Will Orgeron's new ideas get Ole Miss in end zone?

On football Saturdays at Ole Miss, The Grove is jam-packed, jowl to haunch, with tailgating revelers.

Nearby, the end zone at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium is considerably less crowded.

There’s no mystery as to why Ole Miss has won a combined seven games in Ed Orgeron’s first two seasons. The Rebels struggle to score.

In that regard, 2006 was actually an improvement on Orgeron’s first season. The Rebs averaged 15.7 points a game, up from 13.5 in 2005.

“We have new ideas,’’ Orgeron said at SEC Media Days last week. “Our coaches have worked very hard in the spring in research and development to tweak some things on offense.’’

Something a little stronger than “tweaking” might be in order. Last fall the Rebels scored in single digits in four games. They failed to score a touchdown twice.

They were last in the SEC in total offense, scoring offense and passing offense.

“We installed a couple of new plays that I think will enable our receivers to catch the football and get yards after the catch,’’ Orgeron said.

The new plays won’t help A.J. Jackson. The top junior-college receiver in the country failed to qualify academically after giving Ole Miss a signing coup in the spring.

And as to who will be throwing passes, the jury is still out.

Incumbent Brent Schaeffer has fallen behind former walk-on Seth Adams, mostly due to his disappointing demeanor off the field.

Schaeffer, the former freshman starter at Tennessee, is clearly the better talent. However, he trails Adams in the critical areas of providing leadership and earning the coaches’ trust.

“I would like not to play two guys,’’ Orgeron said. “I’m not saying we won’t do it. If we have to, we will.’’

The Rebels have two standout players on offense, but only one of them can score.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis was the third-leading rusher in the SEC last year. Michael Oher might be the best offensive tackle in the conference.

The Rebels are better on defense, which is Orgeron’s specialty. Still, replacing Butkus Award-winner Patrick Willis will be tough.

Orgeron broke ground by hiring a coordinator this year. John Thompson, who has worked at half the schools in the SEC, has a reputation for unorthodox looks.

“I wanted somebody that would allow me to be a head football coach,’’ said Orgeron.

“I’m going to be in the defensive room most of the time. John is going to call all the defenses, but also keep the good things that we’ve done on defense and build off of that.’’

How much time Orgeron will have to build at Ole Miss remains to be seen. The first two seasons have been disappointing for a program that chased off David Cutcliffe, who had fielded winning teams in five of his six seasons.

Orgeron believes he is addressing the two biggest issues — depth and quarterback play.

He has recruited aggressively, thus numbers are on the way up. Jevan Snead, a highly regarded prep quarterback, transferred from Texas and becomes eligible in 2008.

“I really believe we’re building depth,’’ Orgeron said. “We actually have two offensive lines across the board, which is new for us.

“I came here to win, knowing that it’s going to take time. Our goal is always going to be to go to the Sugar Bowl and win it.’’

The Sugar Bowl is a ways off. But the road to get there starts in the end zone.

Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276.