What I saw from Rebels, Aggies, Tigers, Bulldogs on spring game Saturday
Earlier today, I wrote a column that highlighted what I wanted to see from Ole Miss, Auburn, Texas A&M and Mississippi State in their spring games.
Having spent Friday night in Gainesville covering Florida’s Orange and Blue Debut, everything took a back seat to the quarterback battle between Feleipe Franks and Kyle Trask. Unquestionably, Franks looks to be the eventual starter.
As for the four programs holding their spring games this afternoon, I made sure to focus on more than just the play at the game’s most important position. Will the Rebels look different on offense with a new coordinator? Can the Aggies replace their pass rushers? Do the Bulldogs have a ball carrier worth featuring?
Nevertheless, I couldn’t ignore the QBs altogether — certainly not on The Plains. Baylor transfer Jarrett Stidham is arguably the most interesting newcomer in the SEC this season and could make or break the Tigers.
Watching from home as opposed to up in the press box at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, here’s how I’m now answering my own questions.
OLE MISS
For most of the past two seasons, Rebels quarterback Chad Kelly was as dangerous as any passer in the conference when he was feeling it.
That being said, Mississippi hasn’t had enough of a contribution from the ground game — I don’t value read-option scrambling like I do traditional running plays — and been out of balance. That puts extra pressure on the field general.
However, if anybody was expecting a change in philosophy with Phil Longo taking over for Dan Werner as OC, feel free to throw out that notion immediately. Kelly’s successor, Shea Patterson, fired 30 passes. Jordan Wilkins, the presumed starter at tailback, ran the rock just four times. The Rebs’ hurry-up approach was faster than ever, too.
Of course, it’s not like coach Hugh Freeze was going to bring in a wishbone guy. Clearly, he knows what he likes on offense and hires accordingly. But even Freeze himself has talked about needing to get more out of his backs.
While there’s a lot to like about Wilkins, it’s no surprise that Oxford hasn’t been home to a 1,000-yard rusher since 2009.
TEXAS A&M
Myles Garrett left a year of eligibility on the table to enter the NFL Draft, and at this point he projects to be the No. 1 overall pick.
Forget about recreating Garrett’s freakish athletic ability at defensive end. It’s simply too tall of an order. His partner in crime, Daeshon Hall, is off to the pros, as well. The Aggies must find a pass rush somewhere.
The A&M defense recorded a pair of sacks in the spring game — one for the Maroon team, one for the White — and got them from the players expected to fill the voids left by Garrett and Hall. Both Qualen Cunningham (below) and Jarrett Johnson had one, although neither filled up the stat sheet much beyond that single play.
Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Three Ags quarterbacks managed to complete only 22-of-52 throws, as early-enrollee freshman Kellen Mond in particular struggled with 2 interceptions. It’s fair to suggest that the pass rush did its part in frustrating the QBs.
Cunningham and Johnson have flashed here and there in reserve roles. Now each has to go the extra mile as a starter.
AUBURN
Tigers fans will have a hard time keeping their enthusiasm in check. Coach Gus Malzahn’s problems appear to be solved.
Stidham was nothing short of sensational in his debut at Jordan-Hare Stadium, hitting on 16-of-20 passes for 267 yards. Even if he failed to throw for a touchdown, he wasn’t intercepted or sacked on the afternoon.
The 6-foot-2, 210-pounder did most of his damage from the pocket — Malzahn hasn’t fielded a passer genuinely capable of doing so since getting the gig in 2013, to be honest — and put the kind of RPMs on display that incumbent starter Sean White never did. By all reasonable measures, Stidham has already won the job.
If Stidham lives up to his potential, which is the premier passer in the league, then watch out for this offense in 2017. The one-two punch of Kamryn Pettway and Kerryon Johnson was terrific on the ground a year ago without much help.
This is exactly what Malzahn and Co. wanted. It’s hard to imagine a bigger spring headline in the SEC at this juncture.
MISSISSIPPI STATE
Because quarterbacks aren’t to be tackled in spring games, Nick Fitzgerald couldn’t truly be Nick Fitzgerald in Starkville.
And it showed. While his 14-of-27 performance through the air doesn’t seem too bad on the surface, he was intercepted four times without getting the ball into the end zone. Fitzgerald did score on a read-option keeper, but that was it.
Fortunately, it’s possible Fitzgerald no longer has to be the aerial attack and ground assault at the same time — that was the case way too often in 2016. Running backs Aeris Williams and Nick Gibson combined to rush for 163 yards on 26 carries. Williams got half the workload, but he showed some wiggle to go along with his power.
Both football programs in the Magnolia State have been too QB-dependent. A convincing argument can be made that the Bulldogs live and die with theirs more than any other team in this loaded conference.
But if Williams can develop into a 1,000-yard rusher, perhaps Fitzgerald won’t be subjected to so much punishment every Saturday.
John Crist is the senior writer for Saturday Down South, a member of the FWAA and a voter for the Heisman Trophy. Send him an e-mail, like him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter.
