After last week’s blowout victory against UT-Martin, the Rebels will have a step up in competition this Saturday when they face the Fresno State Bulldogs at home. Head coach Hugh Freeze saw a lot of strong-points in Fresno State.
“They spread you from sideline to sideline. They have really good tempo and they have really good skill people. If they make you miss in space, that five-yard route just became a 30-yard gain,” Freeze said. “So they present a challenge. Defensively, they create a lot of negative plays just with their movement.”
Cornerbacks coach Jason Jones was also impressed with the Bulldogs offense, but was confident that his group had put in the work to prepare.
“Fresno is a good football team. Offensively, they’re fast paced, they’ll throw it around, and you have to get lined up fast and make your checks and everyone has to be in position,” Jones said. “It’s going to be a good challenge for us. The guys have been working hard the last couple of days trying to get prepared.”
The Rebel defense took a hit this week when it was announced that starting nose tackle Isaac Gross was out for the year with a neck injury, who’s above average quickness for the position is something Freeze said he didn’t think they would be able to replace.
Freeze said they had been tracking a spur in his neck for a year and a half, and after another trip to the doctor, it was determined he needed season-ending surgery. Freeze said the team would have to change some things up to replace his minutes.
“We’ll probably pull the redshirt off Austrian (Robinson) in order to give us some additional depth there, cause you know you’re going to need it throughout the season,” Freeze said. “I don’t know that we’ll juggle positions too much. You’ll have Woody (Hamilton) and D.J. (Jones) probably play the nose and Breeland (Speaks) and Robert (Nkemdiche) probably playing the three-technique.”
At cornerback, Jones liked how his group played against UT-Martin.
“We did some good things and also did some things that we have to work on. I’m pleased at the effort they showed,” Jones said. “I’m pleased but still not where we need to be.”
Jones singled out a couple of players he thought excelled on Saturday.
“Kendarius Webster, he played well. Tony Bridges did a great job,” Jones said. “It was good to see him in action. He’s a physical guy, came down, made some tackles, and threw his body around and things like that. That was good to see.”
Jones also talked about the play of junior Tee Sheppard, who had his first game action as a Rebel Saturday.
“It was also good to see Tee get back out there and move around,” Jones said. “He didn’t have a lot of opportunities to make a lot of plays, but moved around well and overall didn’t have a lot of missed assignments or anything like that so that was good.”
Junior Kailo Moore also played in the game, and now has a full year at the corner position after moving from running back.
“Kailo, he has come a long way. He is locked in, you can tell he’s a different player this year than he was last year,” Jones said. I think he’s just starting to understand it. He’s bought into the position, and I think he can go at either (cornerback spot) and be in good shape.”
