!!???!!11 to have a good time...I guess they think Fresno is Hollywood? Anyway, from a gamblers standpoint, I can't touch this damn game.  It's hard for me to emotionally detach myself to fade the Rebels, so if anything, I'll pick a good spot to play on the Rebels, this is not one of those times.