Ole Miss is winding down its week of practice in preparation for a road test at LSU on Saturday evening. Matt Luke, Jordan Ta’amu and Josiah Coatney shared some thoughts concerning health, the upcoming test in Death Valley and more.
Injury Notes:
Not much has changed from Tuesday. Matt Luke confirmed that he expects senior corner Ken Webster to be full go this Saturday. Webster’s been battling a hamstring injury since fall camp. Greg Little and A.J. Brown have practice all week and Jordan Ta’amu said both of his shoulders are totally fine and that he has felt good throwing the fooball all week. Ta’amu noted having Sunday and Monday off helped a lot in terms of soreness and recovery.
Josiah Coatney said he feels healthy and will be ready to go on Saturday. He and fellow defensive tackle Benito Jones had been dealing with minor injuries, but have practiced all week.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPO4-BfTvSE
Ta’amu talks LSU defense:
Ole Miss’ worst offensive performance so far in this young season came against top-ranked Alabama. The Rebels couldn’t get much going, didn’t execute well and the receiving corps were bottled up by the Crimson Tide secondary. Ta’amu knows that he and the offense will have to perform at an entirely different level against an athletic Tigers secondary that has picked off six passes this season.
“We have to make plays and convert on third down,” Ta’amu said. “My goal is to make more accurate throws. I missed some throws in that game. I think we just lost confidence. We got down and I think confidence was a big thing in the way we attacked Alabama. If we just continued to execute, things would have been different.”
LSU is not the same caliber defense as Alabama, but it is certainly one loaded with talent and is every bit as good in the secondary.
“They have speed,” Ta’amu said. “Great outside guys and secondary guys. The difference is their linebackers. They have (Devin) White inside. I think he is physical and strong.”
Ta’amu was 7-for-22 for 133 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions against Alabama, his worst game since taking over the starting job. Ta’amu’s career essentially began against LSU last season when Shea Patterson was injured, a game in which he put together three scoring drives.
Ta’amu was discouraged with his inaccuracy against the Crimson Tide and wants to be sharper this Saturday.
“For me, it is making accurate throws,” Ta’amu said. “For the receivers, it is getting open face and finding space.”
Ta’amu rebounded and threw for 442 yards last week. Aside from the Alabama game, Luke has been pleased with how Ta’amu has run the offense, specifically in terms of his decision making in the run-pass option looks that are vital to Phil Longo’s system.
“If you look at our numbers, it is six catches, seven catches, six catches,” Luke said. “He is spreading it around. He isn’t locked in on one guy. I think he has been good (in RPO’s). Every once in a while, he will try to make a play downfield. But given Scottie’s yards per carry, I think he is making the right decisions and handing it off at the right time because Scottie’s yards per carry is very efficient.”
Kickoff Saturday is set for 8:15 P.M.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIncjL9xQKM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPKE_17J-X8
No Saahdiq Charles, by the way. https://t.co/tyxOq4zM9Q
— Brody Miller (@BrodyAMiller) September 26, 2018
