This is part one of a two-part series detailing two separate reasons why the Ole Miss offensive unit will be better in 2016 than it has been in Hugh Freeze’s tenure. The offensive line will be the focus of part one.
When Hugh Freeze arrived in Oxford back in December of 2011, he stated that his offensive style would be something similar to basketball on grass. That was encouraging for Rebel fans to hear, especially considering it was coming from a man with experience as a coach on the hardwood.
Still, though, it was something fans would have to see to believe. Now, four seasons and two different starting quarterbacks later, there’s hardly a doubter to be found.
Seeing is believing and after seeing Chad Kelly, Bo Wallace, Laquon Treadwell, Donte Moncrief and others put their names all over the record books over the last four seasons, Ole Miss fans certainly believe in Freeze’s offense.
After all, last season the Rebels were able to set new high-marks in 14 offensive categories last season, including points, touchdowns, total offense, passing yards, passing touchdowns and first downs.
The combination of a serviceable offensive line, a quarterback with talent and fit for the scheme and a stacked stable of receivers, made for one very explosive unit for Freeze, Dan Werner and Matt Luke.
However, with guys like Laremy Tunsil, Laquon Treadwell, Fahn Cooper and others, moving on from the program, more specifically the offensive side of the ball, some are skeptical as to whether the offense can be better next season.
Naturally with all five starting offensive linemen from last season gone, that is cause for some concern for the Rebels’ chances this Fall. And why not?
They play in a league with more freakish defensive lineman than any other conference in the USA, excluding only the NFC and the AFC in the NFL. Not to mention the unit wears not just one, but two ever-crutial hats.
Not only must the unit be athletic enough to keep Kelly upright, but also physical enough to create holes in the running game. Then they have to be durable and well-conditioned in order to be able to run the amount of tempo that Freeze feels will make the successful against the daunting defenses of the SEC.
So while the offensive line is a reason that some are hesitant regarding Ole Miss’s chances at beating Alabama for a third straight season and making it to Atlanta for the SEC Championship game for the first time in school history, it is one of two areas that I actually believe will push the Rebels over-the-top.
The group has experience, versatility, athleticism and, most of all, talent. Recruiting talented offensive linemen that fit the scheme has been a major plus in recruiting under Freeze. In fact, it could be the most important plus of all. Sure, getting quarterbacks has been huge, just as becoming “wide receiver U” has, but athletic, versatile and durable offensive linemen are what really drive the spread, up-tempo offense that Freeze runs.
For all the doubts I hear about the offensive line heading in the 2016 season, I can’t help but to think of the very first group Freeze and his offensive staff inherited at the position. In 2012 the starters in the offensive trenches from left tackle to right tackle, looked something like this. Emmanuel McCray, Aaron Morris, Evan Swindall, AJ Hawkins and Pierce Burton. Amongst that group were 53 games of experience and 31 starts combined.
Some of the notable reserves on that team were: Patrick Junen(a walk-on), Jared Duke, Justin Bell and Chase Hughes. There was also Corey Gaines, who had played on the defensive line until his senior season. And no one will forget big Terrell Brown, who was a walk-on who earned a scholarship and then left us with this lasting memory of him breaking a chair.
Not only was that 2012 roster void of considerable talent in the offensive line group, it was also scary thin, with no depth to speak of. Sure Burton brought stability at right tackle.
Hawkins was versatile enough to play center or guard, making his value exponential. Swindall was solid at center that season, though his best days were still ahead of him. Even Morris was better than solid, in fact his first two seasons on campus, prior to string of injuries, were likely his best.
But the group of guys that Freeze inherited were not fit to run his scheme and they were not talented bunch. In fact, he had to scramble in recruiting and beat out Florida to land Burton late in the process.
And to get 13 starts at left tackle that season from a guy in McCray that had seen little action in his career up until that point was toeing the line of miracle work.
Still, Freeze’s offensive scheme came through to the tune of 31.5 points per game that season. The line even paved the way for 2,260 rush yards that season, good for 173.8 per game. The 423.8 yards per game and 409 total points tallied in 2012 are still good for 4th best in program history.
Fast forward back to now and the Rebels offensive line entering 2016 looks a whole lot better, right? Sure, Tunsil is gone, but last season the Rebels played without him for seven games.
It proved the offense can make due even without one of their best. It also gave Sean Rawlings a chance to get valuable reps at tackle for over half the season. Beyond that, the fruits of good recruiting efforts are evident. Alex Givens is just a redshirt freshman, but his talent is undeniable and he had a fantastic Spring.
Jordan Sims continues to get better and appears to have locked down a guard spot, with Javon Patterson nailing down the other. Then there’s Rod Taylor, who returns off an injury, and could be counted on at guard or tackle. Daronte Bouldin received praise from Freeze this spring.
Then there’s Robert Conyers, who by now, is a veteran presence in the group. Conyers could play center or right tackle. It’s likely that he and Rawlings will be at each of those spots, but each can play both spots. Then there’s Greg Little, the nations top offensive line recruit from the 2016 signing class, who will arrive in Oxford this summer and likely make a strong case to be the starting left tackle in his freshman season.
In fact, there’s a lot to like about the offensive lineman the Rebels will be counting on this season, just read what I wrote last month about what the group is capable of in 2016.
So, in my opinion, improved talent and depth are two key factors that say the offensive line will be better in 2016 than it has been under Freeze in any of the prior four seasons. However, most important, is the way the talent fits his scheme.
All the offensive lineman currently on the roster were recruited by Freeze’s staff, to play in their system. I think that goes a long ways this season, meaning the Rebels go a long way. The offensive line will be a key in, what I feel, will be Ole Miss’s best, most productive offense to date in 2016.