Matt Hayes

OXFORD, Miss. - The call was ending earlier this week, when a member of the Ole Miss publicity staff said Jevan Snead wanted to talk next week about misconceptions around campus.

Imagine what they are now.

If Snead thought he was treated unfairly after the first month of the season, if he thought his junior season of huge expectations and Heisman Trophy hype was being judged without all the facts, wait until the nattering nabobs of negativism get a load of this.

If nothing else, his Sporting News diary next week should be fairly interesting.

This time a year ago, Snead turned a slow start into an impressive upset of eventual national champion Florida and a big sophomore season.

On Saturday against Alabama, he turned a slow start to the season into the worst game of his career against, let's face it, the eventual national champion this season in a humiliating 22-3 loss.

Now where do he and Ole Miss go from here?

You remember the Rebels, right? The team that got hot at the right time last season, rolled off six consecutive victories to finish the season and became this season's vogue pick to win the stacked SEC West Division.

By the end of the first half Saturday, Snead had as many completions (two) as interceptions, and the Ole Miss offense was averaging 0.86 yards per play (22 plays, 19 yards). It didn't get much better in a second half that included scant points and a whole lot of ugly.

Snead had a first-round grade by NFL scouts after throwing 16 touchdowns against three interceptions in the final six wins of 2008. Saturday, he was barely completing 50 percent of his passes in the first four games of this season and already had thrown five interceptions. Yet, it is here where we introduce the misconceptions.

The Ole Miss offensive line is patchwork at best, junior college-esque at worst. The first time Snead got a chance to set his feet, square his shoulders and step into a throw was the first play of the second half — which went for 13 yards, six shy of the Rebels' first half total.

Snead's mechanics are shot because he's constantly running from or escaping pressure. Simple throws — swing passes out of the backfield — are adventures because he has lost confidence in the Ole Miss protection.

What's worse, Ole Miss doesn't adjust to what the defense shows, or more important, to its weaknesses. Alabama played Cover 2 the entire game, yet Ole Miss never threw crossing or seam routes. Snead kept throwing to outside receivers who, more times than not, had a safety rolling up on them. Numerous times, Snead would roll to the right — therefore eliminating two-thirds of the field — and try to throw into double coverage.

Losing a star receiver (Ole Miss went Mike Wallace to the NFL) or playing with two new starters on the offensive line happens everywhere in college football. But the Ole Miss staff, which made every right move last season, has put Snead and the passing game in untenable situations this season.

Early in the fourth quarter, Snead threw a dump pass to wideout Markeith Summers, who caught it momentarily before it popped out of his gut and into the waiting hands of Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain. It was Snead's fourth interception of the game — and ninth of the season in five games.

Imagine what they'll say now.

SportingNews.com Lots of hype, hope _ and Dion Lewis _ for Pitt 6 teams with something to prove Rutgers looking for bigger and better bowl in 2010 After the fall, a new subdued era at USC It's what's up front that counts for Buckeyes

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