^Right, country rock is distinct from Southern Rock. It uses country chord progressions, song structure, instrumentation and rhythms. In contrast, your classic Southern Rock bands use a firmly blues rock base, with blues musical form and rock instrumentation (of course there are many blues rock musicians that aren't Southern Rock). Musically speaking, the Ozark Mountain Daredevils are more in line with folks like the Flying Burrito Brothers, Pure Prairie League, and the Eagles than with the Allmans, Skynyrd, or Molly Hatchet.
However, there's a lot of overlap in the styles, and some Southern Rock bands incorporate country sounds. Many people would consider the Daredevils a Southern Rock band.
And I'd agree that many modern alt country bands are carrying the Southern Rock torch. For my money the best example is Drive By Truckers, whose album
Southern Rock Opera is about Skynyrd.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrG5_2-OH8c