– I see Matt’s post below, and he’s gone into the “just win baby” mode. Hard to argue with that.
Ole Miss had its share of moral victories last year. The program reached that level last year. To move ahead it needs to close the deal in some of these games.
There might be more goodwill created by the Florida game if the Rebels had not underperformed so badly at Vanderbilt. Nobody expected Ole Miss to beat Florida, and nobody was going to give the Rebels grief for losing that game.
Vanderbilt was another story. In a winnable game that the Rebels really needed to get to six wins, they where handled on the offensive line, and missed assignments on defense let Vandy have a field day.
– The key for Ole Miss now is to build. The remaining fans at Vaught-Hemingway gave the team a nice round of applause for the effort yesterday. Confidence in the program, lacking in many quarters after the Vanderbilt game, will build if the Rebels put together a solid performance at Georgia. A win would do wonders.
– Rebelfan38652 says what was the deal on the fake punt on fourth down? Good question. I wondered that myself as I stood on the sideline and asked it in the press conference. I thought Ed gave a good answer when he said the team was to check with him before running the fake punt and that there was a fake punt or punt option. After they checked with him, he chose to run the fake punt because “we had them outnumbered.”
I don’t disagree with going for the first down. I wonder if letting Seth Adams throw it might not have provided a better chance. The success of a fake punt depends on the element of surprise. That was clearly lost when Urban Meyer called time out to set his defense.
Coming up short on the fake punt, however, did not lose the Florida game.
The Rebels had opportunities to beat the Gators, but they were more in the first half than in the fourth quarter.
Ole Miss reached the 22, 15 and 19-yardlines in the first half but never got in the end zone. Each time there was a tackle for loss or a 5-yard penalty and in some cases both.
A team like Florida does not allow you unlimited opportunities to win the game. You have to cash in big on your chances, and you can’t beat one of the nation’s best offenses with field goals.
I have said this many times, but it fits right here again. Ole Miss is better on offense. There are playmakers on this offense.
But there are still hurdles to overcome. This team has got to find the end zone. Two touchdowns in a game isn’t going to get it done.
Last year’s team could not drive the field with the consistency that this one does.
Right now Ole Miss isn’t a team that’s going to clamp down and win with defense. Maybe that will change. For now, however, the Rebels need extra help from offense.
They’re close, but if they’re going to surprise with a few wins, they’re going to have to find their way to the end zone.
– PA
