Hugh Freeze wants defense to allow fewer big plays, finally names starting QB
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After another brutal beatdown of an inferior team in Week 2, Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze discussed some of the plans moving forward for the Rebels as they get set for their big Week 3 matchup in Tuscaloosa against Alabama.
“It’s an exciting week,” Freeze said in his opening remarks. “[Alabama] will be a great test for us.”
Just like in his press conference last week, Freeze quickly brought up the need for the Rebels defense to cut down on allowing big, explosive plays to opposing offenses as a point of emphasis for his team to work on.
“Defensively, we’ve got to improve,” Freeze said. “We gave up too many explosive plays for the second week in a row.”
Two Ole Miss offensive linemen, Justin Bell and Robert Conyers, were a little bit banged up in the Week 2 meeting with Fresno State, but Freeze said Bell is fine and Conyers has a sprained knee that will require treatment this week but isn’t expected to cause him to miss any time.
ESPN recently ranked Ole Miss No. 1 on its Football Power Index (FPI). Freeze isn’t exactly sure what that means, but he seemed pleased about it.
“I don’t know what that is, but it sounds good, so great,” Freeze said of his team’s FPI ranking.
The “or” in between Rebels quaterback Chad Kelly and the other passers on the roster has been removed from the team’s depth chart, which most likely means he has secured the starting job moving forward.
Freeze had some praise to give to his signal-caller, speaking very highly of his film-studying habits and overall game preparation.
“Chad studies more film than I do,” Freeze said.
Ole Miss defensive back Tee Shepard was ejected from the game against Fresno State for targeting a receiver. Freeze said he spoke with the SEC office this morning and Shepard’s penalty will stand and he will be suspended for the first half of the game against Alabama.
Freeze also gave his thoughts on what he’s seen so far from a very talented Alabama defensive line this year.
“As deep and as talented as I’ve ever seen,” Freeze said. “They’ve had some good ones. This is as talented as I’ve seen.”
That Alabama defense will provide the first true test for the Ole Miss offense. But Freeze is happy with how his team is moving the ball so far this season.
“We’re who I would like us to be [on offense],” Freeze said.
An itinerant journalist, Christopher has moved between states 11 times in seven years. Formally an injury-prone Division I 800-meter specialist, he now wanders the Rockies in search of high peaks.
