The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Trio of freshmen helping Ole Miss diversify run game
OXFORD, MISS. — Mississippi faces the daunting challenge of consistently moving the football against No. 1 LSU this Saturday, possibly without the services of Scottie Phillips.
Phillips missed the Rebels’ 41-3 blowout of New Mexico State last week after injuring his ankle in a 20-14 loss to Auburn. Coach Matt Luke has said that Phillips’ status for the LSU game is questionable.
Ole Miss (4-6, 2-4 SEC) is coming off of its most dominant rushing performance of the season, as the Rebels ran for 447 yards against New Mexico State. Approaching that output will be especially difficult against LSU (9-0, 5-0) if the Rebels are without Phillips. He ranks second on the team in rushing with 542 yards on 125 attempts.
If Phillips is unable to play, Mississippi will rely on a trio of
LSU coach Ed Orgeron
freshmen. Snoop Conner and Jerrion Ealy combined to run for 280 yards and three touchdowns against New Mexico State. Freshman quarterback John Rhys Plumlee has rushed for a teamhigh 777 yards.
The freshmen have helped Ole Miss develop a much more diverse rushing attack.
Plumlee ran 12 times for 117 yards and a pair of touchdowns against New Mexico State. Although Ole Miss has struggled to throw the ball, Plumlee has added another dimension to the rushing attack since taking over as the Rebels’ starting quarterback in late September. He has forced opposing defenses to account for him when trying stop the run.
“They can run the football,” LSU coach Ed Orgeron said of Mississippi. “So we are going to have to play well in the box, we’re going to have to tackle. This No. 10 (Plumlee) is a fast, fast running quarterback.”
But with an undefeated LSU team coming to Oxford with a high-flying offense commanded by Heisman Trophy front-runner Joe Burrow, Ole Miss could have a tough time keeping pace by predominantly running the ball. Against quality defenses, an offense led by Plumlee has proved to be one-dimensional and predictable at times.
“The size of their guys up front” is impressive, offensive coordinator Rich Rodriguez said. “They’re big on the edges. They are a big front. We have had times this year where I wish we could get more movement. We have struggled at times moving guys off the first level. From what we have seen so far, LSU hasn’t really let anyone move them.”
Ole Miss hasn’t had a passing touchdown in its last three games. The Rebels have thrown for 200plus yards in just one of their last six games.
“LSU’s secondary is as talented as there is in college football,” Rodriguez said. “Every position they have on defense, they run really well. Their recovery and ability to play the ball is impressive. If you are open, you are not open for long.”
‘(Ole Miss) can run the football. So we are going to have to play well in the box, we’re going to have to tackle. This No. 10 (Plumlee) is a fast, fast running quarterback.’