Hi here is the first edition of Countdown to GameDay. We’ll work on the sound problem for next week. Hopefully our most improvement will be from week one to two.  Seriously, thanks to Gregg, Parrish and Leesha Faulkner for doing this. See you next week.

Todd Vinyard
Djournal.com

FOOTBALL: Predictions anyone?

We’ll see tomorrow if there was truly improvement in tackling by Ole Miss or if most of the credit for last week’s 24-0 shutout of Louisiana Tech should be given to the simple fact that it was Louisiana Tech.

After being embarrassed by Georgia the Rebels were better in getting ball-carriers to the ground in the non-conference buyout game.

Even then the Rebels had missed tackles and occasionally struggled with Tech backs Patrick Jackson and Daniel Porter.

Tackling requires physical improvement and a mental attitude that must be adjusted in the off-season. I’m not sure how much improvement in tackling is made in the middle of the regular season.

Where the Rebels can improve in tackling is by improving in assignment football. When they are in the right place more often on defense, they will stand a better chance of getting more than one person to the football. Gang tackling. That’s what Ole Miss has to do. It must decrease the number of times defensive backs – Now freshman Johnny Brown will start in place of veteran Jamarca Sanford – are in 1-on-1 open field situations.

Alabama has some talented backs in Terry Grant and Glen Coffee and a big-play receiver in D.J. Hall, the school’s career leader in receptions and receiving yards.

This is an Alabama offense that comes in reeling a bit. QB John Parker Wilson has had critical late-game interceptions the last two weeks.

Coach Nick Saban, the $4 million man, adjusted his lineup with two significant changes – He swapped Grant for Coffee and moved All-SEC center Antoine Caldwell to guard – then barked at the media and accused them of setting up people to fail because of unreasonable expectations.

So this is a Tide offense and an overall team that doesn’t come in with a great deal of momentum. Alabama has lost two of its last three and had to hang on to eek out a win over Houston last week.

The Tide may be ripe for the picking, but the Rebels can’t relax. Winning a football game takes every bit of emotion Ole Miss can muster. Nothing comes easy.

I like the Rebels’ offense to have a strong game. I think the poor effort against La. Tech was a hiccup and won’t become the norm. In the midst of his worst day as a starter with three picks last week, QB Seth Adams still threw two touchdown passes. That would not have happened last season.

Hopefully for the Rebels Saturday will be a day in which their inconsistent run game is on. If they can block and spring BenJarvus Green-Ellis they’ll put a lot of pressure on the Tide.

This is definitely a game Ole Miss can win. They match up better with Alabama than they will next week when Arkansas comes to town with Darren McFadden and Felix Jones.

Ole Miss has played Alabama close the last two years where single plays could have turned the game.

Many critical plays were made by linebacker Patrick Willis, and when asked to consider last year’s 26-23 OT victory in Tuscaloose, Alabama players could think of Willis and very little else.

They don’t have to worry about him today, and it’s incumbent upon three new linebackers to hit the gaps and wrap up to get the Rebels over the hump.

I like their chances, yes, but there’s no recent history that gives me confidence to pick Ole Miss in this game.

Alabama 28, Ole Miss 27