Featuring Daily Mississippian sports editor Dylan Rubino (@drubino11) and football writer Cody Thomason (@thecodythomason)
1. After two demoralizing losses in a row for the Rebels, what kind of performance do you expect to see from the team against Presbyterian?
Dylan- The losses to LSU and Auburn most likely knock the Rebels out of contention for the SEC West and the College Football Playoff. The Rebels were in it until the very end against Auburn last Saturday. I think the devastating loss to Auburn will light a fire under the Rebels and help the team explode against an overmatched Presbyterian team. It will be tough to bounce back with the rash of injuries Ole Miss has suffered over the past two weeks, so you might see a slow start early Saturday afternoon. The defense should bounce back in a big way after giving up a season-high 35 points last week, and the offense should be a well-oiled machine, even without sophomore wide receiver Laquon Treadwell.
Cody- I think the team definitely won’t be firing on all cylinders. The losses are demoralizing, and the slew of injuries the team has had recently will slow the team down. I think Ole Miss should still get the win pretty easily, but, after this tough stretch, I don’t expect them to play as well as they have most of the season. The team might start off slow and have some mishaps, but the team should still put together a good defensive performance and put some points on the boards, even though they will miss junior running back I’Tavius Mathers and Laquon Treadwell.
2. How will the injuries suffered on the offensive line impact the play of the unit Saturday?
Dylan- The injuries suffered over the past two weeks definitely hurts, but it gives the opportunity for the younger guys on both offense and defense to make a significant impact Saturday. Losing star sophomore offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil will definitely have an impact on the offensive line and also junior Aaron Morris hurts as well. The secondary will also see some new faces with freshman defensive back Kendarius Webster and sophomore defensive back Kailo Moore planning to see a lot of playing time Saturday. It’ll be interesting to see how these new faces will play.
Cody- With players such as Tunsil and Morris out for the game and starting junior center Ben Still still dealing with an MCL injury, the line is very thin, and a lot of new faces should see time. While I think the chemistry of the group will take a hit with new starters and players swapping in throughout the game, they should perform fine. Freshman Rod Taylor will start his first game at guard, but he’s played a lot throughout the season and should be fine. Sophomore offensive lineman Robert Conyers should also be fine taking over at right tackle as he’s started before and spent a lot of time there. The question is how backup junior center Craig Frigo will step up with an increased role.
3. What kind of impact will backup redshirt freshmen quarterbacks Ryan Buchanan and DeVante Kincade have on the game, and how much time do you see both of them playing?
Dylan- With the Ole Miss offense likely to score a lot of points against Presbyterian Saturday afternoon, senior starting quarterback Bo Wallace will probably not play the whole game. When Wallace comes out, will it be Buchanan or Kincade getting most of the snaps under center? I think Buchanan will get most of the snaps as he has seemed to get a grasp of the playbook better than Kincade so far this season. Buchanan filled in nicely for Wallace after he exited the game against Vanderbilt in the third quarter. Buchanan went 4-7 passing for 38 yards, leading one scoring drive. Kincade is a dual threat quarterback and can make plays with his arm and legs. I expect both quarterbacks to play, but Buchanan getting most of the snaps.
Cody- It will be interesting to see which quarterback is farther along on his development this Saturday. Kincade offers the Rebels more speed and arm strength, but Buchanan seems to have a better grasp on the system and his progressions. I think Kincade will put together the better performance on Saturday because of his big play ability and the threat he brings to the ground game, but I expect Buchanan to play well also.
4. Which wide receiver do you think will step up the most and makes the most significant impact on the game in the absence of sophomore wide receiver Laquon Treadwell?
Dylan- The passing attack revolved around Wallace throwing quick screens and slants to Treadwell, which helped gain yards early and often. Now that he’s out for the season, other receivers have to step up. Senior Vince Sanders has been the second most reliable receiver behind Treadwell, so he’ll take over as the number one guy. I expect Wallace to find Sanders early and often on both short and deep routes. Another player to look out for is sophomore tight end Evan Engram. Engram was open often on seam routes up the middle against Auburn. Look for Sanders and Engram to fill in for Treadwell and rack up a lot of receiving yards Saturday.
Cody- I think sophomore Quincy Adeboyejo could emerge as a big target for Wallace. Adeboyejo stands around 6-foot-3, making him a great red-zone option but also has the quickness to step into slot wide receiver, where his size will be a huge asset against smaller nicklebacks. Adeboyejo has been solid this year, but increased reps should catapult him to the next level.
