Three Things That Changed the Game: BYU
by Juco All-American on Sep 6, 2011 12:32 PM EDT
in 2011 Ole Miss Rebels Football
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PrintWhile there are often a large number of plays that decidedly impact a football game, there are almost always two to three things that really shape the game. You know. The big plays. The big stats. The battles within the game that are won or lost. Throughout football season, I will revisit three key happenings from the previous game and talk about the impact they had overall. While the chosen topics may not have ultimately decided the victor, they will always have had a profound impact on the game.
The three things which I have chosen for the BYU game are:
1. BYU's scoop and score
2. Charles Sawyer's 94 yard interception return for touchdown
3. Brandon Bolden being knocked out of the game
"Honorable" mentions which will not be discussed are:
1. Nick Brassell dropping a 40 yard touchdown pass
2. BYU holding the Rebels to fewer than 100 rushing yards
1. BYU's scoop and score
Obviously, this was the biggest game-changing moment. With just over nine minutes left in the game, Ole Miss was nursing a 13-7 lead and had the ball. We quickly converted for a first down with a 17 yard pass to Ferbia Allen. After two plays that didn't move the ball, they faced a third and ten situation. Stoudt, who was steady, hit Ja-Mes Logan for an eleven yard gain. The clock was just under seven minutes, and the Rebels had a first down on their 38. We had good field position, a chance to continue moving the ball, and the lead. On first down, the offensive line (I believe it was Matt Hall) held. 1st and 20 on the Ole Miss 28. After a three yard run by Devin Thomas, the Rebs ran a screen to the flats. it wasn't a bad call, and it picked up a bit of yardage, but Patrick Junen inexplicably blocked a player who wasn't going to make a play in the player's back. Of course, that's a ten yard penalty. Next, Stoudt passed to HR Greer for no gain. With just over five minutes remaining on the clock, the Rebels faced a 3rd down with 27 yards to pick up. Knowing what we had done earlier on a 3rd and 9 (ran a draw with Jeff Scott), we would surely run up the middle or do something else dinky-and-dunky in order to allow our punter (who had punted a ball in the air for 73 yards earlier) to back the BYU offense past the 50. Then we would have let our defense (who had only allowed one score at this point) win or lose the game for us.
But we didn't. Instead, Stoudt dropped back to the Ole Miss eight, looked for a receiver, then backpedaled a bit more. BYU sophomore linebacker Kyle Van Noy (unblocked by Ferbia Allen and Devin Thomas) was able to reach Stoudt and hit the ball out of his outstretched arm. After a few people bumbled to gain control of the ball, Van Noy picked it up and was tackled into the end zone. What would have been BYU ball down 13-7 on their own side of the field became Ole Miss' down a point with similar field position as the drive before. It would ultimately decide the game.
2. Charles Sawyer's 96-yard interception return for touchdown
Let me paint you a picture. The Rebels are up 3-0 in a game where neither team has moved the ball well. BYU has just gotten the ball for their first drive of the third quarter. This will be their opportunity to show how their offense has adjusted during halftime. They start at their own 11. Six plays later, they're at Ole Miss' 25 yard line and appear to have figured out the defense. Jake Heaps drops back and sees a receiver who appears (to me and everyone sitting around me) to be wide open heading into the end zone. He sees him, and delivers the ball. Fortunately, he does not see newly-moved safety Charles Sawyer baiting the route. Sawyer jumps in front of the ball at the perfect time, plucks the ball out of the air, makes several defenders miss, and runs back nearly the entire length of the field culminating in a touchdown which puts the Rebels up 10-0. Had Sawyer not been there, we would be looking at a 7-3 BYU lead and an Ole Miss defense that could potentially break down.
3. Brandon Bolden being knocked out of the game
On the four carries Bolden received, he produced yardage totals of 8, 7, 2, and 4 averaging 5.3 yards per carry. Bolden was knocked out of the game with 13 minutes left in the second quarter, having already accumulated 21 rushing yards. The Rebels would finish the day with 64 yards rushing, and Enrique Davis, with twelve carries to Bolden's four, would only manage seven additional yards.
Bolden was the only Rebel back who showed the ability to pick up yards when the defense knew he was going to be running, and he made the offensive line's job much easier by finding holes quickly and getting to open space. Without him, the playcalling didn't change, but the execution did. Davis' twelve carries (most of which were up the middle) gained him 28 yards. That's good for 2.3 yards per carry. The ground game simply couldn't get going with Davis carrying the ball. Once the Rebels couldn't run, they couldn't win.
