Josh Heupel discusses challenges Ole Miss defense presents

First-year Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel this Saturday has his biggest home game since his hiring in Knoxville, as the Tennessee Volunteers face off against former Tennessee head coach Lane Kiffin, now coaching the No. 13 Ole Miss Rebels.

Defeating Ole Miss would be a statement win for Tennessee, one that could very well launch the currently 4-2 Volunteers into the AP top-25 poll. But doing so won’t be an easy task for Heupel. Ole Miss, as he keenly noted, has a defense that may give up plenty of points, but creates massive turnover problems for its opponents.

Ole Miss has allowed an abysmal 430 yards per game, on which Heupel and Tennessee will look to capitalize, and they’ve given up 22 touchdowns through five games. But Heupel understands this defense is not to be taken lightly, especially considering the fact that it has forced and recovered five fumbles through as many games.

“They’re playing with six DBs, a multiple, and what you’re seeing on the back end is their fits, too. They’ve done a great job of creating turnovers, as far as fumbles,” Heupel said Monday. “They do a great job of ripping it out and punching it. They haven’t given up a ton of big-time, over-the-top plays, plays stop on the back end a little bit. They make you snap it again and again. For us, offensively, we’ve got to be highly efficient and it starts with us in the run game. Then, we’ve got to be able to make plays out on the perimeter.”

The defense may pose turnover problems, but it is far from the first item on Tennessee’s list. Instead, its Ole Miss’ explosive offense, which averages 561 yards per game — good for second-most in the country, behind only Ohio State — that Heupel needs to study.

Heading into Week 7, Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral is the second favorite to win the Heisman Trophy, priced at +210 and sitting just behind Alabama quarterback Bryce Young. And frankly, given Corral’s performance through Ole Miss’ first five games, its easy to see why: Corral holds a completion percentage just around 70, while throwing for 1,497 passing yards, 12 passing touchdowns and 12 touchdowns.

Not only does Tennessee have to game plan for Corral and the dynamic passing offense, but it must also consider the fact that Corral is nearly as effective on the ground — especially in the red zone. He’s rushed for 255 yards this season, coupled with eight rushing touchdowns, which leads all Ole Miss ball carriers.

Heupel and Tennessee will look to establish the run early, limiting Ole Miss’ ability to create turnovers. But the most important aspect of the game — and the one that will make or prevent this game from becoming a shootout — will be Tennessee’s ability to contain Ole Miss’ offense.