Mississippi players prepare to enter the field before an NCAA football game against Auburn in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014. (DM Photo | Cady Herring)
The biggest question coming off a loss as heartbreaking as the Rebels’ 31-35 defeat to Auburn is how the team will react and if they can bounce back. Head coach Hugh Freeze talked to the media Wednesday about how the team was responding and the injuries the team had to work around this week.
“There’s no question, coming off the disappointment of Saturday night, it’s been a little slower, less motivation to get going, but I’ve been really pleased with how it’s picked up. They’re still having attention towards what we’re doing, and we seem to be handling the little things well right now,” Freeze said. “If the little things start sliding and not being done properly, that’s when I really get concerned, and I haven’t seen that.”
Injuries piled up once again for the Rebels in back-to-back weeks. The next two weeks will be used to get a lot of players healthy after a brutal SEC stretch really affected the health of the team.
“(Sophomore) Laremy (Tunsil) and (junior) Aaron (Morris) on the offensive line (are out) for sure. Defensively, we will try to limit (senior defensive back) Cody (Prewitt’s) reps if at all possible. (Junior running back I’Tavius) Mathers and (junior defensive back) Trae (Elston) have not been cleared to practice, yet, so I would say they’re doubtful. (Junior center) Ben Still will have to play some,” Freeze said. “So, there’ll be several that don’t play, and then several that we hope we can take it a little easier on, but you have to execute and find a way to win the game at the same time.”
Besides the obvious loss of sophomore wide receiver Laquon Treadwell, the biggest losses came on the offensive line, with Tunsil and Morris. Freeze talked about what the offensive line will look like in their absence.
“(Freshman) Rod (Taylor) will get his first start this week, (junior Justin) Bell will move to left guard, (junior) Fahn (Cooper) will stay at left tackle and (sophomore Robert) Conyers will stay at right tackle. (Senior) Chase Hughes and (junior Craig) Frigo will be back up centers, and Frigo will also play some backup guard,” Freeze said. “(Freshman) Christian (Morris) will get some time, so will (freshman) Davion (Johnson) and (freshman) Daronte (Bouldin). We’re going to rotate them in and out and hopefully, can find a way to score a few points with them.”
A lot of new faces will be plugged in on the offensive line, and Freeze will evaluate how these new faces will play in terms of looking down the road.
Redshirt freshman quarterbacks DeVante Kincade and Ryan Buchanan will likely see a lot of playing time this game. Freeze talked about the opportunity for both backups coming this Saturday.
“I would be disappointed if we don’t get to get them some looks,” Freeze said. “They deserve it, and we need it.”
There’s expected to be some changes at wide receiver as well. Many guys will get looks in order to improve depth at the position.
“We moved (sophomore Derrick Jones) back over there to get us a third outside guy, and then (freshman) Trey Bledsoe would also be able to play,” Freeze said.
Wide receiver’s coach Grant Heard said that one player who has to step up on Saturday is freshman wide receiver Markell Pack. Heard said he has great potential.
“He is gonna be special. He’s still a freshman, and sometimes, I forget that, especially this time of year,” Heard said. “He’s still got a lot to learn, but he has come a long way, and as long as he keeps getting better every week, I expect him to be a really good player in time.”
