Mississippi quarterback Bo Wallace (14) releases a pass during an NCAA college football practice in Oxford, Miss., Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2014. (Photo/Thomas Graning)
The bye week is a time of rest for Ole Miss football players, but it’s never a break.
The team will practice and go through its regular preparations just like any other week, and the Rebels will make early preparations for Arkansas and focus on individual growth.
It’s a different focus for senior quarterback Bo Wallace during the bye week.
“Just fixing my mechanics, just making sure I stay sharp,” Wallace said. “I felt like I threw the ball really well against Auburn. I just want to get my body right and keep my mechanics fresh.”
Wallace looks like a different player at this point this year compared to this point last season.
Wallace struggled with injuries to his throwing shoulder last season and played at 75 percent arm strength.
Wallace admitted Tuesday he was trying to win games for Ole Miss but at the same time, tried to get through the year and heal his shoulder in the offseason. The training Wallace went through in the offseason helped his shoulder and mechanics with his throwing motion, helping him feel like a different player.
“It’s not even a comparison really,” Wallace said about how he feels now compared to this point last season. “This year I feel good. I’m still doing my extra work with the strength staff, and I definitely feel stronger.”
Wallace said he doesn’t feel the pain or stress from undergoing shoulder surgery from last season and started bench pressing two weeks ago like he would normally do without the problems with his shoulder.
Because of the injury to his throwing shoulder last season, getting the ball deep to his playmakers is something Wallace struggled with. Wallace has been known to have a strong arm, but the pain in his shoulder affected his arm strength and cost him on throws late last season.
Wallace admitted his deep throws are the biggest change he’s seen in himself compared to last season.
“A lot of the time, it’s not really my arm if I miss a deep throw. It’s something with my feet. I know I missed a deep throw against Auburn, and that was because of my feet,” Wallace said. “I know I have the arm to push it down the field. On those deep throws, it’s setting my feet and getting my base right underneath me.”
Watching film against LSU, Wallace and the coaching staff noticed flaws in his mechanics that resulted in misfires both down the field and on short routes that should have been completed.
Even though the Rebels don’t play a game this weekend, there are games in the SEC that have major implications on the Rebels’ SEC West and playoff hopes.
Ole Miss can’t control what happens over the weekend, so they just have to focus on themselves and get better.
“For us, it’s just staying sharp. Obviously, I want to get with the receivers as much as I can before we go on the road again,” Wallace said. “I want to get timing down with some of those guys that I haven’t played with as much this year. That’s my focus this week and moving forward.”
With the big games in the SEC this weekend, including Mississippi State at Alabama and Auburn at Georgia, the Rebels have a lot to look forward to this weekend.
Wallace, however, isn’t worried about those games over the bye week.
“I’m going to Nashville, so I’m going to hang out with my family and friends. If the game’s on wherever I’m at then I’ll watch it,” Wallace said. “I’m not going to sit there and watch every play and be worried about it. At the end of the day, all we can control is our team. I’m excited to go and get some rest.”
