| NEW BLOG |
[Sep. 17th, 2007|05:39 pm] |
The address is djrebel.wordpress.com.
I've posted the press conference notes there.
I'll be learning as I go for a bit.
-- PA |
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| On The Move |
[Sep. 17th, 2007|04:28 pm] |
This blog will be moving to a new address some time tomorrow. I don't know all the particulars right now but will learn more when I get back in the office in the morning.
I do know you'll be able to find the new address with a link on the main page at www.djournal.com.
I will come back to this site and post the new address as well.
I know the new site will require readers to register before posting a comment. It will not be necessary to register to read my posts or to read comments.
-- PA |
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| FOOTBALL: Press conference notes |
[Sep. 17th, 2007|02:09 pm] |
-- Seth Adams says he expects to play, but Ed Orgeron said a starter at quarterback could go all the way to Saturday. He will look at both Brent Schaeffer and Michael Herrick in practice this week, Orgeron said.
-- Adams has what he described as a Grade 1 sprain of the AC joint in his right (throwing) shoulder. Adams did not have an idea when he might return, but Orgeron said he expected Adams to miss most of the week of practice.
-- Orgeron said he doesn't expect any of his injured players who missed the 31-17 loss to Vanderbilt to return for the Florida game this week.
-- He stressed that his team would get away from the scouting report on the opponent, to some degree, and focus on blocking, tackling and other fundamentals.
-- Quote of the day: When asked if he thought Florida, which plays at home against Auburn next week, would overlook LSU, Orgeron responded: "I hope so. We'll take it." He went on to describe the Gators as a well-coached team that he did not expect to overlook any opponent.
-- PA |
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| FOOTBALL: Press conference day |
[Sep. 17th, 2007|06:58 am] |
I'll post some notes in the afternoon.
-- PA |
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| FOOTBALL: Vanderbilt observations |
[Sep. 16th, 2007|08:55 pm] |
What I've seen in three games is an Ole Miss team that can move the ball in spurts. I see some nice offensive weapons. Last night I saw a team that did not adjust to Vanderbilt's second-half changes. Ole Miss had 66 rushing yards at halftime and finished with 54.
The offense went into a shell in the second half at Memphis, but for one big fourth-quarter drive.
It's a team that can move the ball but there are some issues that keep it from performing on an even keel for four quarters. Those issues must be addressed. The Rebels' experienced offensive line needs to perform.
There are similar issues on defense. Ed said the whole off-season that his defensive line would be pretty good. Indeed it is, but when teams spread the field, take wide gaps at the line and run a set with one or no backs, the defensive line becomes limited. It's strength of fighting off blocks and making a tackle at the line of scrimmage is taken away.
The spread offense magnifies the inexperience and lack of speed at linebacker.
You can say, "Well, every team won't run the spread." That's true, but all teams will identify a weakness and try to exploit it. Everybody can have some version of a spread offense. The Rebels are likely to see some form of a spread offense until they show they can at least slow it down.
-- PA |
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| FOOTBALL: Signing off |
[Sep. 16th, 2007|12:27 am] |
Looks like this blog has been good therapy for some folks tonight. Remember this is a family blog.
It was an interesting day of college football. USC flexed its muscles, LSU didn't blink and Arkansas came storming back.
How about that huge loss by UCLA, and when is the last time Tennessee gave up 59 points?
Matt must have used that score and Ole Miss' recent defensive success to predict the Rebels' 103-0 loss to the Gators this week.
I see Missouri scored 52 points tonight, but Chase Daniel only completed 60.9 percent of his passes and threw two picks.
-- PA |
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| FINAL: Vanderbilt 31, Ole Miss 17 |
[Sep. 15th, 2007|09:59 pm] |
Read it all in Sunday's Journal.
-- PA |
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| HALFTIME: Vanderbilt 14, Ole Miss 3 |
[Sep. 15th, 2007|07:41 pm] |
Palmer is actually playing and playing fairly well. Offense is getting yards but not points. Horrid special teams play. The Rebels' kick coverage is allowing Vandy to get to near mid-field. See Oxford Rebels' post below.