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Good list. I'd also suggest the back-to-back penalties we did or didn't earn late in the game.
Seemed to be moving the ball toward FG range and draining clock up until that point. Couple of plays later, it’s 14-13 BYU.
The 2 bad things that happened
The fumble and the Bolden’s injury were not anyone on our sideline’s fault. Even the weather seemed like it was on BYU’s side. I’m not pleased w/ the outcome but the young guys can overcome this loss w/ experience and get better. honestly, I’m looking forward to Georgia.
You're definitely looking forward.
Did you forget the 2 games in between?
Ole Miss: #1 in partying, mediocre in athletics and academics since 1848.
Big plays
The holding calls and the failure to call interference on the late pass to Brassell were huge. The holding calls were not visible on TV. Regarding certain interference, the defender never looked back at the ball but grabbed Brassell’s arm, preventing him from getting to the ball. The NCAA should investigate, because someone possibly fattened his bank account.
Oh
And HOLY JESUS, when there was under a minute left and the BYU defender ran down the hash mark 10 yards with the ball while the clock ticked down, and then we get a delay of game penalty? The fuck?
"We’re going to turn this team around 360 degrees." –Jason Kidd
by Mexter Dccluster on Sep 6, 2011 1:10 PM EDT reply actions
That’s the one thing that I couldn’t understand about the game. I wanted to murder the officials for that one.
Only two people in the world have the easy-flow elbow, and one of them happens to be named Bruce Willis...
by 7thYearJunior on Sep 6, 2011 1:44 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Not a game changer but more of a fitting conclusion
to the poor performance of the offensive line. It was one of the final plays of our last desperate drive. I don’t remember the back, but he went left and appeared to have some running room, only to be the victim of one of the worst blocks I have ever seen. It was either number 76 or 78, who completely missed the block and allowed the one guy standing in the way of a big first down to make the tackle. I was in the student section and I completely lost it…
Ole Miss was lucky to even be in this game. BYU had costly penalties (speaking of which no penalties were even called against Ole Miss until 5 minutes left in the game, bogus), horrible special teams play, moved the ball between the thirties and then missed a point blank field goal, a pick six when they were about to score. Ole Miss didn’t score a singe offensive TD, managed 64 yards rushing and didn’t ultimately deserve to win with the stupid play call to drop back on 3rd and 27 from deep within their own territory. This is a down year for the SEC. LSU and Bama will breeze through their schedules. SEC is way over-hyped. Every year they have two awesome teams, the rest mediocre, just like all the other conferences. almost losing to Utah State at home? Losing to BYU and Georgia getting handled in basically a home game by Boise State. yawn.
Are you that surprised by the Boise State vs. Georgia game?
Georgia is barely the second best team in their division, which itself is a division far weaker than its counterpart (meaning Georgia is probably fifth, at best, in the SEC). They lost to a top-5 team. What’s the big whoop about that?
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by The Ghost of Jay Cutler on Sep 6, 2011 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions
I've heard "this is a down year for the SEC"
for each of the last 3 years in both baseball and football. Meanwhile, the SEC has won the national championship in both baseball and football for each of the past 3 years.
“This is a down year for Ole Miss” may be a more accurate statement, but I’m not sure our “up years” are so great, either.
But, as for the SEC as a whole, 5 straight national championships…yawn.
Ole MISS is in a sad state of affairs. Even with the refs on their side they can’t get it done. BYU has a brand new offensive coordinator, first time ever calling a game, sophomore QB, playing on the road obviously out of synch and they still get it done on Ole Miss. Isn’t there another Manning son, or grandson or something on the way?
"We’re going to turn this team around 360 degrees." –Jason Kidd
by Mexter Dccluster on Sep 6, 2011 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions
I think I hear a baby crying...
it’s got to be one of your 24, go round up wife #5 and get her on the stick.
If the Refs were on our side
then I’m a fucking Mormon.
"We’re going to turn this team around 360 degrees." –Jason Kidd
by Mexter Dccluster on Sep 6, 2011 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Question
Did CJ see the playing field at all Sunday? I didn’t see him, but was wondering if anyone else did? Also was it me or did Mike Marry look extrmely slow?
by RufusFrenchForHeisman on Sep 6, 2011 1:40 PM EDT reply actions
If Bolden doesn't get hurt,
We win the game. The offense wouldve had more manageable 3rd downs and the YPC wouldve been much higher. Also, with more TOP our defense isn’t so gassed at the end of the game and doesn’t give up those long drives. I still can’t believe that the best offensive and defensive get serious injuries in the same year…
by p-willie'snewtubes on Sep 6, 2011 2:11 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
I wouldn't believe it either
but then again, WAOM.
