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All eyes remain focused on Manning By Pat Forde Special to ESPN.com |
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Mississippi Rebels
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Coach: David Cutcliffe (30-19, 5th season) 2002 overall record: 7-6 Conference record: 3-5 Returning starters Offense: 7 Defense: 8 Kicker/Punter: 2 2002 statistical leaders (* - returners) Rushing: Ronald McClendon* (387 yds) Passing: Eli Manning* (3,041 yds) Receiving: Chris Collins* (812 yds) Tackles: Eric Oliver* (129) Sacks: Matt Grier (4) Interceptions: Von Hutchins* (6) Outlook: The major offseason debate in Oxford has been the fate of Colonel Reb, the cartoonish old Southern gentlemen mascot who is going the way of Tara -- bye-bye forever. Wary of all Old South imagery that might connote a racist attitude at Ole Miss, athletic director Pete Boone downsized Colonel Reb amid strenuous resistance. That's fine, but the guy Rebels fans are really going to miss after this year wears No. 10 on game day. If you sense urgency emanating from Oxford, there's a reason. Eli Manning's final season has harmonically converged with a user-friendly schedule to create what Rebels fans think is their best chance yet to do what they've never done before: Win the SEC West. To make it happen, Ole Miss must toughen up in the trenches. The Rebels were way last in the league (and 110th in America) in rushing offense at a measly 94.3 yards per game. On defense they surrendered 18 rushing TDs, second-worst in the league, and gave up an average of 42.7 points to three teams that ran option at them (Vanderbilt, Alabama and Arkansas). The defense improved some late in the year. The running game never did. Now David Cutcliffe -- who has some doubters to win over -- is emphasizing physical football this preseason. "We can't be as good as we want to be unless we're more consistent with our offensive line and running back play. We're fast, we can throw it, we have people who can run. But being in this league a long time, you have a hard time winning the league if you're not as physical as everybody else. That's our biggest challenge." Find a running game and the rest of the offense takes care of itself. Manning, who threw more interceptions and took more sacks than ever last year, should go back to the efficiency machine he was as a sophomore. And if he does that, he's a Heisman Trophy candidate -- reluctant or not. "I wouldn't want to be driving around Oxford and see 'Eli for Heisman,'" Manning said, and he likely won't. You don't win the little stiff-armer by advertising in Oxford, Miss. The numbers -- team and personal -- will be the thing. And Manning is throwing to what might be the best receivers in the league in Chris Collins, Bill Flowers and Mike Espy (a combined 133 catches and 16 TDs last year). Good thing, because none of the three leading returning rushers averaged 4 yards per carry. The defensive front is again smallish, averaging 260 pounds per man. They'll have to play above their weight. But the secondary has plenty of experience. Keep an eye on: Jamal Pittman's knee. The 6-foot-2, 240-pound redshirt freshman running back tore an ACL in the spring, appearing to jeopardize Cutcliffe's plans to make him the centerpiece of Ole Miss' rejuvenated rushing attack. But he's recovered quickly enough to take contact in preseason practice. Whether he's sharp enough to take over the position by the season opener at Vanderbilt remains to be seen, but at some point in time the Rebels expect him to be the man who puts some punch into the running game. Key game: Home against Alabama, Oct. 18. After the usual lenient early schedule, the Rebels could well strut into that game 5-1. It's what happens there -- and thereafter -- that's usually the problem for Ole Miss. The traditional back-loaded schedule often leaves fans feeling like their team collapsed, which isn't always the case. However, a win over traditional nemesis Alabama would be a huge boost through a rugged final stretch, and would definitely inflate hopes for Ole Miss' first nine-win season in 11 years and just its second in 32. It's a good year if. . .: Cutcliffe has done OK, winning seven games each of the last three years. But the visions were more grand when Manning was signed, and this is the last year to make life with the best QB since daddy Archie turn into something big. It will be tough getting to eight or nine wins, but a legitimate running game instantly ups the chances. Any Western Division title aspirations Ole Miss has will have to go through consecutive November games against Auburn (road) and LSU (home), and the Rebels won't win either by throwing the ball every down. Manning wouldn't survive -- and if he has another season of seven or fewer victories, Cutcliffe might not, either. Pat Forde covers college football for the Louisville Courier-Journal.
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