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The Lowdown 2006 Schedule Coach: Ed Orgeron (2nd season, 3-8) 2005 record: 3-8 SEC finish: 1-7 (t-5th West) 2005 I-A offensive rankings: Rushing: 116th (73.3 ypg) Passing: 75th (208.5 ypg) 2005 I-A defensive rankings: Rushing: 64th (153.3 ypg) Passing: 14th (179.4 ypg) Date Opponent Sept. 2 Memphis Sept. 9 at Missouri Sept. 16 at Kentucky Sept. 23 Wake Forest Sept. 30 Georgia Oct. 7 Vanderbilt Oct. 14 at Alabama Oct. 21 at Arkansas Oct. 28 Auburn Nov. 4 Northwestern State Nov. 18 at LSU Nov. 25 Mississippi State Depth Chart: Offense 4 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. WR 2 Burnell Wallace So. 32 Keith Houston Sr. WR 81 Carlos Suggs Sr. 31 Michael Hicks Fr. WR 21 Marshay Green Fr. 84 J.D. Lawhorn Fr. LT 75 Michael Oher So. 78 David Traxler So. LG 73 Andrew Wicker Sr. 71 Reid Neely Fr. C 60 Thomas Eckers Jr. 51 Corey Actis Jr. RG 79 Maurice Miller So. 52 James McCoy Sr. RT 50 Darryl Harris Jr. 76 Marcus Cohen Jr. TE 15 Robert Lane Jr. 85 Robert Hough Jr. QB - Brent Schaeffer Jr. 19 Seth Adams Jr. RB 6 BenJarvus Green-Ellis Jr. 22 Mico McSwain So. Depth Chart: Defense 5 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. DE 98 Peria Jerry So. 56 Viciente DeLoach Jr. DT 97 Hayward Howard So. 90 Brandon Jenkins Jr. NT 54 Jeremy Garrett Jr. - Jerrell Powe Fr. DE 95 Chris Bowers So. 45 LeRon King Fr. SLB 26 Garry Pack Jr. 41 Brandon Thomas So. MLB 38 Patrick Willis Sr. 42 Robert Russell So. WLB 10 Quentin Taylor So. 33 Antonio Turner So. CB 28 Nate Banks Jr. 12 Dustin Mouzon So. CB 3 Trumaine McBride Sr. 5 Terrell Jackson So. SS 13 Jamarca Sanford So. 4 Bryan Brown Sr. FS 20 Charles Clark Sr. 37 Gary Albury Fr. Special Teams Ps. No. Player Yr. Ps. No. Player Yr. K 17 Will Moseley Sr. P 36 Rob Park So. KR 2 Burnell Wallace So. PR 2 Burnell Wallace So.

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Year One of the Ed Orgeron experiment at Ole Miss left much to be desired. But by the end of January, many Rebels fans could see their desires being satisfied. Maybe.

That depends greatly on how quarterback Brent Schaeffer, the opening-day starter at Tennessee as a true freshman in 2004, delivers in his second go-round in the SEC.

Orgeron's first season at Ole Miss - in his first head-coaching job - ended at 3-8 with a miserable offense that ranked at or near the bottom of the SEC in most categories. Orgeron announced the firing of offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone just two days after the Rebels lost 35-14 to Mississippi State in the regular-season finale.

Offensive line coach George DeLeone and tight ends coach Matt Luke left the staff, and in January Orgeron hired two former Miami assistants - offensive coordinator Dan Werner and line coach Art Kehoe.

Werner is expected to install a multiple Miami-type offense with balance between the run and pass and a heavy tight end influence that was missing last year.

In February, Orgeron landed Schaeffer, the nation's top junior college quarterback, and a recruiting class ranked No. 15 in the nation by Scout.com. With pitiful production from his 2005 group and no returning quarterbacks with game experience, Orgeron wasted little time in announcing a starter. "There will be no quarterback controversy. Brent Schaeffer is our quarterback," he said.

OFFENSE

For the Rebels it hinges on two words - line and Schaeffer. Ole Miss fans have high expectations for their prized signee. He spent time as the Tennessee starter in 2004 before losing the job and transferring to the College of the Sequoias in California. But Ole Miss coaches - and those from many other schools who sought him last winter - believe Schaeffer is the real deal.

Even the greatest quarterbacks must have a little help from their line, and those under center for the Rebels got precious little help last year. That area is expected to be better. It's hard to imagine it not being better.

The passing game will depend on unproven receivers; no real hotshot emerged in the spring to create images of a "can't miss" guy at the position.

If the receivers are uninspiring, however, there is reason to get excited about the running game. Junior tailback BenJarvus Green-Ellis sat out last season after transferring from Indiana. He would have been a difference-maker in 2005, even behind that offensive line, because he is a powerful, straight-ahead, between-the-tackles runner.

Green-Ellis' strength offers a nice complement to the speed and vision of raw-but-talented sophomore Mico McSwain. Former quarterback Bruce Hall and freshman Cordera Eason will make this a deep position for Ole Miss.

DEFENSE

Middle linebacker Patrick Willis is to this 4-3 defense what Eli Manning was to the Ole Miss offense in 2003. Willis missed most of two games with injuries last year and sat out spring drills while recovering from offseason foot surgery. With him the Rebel defense can be pretty salty. Without him, there are plenty of question marks.

The Rebels must replace all four defensive linemen, the most notable losses being a pair of productive tackles, McKinley Boykin and Michael Bozeman. Sophomore Peria Jerry got a little experience at tackle last year but has been moved to end because Orgeron, who serves as his own defensive coordinator, wanted a bigger player at the position. Junior college transfer Hayward Howard and true freshman Jerrell Powe, if he qualifies, could make an impact at tackle.

Seniors Trumaine McBride (cornerback) and Charles Clark (free safety) are both fourth-year starters. Sophomore Jamarca Sanford, at strong safety, is the team's hardest hitter.

SPECIALISTS

There were plenty of candidates for a kicking job that was never won last season, and all the participants are back. Strong-legged Will Moseley will again handle kickoffs, and freshman Joshua Shene could win the job in August.

There are no experienced game-breakers in kick or punt returns.

FINAL ANALYSIS

If the Rebels can block anybody, they can develop into a solid running team. That should be enough to give Schaeffer the breathing room he needs. Schaffer's experience in the league and an infusion of talent in the right places make this an offense capable of showing dramatic improvement. Of course, it's hard to be worse than the oOle Miss offense that scored only 15 touchdowns a year ago.

The defense has a chance to be good with Willis as the leader. Orgeron showed he could coach a pretty good defense last year.

But Willis' health is a key, and big contributions from new tackles would also make things go much more smoothly.