What do you throw at the quarterback who has already seeneverything?
Joe Lee Dunn hopes he has the answer.
When Dunn's Tigers host Heisman hopeful Eli Manning and Ole Misstomorrow Dunn is likely to try anything -- and everything -- toslow the pedigree passer down.
"I don't think anything will rattle him," Dunn said. "Whenthey're hot, there's not a whole lot you can do about it."
Coming off an opening win in which Memphis committed noturnovers over 1-AA Tennessee Tech last week should build theconfidence of the young Tiger squad.
As far as beating Manning and a team from the SoutheasternConference, something Memphis hasn't done since 1996, tailbackDeAngelo Williams does not seem overwhelmed.
"We've come in with confidence, you know, Tigers arerelentless," Williams said. "And we're trying to hold to it."
Memphis was in a similar situation last year.
Coming off an opening win over Murray State, 52-6, Memphis wasambushed in Oxford 38-16 last year.
Last year's loss continued a bad trend for Memphis as the Tigerswere dealt their first loss of the season by an SEC foe for thesixth year in a row.
The difference this year may be the hype surrounding Memphis --or the lack thereof.
Without the high preseason expectations and the addition ofDunn, the Tigers may be slightly less predictable than in yearspast.
While at Mississippi State, Dunn's defense held Manning incheck. In his two meetings with Ole Miss. Dunn forced thequarterback to throw five interceptions.
But it was the run and not the pass that killed Memphis lastyear, as the Tigers gave up 214 yards on the ground.
Wrapping backs up at the line of scrimmage and making open fieldtackles was something Dunn said needed to be improved from lastyear's game.
"Our tackling was very sharp," Dunn said before practiceTuesday. "If we don't tackle very good against the Rebels, they'regoing to score a lot of points on us. Maybe we'll try somecoverages and some things just to confuse them."
Dunn's efforts to train and mold the defense came out in theMemphis season opener against Tennessee Tech.
Although not flawless the defense seemed to learn as it went andforced the Golden Eagles into three turnovers.
Memphis' on-field advantages are obvious.
Williams and Danny Wimprine are the main weapons in the Tiger'sarsenal.
Wimprine passed for 266 yards and two scores, completing 15 of21 in the season-opener, while Williams rushed 61 yards, had 135yards receiving and scored three touchdowns.
Williams was knocked out in last year's meeting with the Rebelsand doesn't remember much of the first half. He said he has,however, learned from last year and matured as a runner.
"I was young then," the Wynne, Ark. native said. "I considermyself a semi-vet now.
Williams said the Rebels have more to account for on defensetomorrow.
"They're not as solid on defense as they used to be," Williamssaid.
