Some Post-Season Observations

[Po Monkey Lounger]

1. Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze promised the Rebel fans that this 2012 Rebel football team would play hard for 4 quarters every game. He made no bold promises of how many wins that type of effort might generate. In my opinion, he fulfilled that promise. This Rebel team played hard, every game, for all 4 quarters, even when they got down by a large margin to Texas. And this Rebel team improved as the season progressed, especially the defense. After the Texas skull dragging our defense took, the coaches made some personnel and scheme changes that resulted in a hard hitting defense that played with great intensity, gang tackled, ran to the football, and put pressure on opposing QBs. Our primary defensive weakness was occasional coverage busts in the secondary, most of the time by freshman who were getting baptized by fire. There were only 3 teams this season that were clearly superior to the Rebels --- Alabama, Georgia, and Texas*. I put an asterick by Texas, because they really don't belong in the same sentence as UGA and the Tide. That early in the season, this young and untested Rebel team was just not ready for a quality team like Texas and got overwhelmed. I think the Rebels would fare much better against the Longhorns if we were to have a rematch right now (I will be in Austin next season for the actual rematch). The Rebels have now gotten up off the mat and are fighting back. I like the direction our program is heading in under Coach Freeze. The new offensive scheme seems to be a great fit for the type of talent we can recruit to Oxford. And I like the intensity I am seeing on defense, along with the aggressive schemes, plus the fact that we now seem to be able to handle up tempo offenses (since we practice against one every day in practice). My initial apprehensions about hiring him as our head coach have disappeared. But, I am not ready to label Freeze as "great" or enage in any type of fan worship. The Rebels clearly could have won another game or two with better coaching decisions during the TAM. LSU and Vandy games. I am expecting to see continued progress next season. I don't really know how many wins that "progress" will bring forth, but with 2 of our SEC West opponents in disarray (Auburn and Arkansas) and in the market for new head coaches, I would like to think that the Rebels will be very capable of winning more than 6 games next season (absent any unexpected, unpleasant surprises or injuries between now and then). This upcoming recuiting class is very important, IMO, for Freeze's future at Ole Miss. We will see if he can deliver.

2. I think that MSU may be a better football team next season than this year, although the number of wins might not reflect such. The Dogs return a lot of playmakers on offense, and most of their OL. The defense could be a little suspect, but there is some good talent waiting in the wings to replace some of the departing seniors. And I think that MSU will again be able to beat SEC West opponents Auburn and Arkansas, along with Kentucky from the East (that, along with 4 nonconference wins gets them at least to 7 wins). I don't see Mullen leaving MSU anytime soon --- he has favorable scheduling from an understanding and supportive AD, a fanbase that worships him, and as long as he wins 6 or more games each year and holds his own with Ole Miss, he can stay there forever (unless there is more to this NCAA stuff than meets the eye). But, I do think that he will attempt to use the numerous job openings to leverage a better contract deal. So, MSU fans, get prepared for some Mullen flirtation. The only coaching changes that I see on the horizon for MSU will be the defensive staff --- will the Polka King of Minnesota stay or go? Wilson?

3. This past offseason in the SEC was very interesting with the additions of TAM and Missouri into the league, and the crash and burn by Bobby P with the volleyball chick. But, just when you thought you had seen everything, now we have a situation where at least 4 SEC schools (UT, UK, AR, Auburn) will have new head coaches and staffs prior to next season. This offseason is setting up to be even more interesting and fun.

4. I am really looking forward to the SEC Championship Game between the Tide and UGA. I like the matchup and think UGA will be able to hold its own. UGA has an elite QB and the capability of playing up temp, no huddle offense, which seems to be the Tide D's only real weakness. So, it should be a great, competitive game. And with the winner likely playing Notre Dame in the BCS National Championship Game, it adds even more luster to the game.

5. Does anyone think that Notre Dame can beat either Alabama or UGA? I don't. I think the Fighting Irish are O-V-E-R-R-A-T-E-D and will get exposed by our SEC champ.

6. I have never witnessed a team fall as far as USM has this year, going from a 12 win season and Conf title last year to 0-12 this year. Is Ellis head coach material? Or just a very good defensive coordinator? Will USM keep him, or cut him loose? If he is cut loose, will Mullen try to hire him at MSU as the DC?

7. With regard to Dan Mullen...........Although I think he is socially retarded and engages in very juvenille behavior, I will give the devil his due. So far, as the head coach at MSU, he has won the games that he is favored to win. He has not yet lost a game in which the Dogs were the favorite per the Vegas betting line. He is at least consistent in this regard. The key question with respect to the level of success that he can achieve at MSU will be how many times he can win games in which MSU is the underdog. Despite what the MSU fans say right now, after a few years of going to bowl games with 7-8 win seasons (that include 4 wins over nonconference creampuffs), but no really big wins or titles, the natives will get restless and want more. But, lets not put the cart before the horse just yet.

