Film Study: Ole Miss still more than talented enough to beat Alabama
One of the most disrespected teams in college football — at least as it pertains to teams with a ton of elite personnel — has to be the University of Mississippi. Most of the narrative surrounding the Rebels had nothing to do with the fact that they possess NFL talent on each unit on both sides of the ball, but rather how bad the team lost in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl to end the 2014-15 season.
Never mind the 9-4 record behind two wins over teams who at once found themselves atop the polls — 23-17 over the University of Alabama, followed by a 31-17 drubbing of in-state rival Mississippi State — most media pundits would rather talk about how the coaching staff rewarded the players with rings in the offseason.
Now what type of sense does that make?
Furthermore, it doesn’t seem as though Ole Miss was afforded the same benefit of the doubt as other teams who were replacing starters from the previous season — despite one of the players coveting the starting gig being the extremely talented JUCO transfer Chad Kelly.
Instead, the rhetoric seemed to focus on a rap song dedicated to the Buffalo NY., native, and how brash he may or may not have been at Clemson University — before his dismissal for conduct detrimental to the team. But most should’ve focused on how his offense at East Mississippi Junior College was schematically similar and could cut down on a learning curve one might associate with a player not only switching schemes, but transitioning to major college football from a lower level of competition.
When I did my first film analysis on Kelly’s transition to head coach Hugh Freeze’s multiplicative offense scheme post spring practice, I did so with the thought of just how effective former long-time starter Bo Wallace was with his ability to improvise and threaten defenses with his legs. At the core of Freeze’s scheme, he wants to operate under the spread-to-pass mantra thus providing running lanes for his running backs and designer QB runs.
The 6’4″, 215-pound Wallace was as tough as they came; his highly deceptive speed allowed him to generate numerous explosive plays throughout his career, and his toughness made him the de facto short-yardage run option, too. But it was his lack of arm strength that made many feel as though Freeze wasn’t able to fully implement his concepts the way he wanted to as the vertical portion of the playbook wasn’t as reliable.
I often gleamed that it was the lack of a potent run game that allowed defensive coordinators to scheme it up against the Rebels as they could devote extra attention the strength of the offense: the receivers. Now that I’ve had a chance to see the offense in action with Kelly, albeit for two games against inferior competition, I can almost unequivocally say that was indeed the case.
Kelly, 6’3″, 220 pounds, is every bit as tough as Wallace, but has a ton more arm strength and is an even more explosive athlete. I always thought Wallace never got his proper due for being a scheme-specific fit, as he was very accurate in the quick game; Kelly has very similar ability in that arena. The reason Freeze likes bigger receivers is due to the fact that there’s a very heavy element of West Coast principles in his scheme, so receivers have to have run-after-catch ability to make the scheme go.
This coincides well with Kelly’s skill set as he has a rapid release and is pretty accurate in doing so.
Check out Kelly’s execution of this sharp slant to superstar receiver Laquon Treadwell; his ball-handling ability is one the best aspects of his game; Kelly throws a good anticipatory pass.
Play-action fakes are a huge staple to a Freeze offense, as he wants to freeze — and pardon the pun — the defense and force it to play a tad bit slower than normal. As the run game continues to evolve, especially as it pertains to the between-the-tackles portion of the playbook, the play-action game will become even more effective as there will be a legit threat of a run.
It will undoubtedly improve on the read-option portion, too, due to Kelly’s ability to bend the edge in the run game.
Packaged plays, a combination of concepts built into a singular play and ran repeatedly, are big in Ole Miss’ scheme as it allows for it to act with a tempo pace without having to really think; it usually derives from the read-option and branches out from there; Kelly’s ability to run the zone-read is top-notch.
This particular version appeared to be a keeper all the way as Kelly never read the end man on the line of scrimmage; the left tackle blocked two linemen and allowed Kelly to bend the corner and show off his athleticism.
Kelly having had the chance to study under renowned spread guru Chad Morris, his offensive coordinator at Clemson, is very underrated in terms of his polish. Looking ahead to the Rebel’s next match up with the mighty Crimson Tide of Alabama, Kelly’s understanding of spread principles may be just what the doctor ordered as the Tide have shown vulnerability to dual-threat QBs coming out of this type of system.
His ability to work the quick game, use his legs to manufacture yardage and ball-handling skills will be worth its weight in gold, but it may be his ability to go vertical that drives the Tide insane.
