SEC West Previews: Q&A with Ole Hotty Toddy

Oct 26, 2013; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels wide receiver Laquon Treadwell (1) catches the ball against the Idaho Vandalsat Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports

Dave Bevan from our sister FanSided site, Ole Hotty Toddy, was kind enough to answer a few of our questions about the Rebs…

1. OM and MSU seem to be viewed as teams with a similar talent level who may win 7-8 or maybe 9-10. Do you see this season having a bunch of swing games or is your schedule have a lot of W’s and L’s penciled in?

"This 2014 schedule is without a doubt a bit of relief for Rebel faithful compared to 2013. That mid-season road stretch was just brutal last year. It was clearly seen once we arrived back home to face A&M, by sustaining major injuries in our defense and offensive line in that game.I believe it is both State and Ole Miss fans’ nature to think their team will finish the season with a 8 plus win season every preseason. I am not ashamed to admit, even some Ole Miss fans jumped the gun last year on all the hype building around the freshmen talent. I was one of them. We really thought we could finish with a 10 win season. As it turned out, it was clear that these young players needed at least a year under their belt in the toughest collegiate conference in the nation, and it was a very slim chance they could accomplish that much on a very brutal schedule.Don’t get me wrong, through all the injuries and some heartbreaking losses, overall it was a very successful season for Hugh Freeze and the Rebels. You can’t be dissatisfied with a bowl-winning 8-5 season. Yet, there is still high expectations in Oxford. Everyone is hungry for that Sugar Bowl appearance.There are few swing games I do see in this year’s schedule. Even though Ole Miss hosts Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl this year, everyone knows that game is always a coin flip. I seriously believe Tennessee could be the “dark horse” of the SEC East this year. Butch Jones is pulling in a lot top-ranked talent in Knoxville and they even had their fair share of upsets in 2013. That game will be a challenge, even in Oxford.It is a sigh of relief to host both Alabama and Auburn this year. But, I really believe another coin-flip matchup will be against LSU. The Tigers will be searching for their new “rising star” behind center in 2014, and even though the game will be played in Death Valley, the Rebels did hang with them in Death Valley in 2012, following with the upset in 2013."

2. If there’s one area for concern at Ole Miss it seems to be the offensive line. Do you view that as the team weakness going into the year?

"The offseason took a big blow for Ole Miss when 2013 4-star prospect, Austin Golson, flipped from Ole Miss to Auburn. The right tackle position was already bare in talent as it was, now it will once again be called upon by incoming freshmen to take over the role. You’re looking at freshmen Fahn Cooper or Roderick Taylor starting in this position. Is it the team’s biggest weakness? It was last year, and it is surely expected to be this year too."

3. Are there any under-the-radar players that you think might be able to make a name for themselves in 2014?

"I don’t know why, but I feel Cody Prewitt is always that under-the-radar player. This kid was overlooked even in the Ole Miss pre-season Media Days last year. Then he turned out to be the most effective player on defense for the Rebels in 2013, leading the team in tackles, and becoming First Team All-SEC.Another player State fans might not be aware of on the Ole Miss defense is freshman defensive end Maquis Hayes. This kid picked up seven tackles and two sacks in this year’s spring game.The run game plagued the Rebels’ offense in 2013 after starting running back Jeff Scott suffered injuries mid-way through the season. It just seemed like he was well on his way to a monumental season after big games against Vanderbilt and Texas.I’tavius Mathers, one of the running backs who took over Scott’s role in 2013, showed he is ready to step up his game in 2014 after his great performance in this year’s spring game."

4. Boise State, Vanderbilt and ULL is a tough but not tough first three games. Is there any concern the Rebels won’t come out of that 3-0 before they hit the bye and the meat of the schedule?

"I think for every team that first game of the season is the most nervous one to watch. You clearly don’t know what to expect, and it is the game that could define how your season will pan out.That season opening Vanderbilt game in 2013 was a “nervous wreck” for Rebel fans for the majority of the game, even though we ultimately pulled out the last minute win.I honestly believe the season opener against Boise State will be a tougher matchup for the Rebels than the game after that against Vanderbilt. It will be played in the Georgia Dome, in an atmosphere this team is not use to, but if they can manage the win against Boise State, I think the odds are in their favor to beat Vandy, and could start the season 3-0."

5. If Bo Wallace is called on to have a heavy run load this year do you have any concerns about his durability? And what is your confidence level in Ryan Buchanan as a redshirt freshman?

"State fans might not be aware that this season might be Bo Wallace’s healthiest point of his collegiate career. In 2012, Wallace played much of the season on an injured throwing arm, and that weight carried over with him in 2013. Freeze acknowledged in his presser after this year’s spring game, that Bo’s throwing arm is the best he’s seen it in a long time.Wallace’s durability has always been a concern for Rebel fans. You saw how he was pulled out of drives in games against team’s like Auburn last year. This came a lot of times in moments we needed him the most. It all depends on the offensive line holding their own, for Bo not having to scramble that much. One of Wallace’s weaknesses that has affected him in the past, is that he tends to have a slow pass release between snaps.Even though Barry Brunetti is gone, you’re still going to see rotating quarterbacks for Ole Miss this season. It’s just the style of offense Hugh Freeze runs. The question is, who do you go with to back Wallace?Ryan Buchanan is more of your pocket passer style quarterback that Ole Miss hasn’t seen since…I think, Jevan Snead. He really does have the talent to take Wallace’s place in 2015.DeVante Kincade is the other upcoming Ole Miss quarterback who has been battling Buchanan for the 2nd string job this offseason. Kincade is more of your scrambling style quarterback and can mold in well with a fast-paced offense. He can run, but don’t let him fool you, the kid does have an arm."