QB1 Film Room: Rebels come up just short against the Tide

Editor’s Note: Welcome to the QB1 Film Room where David Walker, former four-year starting NCAA quarterback and two-year captain, takes a look at the Rebels’ most recent offensive performance. David still holds the record for the NCAA’s youngest starting quarterback — as he played his entire freshman year as a 17-year-old — and was the first quarterback awarded Conference Freshman of the Year in college football.

OXFORD, Miss. — Ole Miss lost a heartbreaker to Alabama, 30-24, Saturday in Vaught-Hemingway. What a tough way to lose a big football game — knocking on the door, first and ten on the ‘Bama 14-yard line.

I’ve been there and it was against none other than Monte Kiffin’s Arkansas defense in 1977. Arkansas scored with two minutes to play to go up 26-20 but missed the extra point. Even though we’d never practiced a single 2-minute offense situation in my entire college career at A&M, we were able to move from our 20 to the Arkansas 15 through the air.

Unfortunately, we then mismanaged the clock due to a botched timeout, and ultimately had one play left with six seconds to go. At that point, a questionable play-call came in from the sidelines and our ensuing throw into the end zone was intercepted.

It was gut-wrenching.

As Lane Kiffin said after the Rebels’ loss to the Tide, “You’ve got the ball in your hands with a chance to beat Alabama and it doesn’t happen. We’ll remember this game for the rest of our lives.”

He’s exactly right.

Let’s look at some QB plays from this one.

Here on our first play, the Rebels line up with a tight trips formation to the short side of the field. They motion receiver Jordan Watkins left, check the handoff to the right, and quarterback Jaxson Dart finds wide receiver Jonathan Mingo on a corner route for 16 yards and a first down.

With the game still scoreless, Alabama lines up in press man-to-man on wide receiver Malik Heath to the right, and it’s the hot route go route. Heath makes an outstanding play on the ball for a big 31-yard gain.

Now up 7-0 in the second quarter, Dart sees the same man coverage on Heath to his right, and again hits the same hot-route throw.

Now tied at 17, the Rebels line up in a tight double slot set and send Heath, who is lined up as the slot receiver on the right, down the seam for a huge reception.

Next is one of the worst, most violent, most viciously-executed face-mask grabs you’ll ever see in your lifetime. The quarterback is lucky his neck wasn’t broken. Forget the fake apologies, the Tide’s Dallas Turner will be back for more later.

Next we have Mingo in motion on the left and a quick behind-the-line throw for six points. The Rebels take a 24-17 lead now midway through the third quarter.

It’s looking good here, down 27-24 with eight minutes to play, with the corner route to Mingo up top. This would be the final big play from the Rebels’ passing offense, but the controversy was yet to find a conclusion.

After a fourth-down sack, this was the treatment that quarterback Dart received from the same Alabama player who had earlier tried to rip his head off.

So what’s ahead? Back-to-back 10-win regular seasons for the first time in Ole Miss history is a strong possibility. The Rebels are favored by 3 at Arkansas and will also be favored in the Egg Bowl. That’s pretty solid stuff for a “rebuilding” year.

Hotty Toddy!