After showing up a little late the Rebel defense actually did its part. Samford helped by missing a 39 yard field goal on their opening drive but after that the defense seemed to clamp down. The only points they allowed came on short fields after Jevan Snead interceptions. The defense only allowed 198 yards of offense and which would have been less had they had three penalties result in first downs for Samford. The linebacker play was still very spotty as Ashlee Plamer was the only one to get 4 tackles. Allen Walker apparently impressed the coaches because he was subsequently moved to first team after the game. Cornell and Tony Fein each only had three tackles. Peria Jerry had a monster of a game and looks to be full speed again. He was second in tackles with 6 including two for a loss. The defensive line again had a great day holding Samford to 41 total rushing yards for a 1.8 yards per rush average. They will need more of that against Vandy.
Lionel Breaux got in the game and caught three passes and looks to give the Rebels another receiving threat. Marshay Green had a big 77 yard punt return that sealed the victory in the forth quarter. He's one of the better return men in the conference and is playing better in the backfield. But the running game was the story of the day. All three running backs scored touchdowns. Six different backs carried the ball for over two hundred yards. Eason, Davis, Bolden, Devin Thomas, and Dexter all averaged over five yards per carry. Couldn't ask any more than that from the running game. The line was performing well for every back and didn't give up a sack for either Snead or Billy Tapp.
THE DUDE
Eason had the big day for the Rebels and gets the game ball. He rushed for 71 yards with a 5.2 yards per carry average and a touchdown. He remains the best blocker of the running backs and the best receiver. After two long years he is finally getting his chance to shine in the offense. THE BAD
The passing game struggled this week other than a few great passes to Breaux and Burnell Mike Wallace. According to Kent Austin Jevan's mechanics were off again causing him to over throw a lot of his passes. His two interceptions proved costly as they lead to all of Samford's points. Especially getting intercepted in the first quarter on his own 37 yard line that gave Samford a ten yard field to score.
However it does seem like a lot of the praises that Snead drew just last week were a bit premature. He has to find a way to get more consistent. Instead the running game and the passing game are alternating weeks of carrying the offense. If they ever got together and played at their top level the Rebels could have one of the top offenses in the country. Instead with the lack of balance they can't find a way to score 35 points against Samford.
THE UGLY
The failure of the passing game and the lack of passing touchdowns were one of the biggest reasons the Rebels only could score 34 points. There should have been a lot more touchdown celebrations in the endzone against a Div. I AA team like Samford. The last time Samford played a Div. I A team they had 69 points scored on them. And that team fired their coach after the season. The Rebels at least should have scored 50 points on them. Actually embarrassing not to and shows that this team has a long way to go before the return to the top of the SEC. Bowl teams don't beat Samford by 24 points. The Fox's rebuilding process is going to take more than one off season thanks to the complete lack of depth on the team. They may still sneak into a lower tier bowl thanks to the lack of offenses in the SEC but the Rebels have to make a lot of improvements as the season goes on and they have start facing SEC defenses. Auburn, MSU, Florida, LSU, Bama, South Carolina, and Vanderbilt all have much tougher defenses.
It'll take a much greater effort to score a point on those defenses than it took to score 34 on Samford.
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