Rebel Improvement --- Still Enough?

[Po Monkey Lounger]

Before the season began, most Rebel fans had stated that, given the results of the previous two seasons, and the state of the program at the end of last season, we would be satisfied with significant improvement, great effort by the team each game for four quarters, and being competitive, regardless of the ultimate wins and losses. So far this season, I would say that those basic goals have been met.

Now, after a gut wrenching loss to TAM, in a game that we were in position to win, is the above still enough? Or are we ahead of schedule enough to hit the re-set button and expect more?

I am of the latter opinion. I now expect more. Why? Because this Rebel football team is capable of more. These Rebels have demonstrated that the last two games. There is not a game left on the schedule that these Rebels can't win by playing well and finishing. Eliminate the turnovers and unforced mistakes, including coaching mistakes, and this team can win some more games.

The next step against the SEC competition is learning how to win again --- finishing games. No better time to start than next Saturday. IMO, the upcoming Auburn game at home in Oxford is huge for this season. Can the Rebels continue to get better each game? Even after this disappointing loss to TAM? With a win this Sat, 6 total wins and a bowl game would seem within reach. A win Sat could be the catalyst for a winning season.

As I said after the Alabama game, there are no more "moral victories". It's time to just win some games. As I suspected, we have much better talent than all the pre-season poor mouthing by our coaches and fans suggested. The Reb fans need to stay behind and support this team. We are close. Just win baby.

[davidees]

Mississippi is similar to where MSU was back in '09. MSU lost several close games because they didn't know how to close out their opponents.

[stitch]

Mississippi may win every game the rest of the season..........but that game was ONLY close because TAMU had 6.....count them.....6 turnovers. If TAMU only had 1 turnover they win by 4 touchdowns and we are talking about how bad the Bears are. I would be wiling to bet that last night was the first time in the history of NCAA football that a team had 6 turnovers and still won the game.

[champcaller]

no moral victories here. time for W's

[eSJay]

PoMonk - Ole Miss is exactly where I predicted them to be at this point in the season. Listening to the game last night, I thought surely the win was in sight & my pre-season prediction of them was a game off. Instead, SEC newcomer, tamu got its first road win while Ole Miss fans second guessed their coaches 4th down play call. But you & all other rebel fans can rest easy this week knowing that the Auburn Tigers are coming to VHS Saturday & the monkey will jump off y'alls back like they do from tree to tree in the rain forest!

I'll be there so if you'll give me better directions to your tailgate than 2 years ago, I'll stop after the game so you can rub it in

Even though it will not be a quality win since we suck beyond comprehension....a conf win is a conf win & could just be the start you guys need.

[mshunter77]

As stated before the rebels are definetly improved. One thing I have noticed is they do not get a lot of penalties which I have always thought came from good coaching. I still think the defense is very suspect. The turnovers kept them in the game this weekend. The question now is how do they respond to a tough loss. This loss is completely different than the other two, can they rebound or do they start to let down. This next game could be the most crucial game of the year for the Rebs.

[Po Monkey Lounger]

Folks, the turnovers are part of the game. Most of the turnovers by TAM were created by the Rebel defense. This was one area where I thought our D was sorely lacking going into the TAM game. The increased physicality of our D is starting to pay dividends for the Rebs.

MSU has enjoyed a significant positive turnover margin so far this season. So has
Alabama, which scores most of its points off of turnovers. Turnovers are not just good luck. They happen usually due to good defensive play.

Absent the Rebel turnovers in the last two games, the Rebs would likely be 2-0 in the SEC right now. But, we are not because we have not protected the ball well and have not (until the TAM game) created many turnovers by our opposition.

[Smoke68]

Po Monk, I'm in between. This is all hypothetical, since I would love to see UM back down in the dumps sooner rather than later and right now they seem to be on the up swing. But thinking back to the last of the Sherril days, I just wanted my team to play good football. I couldn't hardly stand to watch just because of the mental mistakes, horrible play calling, and flagrant look-at-me attitudes of the players getting 15 yarders every other play. When Croom arrived, I could at least watch it again without being disgusted. We lost a lot of games, but the mentality of that team changed for the better and is something Mullen has continued.

