By Hayden Sowers
Ole Miss’s preparation for the Texas A&M Aggies continued on Wednesday with a 90-minute practice. Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze opened up the QB competition this week, and he is pleased with how Barry Brunetti and Bo Wallace have responded, “Both of them looked good today. We’ll go in and chart everything and kind of see where we are. Both, I’m sure will see some action.” Offensive coordinator Dan Werner added, “Coach Freeze and I are going to sit down and talk about it and figure out what we are going to do.”
The main thing Freeze and Werner are looking at is who can protect the ball and limit turnovers the best. Take away the three interceptions thrown at Alabama last Saturday and you might have a whole different ball game. You simply can’t afford to turn the ball over in the SEC and expect to win. Werner echoed that after practice, “They are both trying to do things right. Our big thing is who is going to take care of the football.” Texas A&M is No. 24 in the nation in turnover margin at plus-1.0 per game.
Speed is the name of the game when it comes to the A&M defense you will see on Saturday. Freeze said, “Fastest defense we have seen on tape. They play with extreme effor, and I think the speed of the front seven is better than anyone we have seen thus far. Their defensive line and linebackers run extremely well, and they play with phenomenal effort.”
The focus of the Rebel defense during the week is how to contain A&M QB Johnny Manziel when he breaks down and scrambles, “It’s very difficult to prepare for. We’ve done that to the best of our ability with what we have, but there is no way that we can give an accurate description of what it’s going to be like on Saturday,” Freeze added.
Who do the Rebels use as scout team QB this week to prepare for the scramble drill? “Jamont Scott, who is the fastest walk-on we have. We put him back there and let him run around,” from Freeze.
DT Woodrow Hamilton is “definitely out” and WR Korvic Neat is “questionable” for Saturday’s game. DT Uriah Grant will be back after missing the Alabama game with a hand injury. More from Freeze on Neat, “He practiced again today, but I don’t know if he is bursting right. I don’t know if it is because he is not completely well or if he is nervous about it. Right now it’d be hard for me to throw him out there.”
Denham Springs, La., native, Mississippian since 1989 with a stop in Meridian before arriving in Tupelo. Daily Journal beat writer since 1996, covering Ole Miss since 2002. Proud Northeast Louisiana alum. Follow me on Twitter @parrishalford and listen to Kory Keys and myself daily with The Ole Miss Beat on Rebel Sports Radio.
