The 2008 Season: Last year was just about the best possible scenario for Ole Miss, not only emerging from the desert of sub-.500 seasons but blowing the doors off of mediocrity to the tune of a 9-4 record.  Since we’re already aboard the metaphor train at this point, Ole Miss just got a surprise gift from one of their friends they haven’t seen since high school.  Considering how badly they spurned David Cutcliffe at the end of his era, they should be lucky that guy is even talking to them at this point.  It was a joyous reunion and a step towards a much-needed direction in Oxford if they wanted to have a chance of ditching the demons they awoke with the unceremonious dumping of Cutcliffe.

Brandon Bolden played in all 13 games last season and finished 2nd on team for rushing TDs (thanks Icon SMI)

 On Offense: So the funny thing is that while everyone and their brother knows about Jevan Snead, Ole Miss’ offense still ran the ball 60.6% of the time.  Sure, some of those runs were probably QB scrambles, but that won’t get play distribution to anywhere near average.  Houston Nutt’s teams typically thrive on the run play, and they’ll have more than one back when things are going well – we don’t already forget the halcyon days of McFadden/Jones, do we?  However, it came with a bit of a curveball last year; WR Dexter McCluster actually led the team in yardage (and yards per carry) last season thanks to being the guy running the Wild Rebel – yes, they’re calling it that.

 Whether that continues this year depends on if Enrique Davis is ready to assume the mantle of RB of the future.  Cordera Eason will likely still be RB1 (his 140 carries did lead the team) and that shouldn’t change, but Davis should be able to jump Brandon Bolden on the depth chart.  They’re of similar size and build, but Davis was the much, much more talented and heralded recruit out of high school – the problem was that he never learned to pass block.  If he can jump Bolden as emerge as a 1A to Eason’s 1, then Davis will be semi-viable from a fantasy perspective.  Most of his worth will come from keeper leagues.

 None of this discussion is meant to marginalize Snead’s role within the offense; Snead is the most talented QB Nutt’s had to work with since Matt Jones and may be the best pure passer he’s had (better than Clint Stoerner), which means the passing game is the most dynamic attack Nutt has had in …probably ever.  Snead’s still a junior, so his numbers (56% completion percentage, about 2,750 yards, 26/13 TD/INT) should improve slightly, although the smart money is on the completion percentage going up and the interceptions going down.  I’d be surprised if the yardage changed substantially, simply because 3,000 yards is going to be the natural peak for anyone running Nutt’s offense.  There aren’t enough opportunities to suggest otherwise at this point.

 The semi-ironic part of the Rebel passing offense is that the WRs have either talented or a solid track record.  Not only did McCluster lead the team in rushing last year, but he also was third on the team in yards, too – Shay Hodge was also ahead of him, beating him in all three major categories (yards, yards per reception, TDs).  The now-departed Mike Wallace trumped both of them, though.  Hodge probably doesn’t do enough else to justify drafting in all but deeper leagues, though.  With that being said, Pat Patterson is a legitimate keeper alert; if he doesn’t perform well this year he’ll have to next year, as both Hodge and McCluster are seniors.  It should go without saying at this point that McCluster is worth it in all formats.

DE Greg Hardy, has achieved 32.5 career TFLs and 21.5 sacks (thanks Icon SMI)

On Defense and Special Teams: Let’s start with the bad news first: the Rebels lost four of their top five tacklers from last season, including 1^st-round draft pick Peria Jerry.  However, most of the guys they lost didn’t have a huge impact aside from serving as tackling dummies (yes, Jamarca Sanford was a draft pick too, but still).  Now, other than those guys the defense is back in force, and that includes noted sack artist Greg Hardy (who had 8.5 sacks in limited action after missing the first three games).  The defensive line is the unquestioned beast of the defensive unit – Greg Hardy as a non-starter should be a clear tipoff.  Among the secondary, Kendrick Lewis, Cassius Vaugh, and Marshay Green qualify as ball hawks.  This defense should be more useful in fantasy than they are in real life, as they’re good at the sack/turnover game but may suck from the yardage standpoint.

 On the other hand, K Joshua Shene is one of the best in the SEC; he’s pretty much automatic at anything inside 40 yards, which should be the province of this offense most of the time.

Related posts:

1. SEC Preview: Ole Miss Rebels
2. FCB FANTASY PLAYER OF THE WEEK…..Dexter McCluster, WR-RB, Ole Miss
3. SEC Bookend: Strangers
4. SEC Bookends: Unusual Suspects
5. Auburn Tigers 2009 Preview

Tags: Ole Miss Rebels, SEC