Ole Miss is as healthy as it has been, and perhaps the healthiest it will be in the 22 days it has remaining in the 2018 football season.
The Rebels used the bye week to nurse some nagging injuries to health and are winding down the week of practice in preparation for a South Carolina team coming off of a come-from-behind win over Tennessee.
Injury notes:
The injury situation is pretty much the same as it was to begin the week.
— C.J. Miller and Austrian Robinson are back.
— Victor Evans will be able to play in a limited capacity with what is being called a “chronic” knee injury. Luke said Evans will likely address the injury in the offseason by having it drained or scoped, but will be able to play through it. “He can’t hurt it any worse,” Luke said. “It is just a matter of managing it and getting him through the year.”
— Markel Winters will not play this week, but Luke seemed fairly confident the defensive end will return before the end of the season, and possibly next week. Winters sprained his ankle against Arkansas and a return next weekend in College Station would fall in line with the initial four-week prognosis.
— Josh Clarke has practiced in a limited capacity this week and will likely not be available on Saturday, but could return next week.
Gamecock Balance:
South Carolina ran for 224 yards in the win over Tennessee last week and have seemingly found some form of a consistent headlined by Rico Dowdle, who ran 140 yards in the win over the Volunteers. He has gone over the century mark in three of the Gamecocks’ four wins. The team’s recipe for success has been finding some semblance of balance and limiting the number of times quarterback Jake Bentley has to throw the football. The junior quarterback has seemingly plateaued a bit in a season that most expected Bentley to make a leap forward with two years of experience under his belt.
Bentley has thrown for 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions in six games and his completion percentage has dropped off by nearly four percent from his 65 percent mark in his freshman season. South Carolina’s best chance at success is seemingly having Bentley throw the football around 20 times per game, contingent on having success running the football.
“I think they’ve found success running the football,” Luke said. “I think that has kind of what they’ve hung their hat on with some 12 (two tight end) personnel, not as many run-pass-options. That is still in their game plan, but maybe a little bit more commitment to running the football.”
Ole Miss hasn’t had much success stopping many SEC teams running the football, or anyone at all for that matter. The Gamecocks still have the ability to take the top off of the defense with Deebo Samuel and are can keep the Rebels off balance if they have success running the ball.
Samuel Comparison:
Speaking of Samuel, he is a dynamic receiver and will be a tough match up for Ole Miss in its battered secondary. As far as a comparison to one of the Rebels’ receivers? Luke leaned towards A.J. Brown.
“He’s a big, strong guy,” Luke said. “They are built similar with good, strong hands and make a lot of plays. He puts you in the mindset of A.J. from a build standpoint.”
Knox increased role for the tight ends
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VZ_Vqm1l1A
Benito Jones talks South Carolina, state of the defensive line:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfWZFsbVMnQ
