New Ole Miss football coach Hugh Freeze gave a realistic assessment of his new team Tuesday.

While he pumped up the excitement level of Ole Miss fans at Tuesday’s Rebel Road Bus Tour stop at the Vicksburg Convention Center, Freeze knows he faces a daunting challenge after last season’s 2-10 debacle which led to the ousting of former coach Houston Nutt.

“We’re in the wilderness,” Freeze told the Rebel boosters during the luncheon. “We don’t want to stay there. We have a plan. And we will get out.”

Afterwards, Freeze took a matter-of-fact evaluation on his team which concluded spring drills Saturday with the Grove Bowl in Oxford.

“We made the most of our 15 days,” Freeze said. “But we really need 15 more. We’re still trying to install a new offense and a new defense.”

Freeze comes to Ole Miss after a successful two-year stint at Arkansas State. He was the offensive coordinator in 2010 and assumed the heading coach position for 2011. There he turned the Red Wolves into champions of the Sun Belt Conference and finished 10-2.

Freeze’s forté is a high-octane offense, which he called “a highly-efficient scoring machine.” He spent the spring installing his version of the spread and has implemented a 4-2-5 alignment on defense.

“The 4-2-5 allows you to be multiple, which is what we need,” Freeze said. “And while we ran a spread at Arkansas State, the offense here will be a bit more multiple.”

Former Ole Miss All-America running back Kayo Dottley, a Vicksburg resident, said Freeze is the right fit for the program.

“I’ve known him since he was a boy,” Dottley said of Freeze. “He has a great head on him. I think, with some patience, he will take us to the top.”

Freeze echoed Dottley’s need for patience.

“We have a combination right now of being short on talent and thin in depth,” Freeze said. “The offensive line is real thin. Bradley (Sowell) and (Bobby) Massie, the two big tackles from last year, are gone, and we’re left with a whole lot of inexperience.”

The one bright spot from last season, freshman wide receiver Nick Brassell of South Panola, has run into some classroom problems.

“He is fighting through some eligibility issues,” Freeze said.

The Ole Miss defense is another mixed bag of goods.

“I like the inside of our defensive line,” Freeze said. “But we need to improve the speed of our defensive ends. I’m pleased with our corners, but we’re very thin at safety.”

Freeze identified two players that Ole Miss will have to rely on as the team’s leaders.

“On defense, that would be (junior linebacker) Mike Marry,” Freeze said. “He’s a team player. He’s been very consistent and has a good approach. On offense, it would be (junior running back) Jeff Scott. I really like his competitive spirit.”

As for the quarterback battle, East Mississippi Community College transfer Bo Wallace and junior returnee Barry Brunetti have separated from the pack.

“Both have had their bright spots and right now, if we’d started the season today, we’d play both,” Freeze said.

When fall drills begin in August, Freeze said his staff faces two immediate tasks.

“We will have to be able to stay on schedule with the offense,” Freeze said. “And on defense, it’s stopping the run.”