Kelly throws his deep ball very similar to New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees where he doesn’t put a ton of air under it, he simply gets the ball on his target much faster, which rarely allows for a stacked defender to get back into the play. Receiver Cody Core, featured in the above sequence, is one of the better deep-ball threats in the league and could find a prominent role against the Tide.
Kelly’s ability to quickly decipher also helps out an offensive line that has been, at times, the Achilles’ heel of the offense. He’s simply a scheme-specific fit for a team with a ferocious defense that requires more of a Lamborghini-type QB than traditional systems.
Pretty soon the rest of the media will catch up to how much of a threat this Mississippi team is.
So Ole Miss was one of the most disrespected teams in all of football?? Man, you’d think with LSU and Ole Miss being picked by various pundits as legitimate conference or even CFP contenders, they wouldn’t have earned that distinction!
As for Kelly, he looks great so far. The biggest surprise for me his how much better he looks now than in the spring game. I don’t know if that is due to a fast learning curve, or the difference in defensive talent he faced against his own team vs these opening cupcakes. Surely at least some of both. Time will tell.
Stategrad, I know you mean well, my man, but you’ve got to stop equating your life to mine. I’ve done hundreds of radio spots, guest spots, host various shows and, of course, write for a pretty prominent website, so imagine the feedback I receive through social media and email.
I’m usually invited to talk about the entire conference, so when I’ve touted these two teams, LSU & Ole Miss, I’ve been met with laughter — among other things. I even had an Arkansas appearance go weird when the host refused to even let me say I thought LSU was more talented than the Hogs…
But anyway, back to business, bro.
OK, point taken. But equating my life with yours!? lol, put the pipe down and please step away! :)
Ironic, I was about to suggest your let you arm veins breathe for a second, State…haha
saturday down south pls stop deleting my posts
We’ll find out this weekend don’t worry little brother
Am I the only that Anticipated StateGrad to comment on this thread?? Dude had been going HAM ever since Miss state lost Saturday lol anyway back to the game Saturday, should be phenomenal. I truly believe Bama will rely heavily on the run game, they might start off with short routes/screens, but I imagine the rebels front seven will be highly disruptive and Coker crumbles when he’s out of the pocket, so that’ll force sweeps with Drake, and a ground a pound scheme with Henry. If Kelly starts off hot, the rebels will win on a fairly low scoring affair.
Yeah, TT, Stategrad is like border patrol or something…I can definitely see the game plan going as you described, but I have to think Ole miss dedicated extra attention to the run game and dares Bama to throw the ball. You always take away the strength first. Passing is not the strength of Bama’s team, yet.
We’ll see, though. Can’t wait!!
lol Tanzanian, it’s been slow at work!
Great stuff, Murf. I have to say I was blown away with Kelly’s arm strength. I was not used to seeing that strong vertical game in the offense under Bo, and seeing it now excites me. It definitely opens up the entire offense. I understand and agree with you that Kelly is a better athlete than Bo, but in what terms do you mean by that? Do you think Kelly possess more elusiveness or pure speed? Bo was deceptively quick and could break tackles, especially eluding pressure in the pocket. I always liked Bo, but I almost feel as if Chad is Bo 2.0.
Ryan, I like that, “Bo 2.0!” Bigger, faster, stronger!
Chad is a more explosive runner while being just as powerful as Bo. Neither are Nick Marshall or anything, but Chad is the more fluid athlete…Both are really good athletes, though. I thought Wallace was criminally underrated.
Thanks for the read, bro.
Oh I see what you’re doing; you’re trolling. Sorry brother, go find a top-10 list to do that on. This is real talk over here. So I will be erasing your comments from now on, (Nick Saban).If you wanna talk football, let’s do it. If not, move on…
Get ’em Murf! Ha
Nice write up, as always, you know how to break ’em down…love your stuff! Even if it’s for a different team not named Alabama ;)
This should be a great game. It will be interesting to see how well Kelly plays in his first true ‘test’ this season against Bama’s nasty front seven…he has looked great so far, but hasn’t seen the likes of a Reggie Ragland and co. defensive side yet. I’m just hoping they can pressure him enough to create some mistakes and help out our secondary because he has a cannon and I don’t care how good your secondary is, you give a good QB enough time, they will light you up.
Wooo! Either way, it should be a good one inside Bryant Denny Saturday night! Can we just fast forward to Saturday already?! Ha
Mah, thanks bro! Going against that Bama D will be a shock to the system…but so will going against Ole Miss’ D for Coker and Bateman…These storylines should make super interesting.
