If all the starters who were left out of Saturday's game had played we probably would have seen a very different game. Yes, the score probably should have been different, but with several key players out and many young, inexperienced players getting their first significant playing time the week after a physically and emotionally exhausting game it wasn't entirely unexpected.
In response to the original questions:
1. Yes, I still think there's a very good chance this team goes undefeated. The schedule is set up perfectly for an undefeated season. If we get past Ole Miss they have more than a month to work things out before LSU, which should be the only serious challenge before the SECCG, assuming the wheels don't come off out some point. Midway through the 2009 I don't think anyone believed the team had what it took to finish undefeated, but they did.
2. Since I only see what happens on the field during games I don't know. It seems to be a lack of experience. The 0-line is talented but not playing well together. The DBs are talented but got beat by Manziel (good news is we won't face another QB anywhere near his level this year). I think we'll really know where we stand defensively after the Ole Miss game. It does seem that we're missing the defensive leader that we've had in previous years. The absence of Barrett Jones' leadership on the o-line is obvious, and no one has stepped up yet.
3. My main concern with Ole Miss is the DBs. Their passing game is good enough to put up some points if the secondary doesn't play well. I'd expect to see more blitzes, pressure on the QB, something that couldn't really be done against A&M because of Manziel's abilities.
Excellent point. CNS said that we would have played their big receiver differently if we didn't have to worry about JF getting loose so much.