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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Spring Update 03.28: Quarterbacks Battle, New Faces Impress
3/28/2015 | Football
March 28, 2015
By Austin Miller, OleMissSports.com
Photo Gallery: Spring Practice 03.24
OXFORD, Miss. -- Ole Miss wrapped up its third week of spring practice with a two-hour practice inside the Manning Center, two weeks ahead of the annual Regions Bank Grove Bowl on April 11. The two-hour practice included 7-on-7 play and 11-on-11 live action.
"Our kids are giving us great effort," head coach Hugh Freeze said. "Their attitudes are great. They're coachable. Our theme this spring is `Chasing Greatness.' I like what I see, other than all the injured on the sideline. I wish we were getting quality reps with them. It makes us go shorter in scrimmages than we want to. But there were a lot of good things out there today."
The defense, by all indications, has been the star though the first three weeks of spring practice. Freeze said this year's group that returns seven starters from the nation's top-scoring defense has the potential to be maybe more physical any defense they have had.
However, on Saturday, the quarterbacks and the offense put together what co-offensive coordinator Dan Werner called their best day of the spring Saturday.
"We understand as coaches that we have a great defense and our offense is banged up, so it's going to be tough," he said. "I told our guys that we have to step it up because this could happen in the season, and our guys stepped up. Some guys made some plays. We protected the ball for the most part. Our big emphasis has been to go fast, and we're going about as fast as we can go right now."
Freeze and Werner were both generally pleased with the quarterback play Saturday. When asked about naming a leader or a pecking order among junior college transfer Chad Kelly and sophomores Ryan Buchanan and DeVante Kincade, Freeze said he expects the competition to continue into the middle of fall camp.
"All three did some good things," he said. "I'm standing back behind them, and they went to the right progression most of the time. They missed some reads in the running game, but that happens. Our defense gives you a lot of looks, and it can be a bit confusing. They all three had solid days."
"I'm pleased with them," added Werner. "All three are battling and all three have done some really good things. We have had some mistakes that happen throughout practice. Today, as far as I can tell, we had no turnovers, which is number one of our list. I didn't see anything that caused a negative play, which is number two on our list. And we went really fast. The things that I preach to our quarterbacks, they got across today, so I was happy about that."
The spring has also been marked by the emergence of new faces on both sides of the ball, some players who redshirted last year and others who enrolled early for spring practice.
Sophomore wide receiver Damore'ea Stringfellow, a Washington transfer who redshirted last year, had a really good day Saturday, highlighted by a one-handed touchdown grab on a fade route against another talented newcomer in junior college transfer Tony Bridges.
"He has the potential to be a solid receiver," Freeze said. "We need him. I like his attitude and work ethic. We have to get him to be consistent. We need him to keep working like he has been doing and hopefully get more consistent with ball-catching and route-running."
"He's really physical," added Werner. "He can go up and make plays. If you throw it out there, he's similar to Laquon (Treadwell) in that he's going to get his body in position and make a play."
Bridges, considered the top junior college cornerback by three of the four major recruiting services, and junior Tee Shepard, another redshirt, have added length and physicality to a cornerback group that lost a consensus first team All-American in Senquez Golson. The coaches have also been impressed with sophomore Kendarius Webster and junior Kailo Moore.
"Hopefully they can't throw it over our heads as much, that's the main thing" said defensive coordinator Dave Wommack of the length of Bridges and Shepard. "I have been proud of them because neither of them had much experience going into the spring. (Cornerbacks coach) Jason (Jones) has done a great job with them. They're still making some mistakes, but I'm excited about their length and physical play."
The coaches have also raved about two players along the defensive line in junior college transfer D.J. Jones, considered the top junior college defensive tackle by all the major recruiting services, and redshirt freshman Breeland Speaks.
"He's kind of taken Bryon Bennett's spot," said Wommack of Jones. "He can play both sides for us, both defensive tackle and nose tackle, so he'll get a lot of reps. He's very explosive and strong for his size. He's going to be a great player.
"Breeland is another guy inside who's going to get a lot of reps for us. He's very athletic. When you put 5 (Robert Nkemdiche) and 9 (Speaks) in there, you can't tell a whole lot of difference between their body size and all that. Breeland doesn't know how to play quite like Robert does yet, but he has the want-to, and his motor runs."
Austin Miller is a writer and blogger for OleMissSports.com. He joined the staff in June 2013 after serving as sports editor of the Daily Mississippian. Follow him on Twitter @austinkmiller.
