Chad Kelly lines up under center. (Photo taken by Cameron Brooks_
Dylan Rubino (@drubino11), Cody Thomason (@thecodythomason), Browning Stubbs (@BrowningStubbs)
1. Will Chad Kelly’s run of success continue against a very talented Alabama defense?
Dylan – You won’t see Kelly go 20 of 25 passing for over 300 yards against this Alabama defense. The tempo of the offense will favor Kelly big time. Without Laremy Tunsil, expect a face-paced offense and a lot of quick throws in order to avoid the vaunted Alabama front seven. If Kelly can keep the offense moving and not turn the ball over, you could see an efficient passing game from the first time road starter. Just don’t expect the gaudy numbers that Kelly has put up so far.
Cody – I think it will be natural for him to see a drop off against a stout Crimson Tide defense. Kelly will be facing a much better defense that could force some turnovers, but if Kelly keeps his composure and can avoid the rush, he should still have a good day. Kelly will have to be quick with his progressions, as it will be much harder for him to find open receivers.
Browning – I think Kelly will have a good night against Alabama. His deep ball is something that Ole Miss has missed for several years now. The secondary of Alabama is certainly their weakness as they have a lot of smaller defensive backs. The key for Kelly to have a big game is for the offensive line to protect him at all times during the game.
2. What matchup are you most looking forward to between Alabama and Ole Miss?
Dylan – I’m really interested in seeing how the Ole Miss offensive line will handle the pressure of the Alabama front seven. Led by linebackers Reuben Foster and Reggie Ragland, the linebacking core is one of the best in the country. What makes their front seven even better is defensive end A’Shawn Robinson, who is one of the top pass rushers in the country. What benefits Ole Miss is the depth they have at offensive line. With the fresh bodies, the Rebels can plug in and play up front, they can give the offense enough time to make plays.
Cody – I’m looking forward to seeing how Laquon Treadwell and Evan Engram fare against the Alabama defense. Both of them had great games against Alabama last year and should be able to duplicate that performance this year. Alabama has a very talented linebacking core, but with Evan Engram’s speed, he should present a very difficult matchup for them and have a big game.
Browning – I’m looking forward to the running back matchup. Alabama’s Derrick Henry will be a problem for Ole Miss as he looks to bounce back from his 17-carry, 37-yard performance last year. Henry is tied for the nation’s lead in touchdowns and ranks in the top 20 in rushing yards so far this year. Ole Miss will have to counter that with Jaylen Walton, Jordan Wilkins and other quality backs. If the Rebels can match Henry’s production on the ground, the Rebels could be in good shape.
3. There has been some uncertainty with Alabama at quarterback. Do you expect quarterback Jake Coker to throw often or will the offense feature a run-heavy game plan with Derrick Henry?
Dylan – Even with the struggles of Jake Coker against Middle Tennessee, expect a heavy workload from both Henry and Coker. Even with a run-dominant offense, I think offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin will try and give Coker some confidence early with short throws and screen passes to give him momentum for the rest of the contest. If Henry is running well against the Rebel defense, the play-action pass could be huge for Coker when making plays downfield. I expect Henry to get his yards, but don’t be surprised if Coker throws it close to 30 times Saturday.
Cody – I expect Alabama to run as much as they can. Unless the Ole Miss defense can contain Henry and Kenyan Drake, Alabama should look to stay on the ground and use some play-action to go to the air. Coker hasn’t been great thus far, and with the strength of Ole Miss on the defense being in the secondary, airing it out won’t be in the best interest of the Crimson Tide.
Browning – I expect this to be more of a Derrick Henry type show. Coker has been efficient and looked good so far this year, but Alabama knows that Ole Miss lacks a little at the linebacker position. Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin got a little pass-heavy in last year’s loss to Ole Miss, so expect him to keep it more on the ground this year.
4. What would an Ole Miss victory mean for the program going forward?
Dylan- Last years’ victory seemed like destiny, but an Ole Miss victory would solidify the Rebels as one of the top college football programs in the Southeastern Conference. A victory once again puts the Rebels in national championship and SEC championship contention and likely vaults them into the AP top 25. A loss doesn’t knock the Rebels out of the picture, but they would have to win out the rest of the season in order to still be in the competition.
Cody- It could be program-changing and immediately launch Ole Miss into National Championship contention. The upset of Alabama last year was huge the whole season and if Ole Miss can win again, it would give the Rebels a lot of positive publicity. It would also be a big boost in momentum for the rest of the season if the Rebels could beat the second ranked team in the nation.
Browning- A win for Ole Miss would mean more than last year’s victory did. If you can go on the road in arguably the toughest places to play in the country and win, it’ll be all smiles in Oxford. If Ole Miss can do that, they will be in prime contention to compete for the College Football Playoff.
Cody: Alabama 20, Ole Miss 17
Browning: Alabama 30, Ole Miss 20
Dylan: Ole Miss 27, Alabama 21
