Practice Update

Below is the UMAA practice report from Saturday's workout. Coach O gave the team Sunday off. They took the day off to rest and go to church. He divided up the coaches to go to different churches and invite members of the team along today. I have seen other universities do this. I think it is a great thing and something members of the community appreciate.

OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss took to the game field of Vaught-Hemingway Stadium Saturday for the first time this preseason, as football two-a-day practices continue.

The Rebels worked out for two hours under the morning sun on the practice fields, before moving over to the stadium for a mid-afternoon scrimmage, the first of camp.

“We had an outstanding scrimmage this afternoon,” said third-year head coach Ed Orgeron. “Overall, I was really pleased with the effort out there. I thought the guys really responded well. They had a great attitude. There was good mental toughness out there. We wanted to put the guys out there, and let them perform like it was a game.”

Earlier in the week, 6-foot-1 freshman Lionel Breaux shifted from defense to offense, and on Saturday, the New Orleans native impressed his new coach on specials teams and at wide receiver.

“Lionel Breaux showed out in the return game and had a return for a touchdown,” Orgeron said. “He also had a couple catches and one for a touchdown. He looked really good and a lot better on offense than he looked on defense. He stepped up, and I think we found us a playmaker at that position. I’m excited about that.

“He looks natural (at wide receiver). He is such a hard worker, a great young man and a competitor. He’s definitely going to play this year. He should be one of our top players.”

Orgeron said the usual cast stood out on offense, and senior tailback Bruce Hall enjoyed a particularly productive afternoon.

“Robert (Lane) caught some balls, and BenJarvus (Green-Ellis) had an ok today,” said Orgeron. “Bruce had a better day today. I thought Bruce Hall ran the ball hard and made some big plays.

“Marshay (Green) had some good catches. With Robert Hough, these guys are all starting to make plays.”

Seth Adams took all of the first-team snaps at quarterback and earned some confidence from Coach O.

“He had the better day today,” Orgeron said “Seth looked okay, not great. He operated. There is a couple of balls he threw real well and a couple of mistakes he made.

“Seth is starting to pull away with the deal.”

On the offensive front, Michael Oher also earned Orgeron’s praise.