If Ole Miss shuts down Bama’s run game again, we will truly see what Coker is made of…I don’t expect Ole Miss to be able to run the ball, but that receiving corps is sick…
True, Bama hasn’t faced a really good D line yet either, but the O-line for Bama is much improved from last year as well…we’ll see what both teams are really made of Saturday night and like you said, will be interesting to watch!
Dang Murf, not what I wanted to see the week of the Ole Miss game! I have come to expect that we will be in a nail biter pretty much anytime we play a team with a good QB who can run as well as pass. I had seen highlights of Kelly’s arm but didn’t know until now that he has the run game going for him as well.
I think Bama’s secondary is improved but less experienced this year. I look for OM to put the pressure on Humphrey and Fitzpatrick. I also think they will make life hard for Reuben Foster playing the middle of the nickel and dime. I hope we can get pressure on Kelly without opening up big lanes for him to run through if nothing is open down field.
It’s going to be a dogfight no doubt. Thanks for another great write up.
I agree. Bo was definitely scrutinized unfairly. One of my good friends is a UT fan and he said he would have rather had Jonathan Crompton as a QB than Wallace. I had to walk away.
Yikes…I like Cromp’s work under Kiffin, but I’d take Wallace any day…
OM playing lil soft teams,lol.Bama gonna thump heads hard Saturday,lol…
Another great article Murph. I can’t really disagree with anything as usual lol. But in my opinion, I don’t think Kelly is just a scheme QB. I could see him running a pro style offense. He is really comfortable in the pocket.
But as much as I love the way the offense is playing, I think ppl tend to forget about OM’s defense. Last year they made it a point to only use 5 in the box to stop Bama’s running game, and did so for the most part. With the addition of DJ Jones (6’2 320) and Breeland Speaks (6’3 313) in the middle, I believe it’s going to much tougher for Bama to get their running game going. Jones is a monster and Speaks is an up and coming star.
Keep up the great work. It’s going to be a great game!
I’m loving Jones and Speaks. DJ is the starter right?
Thanks, Army. I’m not saying that he’s a “system QB” which is what you’re referring to — I’m saying he has all the tools to operate this particular type of offense = scheme-specific fit….
This article was only about the offense — I think pretty much everyone knows how great the defense is as it gets the majority of the pub behind Nkemdiche…Nice to hear from you, though, hope all is well!!
Gotcha, my bad. I misread. Yep, everything is great right now lol. Are you going to be at the Bama/OM game ?
haha, I have this thing called “work,” Army. You actually happen to be talking to me at my job….lolololol
Who was the last SEC team that Bama lost to in back to back seasons? What makes one thing Ole Miss will be the next?
Maybe because it is a new year and the game last year doesn’t really have much influence in how this game is going to go.
Great analysis, Murph. You picked up on the one thing that I think makes Kelly an especially potent QB, the trajectory on his passes. Yes, he has a canon for an arm. Yes, he looks very comfortable in the pocket. And yes, he seems to read through his progressions like he’s been part of this offense for years.
But the fact that he puts so little air under his longer passes neutralizes a lot of the benefits of a two-deep zone where the safety can move quickly on high-lob passes. If the receiver corps can get just a little buffer on the d-back, Kelly has a knack for getting it to them on the mark with little opportunity for the over-the-top help to adjust. And let’s be honest, it isn’t over-hyping things to say that Ole Miss has one of the best set of receivers in the country (and Ingram and Treadwell have been used sparingly to this point!).
I’m curious to see how he handles the pressure situations that Alabama will undoubtedly establish from time-to-time on Saturday, but I’m encouraged by what I see so far.
RebRun, best name on the site btw, it’s definitely not reaching to say Ole Miss may have the best receiving corps in football — because I already did that in-depth! haha
https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/ole-miss-football/film-study-ole-miss-deep-freakish-receiving-corps-something-behold/
But yeah, we are thinking alike with Kelly’s skill set. Can’t wait to see it all play out. Ole Miss is more than talented enough to pull it out; but will they?
We’ll see soon enough.
Thanks for pointing your post on the OM receiving corps out. Well written and all valid points. Looks even more menacing when you now consider that they have a respectable run game to keep defenses honest.
BTW – Especially loved “…doesn’t possess elite speed, but he doesn’t need to with the type of ability he has to spin DBs like a dreidel.” It’s not just anyone that can work a Jewish seasonal toy into an analysis of a scary-good receiver. Well played, Sir! I challenge you to work “whirling dervish” into a future post.
HAHA I was planning on working in whirling dervish anyway!!! Thanks, bro.