Defending the spread is a little better in the sense that Vandy is not on a 500-yard pace. Vandy has a 189-160 edge in total offense.
-- PA |
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| FOOTBALL: Oops, found him! |
[Sep. 15th, 2007|05:35 pm] |
Palmer is participating in the linebacker drills. His left ankle is heavily taped. How much he'll play is still TBA. But at least he's going through drills. Not like Dexter McCluster who dressed out and stood like a statue on the field at Memphis in warm-ups.
-- PA |
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| FOOTBALL: We can't find him |
[Sep. 15th, 2007|05:32 pm] |
Ashlee Palmer isn't visible in warm-ups. Maybe he's out there. Sometimes they all look alike from up here.
-- PA |
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| FOOTBALL: More linebacker woes |
[Sep. 15th, 2007|04:59 pm] |
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Game time decision on Ashlee Palmer. |
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| FOOTBALL: Technical difficulties |
[Sep. 15th, 2007|04:39 pm] |
I'll go ahead and post a word while I have a wireless signal. It's been a struggle to get one here in the Vandy press box, but I've got some low connectivity right now.
Rumor of the day is that Ole Miss linebacker Ashlee Palmer has sprained an ankle and will not play. We'll know in a little while.
That, of course, would be a devastating blow. Palmer, a junior college transfer, has had two really strong games. It wouldn't be good to lose him at any time, but especially when your young linebacking crew has already lost another starter.
-- PA |
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| FOOTBALL: Some notes on tonight's game |
[Sep. 15th, 2007|01:44 pm] |
NASHVILLE --
-- Ole Miss is 30-40-3 in SEC opening games but hasn't won the first game of the conference season since beating Vanderbilt here 24-21 in 2003.
-- The Rebels, in their 113th season of football, are five wins short of 600. The program has an all-time record of 595-453-35 for a .566 win percentage.
-- Ole Miss leads the Vanderbilt series 46-33-2. Vanderbilt leads 25-20-2 in Nashville games, including a 31-23 win in Ed Orgeron's debut season two years ago.
-- The top rushing performance by an Ole Miss player against Vanderbilt came in 1967 when Stephen Hindman ran for 215 yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries.
-- The top Ole Miss passing game in the series was in 2002 when Eli Manning had 386 yards and two touchdowns with no picks on 24-for-41 accuracy.
-- BenJarvus Green-Ellis' 226-yard effort against Missouri was his first 200-yard game on the college level. It was the fifth time at Ole Miss that he has surpassed 100 yards. Through two games, Vanderbilt opponents are gaining 4.5 yards per rush.
-- Ole Miss DE Greg Hardy, a red zone receiver on offense, has caught a touchdown pass in three straight games going back to last year's finale against MSU. Coaches have said Hardy's role on offense will expand, but he remains a special situation player presently. Hardy is tied with SS Jamarca Sanford with 20 tackles, second on the team. He leads the team in tackles for loss with four.
-- Orgeorn, now in his third season, is 8-17. Three wins have come against Memphis.
-- Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson was 60-36 and a playoff regular at Division I-AA Furman. He is 16-44 at Vanderbilt and 2-3 against Ole Miss.
-- Ole Miss is 25-19 against Eastern Division foes since the SEC split into divisions in 1992. The Rebels have won 10 of their last 15 against Eastern foes. Since the split, the Rebels have beaten every Eastern team at least twice, except for Tennessee. Ole Miss is 0-4 against the Vols during the same time.
-- PA |
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| FOOTBALL: Checked in and recuperating |
[Sep. 15th, 2007|11:09 am] |
Fright night football in the office always requires time to recuperate.
But I managed to wake up and get away early this morning to get in a hotel room to have time to do just that.
The early games are just kicking off. I've got it on Michigan State and Pitt as I wait for some real games to come on.
Tupelo RB Ken Davis, an Ole Miss commit, had 251 yards and three touchdowns in a win against Amory last night.
