1. Will there be any hangover from the Alabama win for Ole Miss Saturday night?
Dylan – There always seems to be a hangover for any college football team after they pull off a big upset. The Rebels didn’t have that problem last year when they went on the road to Texas A&M after they beat Alabama. I wouldn’t call this Saturday a possible hangover game for the Rebels, but I could see the team starting off a little sluggish. Once the rust is kicked off after the first quarter, expect the Ole Miss offense to press hard on gas pedal and never let up.
Cody – Obviously, after a big upset and a drop off in the level of competition, there is a risk that the team starts off sluggish and plays down to its opponent, but with the high aspirations on this team, I expect them to use the momentum from beating Alabama to fuel a big victory on Saturday instead of a subpar performance.
Browning – I’m willing to believe Ole Miss will suffer a slight hangover. The Rebels are averaging an NCAA best 64 points per game. Can they repeat that against a Vanderbilt team that is slightly improved from last year? I don’t see it. The offensive line still has a lot to be sorted out and the linebackers must improve. Expect Ole Miss to comfortably have a multiple touchdown lead at halftime and cruise in the second half.
2. Vanderbilt quarterback Johnny McCrary has played lights out his last two games. How much success do you see him having against the Ole Miss secondary?
Dylan- McCrary has put up an impressive 985 yards passing in three games this season, but has thrown more interceptions than touchdowns. The Rebel defense has proven they love to force turnovers, so the defense could have a field day against a turnover-prone quarterback. McCrary has great athleticism and awareness as an athlete at quarterback, but even without Conner, expect at least a pair of turnovers for the Commodore quarterback.
Cody – McCrary is a great athlete and solid passer, but has struggled with turnovers so far this season, which happens to be where the Rebel secondary excels. The Ole Miss defense struggled at stopping Jake Coker from running last week, so McCrary could pose a big problem for the Rebels in that area. As far as passing goes, the Ole Miss secondary should continue to get timely turnovers and limit McCrary’s success through the air.
Browning – Johnny McCrary looks to be the answer at quarterback for Derek Mason, who suffered all last season in finding the right guy. I think McCrary will give Ole Miss a few scares, but not enough to make this a close ball game.
3. Do you see the number of current injuries having an effect on the outcome of the game Saturday for Ole Miss?
Dylan- Injuries could have an impact down the road for the Rebels on both sides of the ball, but I don’t see it being a problem come Saturday. The talent level of the Rebels far surpasses that of Vanderbilt, and that could be showcased throughout the first half. Depth at offensive line could allow Vanderbilt to get pressure against Chad Kelly, but I don’t think injuries will slow the Rebel defense down.
Cody- It definitely will affect the defense and the offensive line. The depth at guard could be an issue, and the husky position will automatically be a concern without Tony Conner there, simply because he’s one of the best players on the team. And it will be hard to replace him no matter what. That being said, Ole Miss should still have a quality performance against Vanderbilt and get the victory.
Browning- I don’t see the injuries being a huge issue for Ole Miss except for the offensive line. With the offensive line already playing without Laremy Tunsil, Justin Bell and Robert Conyers are both questionable to play against Vanderbilt. The offensive line will have to receive a lot of help from freshman Javon Patterson and others to protect Chad Kelly on Saturday.
4. With Tony Conner out, who do expect to step up in his absence at the husky position?
Dylan – Some names that Freeze said could receive valuable playing time Saturday include Chief Brown, Zedrick Woods and A.J. Moore. I expect the senior Brown to get the bulk of the playing time at husky Saturday. His veteran presence and ball-hawking abilities could be a game-changer against an offense that turns the ball over. I expect Moore and Woods to get their fair share of playing time as well.
Cody – Zedrick Woods has already seen a good amount of time as a true freshman and should get a chance to excel in Conner’s spot. Zedrick is a good athlete but still kind of inexperienced. Meanwhile, senior Chief Brown is also a good candidate to step up as his experience should allow him to quickly acclimate to playing primarily Husky.
Browning – The Rebels received a huge blow with the news that safety Tony Conner will miss a minimum of four weeks due to a meniscus tear in his right knee. Chief Brown, Zedrick Woods and A.J. Moore are all going to have to collectively replace Conner’s production as a unit. Ole Miss must see signs of encouragement in the secondary if Conner’s injury is worse than we expected.
