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    Auburn Football Practice Report Tigers prepare for Ole Miss



    Oct. 29, 2009

    AUBURN - The Auburn football team held its final practice prior to Saturday's game against #22 Ole Miss, working out for more than an hour and a half late Thursday afternoon at the Athletics Complex practice fields.

    Thursday's practice was a situational workout in shorts and helmets with no contact, as the Tigers went over final preparations for Saturday's game. The squad went through all aspects of special teams and also worked against the scout teams.

    Auburn returns home after playing at LSU last week and will be making its daytime debut for the season, kicking off at 11:21 a.m. It will be the 34th meeting between Auburn and Ole Miss with the Tigers holding a 24-9 advantage, including an 11-2 mark in Jordan-Hare Stadium.

    Leading the Rebel offense is quarterback Jevan Snead, who has completed 103-of-194 passes this season for 14 touchdowns. Averaging 205.7 passing yards per game, Snead is also averaging more than one interception per game, throwing 11 picks so far this season.

    But, another player Auburn head coach Gene Chizik said his team will have to look out for is wide receiver Dexter McCluster.

    "He is a very good player. McCluster is one of those guys that is coming into his own," said Chizik. "Not that he hasn't always been a really good player, but now it's not just wildcat and it's not just receiver. Now all of a sudden he is your dotted I tailback a lot of the time.

    "You know, 20-some odd carries worth last week or close to it and if he hits a crease, he's gone. So, that's an added weapon right now that I think they have hit on."

    McCluster has 23 receptions for 335 yards on the season, averaging 47.9 per game, but has also emerged as Ole Miss' second-leading rusher, going for 41.0 yards per game.

    Chizik said having a guy like McCluster in the game opens things up for Snead and the Ole Miss passing game.

    "You have to take pressure off the quarterback because you have to put eight or nine guys in there to defend the run," said Chizik. "They have some really good receivers, and Jevan is a really good quarterback."

     

     

    Averaging 30.1 points and 392.1 yards per game, Ole Miss is ranked fifth in the SEC in total offense. The Rebels also have a top-ranked defense, ranking ninth in the country, allowing only 13.6 points per game. Ole Miss has given up only eight touchdowns so far this season.

    Auburn (5-3, 2-3 SEC) will be playing its first game this season on the newly-created SEC Network as it takes on the nationally-ranked Rebels. Kickoff is slated for 11:21 a.m. CT from Auburn's Jordan-Hare Stadium.

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