17. Ole Miss Rebels
Areas of strength: 1.) Quarterback 2.) Defensive line 3.) Linebacker
Areas of weakness: 1.) Offensive line 2.) Running back 3.) Secondary
Fantasy target: QB Chad Kelly
Fantasy stay away: RB Akeem Judd
How should I think about this team?: Two-Face, from Batman.
The Rebs have somehow managed to beat Alabama each of the last two seasons without having a single SEC Championship Game appearance to show for it. That is an impressive -- if depressing -- feat. Part of the problem might simply be timing. The two squads have played in September three of the last four seasons. This year will make it four of the last five, as they’ll hook up on September 17. Contrast that with Michigan/Ohio State or Alabama/LSU. November games that allow teams to pace themselves in the earlier weeks.
More concretely tangible than the pop psychology of scheduling, Ole Miss went 2-2 after their thrilling September win over the champs. Florida and Memphis both dealt them convincing losses to knock them out of realistic Playoff contention.
Three of the biggest names from that 2015 campaign (WR Laquon Treadwell, T Laremy Tunsil, DL Robert Nkemdiche) are off trying to make their mark in the NFL, but one player who did not jump for the draft was noted rapper/quarterback Chad Kelly, who posted big numbers in his first eligible season with Ole Miss, throwing for 4,042 yards with a 31/13 TD/INT ratio. As far as SEC quarterbacks go, Swag is arguably the best in show. It’s what surrounds him that raises the eyebrow.
Last season’s lead back, Jaylen Walton, has moved on. The team’s second-leading rusher a year ago was Chad Kelly with 646 yards on the ground and 10 touchdowns. That is an awesome edge that comes with Kelly, but in terms of actual running backs on the roster, the ranks are thin. Akeem Judd -- who averaged 5.4 YPC on his way to 425 rushing yards -- will take on the majority of the carries for the coming season.
While the running back stable is mostly devoid of horses, the wide receiver stable remains well-stocked. Even with Treadwell heading off to don purple and adjust to subzero temperatures, Damore'ea Stringfellow and Quincy Adeboyejo combined for 74 catches and 1,107 yards receiving while riding alongside Treadwell last season. TE Evan Engram complements that pair nicely.
Trouble in paradise, though, as last season’s offensive line no longer exists. We all know Laremy Tunsil, but he is far from the only piece exiting stage left. In total, the Rebs are losing 143 career starts along the line. No returning offensive lineman on the team has more than eight career starts to their name. That reboot represents the biggest danger to Ole Miss’ offensive attack.
While the defensive line does lose Robert Nkemdiche, the Rebs return the majority of their defensive line and linebacking corps. DE Marquis Haynes leads that charge after recording 16.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks in 2015. A year ago, the team ranked 23rd against the run, surrendering 127.1 rushing yards on average. They should be able to maintain that level with their returning pieces up front.
Less certain is the pass defense. Starting corners Ken Webster and Tony Bridges both remain locked in place, having registered a combined 20 pass breakups a year ago, but the team’s overall outlook on pass defense becomes a little more watery at safety with Mike Hilton and Trae Elston no longer manning the back of the second level. Problematic for a secondary that was already prone to coughing up more through the air than on the ground -- Ole Miss ranked 104th in the country in terms of passing yards allowed last season, giving up 258.8 on average.
The schedule does Ole Miss no favors early, as Florida State, Alabama, Georgia and Memphis will all answer the call within HC Hugh Freeze’s first five games this season. Maybe the Rebels upset Alabama again, but they will need to show an increased level of consistency that just might not be possible given some of their key losses, particularly along the offensive line.
Bovada over/under win total: 9.5
Thor Nystrom’s prediction: Under
Everything goes right: 11-1
Nightmare Scenario: 7-5
Areas of strength: 1.) Quarterback 2.) Defensive line 3.) Linebacker
Areas of weakness: 1.) Offensive line 2.) Running back 3.) Secondary
Fantasy target: QB Chad Kelly
Fantasy stay away: RB Akeem Judd
How should I think about this team?: Two-Face, from Batman.
The Rebs have somehow managed to beat Alabama each of the last two seasons without having a single SEC Championship Game appearance to show for it. That is an impressive -- if depressing -- feat. Part of the problem might simply be timing. The two squads have played in September three of the last four seasons. This year will make it four of the last five, as they’ll hook up on September 17. Contrast that with Michigan/Ohio State or Alabama/LSU. November games that allow teams to pace themselves in the earlier weeks.
More concretely tangible than the pop psychology of scheduling, Ole Miss went 2-2 after their thrilling September win over the champs. Florida and Memphis both dealt them convincing losses to knock them out of realistic Playoff contention.
Three of the biggest names from that 2015 campaign (WR Laquon Treadwell, T Laremy Tunsil, DL Robert Nkemdiche) are off trying to make their mark in the NFL, but one player who did not jump for the draft was noted rapper/quarterback Chad Kelly, who posted big numbers in his first eligible season with Ole Miss, throwing for 4,042 yards with a 31/13 TD/INT ratio. As far as SEC quarterbacks go, Swag is arguably the best in show. It’s what surrounds him that raises the eyebrow.
Last season’s lead back, Jaylen Walton, has moved on. The team’s second-leading rusher a year ago was Chad Kelly with 646 yards on the ground and 10 touchdowns. That is an awesome edge that comes with Kelly, but in terms of actual running backs on the roster, the ranks are thin. Akeem Judd -- who averaged 5.4 YPC on his way to 425 rushing yards -- will take on the majority of the carries for the coming season.
While the running back stable is mostly devoid of horses, the wide receiver stable remains well-stocked. Even with Treadwell heading off to don purple and adjust to subzero temperatures, Damore'ea Stringfellow and Quincy Adeboyejo combined for 74 catches and 1,107 yards receiving while riding alongside Treadwell last season. TE Evan Engram complements that pair nicely.
Trouble in paradise, though, as last season’s offensive line no longer exists. We all know Laremy Tunsil, but he is far from the only piece exiting stage left. In total, the Rebs are losing 143 career starts along the line. No returning offensive lineman on the team has more than eight career starts to their name. That reboot represents the biggest danger to Ole Miss’ offensive attack.
While the defensive line does lose Robert Nkemdiche, the Rebs return the majority of their defensive line and linebacking corps. DE Marquis Haynes leads that charge after recording 16.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks in 2015. A year ago, the team ranked 23rd against the run, surrendering 127.1 rushing yards on average. They should be able to maintain that level with their returning pieces up front.
Less certain is the pass defense. Starting corners Ken Webster and Tony Bridges both remain locked in place, having registered a combined 20 pass breakups a year ago, but the team’s overall outlook on pass defense becomes a little more watery at safety with Mike Hilton and Trae Elston no longer manning the back of the second level. Problematic for a secondary that was already prone to coughing up more through the air than on the ground -- Ole Miss ranked 104th in the country in terms of passing yards allowed last season, giving up 258.8 on average.
The schedule does Ole Miss no favors early, as Florida State, Alabama, Georgia and Memphis will all answer the call within HC Hugh Freeze’s first five games this season. Maybe the Rebels upset Alabama again, but they will need to show an increased level of consistency that just might not be possible given some of their key losses, particularly along the offensive line.
Bovada over/under win total: 9.5
Thor Nystrom’s prediction: Under
Everything goes right: 11-1
Nightmare Scenario: 7-5
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