Where’s Ayden Williams? And everything else Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin had to say Monday

Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin touched on a number of topics during his weekly press conference on Monday. Kiffin’s No. 20-ranked Rebels (3-1, 0-1 SEC) hosts No. 13 LSU (3-1, 2-0) Saturday at 5 p.m. CT on ESPN. 

Kiffin touched on a number of hot-button topics, among them the potential defensive game plan for LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels, as well as the struggles of the Rebel offense. 

Here’s everything else he had to say.

OPENING STATEMENT

“We’re excited to play LSU. These guys are extremely talented; phenomenal looking team. Great (offensive) line, great receivers and quarterback. Running back ran great (against Arkansas, a come-from-behind LSU win), and great looking defensive players all over. 

“I’ve always said these two games (Alabama and LSU) that happen to be back-to-back, for years in this conference have always been, two on this side at least, where they look like you’re playing NFL teams. Lot of great-looking players with great length and a lot of stars. 

“Our challenge is to get better this week. I did tell them, we’ve been in this situation. Happened to be in the same situation two years ago. Went 3-0, went into Alabama and actually played a lot worse. I think that game was 35-0 at one point, (and) ended up coming back from that game and going 10-2. 

“Got a lot of football in front of us, and a huge one this week against, I would argue, maybe the hottest offense in the country.”

ON OLE MISS’ STRUGGLES IN THE RUN GAME

“Yeah, we’ve got to get better. Got to coach better, involve different schemes, different things. 

“Sometimes the running game is interesting: You’ll have these games, and then all of a sudden they’ll pop and you’ll have a bunch of explosive runs.

“We’ve just got to all go to work and figure out a way. It’s not like we’re a program that hasn’t ever run the ball or hasn’t known how to run the ball. It would be really good to get back to that.”

Spy Kids 2? Suntarine Perkins, Ole Miss defense have hands full with LSU’s Jayden Daniels

ON THE TEAM-WIDE RESPONSE TO THE ALABAMA LOSS 

“I’d like to go back to two years ago, when we were 3-0 and went to Alabama and lost. I think last year was a little bit different, where we’re potentially going 9-1 at that point and probably moving into the Top 5 in the country if we finish that drive off against Alabama. 

“I think it’s very different, and every year is a different team.”

ON THE YOUNG OLE MISS WIDE RECEIVERS

“I think that’s a fair question. We’ve had a lot of injuries out there, and Ayden (Williams) was doing great, and he actually got sick and missed some time. We’ve got to get him back and involved. He’s got a chance to be a really special player like we saw in camp. 

“Hopefully this will be the week.”

ON IF LEARNED ANYTHING FROM BRIAN KELLY’S LSU AFTER LAST YEAR

“Not really. He does a good job. Seen him at Notre Dame over the years, too. Very organized, and his teams play really well. They play with good discipline and play tough and physical. 

“He’s a really, really good recruiter. There’s some great players out there.”

ON OLE MISS RESPONDING TO ADVERSITY

“I think, today, we used the morning to break that down with them, go over it — what we needed to do, what plays were significant and how we could’ve won that game. Then we moved forward. 

“I actually think with kids nowadays, there’s a lot of issues with this new generation and how they deal with things and what they expect. One good thing is I think they move on quickly. I think that we struggle more moving on from a loss or negative things than they do.”

LIVE! From the Manning Center: Suntarine Perkins has the attention of his Ole Miss teammates, too

ON LSU WIDE RECEIVER MALIK NABERS

“Yeah, like I said, these guys have got NFL players all over the place. Seen him before, unbelievable receiver. 

“This is what LSU looks like. There’s a reason that the last three coaches there have won national championships. They’ve got great receivers. (LSU defensive tackle Maason Smith) looks unbelievable, and I’ve already talked about (Harold) Perkins. Lot of challenges.”

ON HIS IMPRESSION OF HOW LSU IS UTILIZING PERKINS THIS SEASON

“I don’t know if they’ve talked about it, but it looks like they tried to use him as a normal backer in Week 1. Looks like they scratched that after the Florida State game and went back to last year’s plan. Just put him out there, make a few calls with him and let him play. I wish they’d put him back in there.”

ON IF HE’S TALKED TO OLE MISS QB JAXSON DART ABOUT SLIDING MORE

“I haven’t. I don’t think sliding on a couple of them would’ve mattered, really, when he needs to buckle his chin strap better. He likes his helmet loose, and that’s an issue and it cost us. We had to waste a timeout one time to avoid a 10-second runoff. We didn’t use a timeout because we don’t have confidence in Spencer (Sanders); we used it because if we didn’t there would’ve been a 10-second runoff. If it would’ve happened before, we’ve got confidence in Spencer, but we can’t afford a 10-second runoff. 

“He did slide later without me even telling him. Sometimes that happens naturally, you either learn through shock or repetition, one or the other.”