[mshunter77]

I think coaches will figure out Hugh's offense next year and slow it down more(double team Moncreif and pressure Wallace). I don't think he will be able to get the Rebels to play with that much intensity all of next year. Not a knock on his coaching just the nature of the beast. Ole miss has a chance to be ome very good on defense. They have a talented DL with speed and if they can add Robert Nkemdechie that would be a huge boost especially if that would allow them to move Johnson back to LB. State needs a new defensive coordinator that guy was out coached in pretty much every game I saw the dawgs play. Also I think Mullen is a little to loyal to the Seniors. Perkins obviously was not the best RB on the team but still kept getting the bulk of the carries. I think this ole miss win was the best thing that could happen for this rivalry. I think Bama beats UGA and handles ND. UGA has the talent to beat Bama but has not playe well under pressure but I guess you could say they are due to win a big one. As far as southern I have never kept up with them but good night they are just plain terrible. I can't wait to see who fills all of the vacancies, I think Charlie Strong will get one of them, probably Arkie.

[Deltamud77]

1. Bama is going to beat UGA handily, if for no other reason, Richt cannot win big games and Saban almost never loses them;
2. Bama will then beat ND worse than they beat LSU January 9, 2012. ND may not cross mid-field and I highly doubt they score any points...basically a repeat of 1/9/12;
3. Johnny Manziel is gonna get screwed out of the Heisman by a ND linebacker;
4. Going forward, aTm is about to become the monster in college football that they always should have been...they will replace LSU as Bama's bride in the annual race for the SEC west;
5. Bobby Petrino will make his triumphant return to the SEC for someone...either UK or AU...and he will be very good;
6. Hugh Freeze is about to hurt some feelings of some SEC powers on the recruiting trail and the field over the next 5-10 years in Oxford; and
7. State is gonna use the booty kicking they received at the hands of Bama, LSU, aTm and Ole Miss to be better next year. Russell is the first NFL caliber QB I ever remember in Starkvegas.

[mossyisland]

^^^^^^^ Warning! Great information typed in the above three post.^^^^^^^^^^

[hottytoddy]

Heyallll yea!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Po Monkey Lounger]

One addition to my post season observations has to be kudos to two outstanding and tough QBs --- Tyler Russell of MSU and Bo Wallace of Ole Miss.

Against Alabama, LSU, and Ole Miss, I lost count of how many times Tyler Russell took some wicked hits from rushing or blitzing defenders. And every time, he got back up, dusted himself off, and continued playing football. And despite all of these hits, he still hangs in the pocket and often delivers well thrown passes right before he gets clobbered again. He is one tough hombre that remains cool under fire. IF MSU's OL can improve and give him more protection, Russell should have an even better year next season.

Bo Wallace has shown a level of intensity and toughness that we haven't seen at the QB position in quite a while at Ole Miss. His right shoulder (his throwing shoulder) was injured against Tulane, and Bo has played hurt most of this season. Each week, the coaches have let him rest his shoulder on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, and only practiced him on the remaining days of each game week. Like Russell, he has taken his share of shots from defenders, maybe even more so since Bo often runs the ball. He has finally learned to start sliding, instead of taking direct hits. Bo was the equivalent of a freshman this season, so I think he will only get better over the next two seasons. Keeping him healthy will be the key to his future success. And improvement by our OL will go a long way in this regard. Bo could stand to lower his emotions a bit, which appear to be leading, in part, to his turnovers. But, I love his competitive spirit and grit.

Give each of these guys a Pabst Blue Ribbon.

[swamprooter]

1. Bjork has been a godsend for the University. His presence from pre-game show to video board to off field actions has made a difference on the field.
2. Rebels from what i read and listening to the ones in the know, are sitting on their best recruiting class EVER.
3. Hugh Freeze ..........just a quality person. Very impressed on how he carries himself on and off the field. Kids want to be around him and their parents do too!
4. Ole Miss Student Body showed up and never left Saturday.
5. Dan's actions has escalated this rivalry to maybe his firing one day.

[mshunter77]

I think both QBs are very though and better players than they get credit for. Russel has put up pretty good numbers with a questionable OL and no true playmaker at WR. Wallace just needs to work on his decision making under pressure. I really did not think he would make it through the year with some of the hits he was taking.

[Po Monkey Lounger]

4. Going forward, aTm is about to become the monster in college football that they always should have been...they will replace LSU as Bama's bride in the annual race for the SEC west;

Delta, you may be right, but here is why I think you could be wrong. Sumlin has never been known to have great defenses. The solid DL that TAM had this year can be primarily attributed to the personnel left over by the previous coaching staff. The secondary was not very good this season, and I don't really see it improving without a big emphasis on defensive recruiting. Based upon Sumlin's track record, I forsee TAM slowly fading on the defensive side of the ball, putting even more pressure on the offense to score high enough points to win games. And if Manziel keeps running the ball as much as he does against SEC defenses, he will eventually get hurt (I think he was injured to some extent in the Missouri game to end the season). Without Manziel, they could nosedive (like Houston did without Case Keenum). Right now, he is pretty much a one man show.