Ole Miss' NFL 'preseason' approach to the first fall scrimmage allowed its offensive line to experiment
Nick Broeker saw some action early in Ole Miss’ first scrimmage of fall camp but then quickly found his way to the sideline the rest of the afternoon.
There is not an injury concern with Broeker but he was part of a decision by head coach Lane Kiffin to treat Saturday’s lone open scrimmage of camp more like game one of the NFL preseason.
Players did not play due to being held out or having small injuries that were not worth the risk of agitating further with the season starting in three weeks.
“We didn’t play a game today so there are certain people we didn’t play the whole time,” Kiffin said. “Some maybe that were hurt that we didn’t push to play where maybe we would’ve in a game.
“Kind of like a preseason game a little bit the way we looked at it. Kind of a pro mentality so you saw some guys not play or play very little. Kind of like you would in a preseason versus playing them all the way through.”
Broeker fell in the category of Kiffin and Ole Miss offensive line coach Jake Thorton knowing what they have in their veteran guard.
That did not mean Broeker would not have preferred to be on the field.
“It’s kind of weird (not playing) honestly,” Broeker said after Saturday’s scrimmage. “It’s a little bit of a different perspective, honestly, from not being the one competing. But it’s kind of cool perspective. It’s a new perspective to see and kind of have another set of eyes to kind of have things to look at.”
Those eyes of Broeker got to see a lot of the Ole Miss reserves along the offensive line get some valuable snaps.
Jayden Williams and Jalen Cunningham were in as part of Saturday’s strategy and partly due to an unexpected injury.
Ole Miss newcomer Mason Brooks went down in the mid portions of the 90-minute scrimmage and did not return. No update was provided, as those usually are few and far between. Williams moved in at right tackle for Brooks and Cunningham took over the left guard spot for Broeker.
“I think that’s kind of been the best part (of camp) so far is we got a lot of really good depth and a lot of young talent,” Broeker said. “Jayden Williams has stepped up and played just phenomenal. So has Micah Pettus. They’ve both done a really good job. … That’s been kind of the coolest thing is seeing a lot of the other guys step up besides (the starting) five.”
Ahead of Saturday’s scrimmage Kiffin noted the importance the first one in fall camp is.
There were plenty of things for the third-year head coach to evaluate on film. A lot of it positive and some not so good.
Broeker echoed Kiffin’s sentiments of what Saturday meant to this team and how it can propel them into the final two weeks of preseason camp.
“Scrimmages are a huge part of (the coaches) evaluation process,” Broeker said. “That’s something we know as players because it’s the closest thing to a game we can get right now. Practices are kind of scripted and games we’re moving the ball.”
You can see all of Nick Broeker’s post-scrimmage comments below.
