Ole Miss needs to do a few things better moving forward before SEC play
Let’s take a few minutes to discuss what we want and need to see out of the Ole Miss football team Saturday in The Vaught when the No. 17 Rebels take on Georgia Tech at 6:30 p.m.
A lot of this will be obvious to even the casual observer, but needs to be pointed out and put on paper nonetheless.
On the offensive side of the ball, the main discussion point for both games has been the play of the offensive line both in run blocking and in pass protection.
The team that was first in the SEC a year ago in rushing is currently 11th in the SEC in rushing offense averaging just 116 yards a game, some 240 yards a game less than 2022. To unpack this statement even further, the SEC’s leading rusher from a year ago, sophomore Quinshon Judkins, is not in the Top 10 in the league in yards per rush and is eighth in total yards only because he’s third in rushing attempts.
The pass protection was a thing of beauty against Mercer, creating clean pockets for QB Jaxson Dart the whole game, but the Ole Miss front gave up 4 sacks against Tulane.
So what gives? Why is this happening? There are some who believe it is personnel, some who believe it is coaching a new scheme, but there are two main reasons that cannot be refuted.
One, the offense is operating without a true, tested, blocking tight end with Caden Prieskorn out for who knows how long with a toe injury. Two, opposing defenses are overpopulating the box, using run blitzes and sending more defenders than five offensive linemen can block at times.
In short, so far opposing defenses have made it clear – we might lose to the Rebels but it won’t be because of Judkins.
It’s definitely an issue because even Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin said in his Monday press conference that the lack of a run game was a “major concern” to him.
The remedy? That’s for the coaches to determine, but there are two ways to back people off – throw the ball effectively to force the opposition drop more people into coverage and try to get a sixth man involved in the blocking scheme, aka, a tight end with solid blocking ability.
Kyirin Heath has shown a lot of improvement, but he’s no Prieskorn yet. The Rebs need that experience back before they head to Tuscaloosa to help get things going on the ground.
But let’s not be too down on what the offense is doing. Through two games they lead the SEC in scoring averaging 55 points a game. Yes, we understand one of them was 73 against Mercer, but scoring is scoring and everyone in the league has played a patsy so far as well.
On defense, the Rebels (2-0) are middle of the pack in the conference in the two major categories – scoring defense (6th) and total defense (7th).
We’re sure defensive coordinator Pete Golding would like to move up the chart as the season progresses, but that’s a pretty good start all things considered – new system, new coaches, a lot of new players, etc.
The tackling could be better, but all-in-all there is little to complain about on that side of the ball from our perspective. The defensive line has played well and the secondary has played above expectations to this point. If there is an area that could use more “umph” it is probably the linebackers, but they are all still learning and linebacker is the hardest position on the defense to fully grasp.
Special teams have been a mixed bag for Ole Miss.
The kickoff team and the field goal and point after teams have been basically perfect with good snapping, good holding and excellent kicking by transfer Caden Davis. Excellent.
The punting has been below average, poor actually. The yardage by P Fraser Masin of 40.5 per kick is deceptive because some have been returnable line drives which have resulted in the net punting of a meager 26.0 net yards per kick after returns.
That has to improve. Either kick directionally away from return men, get some hang time on the punts or try backup Charlie Pollock. What is taking place is not working and needs to improve by quite a bit.
The return game has been average – except for one shining moment of Jordan Watkins on a TD punt return against Mercer – nothing to criticize and nothing to celebrate.
Georgia Tech (1-1) will be another measuring stick and another opportunity to fix or enhance different areas of play before conference play begins.
Tech will be a worthy opponent. They are better than they were last year when the Rebs shelled them in Atlanta, but this should be another learning experience for the Rebs.
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