.png&width=32&height=32&type=webp)
The University of Mississippi Athletics
AP: Sowell Overcomes More Than Just Jitters
9/8/2009 | Football
By CHRIS TALBOTT, Associated Press Writer
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Ole Miss left tackle Bradley Sowell learned a lot of things in his first game as all-American Michael Oher's replacement.
The most important? Drink more water.
Sowell had a rough second quarter because of cramps and some tough love from offensive line coach Mike Markuson.
``I told Coach Markuson and I don't know if he believed me until I pointed down at my legs and said, 'Look at them, coach. They wouldn't look like that if I weren't cramping,''' Sowell said.
It's not as if Sowell was alone in his struggles. The Rebel offense got off to a slow start in the season-opening win over Memphis before Ole Miss pulled away for a 45-14 win.
Sowell, though, has been the focus of intense attention since Oher finished up his decorated career and became a first-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens.
At 6-foot-7 and 305 pounds with long arms, Sowell has a left tackle's body, one he worked extremely hard to transform in his first season, when he was Oher's little-used backup. But there remained worries over his toughness, athletic ability and aggressiveness.
It's hard to blame those who might be putting pressure on Sowell. Left tackle is one of the most important positions in the Southeastern Conference because the league harbors some of the nation's best edge pass rushers. If a left tackle fails in the SEC, his team usually does, too.
``When you're out there on the left side, it's a man's job and it's not easy,'' said Rebel head coach Houston Nutt.
Sowell answered some of those questions Sunday, especially about his toughness, by getting back on the field despite the pain of leg cramps, which can be debilitating.
``It affected me some in pass protection, but it's one of those things you've got to play through,'' Sowell said. ``I was able to do that. But you can always get better and I'm working every day to get better. I know I'm not where I want to be yet.''
With an open date this week, Sowell has time to work on improving. And Nutt will make sure he works hard.
``A lot of good one-on-one time this week,'' Nutt said. ``We'll put him against the best.''
The Rebels lost three offensive line starters from last season, and at times that showed against Memphis. But Nutt and Markuson saw nothing alarming. Markuson called the performance ``decent.''
``I didn't see anything that I don't think we can't correct and that's true for all of them,'' Markuson said. ``I thought there was effort and I think you have to get a feel for it as a unit and as a player. (Sowell) made some steps in the right direction. We're going to keep working to do that.''