"We’re going to turn this team around 360 degrees." –Jason Kidd
by Mexter Dccluster on Sep 6, 2011 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions
This isn't really one thing that happened
But did any one notice how little we blitzed on Saturday.
Tyrone’s MO the last few years has been to bring heavy pressure nearly every play. It worked the first few years when we had an NFL defensive backfield. However last year, we had a bunch of sacks, but still the terrible defense.
On Saturday, the blitzes were much more spread out and we protected our defensive backs more. Obviously, there was the Temple blitz and Pendleton came in on one corner blitz, but I can’t think of many other called blitzes.
I think this lead to the “bend, but don’t break” defense that we saw Saturday and I liked it.
on blitzing
Teams who blitz alot usually can’t compete head up and have to take risks in order to stop the other team. Our defense proved to be up to the challenge against BYU. Let’s hope they can tighten it up against a more aggressive running team.
by ramblinrebel1 on Sep 6, 2011 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Part of that
is that Heap mostly took three step drops and we’re not going to get to him quickly enough.
I remember some fans cussing Cutcliffe in 2003 vs Texas Tech for not blitzing more, but those fans didn’t seem to notice the three yard splits by the OL or the fact that the QB was about ten yards behind the line. We couldn’t stunt LBs through those gaps because the Rbs would slide to their spot for an easy completion.
The biggest factor to me was the horrid offensive playcalling
BYU gifts us red zone field position on our first possession and Brandon Bolden isn’t involved in the first two plays, one of which is a run up the middle, AKA Jeff Scott’s fumble.
Then, you’ve got Brunetti unable to establish a rhythm as the play calls basically screamed “We don’t trust you, at all, so just continue to hand off up the middle on 9-man fronts.” Hist first throws came on 3rd and long. Why not some underneath throws to establish some confidence or something?
The list goes on and on. The play calling was atrocious and directly led to the scoop and score
I listen for the voice inside my head... nothin... I'll do this one myself
inexperience dbs
It’s really dangerous to blitz w/ inexperienced dbs.
Very true.
I can see Nix cutting them loose a little more considering how well the corners played on their islands. Marcus Temple looked like a completely different player than he did last year.
by p-willie'snewtubes on Sep 6, 2011 2:36 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
You mean like when he got beat in the end zone by a freshman receiver??
He did play better overall…but gave up one when we could least afford it.
Don't quote me, boy...'cuz I ain't said $@#%
by ThemRebsIsHellDontThey on Sep 6, 2011 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree made ONE big mistake,
But I imagine almost anybody would have made one given the amount of snaps he played. I mean he had damn near perfect coverage on that 30 or so yard pass play he gave up.. It was just an NFL throw and catch by BYU. He, along with the other DBs, really impressed me. The D just has to have more of a pass rush… Carlos Thompson should help with that.
by p-willie'snewtubes on Sep 6, 2011 3:42 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
The route was a post-corner.
Great timing and accuracy on the throw. I didn’t like Temple starting, just from last year, but he had a good game. Looking forward to more out of him this year.
But overall, what about Brishen Matthews at safety and rotating Sawyer back to corner?
Not knocking what you are saying but
I think it is fair to point out that Scott had gained 7-8 yards on that play before fumbling.
This Rebel squad is looking for an identity. Especially now with Bolden out.
The playcalling is always horrid when it doesnt work. Still, i cant identify what we’re trying to do on offense. Just grind it out i guess….looks like the coaches read too much into Phil Steele’s OL rankings. Ultimately, we had to put the game in the hands of inexperienced QBs & WRs. With that considered, I’m not surprised by the outcome. Leadership from the sideline is a concern. Nutt has me perplexed.
Don't quote me, boy...'cuz I ain't said $@#%
by ThemRebsIsHellDontThey on Sep 6, 2011 3:24 PM EDT reply actions
Same ole Rebels
After 35 years of watching the Rebels I can say one thing for sure. It doesn’t get any easier watching us snatch defeat from our competitors grasp at the end of ball games.
As I sat nervously thinking this would be a game won by the defense with their best performance since the 2009 season, I couldn’t help but think we had missed too many opportunities earlier in the game and those would cost us most certainly.
