(LEFT:) Hugh Freeze
Photo by Austin McAfee I The Daily Mississippian
(RIGHT:)Gary Pinkel
COURTESY THE MANEATER
For the No. 24 Ole Miss Rebels, this weekend’s matchup is nothing new as far as competition. Another week, another highly ranked team. This time, it’s No. 8 Missouri.
The Tigers (9-1, 5-1 Southeastern Conference) come into Saturday’s showdown on a two-game winning streak with wins over Tennessee and Kentucky, while the Rebels (7-3, 3-3 SEC) are fresh off a win over Troy, their fourth victory in a row. It will be the seventh meeting between the two schools with Missouri holding a 5-1 advantage all-time.
“There are really no weaknesses in this Missouri squad,” Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze said in his weekly press conference Monday. “The job that coach (Gary) Pinkel and his staff have done is to be commended. Their kids play extremely hard. They’ve got great schemes. They make you earn every single thing that goes your way. We’ve got a great challenge.”
Missouri brings in one of the most potent offenses in the conference. They are second in scoring offense (41.3 points per game), second in rushing offense (235.8 yards per game) and fifth in passing offense (256.8 yards per game).
“They are very similar in a lot of ways to what Troy does,” defensive coordinator Dave Wommack said. “Quarterbacks are more athletic and they have those big receivers, but the scheme reminds me a lot of Troy.”
The Rebel defense may be forced to also defend a two-quarterback system this weekend. James Franklin, who started the season as the starter, is expected to return to the starting role, while Maty Mauk, who filled in for Franklin during his injury, is also expected to get some snaps as well. Both quarterbacks have put up solid numbers, with Franklin throwing for 1,577 yards, 14 touchdowns and three interceptions, while Mauk has also flourished, throwing for 951 yards with 10 touchdowns and two interceptions.
“Franklin is more physical,” Wommack said. “Seven (Mauk) is actually a little quicker and faster. He moves around a little bit better in the pocket. They are both really good players.”
Missouri will have plenty of threats surrounding either Franklin or Mauk. The Tigers have a huge set of receivers, and every one of them is able to go up and make a big play. Missouri’s top three pass catchers on the year: Marcus Lucas, Dorial Green-Beckham and L’Damian Washington stand 6-foot-5, 6-foot-6, and 6-foot-4, respectively, and will be huge targets for their signal caller.
“We’ve got to play basketball and jump balls,” Wommack said of trying to defend them. “We’ve got to go up and get the ball. They do a great job, especially as a group. All of them are tall, and they all go get the ball. It’s a nice group of receivers; it’s easy to see when you put on the film where the strength is.”
Although most of the attention is turned to the passing game and oversized receivers, the Tiger run game is also getting work done carrying the football. Henry Josey leads all backs with 760 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Even though Missouri is able to rack up yards and score, its defense has also played well. The Tigers bring the eighth-best total defense in the SEC (386.8 yards per game), but more impressively the second-best run defense (111.9 yards per game) and third-best scoring defense (20.2 points per game).
“Top to bottom, they provide probably the biggest challenge we have had all year,” offensive line coach Matt Luke said. “They are good in every spot. It’s not like they have one guy you can focus on.”
Missouri’s defense will be anchored by Michael Sam, Andrew Wilson, Braylon Webb and E.J. Gaines. WIlson, Webb and Gaines are first, second and third on the team in total tackles, while Sam has tallied 16 tackles for loss, including 10 sacks. The team as a whole leads the SEC in sacks with 34 and is also the conference leader in interceptions with 17.
“They do a good job of movement, they are never in the same place,” Luke said. “They move about every snap. They are a moving front. They don’t let you double team them because they are constantly moving, twisting and mixing up the front making it tough on you. Nothing is ever easy.”
Kickoff in the top-25 matchup between Ole Miss and Missouri is set for 6:45 p.m. from Vaught-Hemingway Stadium and will be televised by ESPN.
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-Matt Sigler
mcsigler@go.olemiss.edu
