Lane Kiffin addresses Ole Miss' recent run of second-half offensive struggles
Mixed emotions was the theme Saturday following No. 10 Ole Miss’ 31-17 victory over Vanderbilt, which capped an historic season inside Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
The Rebels (9-2, 5-2 SEC) defeated the Commodores, who are typically a difficult opponent no matter each team’s season up to that point, and inched closer to a school-record-setting 10th regular season win.
But the only thing on Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin’s mind was the latest in a string of games featuring second-half offensive struggles.
The Rebels have been outscored 41-24 in second half in November.
They have scored only three points in the third quarter this month, which came in an uninspiring win over Liberty.
“Very kind of conflicting game,” Kiffin said following the win on Saturday. “A poor second half, again. One score on offense, which has been an issue as of late.”
Ole Miss, once again, couldn’t get going, Vanderbilt outscoring the Rebels 8-7 in the second half. All points were totaled in the fourth quarter.
Henry Parrish, Jr.’s eight-yard run is only the second offensive touchdown the Rebels have scored in the second half since the LSU game.
Since then, it’s been two field goals against Auburn and Liberty and an interception returned for a touchdown by AJ Finley against Texas A&M.
“I think part of that has been our lack in depth,” Kiffin said. “We start out really fast and so the game’s at high tempo on both sides and we do not play a lot of players, especially when a lot fo receivers have been banged up.
“So, those guys wear down. I do think that’s part of it. But, still, we’ve got to execute better.”
The lack of second-half points can be attributed, in no small part, to the offense’s sudden inability to convert on third and fourth down.
Kiffin has not been shy with going for on fourth down, as has been heavily documented over his first two seasons at Ole Miss. Ole Miss leads all of FBS in fourth-down attempts.
However, recently, the analytical book has not been on his side.
Ole Miss was a combined 1-for-9 on third and fourth down against Vanderbilt. The Rebels were 1-for-8 on third downs and failed on their lone fourth-down conversion attempt, which occurred inside Vanderbilt’s 10-yard-line.
“It’s really a bad feeling when you’re 1-of-9 on conversion downs, which we’ve been one of the best on conversion downs,” Kiffin said. “It’s discouraging.”
Ole Miss has a short turnaround to try and work the kinks out of its offense. They’ll kick off in Starkville in four days.