As I watched in amazement as the BYU players dove helmet first into our ball carriers I wondered what had happened to the rules to protect the players. Even, after watching a BYU player knock himself out cold, I wondered why it didn’t warrant a penalty. Good thing our players head wasn’t in his helmet as it flew into the air.
But long last after watching BYU finally score a TD against a very exhausted defense I could see the ending as plain as the nose on my face. Only down 6 points BYU should have no trouble gettng the final TD to close the door on another typical Ole Miss football chapter.
As I fought that feeling a cheered for my Rebels, once again the penalty from nowhere sprung up to hold our Rebels down. As they fought with all their might to overcome that set back, once again another lesson in life for the Rebels did appear.
Not wanting to give in to our normal trend of allowing last second comebacks we attempted to over come those two penalties with a pass. The BYU coaching staff must have read Houston’s lips when he heard the play call. “There goes my job for sure!” They knew it to be a pass and so they broke free and once again snatched victory from our dear Rebels clutches.
We will always be the team to lose those games, we have been on the wrong side of all the major battles. It is our fate to live and die as Rebels.
It definitely felt like typical Ole Miss football to me too.
Ole Miss: #1 in partying, mediocre in athletics and academics since 1848.
When will people wake up
and realize that shitty coaching is the reason for “typical Ole Miss football”?
No player development, over rated recruiting and an offense that is less sophisticated than most high school teams??
No, that isn't my argument
My argument is that we have shitty coaching right now. Saying bush league would be an insult to bush league.
Typical Ole Miss football didn't just get started the last few years.
Ole Miss: #1 in partying, mediocre in athletics and academics since 1848.
by Wild Rebel on Sep 6, 2011 9:43 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
Confirmed.
Red Cup Rebellion - An Ole Miss Blog
Turns out that we're not very good at football.
by Juco All-American on Sep 6, 2011 9:59 PM EDT up reply actions
As long as we have a new cool mascot
that doesn’t offend anyone, then I don’t care if we ever win another game.
Go Bears.
"We’re going to turn this team around 360 degrees." –Jason Kidd
by Mexter Dccluster on Sep 7, 2011 12:28 AM EDT up reply actions
Seems plausible.
You really focus on our mascot. It is obviously very important to you.
People bitching about vanilla playcalling
but Bolden had a 6 yards per carry avg until he got hurt, and no one knows how many snaps Stoudt got last week, (but he is a very nice surprise nice touch on the ball, and good enough arm for some deep throws). So the gameplan pretty much got flushed when Bolden and Davis got hurt. Granted we screwed the pooch on the last series and should have punted, but I think Nutt was giving the offense every chance to win the game, just didn’t work out. This team gives great effort and as long as they continue to to that things will turn around. We still can get to six wins and go to a bowl. Great game by Secondary and defense.
by hotstove97 on Sep 7, 2011 12:12 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Agreed
Considering changing my name to RebelBlackBearsConception
by ColRebsLastBreath on Sep 8, 2011 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions
From a BYU FAN
Don’t be so down on your Rebels! Sure Jake Heaps is a true Sophomore QB, but he was the top rated QB in his recruiting class, and he finished the season on fire last year, and was very accurate.
Jake was off against the Rebels because of how your defense was playing. Your coaches had done their homework on him (he will often stare down an intended target) Charles Sawyer’s pick was Good Coaching and a talented player listening. On a receiver that wide open, Jake could have put some air under it and led him for a sure six, even staring him down, but that is not Jake. He has a rocket arm and throws bullets, and your coaches new it. It cost a 14 point swing! I hope Texas was not watching.
Sure, Nick dropped a sure touchdown pass, but he burned a good secondary. A foot higher on that pass and Rebels win, in spite of playing most of the game without your “go to” running back. He is fun to watch, I hope he and your other injured players are back soon
The refs were allowing the corners and safeties to play with a lot of contact. It cost your receiver a good chance at a game changing reception. On the other side of the coin, your defensive backs were smart enough to take full advantage of the contact being allowed in their coverage. That also is a sign of good coaching and intelligent players.
I wouldn’t write Ole Miss off this season because of a 1 point loss to BYU. I saw an improved
defense that is gaining confidence. You will get Brandon back. Feed him and keep tossing the ball to Nick and Ferbia Allen, and I will be watching Ole Miss make some waves THIS year. Good luck this week. I’ll be watching.
Hifen malfunction
Don’t know what’s up with the hifen glitch on safari. I hope to see Brandon and your other injured players play again soon. I thought Ole Miss had class. I’ll be watching. It would be great to have a rematch.
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