Mike Marry (38) gets in position before a play during the LSU game.
Photo by Tyler Jackson I The Daily Mississippian
The Ole Miss Rebels (5-3, 2-3 Southeastern Conference) will be faced with a different challenge this Saturday when taking on SEC West foe Arkansas. With many college teams adopting the spread look, it has become somewhat unconventional to see a smash-mouth team that likes to run the ball as much as the Razorbacks (3-6, 0-5 SEC) do.
Arkansas ranks third in the conference in rushing yards per game with 211.2, in contrast to a struggling passing game, which ranks last in the conference averaging just 144.1 yards per contest.
“That is for sure what they depend upon,” Freeze said of the Razorback rushing attack. “Not that they can’t throw it, I think their tight end is going to be a real special player and the receivers have played well as of late. They know who they want to be no question. They control the clock so much. They are such a scary team because they run it so well.”
Arkansas’ backfield is led by freshman Alex Collins who is averaging 98.8 yards a game, which ranks fourth in the conference. He has run for just under 900 yards on the year and four touchdowns.
“Every week you face a really good running back in the league, and he’s no different,” Ole Miss defensive coordinator Dave Wommack said of Collins. “I think he is a great jump cutter and has unbelievable vision. He’ll cut to either side of the box and outside, and I think he just does a tremendous job. That’s why they’ve got the rushing yards, he’s a good football player with great vision.”
Sophomore linebacker Denzel Nkemdiche also believes the Arkansas running game is going to be a key factor in Saturday’s matchup and that the Rebels emphasis defensively will be stopping it.
“From today, it seemed kind of complicated,” Nkemdiche said of the Razorback offense. “But, they have a great running game. We have to stop the run. That’s our main emphasis of Saturday.”
The defense will also receive a few extra healthy bodies this week after a the team was off last week. Both Denzel and freshman defensive end Robert Nkemdiche are expected to be back, as well as many more who were nursing injuries.
“It feels great to have all our teammates and everybody there ready for Saturday,” Nkemdiche said. “And to have everybody ready to go against Arkansas feels great.”
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-Matt Sigler
mcsigler@go.olemiss.edu
