'Kind of in the middle': Lane Kiffin evaluates Ole Miss' first scrimmage of fall camp
In the immediate moments after Ole Miss completed its first scrimmage of fall camp on Saturday the instant analysis was lacking from head coach Lane Kiffin.
This was not due to the third-year head coach wanting to say nothing about the 90-minutes of game-like atmosphere his team just experienced.
It was because the eye test does not give the full scope of a true evaluation. Instead Kiffin took Saturday and Sunday to look at the film with his staff.
Following Monday’s practice that kicked off the third week of fall camp, Kiffin had more to say. There was not any thumbs up or thumbs down kind of reactions.
“Kind of sounds coach speak but there were good things and there were bad things,” Kiffin said. “It was kind of in the middle on everything. Whether it was offense, defense or position groups where you kind of get excited about some things but still nervous about others.”
Kiffin was not over the moon about his players’ performance in Ole Miss opening scrimmage but he was also not doom and gloom.
Ahead of Saturday’s scrimmage Kiffin pointed out how important the day was for him and his staff with so many new faces to mix in.
Day-to-day practices are one thing where most of it is scripted or situational in nature. Saturday provided the closest thing to a real-game the Ole Miss players have experienced in camp – until this Saturday’s second scrimmage.
“We tackled the entire time, which is kind of unusual for us,” Kiffin said. “Just like with talked about with the questions marks of all new players, especially defensively. Being able to see them in as live a situation as you can put them in.
“We still have a good solid week here where we’re still in training camp mode,” Kiffin said. “Got another scrimmage before we really start to get out of that mode and get into (the season mode).”
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Coming out of Monday’s practice there were notable players not on the field or in non-contact jerseys.
Kiffin took a more pro-like approach to Saturday’s scrimmage where key starters got limited reps and then sat or some did not take the field altogether due to being banged up.
With three full weeks left, including game-week, before Ole Miss tees it up with Troy on Sept. 3 there is plenty of time for M.A.S.H. unit to thin out and players get back on the field.
There was not much worry, at least outward worry, from Kiffin when he briefly touched on the injury situation.
“I think in typical fashion the assumption is you tackle you’re going to have all these injuries,” Kiffin said. “Almost all of them are injuries prior to the scrimmage, not during the scrimmage. There’s not many new ones. I do not think there are any long-term ones.”
Programming note: The remainder of Ole Miss’ Saturday scrimmages in fall camp are closed to both the media and public.
