When Wyoming players check out of their hotel and start loading the buses for Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Miss., on Saturday, Derrick Martin probably will be the first guy on board. Nobody is more eager to see the Ole Miss Rebels again than the junior cornerback from Denver’s Thomas Jefferson High School.
Last year, in a victory the Cowboys say gave them the confidence to get to the Las Vegas Bowl, Martin had the best performance of his career, breaking up seven passes, making nine tackles and sealing the win with a diving interception in the end zone.
“That was before a lot of people knew about me, and they just threw the ball to my side a lot,” Martin said. “We had a good scheme, played a lot of man-on-man, put a lot of pressure on their quarterback, and that’s what worked to our advantage.”
Suffice to say Ole Miss knows all about Martin this time around.
Ethan Flatt, who threw four interceptions in last year’s game, is now the Rebels’ third-string quarterback, losing the job when Ed Orgeron took over as head coach. But Flatt is expected to be the backup Saturday with the regular starter, Micheal Spurlock, doubtful with a broken finger he suffered last week in a loss to Vanderbilt. He will be replaced in the starting lineup by promising sophomore Robert Lane, a Parade All-American, who is considered a threat running and passing.
“Right now, I’m not real sure which quarterback is going to play,” Martin said. “But their strength is in their wide receivers, so that should be another big test for me.”
Mario Hill, Taye Biddle and Mike Espy are Mississippi’s top receiving threats.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Martin said. “I feel like I’m still waiting for that breakout game (this year). If our defensive line can stop their running game, they’ll have to throw the ball a little more and I’ll be able to step up and have a big game. I need one.”
Martin’s numbers – 11 tackles, two passes defensed, one forced fumble, no interceptions – are less than spectacular, but coach Joe Glenn said Martin is as good as ever.
“He’s special,” Glenn said. “I think the best is yet to come from Derrick this year. I don’t think Derrick has to be special for us to win this game, but it sure would help us if he could have a game similar to what he had last year.”
Judging from their first two games, there has been nothing special about the Rebels’ offense. Their passing game (483 yards, one touchdown) has been a bit more productive than their running game (328 yards, two touchdowns).
“We really don’t know what they’re going to hang their hat on,” Glenn said. “Mario seems to be their go-to guy, but I don’t know that they’ve developed an identity with their offense yet.”
The Rebels may be more dangerous on defense, but they lost a key player there when linebacker Patrick Willis suffered a broken finger in the 31-23 loss to Vanderbilt. Freshman Robert Russell will replace him Saturday.
“I’m looking forward to seeing Robert Lane at quarterback,” Orgeron said. “Robert was very close to starting for us, so I want to see what he can do and I think he will do a good job.”
WYOMING AT MISSISSIPPI
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Wyoming (2-1): Chances are, the Rebels are going to roll their pass coverage toward star receiver Jovon Bouknight, which could mean some more big plays for Michael Ford or Jason Wallace and some little ones for tight end John Wadkowski. Defensively, Wyoming is going to want to put some heat on the Rebels’ new starting quarterback, so defensive end John Flora needs a big game, along with the Cowboys’ linebackers who come on blitzes. After what cornerback Derrick Martin did to them last year, the Rebels probably will try to avoid throwing his way.
Ole Miss (1-1): Backup quarterback Robert Lane will be the focus of the Wyoming defense – and of everybody in the stands at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. He has thrown just six passes in his career, with two completions and an interception. Mike Espy is a threat as a wide receiver and a return specialist. Mario Hill has been the Rebels’ most productive receiver with 14 receptions for 238 yards. Senior defensive tackle McKinley Boykin and linebacker Kelvin Robinson are about as stubborn as they come against the run.
KEY STAT
Once a welcome visitor, Wyoming has won three of its past five games away from home.
KEY FOR WYOMING
The Cowboys are going to need an effective passing game to win. That means they’re going to have to do a good job protecting quarterback Corey Bramlet against a defense that failed to pressure Vanderbilt’s Jay Cutler last week.
KEY FOR OLE MISS
Getting pressure on Bramlet. First-year Rebels coach Ed Orgeron prides himself on a stout defense and needs his “D” to come through on a week they have to go to their backup quarterback.
Joseph Sanchez can be reached at 303-820-5458 or jsanchez@denverpost.com.
