This one was much closer than anyone but the most faithful Ole Miss supporter would have guessed. Bama won it with three seconds left on a field goal. Neither team was able to sustain any offense and, although there were some nice offensive performances, mistakes by both teams stopped plenty of drives. It was evident how important Tyrone Prothro is to Alabama's offense. Mississippi played inspired defense, but a player with Prothro's speed and versatility would have made it more difficult for the Rebels. Credit also has to go the the Ole Miss defensive line which used its senior experience and savvy to frustrate Bama all game.
ALABAMA PRO PROSPECTS:
Mark Anderson #47 605.0 253 4.79 DE - Anderson played a relatively quiet game. He was matched up with LT Bobby Harris all game and struggled to get anything going. He did make a couple of tackles in the backfield, but they were the only ones I saw all game. (SLIGHTLY NEGATIVE)
Brodie Croyle #12 603.0 205 4.72 QB - Croyle was unable to throw a TD pass, but I was still very impressed with him. He has a smooth, quick drop and keeps his eyes on the defense while in his drop. He has very good mechanics and throws tight, accurate spirals. He has a rifle for an arm and generally is able to place the ball in a position where only the receiver has a shot at it. He does overthrow his receivers occasionally. When the protection breaks down, Croyle is able to move around the pocket and make accurate throws on the run. There is no panic. Only once did I see him make a poor decision. Croyle had a defender wrapped around his ankles and he tried to flip the ball backhand to a receiver in the flat while he was being pulled down. It's the ambition and never-quit desire you want your field general to have, but the ball was wildly off the mark. Croyle reminds me a lot of Brett Favre with his attitude and abilities. (VERY POSITIVE)
Roman Harper #31 601.0 197 4.54 FS - Harper was quietly effective. I only took notice of him a couple of times. He slid quickly into the offensive backfield and made a couple of stops (one assisted) behind the line. He never seems to be out of position and doesn't take wild chances. He plays a very smart game. (SLIGHTLY POSITIVE)
Anthony Madison #9 509.0 180 4.47 CB - Madison was probably the most impressive player on the Bama defense today. He wasn't thrown at more than a couple times because of the outstanding coverage he provided. One throw was a quick out when Madison was playing off the WR, but Madison closed quickly and made a very sure tackle. Madison really made his mark in run defense. The Ole Miss RB tended to bounce nearly every run to the outside and Madison strung him along and prevented him from turning upfield on more than one occasion. Despite his size, I think Madison is really making a case to be an early second-day draft pick in April. (VERY POSITIVE)
Charlie Peprah #26 511.0 195 4.52 SS - Charlie Peprah played an active game and was much improved over the last time I evaluated him. Not only was he stout in run support, but he played a solid game against some wily senior WRs. Peprah managed 7 tackles by my count and recovered a key fumble in the first half. (SLIGHTLY POSITIVE)
Fred Roach #8 602.0 240 4.74 MLB - Roach was hot and cold today and wasn't the rock I've seen in previous games. I was impressed previously with his outstanding cover skills, but he appeared to blow coverages a couple times today. He was solid against the run, showing the ability to shed blockers well and get to the ball-carrier, but didn't showcase his talent as well today. (NEUTRAL)
DeMeco Ryans #35 602.0 232 4.65 OLB - Ryans was nearly non-existant today. He had a very nice hit on the QB, but the play had already been whistled dead for delay and he made a nice play on a WR downfield where he tracked him down from behind and forced a fumble. Other than that, Ryans had no real impact on the game. (SLIGHTLY NEGATIVE)
Le'Ron McClain #33 601.0 260 N/A FB - McClain had a tough day as a lead blocker as the Ole Miss defense swarmed nearly every running play. McClain did show soft hands on a couple outlet passes. He should continue to improve and be one of the better FB prospects next year as a senior. (NEGATIVE)
JB Closner #74 604.0 290 5.20 C - Closner struggled to keep Boykin and Bozeman off the RBs and QBs all day. The Ole Miss players seemed to have a bit more fire and were able to outmatch Closner when they were one on one with him. (NEGATIVE)
Kenneth Darby #34 511.0 210 N/A HB - Darby entered the game as the top SEC running back, but that didn't seem to intimidate Ole Miss. Darby was able to break free for one long TD (48-yard) run, but otherwise was bottled up for 59 yards on 19 carries (excluding the long gainer... he finished with 20 carries for 107 yards). Despite getting little help from his blockers, Darby kept at it and eventually provided the game-breaker that Bama needed. Darby is still a special RB who will be one of the best in the 2006 season. (SLIGHTLY POSITIVE)
Others to watch:
Ramzee Robinson (Junior CB) - Robinson got picked on heavily by Ole Miss. He was beaten a number of times by the wideouts (inlcuding their only TD) and even his one INT was the result of him getting beat deep, but the QB terribly underthrowing the ball. Robinson has good size and speed at the CB position and will really need to improve his cover ability to be a prospect for the 2007 NFL Draft.
Keith Brown (Soph WR) - Brown has good size and the speed to get open. He made an outstanding diving catch for a key first down. He uses his body well to shield defenders and makes the catch with soft hands. Brown should continue to get better and better with experience and is Croyle's go-to WR now that Prothro is out for the season.
MISSISSIPPI PRO PROSPECTS:
Mike Espy #11 600.0 195 N/A WR - Espy didn't have the type of stats that jump out at you, but he played a very solid game. He ran very precise routes and was able to get a couple nice catches underneath the coverage. Espy also showed his versatility by returning kicks and punts and is also an able blocker downfield. (SLIGHTLY POSITIVE)
Jayme Mitchell #77 606.0 285 5.01 DE - A player with his size and speed, taking on an inexperienced offensive tackle, should have had much more of an impact on the game. He held the point of attack well and played to a deadlock with his blocker in most cases. He was unable to get any pass rush and didn't make many tackles in the running game (although Bama tended to run to the opposite side of the field). (SLIGHTLY NEGATIVE)
Tre' Stallings #70 604.0 290 5.20 OT - Stallings really impressed me today. He went up against a very talented DE in Wallace Gilberry and shut him down for the most part. Stallings showed me more in the way of footwork and quickness than I expected. He has good technique and sets anchor well. (POSITIVE)
Travis Johnson #9 601.0 191 4.55 CB - Travis Johnson was one of the most impressive players on an overachieving Ole Miss defense. He showed his abilities as a pass defender and a run stopper. He had a couple of nice passes defended, including one in the endzone where he was stride for stride with the receiver and got his hand in to break up a well-thrown pass. Johnson also forced a fumble and made a solid TFL. He was able to run with the Bama receivers (although neither Brown nor Hall are burners) and used his size well against both (Brown and Hall are both 6'3" WRs). (VERY POSITIVE)
Others to watch:
Patrick Willis (Junior MLB) - Willis was playing with a club on his hand that should have made it difficult to make tackles, but he was the leading tackler for the Rebels with 12 solos and a couple assists by my count. He flashed good speed and was able to burst into the backfield and bring Brodie Croyle down a couple times. He was also an asset in pass defense and was able to drop back into coverage effortlessly.
Kelvin Robinson (Senior WLB) - Robinson was a bit on the smallish side, but showed outstanding cover skills. He had tight coverage on a number of occasions and should be credited with at least two passes defended. He played SS last year and would likely project as a SS at the next level.
Michael Bozeman and McKinley Boykin (Senior DTs) - These two pluggers both play a similar game, although Boykin might be a bit faster and Bozeman stronger. They were both active and made themselves known to the Bama offensive line. Bozeman, in particular, was able to get penetration and make stops in the backfield. The Bama running game was unable to do anything inside.