The Daily Journal caught up with Middle Tennessee reporter Jake Bolden of the Blue Raider Podcast to see what he considers the keys to the Ole Miss-Middle Tennessee matchup.
Middle Tennessee was able to win the first game of the Derek Mason Era, though it was a close game. What are the vibes following Week 1?
“It wasn’t the win we wanted, but it was the win we needed”, Mason eloquently said after Saturday’s win against Tennessee Tech. After what appeared to be a blowout after taking an early 21-0 lead, it turned into a wet, wild finish late into Sunday morning after a 2.5 hour lightning delay. Mason isn’t one for excuses, but his team faced adversity in Week 1, and hopes the adage of teams improving the most after Week 1 proves true. The program still has question marks throughout, but optimism is in their air as it is believed Middle Tennessee didn’t run out a 100% healthy roster or dive completely into their offensive playbook.
What is Middle Tennessee’s persona on offense? What do they want to do in the grand scheme of things in a game? And who are the players to watch?
Derek Mason is known for his ground-and-pound approach at Vanderbilt, but has handed the play calling to first-year OC Bodie Reeder who has worked with the likes of Mason Rudolph and Mason Fine in previous stops. We did not see much in Week 1, but redshirt-Junior QB Nick Vattiato has the tools to be a vertical passing threat with SEC-transfer receivers Omari Kelly (Auburn) and Gamarion Carter (Vanderbilt), while returning CUSA’s top receiving tight end Holden Willis. The backfield is run by committee (four players receiving multiple snaps in Week 1), but expect to see Frank Peasant and Jaiden “Flip” Credle to receive a bulk of the carries.
Mason is a very well-regarded defensive mind. What are the characteristics of his defenses, and who are that group’s most important players?
Mason was tasked with rebuilding a defensive line that saw a majority of their 2023 production hit the portal after the coaching change. His D-Line contains athletic edge rushers in James Stewart and Andy Nwaoko who are excellent in run defense. Middle Tennessee’s strongest unit is linebacker when completely healthy – two of the Blue Raiders’ top tacklers from 2023 were sidelined Week 1 with injury. If Parker Hughes and Drew Francis return to Oxford, the front seven gets their best tacklers in space back, which was desperately needed last Saturday. The secondary is banged up, but seventh-year senior Brendon Harris is an experienced safety for the unit.
Is there any positional group you feel Middle Tennessee has an advantage over Ole Miss? What are the most important matchups in that regard?
The only group that may have an advantage is the defensive front seven, and that “advantage” is because of the Rebels transfer-filled O-Line which looked great after just one game together. MTSU generated a good pass rush on Saturday, but broke contain often and allowed the opposing QB to improvise. If DC Brian Stewart can generate the same pressure against Ole Miss, but make adjustments to force Dart to make quicker decisions, that may be MTSU’s best chance for a closer game on Saturday.
If Middle Tennessee is going to keep things close or even score an upset, what has to happen Saturday?
Derek Mason has defeated Lane Kiffin three times in their careers when Mason was the Co-DC at Stanford in 2011 and 2012, and DC at Auburn 2021. That track record would imply the defense has to play a near flawless game given the discrepancies between the rosters, especially the talent at QB and WR, but with Mason’s experience it gives Middle Tennessee a fighting chance. The offensive play calling has to open up to feature a vertical passing threat and/or run the ball effectively enough to control the clock and maintain possession to keep this game from getting out of hand early.
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