Jimbo Fisher stresses importance of slowing Ole Miss running game

Slowing Lane Kiffin’s offense in 2022 takes more than just taking away the pass. With a better balance this season, it’s just as important, if not more so, to take away Ole Miss’ run game. Even with a Top-25 defense, Jimbo Fisher and Texas A&M will have their hands full trying to slow the Rebel backfield down.

Fisher spoke about the rushing attack from Ole Miss during his radio show on Wednesday. He says it connects to their passing game and it gives them the tempo people are used to with a Kiffin offense. If the Aggies want to stop the Rebels, it’ll take an effort to get them off track on early-down runs.

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“That’s the key. They get the tempo going and the run is the key. Then they mix their pass and their RPOs out of it. They get their play-action shots down the field. Getting that tempo and staying ahead in the down and distance (is important for them). You’ve got to get them behind the chains and get them stopped in that regard,” said Fisher. “Get the second and long, third and longs and be able to get them off the field. That’s the key defensively.

The surprise for the Ole Miss backfield has been the success of freshman Quinshon Judkins. He has excelled early with a team-leading 831 yards and 12 touchdowns over his first eight career games. Right behind him is Zach Evans, one of the nation’s top transfers from last offseason, who has rushed for 605 yards and seven touchdowns on the season. Overall, the Rebels are averaging 252.1 rushing yards and 3.3 rushing touchdowns per game.

Their success has taken a lot of pressure off Jaxson Dart and has allowed him to grow. That’s why it’s the key to Fisher. If they can take Judkins and Evans away, it makes life that much harder on Dart. Letting that duo run rampant, though, will spell even more trouble for the Aggies this weekend in their return to Kyle Field.