-- PA |
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| FOOTBALL: Some Earl Bennett stuff |
[Sep. 14th, 2007|06:28 am] |
Vanderbilt WR Earl Bennett needs 31 additional catches, a fairly safe bet this early in the season, to become the SEC's all-time leading receiver. The photo is courtesy of Vanderbilt media relations.
Here's a short interview I had with him yesterday.
Q: How did you guys outgain Ole Miss more than 2-1 last year and still not manage to win? (Ole Miss won 17-10.)
A: Our offense came out and played hard, but we had a lot of turnovers in the Red Zone. You can't have that and win. It was heartbreaking, but it's hard to put up points when you're turning it over in the Red Zone.
Q: Is last year's game a motivating factor for this year's game?
A: Yeah, definitely. It showed us that if we come out, play hard and compete, we should have a good chance to win. We have a lot of players coming back. Minus the turnovers, we should be all right.
Q: What are your thoughts on Ole Miss' defense against the spread offense?
A: We watched the film and saw they had a few problems against Missouri. We'll just try to spread the ball out, pass it to a lot of people, give it to our running backs some. We've got a great quarterback in Chris Nickson. He'll run around and spread it to different playmakers. We look forward to coming out and playing hard.
Q: Do you guys have a traditional power formation that uses a fullback?
A: Actually I don't think we do, except in a goalline package.
Q: If I'm a defensive back, how do I defend Earl Bennett?
A: That's a hard question. You have to be prepared for anything ... deep routes, inside routes, outside routes.
Q: What are your strengths as a receiver?
A: I think it's my route running. We work on route running a lot in the off-season. When you run good routes, it doesn't matter how fast you run. You can get open.
-- PA |
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| PREDICTIONS: A win in the Rebels this week? |
[Sep. 13th, 2007|09:29 am] |
We've kind of gotten this started on a thread below. I figured I'd go ahead and move it up top so it could be more easily seen.
There is a feeling on the posts below that while Vandy will run a spread offense, some comfort is taken in the fact that they won't, in theory, run it as efficiently as Missouri does.
I'll go along with that.
However, while the Rebels clearly couldn't handle a great spread offense, I'm not sure I have confidence in them to handle an average one either.
Richmond ran for 149 yards on the Dores, and Bama lit them up with 221. That's a matchup that clearly favors Ole Miss. I can see BenJarvus Green-Ellis having another big day. Hopefully Ed and the gang will take some time to rest Green-Ellis and develop Cordera Eason.
Seth Adams' performance in the second half against Missouri gave me more confidence in him.
Consistency is the difference between average players and better than average. Adams has been pretty good for two weeks now, even though he got off to a slow start against Mizzou.
Maybe he'll get the receivers involved again. For Ole Miss to win, Adams needs to keep the offense on the field and the ball out of the hands of the Commodores. The Rebels did that against Memphis but not Missouri.
All that being said, I'll take Vandy.
The Rebels didn't stop Vandy last year and haven't stopped Memphis and Missouri this year.
Maybe the Rebels will get the turnovers to pull out the win, like they did at Memphis. But I'm thinking they used up all their Vanderbilt good fortune in last year's 17-10 win in Oxford when they were outgained better than 2-1.
VANDY 28, OLE MISS 25.
-- PA |
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| FOOTBALL: Vandy-Ole Miss is always close |
[Sep. 12th, 2007|02:35 pm] |
Here's a look at the last five.
2006: OXFORD - Ole Miss 17, Vanderbilt 10. Commodores outgain the Rebels 400-179 but turn the ball over five times. Rory Johnson has 16 tackles, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. BenJarvus Green-Ellis rushes for 101 yards and two touchdowns.
Vanderbilt WR Earl Bennett catches 10 passes for 179 yards.
2005: NASHVILLE - Vanderbilt 31, Ole Miss 23. Jay Cutler passed for 314 yards and ran for another 58. Rebels trailed 24-3 at halftime.
2004: OXFORD - Ole Miss 26, Vanderbilt 23 (OT). Ethan Flatt was 4-for-4 on a 56-yard drive that culminated with Jonathan Nichols' 32-yard field goal with 2:23 left in regulation. Nichols hit a 35-yarder in OT for the win.
2003: NASHVILLE - Ole Miss 24, Vanderbilt 21. Nichols again, this time from 54 yards with 3:52 left in regulation. Eli Manning's 23-yard pass to Mike Espy tied the game at 21 with 9:53 left.
2002: OXFORD - Ole Miss 45, Vanderbilt 38. Vandy rallied from a 38-17 deficit to tie the game before Rebels RB Ronald McClendon scored on a 23-yard run with 3:12 to play. Vandy made a final push, and Shannon native Travis Johnson, then a redshirt freshman, batted away a possible touchdown pass in the final seconds.
-- PA |
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| FOOTBALL: No starter named at LB |
[Sep. 12th, 2007|12:41 pm] |
Speaking on the SEC teleconference, Ole Miss coach Ed Orgeron said he isn't ready to name a starter at weak side linebacker to replace the injured Jonathan Cornell.
He singled out reserves Allen Walker and Jamie Phillips as possibilities.
He also said there is no plan to move freshmen safeties Johnny Brown or Jamison Hughes.
"No, we're too thin there for any critical moves like that," he said.
Orgeron also did not name a starter at right cornerback, though there's a reasonable chance Cassius Vaughn will replace Terrell Jackson there.
The Rebels are at Vanderbilt at 6 p.m. Saturday.
-- PA |
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| FOOTBALL: This week's AP Top 25 ballot |
[Sep. 12th, 2007|06:57 am] |
1. USC
2. LSU
3. Texas
4. Oklahoma
5. West Virginia
6. Florida
7. Wisconsin
8. Louisville
9. Ohio State
10. Penn State
11. Cal
12. UCLA
13. Arkansas
14. Missouri
15. Georgia
16. Rutgers
17. Virginia Tech
18. South Carolina
19. Oregon
20. Tennessee
21. Texas A&M
22. Georgia Tech
23. Nebraska
24. Clemson
25. Boston College
-- PA |
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| FOOTBALL: Some Vanderbilt odds and ends |
[Sep. 11th, 2007|09:49 am] |
-- Vanderbilt lost last year's game in Oxford 17-10 in spite of outgaining Ole Miss 400-179. The Commodores were 8-of-16 on third down conversions and had 35:25 in time of possession.
They also had five turnovers, including two inside the Ole Miss 10.
-- QB Chris Nickson is banged up and may not play Saturday, but both he and backup McKenzie Adams were effective last year. Nickson was 11-for-13 for 95 yards and a touchdown against Ole Miss, and Adams was 10-for-20 for 176 and one interception.
-- In keeping with the Ole Miss theme of struggles against the spread offense, those quarterbacks were also Vandy's leading rushers. Adams had 51 yards on 11 carries, Nickson 49 on eight.
-- The most recognizable name in the Vandy offense is junior receiver Earl Bennett. He had 10 catches for 179 yards against Ole Miss last year.
Bennett, who has his own website at MyNameIsEarlBennett.com, should be in the top 10 of all-time SEC receivers by mid-season. He needs 30 catches to tie former Kentucky star Craig Yeast at the top of the list.
Bennett is currently 13th with 178 catches. In two games this season he has 17 catches for 275 yards and three touchdowns.
-- Defensively, the Commodores are led by 6-4, 235-pound linebacker Jonathan Goff, a fifth-year senior. Goff is the SEC's third-leading career tackler among active players. He opened the season with seven tackles and an interception against Richmond and nine tackles against Alabama.
-- Ole Miss coach Ed Orgeron says Vandy's best defensive player is end Curtis Gatewood of Memphis, another fifth-year senior. Gatewood had seven sacks last year and is coming off seven sacks and two tackles for loss against Alabama.
-- PA |
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