Ole Miss defense plans to be 'violent' yet calculating this season
When Ole Miss co-defensive coordinator Chris Partridge stepped up to the podium after Thursday’s practice he was very succinct in what he said.
The Ole Miss defense will have an more aggressive attitude in 2022 but it also going to be a defense that is just as careful in choosing when to attack as Partridge was with his words.
All throughout spring practice the defensive players who spoke to the media — and those the Ole Miss Spirit spoke with exclusively throughout the summer — continuously noted a change in the defense with Partridge at the play-calling helm.
In fact, defensive end Cedric Johnson said at SEC Media Days last month Partridge has made the defense “a lot more fun” for him and his teammates on that side of the ball.
“I think we’ve got a great bunch,” Partridge said. “We’ve got 52 guys at camp and they’re all competing, they’re all hungry. We want to be violent. We want to be aggressive. We want to make plays.”
Partridge intends to only play guys who are going to show that attidude. From the trenches to the secondary.
On the other side of that coin, though, Partridge is wanting his defense to also be smart in how they go about invoking that violence. When is the best time to pin the ears back and when is it best to put that aggression to the back end of a defense.
Partridge’s philosophy on defense is one that has been molded throughout his experiences during his time at Michigan, Ole Miss and earlier in this coaching and playing career.
“When it comes to blitzing, I mean, it’s irrelevant. If we can win the first game by dropping 11 we’re going to drop 11,” Partridge said. “We’re not just going to take senseless shots and do things just to do them. We’re going to prepare, we’re going to look at the opponent and we’re going to see what’s best. We just got to build a defense that’s able to be adaptable to do what we need to do.
“So, we’re not going to be one-dimensional. We’re also not just going to do stuff just because it’s a mentality. No, we’re going to be aggressive. We’re going to hit people, but that doesn’t mean bringing pressure, right? That means understanding and doing the right thing.”
The aggressive side of the Ole Miss defense has already been apparent through two days of fall camp.
Both veteran A.J. Finley and newcomer Davison Igbinosun have made eye-catching interceptions. Two examples of a secondary that is loaded with talent and taking to heart Partridge’s philosophy.
Finley is also one Partridge is looking to to take the next step in his career and be a focal point of the entire defense.
“(Finley’s) next step is he needs to take the bull by the horns and take the reins,” Partridge said. Go make plays. Go be aggressive. Go see things out there, communication. It’s all those things that will take A.J. to a higher level of understanding. He’s a leader back there and doing a hell of a job, so I’m expecting a big year from him.”
Related: NEW: Rebels Davison Igbinosun and Tysheem Johnson have signed NIL contracts with the Ole Miss Spirit
