By Staff
This is the second in a three-part series examining the spring football drills of Ole Miss, the University of Southern Mississippi and Mississippi State.
By Will Bardwell / staff writer
April 20,2004
OXFORD The final scrimmage of the spring completed and the final question of his press conference answered, Ole Miss coach David Cutcliffe leaned back and let out a sigh of relief.
"No more practices," Cutcliffe said with a smile. "That'd be us."
The Rebels' series of spring practice sessions, which began March 18 and ended Saturday with the annual Red and Blue Game, answered several glaring questions facing Ole Miss. Life will go on without Eli Manning, as junior quarterback Micheal Spurlock showed the arm strength and athleticism necessary to compete in the Southeastern Conference.
But Spurlock also forced and overthrew more than a few passes, exposing the inexperience that comes with playing in just three games in two seasons.
Still, Spurlock doesn't lack for another necessary quality confidence.
"I finally got the (offensive) line, the defense and everybody on the team to believe in me," said Spurlock, who was 11-of-18 for 183 yards and a touchdown in the Rebels' spring-ending scrimmage. "I finally believe in myself. And now that I know I have them behind me, I can't do anything but good."
Also ready to wean Spurlock gradually is the Ole Miss offensive line, which may be the team's greatest strength. In Saturday's scrimmage, Blue team offensive linemen Doug Buckles, Chris Spencer, Tre' Stallings, Marcus Johnson and Bobby Harris blew defenders off the ball over and over.
The linemen spent the afternoon opening huge holes for sophomore Vashon Pearson, whom Cutcliffe dubbed as the Rebels' probable starter at tailback. Pearson carried 13 times for 71 yards and a touchdown in the spring game.
But Pearson's productivity could be quickly stifled by another team trait that showed this spring lack of depth on the offensive line. The Red team's offensive front never enjoyed the kind of dominance shown by the Blue squad and constantly gave up pressure upon backup quarterbacks Ethan Flatt and Robert Lane.
"I think the difference in the (spring) game was that one offensive line was more productive," Cutcliffe said. "It's certainly been a problem for us from a depth standpoint with our backups. They'll see from this that they're not game-ready from that standpoint."
As long as the experience-laden starting offensive line stays healthy, though, players with less experience like Spurlock and Pearson will thrive, according to center Chris Spencer.
"We've got backs in the backfield that have been behind us for two or three years, so they're getting a feel of how we're going to block people," said Spencer, who has spent time in several places in the offensive line but worked as the No. 1 center throughout the spring. "As far as Micheal making plays, as long as our running game stays strong, he's going to make plays he needs to make."
And that, Cutcliffe pointed out, depends greatly on the Rebels' talented but thin offensive line.
"I think we've become more physical again," Cutcliffe said. "There's been physical play in all of our scrimmages. Are we far enough along? I don't know. That's going to be another thing to find out in August."