Photo Gallery: Spring Practice 03.24OXFORD, Miss. -- Ole Miss wrapped up its third week of spring practice with a two-hour practice inside the Manning Center, two weeks ahead of the annual Regions Bank Grove Bowl on April 11. The two-hour practice included 7-on-7 play and 11-on-11 live action.
"Our kids are giving us great effort," head coach Hugh Freeze said. "Their attitudes are great. They're coachable. Our theme this spring is `Chasing Greatness.' I like what I see, other than all the injured on the sideline. I wish we were getting quality reps with them. It makes us go shorter in scrimmages than we want to. But there were a lot of good things out there today."
The defense, by all indications, has been the star though the first three weeks of spring practice. Freeze said this year's group that returns seven starters from the nation's top-scoring defense has the potential to be maybe more physical any defense they have had.
However, on Saturday, the quarterbacks and the offense put together what co-offensive coordinator Dan Werner called their best day of the spring Saturday.
"We understand as coaches that we have a great defense and our offense is banged up, so it's going to be tough," he said. "I told our guys that we have to step it up because this could happen in the season, and our guys stepped up. Some guys made some plays. We protected the ball for the most part. Our big emphasis has been to go fast, and we're going about as fast as we can go right now."
Freeze and Werner were both generally pleased with the quarterback play Saturday. When asked about naming a leader or a pecking order among junior college transfer Chad Kelly and sophomores Ryan Buchanan and DeVante Kincade, Freeze said he expects the competition to continue into the middle of fall camp.
"All three did some good things," he said. "I'm standing back behind them, and they went to the right progression most of the time. They missed some reads in the running game, but that happens. Our defense gives you a lot of looks, and it can be a bit confusing. They all three had solid days."
"I'm pleased with them," added Werner. "All three are battling and all three have done some really good things. We have had some mistakes that happen throughout practice. Today, as far as I can tell, we had no turnovers, which is number one of our list. I didn't see anything that caused a negative play, which is number two on our list. And we went really fast. The things that I preach to our quarterbacks, they got across today, so I was happy about that."
The spring has also been marked by the emergence of new faces on both sides of the ball, some players who redshirted last year and others who enrolled early for spring practice.
Sophomore wide receiver Damore'ea Stringfellow, a Washington transfer who redshirted last year, had a really good day Saturday, highlighted by a one-handed touchdown grab on a fade route against another talented newcomer in junior college transfer Tony Bridges.
"He has the potential to be a solid receiver," Freeze said. "We need him. I like his attitude and work ethic. We have to get him to be consistent. We need him to keep working like he has been doing and hopefully get more consistent with ball-catching and route-running."
"He's really physical," added Werner. "He can go up and make plays. If you throw it out there, he's similar to Laquon (Treadwell) in that he's going to get his body in position and make a play."
Bridges, considered the top junior college cornerback by three of the four major recruiting services, and junior Tee Shepard, another redshirt, have added length and physicality to a cornerback group that lost a consensus first team All-American in Senquez Golson. The coaches have also been impressed with sophomore Kendarius Webster and junior Kailo Moore.
"Hopefully they can't throw it over our heads as much, that's the main thing" said defensive coordinator Dave Wommack of the length of Bridges and Shepard. "I have been proud of them because neither of them had much experience going into the spring. (Cornerbacks coach) Jason (Jones) has done a great job with them. They're still making some mistakes, but I'm excited about their length and physical play."
The coaches have also raved about two players along the defensive line in junior college transfer D.J. Jones, considered the top junior college defensive tackle by all the major recruiting services, and redshirt freshman Breeland Speaks.
"He's kind of taken Bryon Bennett's spot," said Wommack of Jones. "He can play both sides for us, both defensive tackle and nose tackle, so he'll get a lot of reps. He's very explosive and strong for his size. He's going to be a great player.
"Breeland is another guy inside who's going to get a lot of reps for us. He's very athletic. When you put 5 (Robert Nkemdiche) and 9 (Speaks) in there, you can't tell a whole lot of difference between their body size and all that. Breeland doesn't know how to play quite like Robert does yet, but he has the want-to, and his motor runs."
Austin Miller is a writer and blogger for OleMissSports.com. He joined the staff in June 2013 after serving as sports editor of the Daily Mississippian. Follow him on Twitter @austinkmiller.
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