Ole Miss defense getting back to basics ahead of SEC opener
Saturday’s performance against Tulsa was the worst by the Ole Miss defense this season. There is no secret to it and there is no denying it from the coaches to the players.
This week work has begun on making sure play on that side of the ball is improved with No. 14 Ole Miss (4-0) starting its run through the Southeastern Conference gauntlet this weekend.
One of the biggest issues against Tulsa was the Rebels inability to tackle, which suddenly eluded them for the first time all season. The defense missed 11 tackles which was the second most missed in a single game this year.
In the first two days of practice there has been one major focus for the defense.
“I feel like we had a little off day. I did feel like it was a test,” said linebacker Austin Keys of the Tulsa game. “We definitely needed that. Tackling could’ve been better but we’re back to work this week.
“Tackling is the main emphasis. I just got done practicing tackling before I left the field.”
On top of tackling becoming an issue so was the inability to sack or bring down the Tulsa quaterback. When Davis Brin left the game due to an injury backup Braylon Braxton made life difficult for the Ole Miss defense with his feet.
Braxton looked like he was lathered up with cooking grease as he slipped out of a handful of would-be sacks.
“Credit to the quarterback. He was a slippery quarterback but we could be better at the tackling game,” Keys continued.
Last week the defense prepared for a potent passing attack from Tulsa but instead got hurt by the run game.
The Golden Hurricanes put up a season-high 262 yards on the ground and a touchdown.
For a second straight week the Ole Miss defense will prepare for another passing threat in No. 7 Kentucky (4-0, 1-0 SEC) and quarterback Will Levis. Through four games Levis has thrown for 1,163 yards and averaging just under 300 passing yards per game.
The Wildcats do run the ball but have done so for 326 yards in four games. Passing is going to be the threat and a higher challenge for the Ole Miss linebackers and secondary than a week ago.
“They’ve got some very explosive receivers,” said safety Tysheem Johnson. “Try to take the top off the defense, having a good quarterback. We’ve basically just have to be ready to play this weekend.”
Heading into the meat of its schedule Ole Miss still carries one of the top defenses in the country.
Through four games Pro Football Focus has graded the Rebels defense out to 91.8 which is the sixth best defense grade. Their coverage grade is 92.7 which is the fifth best grade out of FBS teams.
After giving up their most rushing yards of the season on Saturday, PFF grades the Ole Miss run defense at a 83.0 which makes it the 28th best overall.
“We kind of let the small details, we wasn’t really focused I feel like,” KD Hill said on Monday. “Now we got to revert back to our training and get back to those small details.”
Watch Austin Keys’ full post-practice interview from Tuesday below:
