Freeze, No. 19 Ole Miss trying to find a few ‘dirty yards’

Alabama is led there this year by Jonathan Allen, who already has three sacks.

-CB Marlon Humphrey had two tackles while forcing a fumble and breaking up one pass on Saturday.

Do you think the Alabama Crimson Tide will end up defeating the Ole Miss Rebels this week?

The Bulldogs passing game is not so impressive, just 178 yards this season so far, but Fitzgerald is beginning to draw comparisons to his predecessor Dak Prescott.

“The first two things that jumps off the tape is his athleticism when he’s able to use his legs to create more time to throw or to run”, Freeze said, “and the second thing is his accuracy with the deep ball, which is really impressive”. Considering he’s won two in a row over him, Freeze has that part down pat when it comes to facing Saban and the Crimson Tide. The Rebels’ nickel corner, Conner has the versatility to keep up with slot receivers in coverage and be a physical presence in run support – dual abilities the Rebels struggled to make up for in Conner’s’ absence a season ago.

ALABAMA: The Crimson Tide covered in both of its games to open the season, beating USC 52-6 as a 13.5-point favorite in the opening weekend of the season and Western Kentucky 38-10 as a 27-point fave last Saturday. Bama has allowed teams inside the 20 twice and given up two field goals. “After the season ends, you go through the summer and start preparing for next year”. In the process, Kelly, who was in his first year as a Rebel, became the first Ole Miss quarterback to guide the team to wins against Alabama, Auburn, and LSU in the same season, and the first to lead the Rebels to five victories against ranked opponents in a season. Last year, in particular, the Rebels walked into Alabama territory and defeated them by a final score of 43-37.

Heading into this one, Alabama is looking to clean up some of its issues with penalties.

Alabama opens league play at Vanderbilt on September 23 and then opens the SEC home slate on September 30 against Ole Miss, which begins a run of four straight games against SEC competition before an open date on October 28. As we’ve seen before, though, that doesn’t necessarily mean the Rebels can stay at the top.

“I think (the secondary is) the most they’ve improved on”, Engram said. “It’s just the way that we carry ourselves”.

Although Saban has not publicly designated a starting quarterback, freshman Jalen Hurts appears to be the guy. Hurts backed up by redshirt freshman Blake Barnett. You saw this in the opener against Florida State.

“I remember going insane in there”, Kelly said. “We have to try to get them better”. The Rebels still have aspirations for a Southeastern Conference title and a playoff berth, but there isn’t much more room for error as they begin to navigate the most important games on their schedule. Freeze notes that won’t be easy. It will give the Tide front the extra half second to second it needs to turn Kelly’s quick throws into quick, but contested throws that can lead to turnovers. The Crimson Tide holds a 5-4 edge over the Rebels in nine matchups all-time in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. “(The) Xs and Os is not something we talk about, but he’s still been very helpful to me.

The Tennessee Volunteers prepare for that showdown with Florida by entertaining the Ohio Bobcats, you’d think the Vols would emerge to make next week a showdown of two 3-0 teams.

The top teams can not afford to lose a game.