A week after shutting down Nick Fitzgerald and Mississippi State’s dynamic offense in a convincing 49-10 win, Auburn will face another test this week as Shea Patterson and the Ole Miss Rebels visit the Plains.
With the Rebels self-imposing a postseason ban for 2017 after the scandal that led to the resignation of former head coach Hugh Freeze, the focus has shifted away from their on-field play. But there is no denying that Patterson still poses a threat to the Auburn defense.
Tasked with replacing Chad Kelly, who ranked third in Ole Miss history in both passing yards and touchdowns before the Broncos picked him in the seventh round of the NFL Draft, Patterson has had an up-and-down season thus far.
Patterson threw for over 400 yards and five touchdowns in two consecutive games to start the season. Those games are easy to write off as they came against South Alabama and UT-Martin, but Patterson has shown flashes of the play that made him the number one pro-style quarterback recruit in the 2016 class.
He’s considered a pro-style quarterback, but Patterson can make plays with his legs as well as his arm. He wasn’t afraid to get out of the pocket in the Rebels’ season opener against South Alabama. Patterson finished with just six rushing yards in that game, but he evaded rushers with ease and often ran circles around the defense as he searched for a running lane or an open receiver.
His ability to scramble paid dividends on this touchdown pass. The play is a run-pass option, and Patterson sells the play fake perfectly and finds A.J Brown over the middle for a 71-yard score.
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Patterson has drawn comparisons to Johnny Manziel, and after he led Ole Miss to an upset of eighth-ranked Texas A&M last November, it was easy to see why.
Trailing 21-6 through three quarters, Patterson and the Rebels outscored the Aggies 23-7 in the fourth as Ole Miss pulled out the win 29-28. The comeback began on a play that had to look familiar to Texas A&M fans.
Facing 3rd and goal at the Texas A&M 6 yard line, Patterson rolls to his right before cutting back the other way and throwing across his body to the wide open receiver for the touchdown. Play-by-play announcer Brent Musberger even alluded to Manziel during the play.
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His most recent outing was certainly one to forget. The Shreveport, Louisiana native was 14-for-29 for 165 yards and two interceptions as Alabama blew out the Rebels 66-3 at Bryant Denny Stadium.
Some of the poor play could be due to Alabama’s vaunted defense, but Patterson’s first interception was strictly on him. Facing 3rd and 4 from his own 30 in the first quarter, Patterson attempts to throw a quick slant route for the first down, but his throw is well ahead of his intended receiver and is easily picked off and returned for a touchdown.
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Patterson didn’t look much better in the second half. Trailing 52-3 in the third quarter, interim head coach Matt Luke elected to go for it on 4th and 11 at the Alabama 32 yard line. Under pressure, Patterson rolled to his right and threw off his back foot, underthrowing his intended receiver as his pass was easily picked off by Levi Wallace for his second interception of the game.
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Patterson—who wears number 20 (most quarterbacks wear Nos. 1-19) after his late grandfather, who wore the number with the NBA’s Detroit Pistons—clearly has the talent to give the Auburn defense a lot of trouble, it will just be a matter of which Shea Patterson shows up.
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