So, if I were an bear fan I'd be pretty satisfied with Freeze right now. He's obviously got a firm transition going on in the attitude department from "lay down and die" to "scrap till the clock reads 0:00". He still needs to improve the team on discipline and not making stupid mistakes even when the players get tired. That has nothing to do with talent and everything to do with coaching and making sure the guys on your team are buying in. If they're not, they to be culled; if not from the team at least from the starting line up until they figure it out.

Wish you guys had given Nutt a few more years

[Po Monkey Lounger]

Esjay, the Auburn game will present a great challenge to this Rebel team, regardless of the performance by Auburn to-date. Auburn has a solid D and some good offensive weapons. I think it will be a very good game, which the Rebs would be fortunate to win (If that happens).

Feel free to come by my tailgate pre-game. I will be entertaining my 5 year old niece at the game Sat, so I will be stone cold sober --- no adult beverages for me this Sat. Taking her to Grove to see team walk through and the band. And then taking her to game, staying for as long as she can hold out. I am predicting an exit after halftime, before the end of 3rd quarter, assuming she has the same genetic traits as the other women in my family.

We will be at our tailgate tent for approx an hour before game time. We'll have some good food, and I'll bet I can round you up a cold beer, bloody mary, or mimosa. My Auburn alum brother-in-law will likely be with me as well.

[ScottyLee]

Mississippi may win every game the rest of the season..........but that game was ONLY close because TAMU had 6.....count them.....6 turnovers. If TAMU only had 1 turnover they win by 4 touchdowns and we are talking about how bad the Bears are. I would be wiling to bet that last night was the first time in the history of NCAA football that a team had 6 turnovers and still won the game.

pretty sure the rebs had 6 in the win over ok state in the cotton bowl, it was for sure at least 5...

no moral victories from me. that sucked. we can beat auburn, we should beat auburn. will we? tbd...

ain't nobody more sick over that one that hugh, i can assure you... that loss cost him 100,000 big ones... he was 100,000 dollars sure the play he called on 4 and an inch would work...

[H20fowlkiller]

no moral victories here. time for W's

Couldn't agree more

[eSJay]

Esjay, the Auburn game will present a great challenge to this Rebel team, regardless of the performance by Auburn to-date. Auburn has a solid D and some good offensive weapons.

Feel free to come by my tailgate pre-game.

With all due respect, if this game presents a challenge to the rebels, you guys are nowhere near where you think you are! Weapons are worthless without ammunition unless the prey gets close enough to knock in the head with the gunstock! Let’s just call Emory Blake an offensive “weapon” & Frazier the “ammunition”. Blake is a 12 gauge Extrema & Frazier is a box of 2 ¾ 20 gauge shells. But that doesn't explain it all. Don’t even get me started! Sorry……had to vent somewhere!


I'll look up your previous directions to your tailgate & try again this year. Had trouble finding the geographical feature that you described before, but I’ll give it another shot if the women folk I’m with are dressed & ready to go in time for a pre-game grove stroll.

[gator]

that game reminded me of many of the ogeron (sp?) era.....hung in tough, played tough, and still found a way to piss it away.

after the last several years i'm sick of "almost" and "should of's"..........i'm ready for some damn wins.

gator

[swamprooter]

It all relates to W's. we can eat all the cheese we want with our Whine, but you got throw a W up.

Ole Miss has lost three games ...all to ranked teams ...1,10 and 22.

I have been going to Ole Miss games for 40 years, I have never seen a Rebel team hit this hard. Never. they basically punished a larger , faster bigger Alabama team physically. a & M was no exception either. 6 turnovers shows me that the rebels are laying some wood on opposing team.I could not be more proud of them. we will slay a giant before season is over. These kids will die for Freeze. It shows on the field.

don't take Auburn and the points is all I got to say

[bigwater]

Reb fans the ship will get righted this weekend