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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Orgeron Begins First Spring Practice At Ole Miss On Monday
3/6/2005 | Football
March 6, 2005
OXFORD, Miss. - Spring football practice for the Ed Orgeron era at Ole Miss moves front and center here Monday when the Rebels participate in the first of 15 workouts allowed by the NCAA.
Monday's 4:00 p.m. practice is open to the general public and Orgeron has encouraged fans to attend the spring drills, which will conclude on Saturday, April 9 with the annual Red-Blue "Grove Bowl" game. This week's schedule calls for the Rebels to practice Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
"We're looking for great effort and a quick tempo as we set the foundation as to how we are going to do things," Orgeron said. "I'm excited about our coaching staff, which represents more than 150 years of coaching experience. I think we have prepared well for the start of spring drills, and I expect us to be very organized and very energized as we begin to teach these young men."
Orgeron practices are expected to run no longer than two hours and there are a number of goals he hopes to reach during his first spring as a collegiate head coach.
"I want our guys to understand how we are going to practice and play," he said. "I also want our staff to do a great job of evaluating each position and see if those players have the particular skills to play each position."
Orgeron, who took over the reigns of the Ole Miss football program from David Cutcliffe last December 16, will have 43 returning lettermen, including 13 starters, off last year's 4-7 team. However, Orgeron was quick to point out that the depth chart is "etched in sand" during the press conference to announce his hiring.
Returning starters on offense include quarterback Ethan Flatt, running back Vashon Pearson, wide receiver Taye Biddle, and tackles Bobby Harris and Tre' Stallings, while other offensive players back who started one or more games last season include quarterback Micheal Spurlock, receivers Mike Espy and Mario Hill, running backs Brandon Jacobs and Alan Abrams, tight ends Lawrence Lilly and Jimmy Brooks, tackle Darryl Harris, and guard-center Tony Bonds.
Fullback Rick Razzano, wide receiver Bill Flowers, guards Doug Buckles and Marcus Johnson, and center Chris Spencer are starters who must be replaced this spring. Spencer was the lone non-senior in the group, having passed up his final year to enter the National Football League draft.
The quarterback position will be in the spotlight early as Flatt, Spurlock, and Robert Lane are expected to battle for the starting spot. Last season saw a three-man rotation used at quarterback, but Orgeron has expressed a desire to come out of spring drills with a solid starter at the important leadership position.
Defensively, Ole Miss returns seven starters in end Jayme Mitchell, tackles McKinley Boykin and Michael Bozeman, cornerbacks Travis Johnson and Trumaine McBride, strong safety Kelvin Robinson, and safety Charles Clark. Other returning players who made at least one start on defense last year include defensive back Bryan Brown and linemen Andrew Wicker, Brandon Jenkins, and Corvelli Haynes. Wicker is expected to move to the offensive line this spring.
Starters lost on defense include end Cory Robinson, linebackers Brian Lester and Rob Robertson, and free safety Eric Oliver.
Two other major holes to fill comes in the area of special teams. Kicker Jonathan Nichols, the 2003 Lou Groza Award winner, and punter Cody Ridgeway both graduated after compiling outstanding careers at Ole Miss. Replacing them will draw plenty of attention.
Changes will immediately be noticed on Monday, especially on the defensive side of the football where Orgeron, who is also serving as defensive coordinator, is installing the Multiple 4-3 alignment. Gone is last year's 4-2-5 set, which means the Rebels will be looking for more linebackers to fill those three slots. Ole Miss will remain "multiple" on offense.
That shift in defensive philosophy at Ole Miss will bring on a big change for veteran Kelvin Robinson, the returning two-year starter at strong safety, who has been moved to linebacker. Position changes for other players are expected as the new coaching staff continues to install the new schemes.
Orgeron is hoping the spring will allow for the development of depth in both the offensive and defensive lines. "Developing depth is important, but I expect some freshmen will have to play next fall," he said.
