As I have said on numerous occasions, my only and older brother is an Ole Miss graduate. I try not to hold this against him, but every year during the Ole Miss-LSU week, it is time to draw sides. This is the week.
Ever since Auburn wide receiver Ben Obomanu won the game for Ole Miss by dropping the Tigers’ winning touchdown pass, all I have heard is Ole Miss this and Ole Miss that.
The things he says are absolutely ridiculous! This is what a typical conversation is like from his end of the conversation.
“Ole Miss has faster and better receivers … LSU’s defense can’t contain Eli Manning and the Rebels’ passing game … LSU has no running game and Ole Miss’ rushing attack is spectacular … LSU’s bubble screen pass won’t work against Ole Miss … (and this one is my favorite) LSU’s only good wide receiver is Michael Clayton because Skyler Green drops every pass thrown to him … and who is Devery Henderson?”
Poor kid. If he, Ole Miss fans and the Ole Miss football team believe all of this, they are in for a major shock this weekend. The Tigers are not ranked No. 3 in the nation for nothing and this will be the weekend LSU proves it.
Let’s take his statements one by one and break them down.
Ole Miss has faster and better wide receivers than LSU. Not quite. Yes, the Rebels do have talented receivers in Chris Collins, Bill Flowers, Mike Espy, Kerry Johnson and Taye Biddle. But their numbers are inflated because Ole Miss throws the ball so much due to its lack of running game (more on that later). Collins is the best of the group and the former running back is similar to Josh Reed in style. Flowers is a possession receiver and Espy, Johnson and Biddle have big-play ability. But are they better than LSU’s group of Clayton, Green and Henderson? Absolutely not.
LSU’s defense can’t contain Eli Manning and the Rebels’ passing game? All right, why can’t they? They’ve contained everybody else. Why not Ole Miss? The Rebels have not faced a defense that is as quick and fast as the Tigers this season. LSU’s defense is giving up only 203.9 yards in the air. Ole Miss passes for nearly 300 yards a game. Something’s got to give. From the defensive line led by Chad Lavalais to the secondary with Corey Webster, Jack Hunt, Travis Daniels and LaRon Landry, I got a hunch the Tigers will hold their own against Eli.
LSU has no running game and Ole Miss does. Last time I checked, the Tigers have five very capable running backs in Justin Vincent, Alley Broussard, Joseph Addai, Shyrone Carey and Barrington Edwards. Ole Miss’ running game is much improved from a year ago, but the days of a potent running game with Deuce McAllister are long gone. LSU only gives up 60.3 yards per game on the ground. Oh and by the way, Ole Miss’ best running back, Ronald McClendon, who shined in the Rebels’ win over Florida, currently is suspended for an investigation of a recent vehicle purchase he made.
LSU’s bubble screen won’t work against Ole Miss. Yes it will, and there is no way the Rebels will stop it, just like no one else has stopped it this season.
LSU’s only good wide receiver is Michael Clayton, etc. All right bro, well when you see how fast Devery and Skyler are and you see Skyler on those punt returns, you will have a different opinion.
Ole Miss was fortunate to beat Vanderbilt, Florida, South Carolina and Auburn. And they lost to Memphis. That’s right, MEMPHIS! The same Memphis that lost to Mississippi State. The majority of LSU’s nine wins are convincing ones.
Finally, Saturday Nov. 22 is my 22nd birthday. My golden birthday. It’s also the Tigers’ golden opportunity to knock Ole Miss off its pedestal. I believe they will.