Rose talks kicks, Harris talks tight ends

OXFORD, Miss. -- With Bryson Rose, accuracy has never been the issue. It's the quantity that has been frustrating for the senior from Raleigh, N.C.

Rose made 9-of-12 field goals last season, including 17 straight career makes that left him one shy of the Southeastern Conference record when he missed a couple against Louisiana Tech. One of the most accurate kickers in the country, Rose is close to automatic when called upon.

But last season, he wasn't called on enough.

However, with Hugh Freeze's system, Rose believes he'll have more chances to grace the record books.

"It was tough last year not getting opportunities, but I think we can move the ball now so I should get chances to kick," Rose said.

And when he does, he expects to be better than last season. While practices under Houston Nutt involved kicking, kicking and more kicking, the current staff has taken a full-body approach to special teams. Sure they still kick, but running, lifting and even yoga have helped Rose improve.

He stretches daily and participates in any type of yoga he can find. The benefit is that he's now comfortable with any kick 55 yards and in. His career long is currently 43 yards.

"The strength staff ahs been great, and I do a lot of yoga all the time," Rose said. And of course I have confidence. Just take care of your body. Stretch and run. Last year, we just kicked all the time. Now we do everything to take care of ourselves."

With Rose handling field goals and Rose or freshman Nathan Noble capable of kickoffs, there's talk of redshirting kickoff specialist Andrew Ritter this fall, letting him come back and perform all the kicking duties in 2013. Rose endorses the idea and thinks the Jackson, Miss., native can handle it.

"He's hitting the ball great, so it makes sense to redshirt him and let him do both next year," Rose said. "It'll be good."

HARRIS TALKS TIGHT ENDS: Maurice Harris wants three of four tight ends to be able to effectively handle the offense, and that remains a work in progress, especially with the possible suspension of senior Jamal Mosley.

Freshman John Youngblood moved to tight end prior to camp, but he's still learning the spot. Mosley, Ferbia Allen and, at times, H.R. Greer are charged with handling the multiple responsibilities.

Harris gave his thoughts on the veterans after Tuesday's practice"

"Ferbia is the smartest tight end we have right now as far as knowing what to do every single play and adjusting on the run when we have checks. He knows the difference in seeing zone and man coverage, and he has caught on to the offense the most.

"Jamal is the most talented one from the standpoint of winning on linebackers and he can give strong safeties and corners a run for their money from a route-running standpoint. He's more physical of a blocker than I thought he was. Last spring with that knee injury, he wasn't as strong as he is now… We don't know (if Mosley will be available against Central Arkansas). He has a couple more things to do, and that's primarily on Coach Freeze and how he's seen Jamal and his progression. I don't know, but my thing with Jamal is that he has to come out with the expectation that he's playing the first snap.

"H.R. Greer, in the box with fullback stuff, he's very valuable to us sealing blocks and leaking into the flat and running power. He can stick his nose in there because that's the kind of guy he is."