Can Ole Miss Stop The Run?
Ole Miss is giving up 145 yards per game on the ground in the early 2014 season. A lot of that is coming in the second half of games when the starters are out and the outcome is at hand, but you have to be a little concerned with the October 4th Alabama game looming in the near future.
The SEC has flipped from high powered offenses and pass happy QB’s in 2013 to this year teams are relying on the run game. Even though Alabama’s Blake Sims had over 400 yards passing this weekend against Florida, they also average around 250 yards rushing and Arkansas, LSU and MSU all still love to run the football.
Ole Miss gave up 193 yards rushing to UL-Lafayette last weekend.
So, is Ole Miss’ rushing defense a concern or not?
We should know against Memphis this weekend as they come in to Oxford averaging 242 yards per game (160 against UCLA). We need to see a re-newed commitment to stopping the run against a fairly balanced offensive Memphis team before the Alabama caravan comes to Oxford.
Here a few things I want to see against Memphis to prove the Rebels are ready for primetime and hopefully ESPN Gameday!
STAY IN YOUR LANE
Robert Nkemdiche is always working and fighting, even when double and triple teamed, and too often when he does break loose he flys right by the play. Over pursuit is a problem for all the Defensive Ends and they have to stay in their gap to prevent the big run plays.
Nkemdiche was interviewed last week and stated, “It is hard to not get frustrated (being double teamed) but I just have to keep working and finding a way to get free. I have to play within the system and be ready to make plays.”
USE YOUR HANDS
This Hugh Freeze defense is built on speed and most times you have to be a little lighter to be faster than your opponent. That is fine if you are a linebacker but as a defensive lineman, being fast and light does not help your run defense. This is when technique becomes important. The defensive line has to use their hands, keep some space between the offensive lineman and be ready to shed that block and tackle the ball carrier.
When Ole Miss players get so focused on rushing into the backfield it is easier for the lineman to turn them one direction or the other and it opens up the running lane.
TRUST YOUR SECONDARY
The strength of this Ole Miss defense so far this year has been the secondary, whether they are using double coverage over the top with safeties or battling one on one for the ball, the cornerbacks and safeties at Ole Miss are leading the nation in interceptions and one of the best at defending passes.
Allow those guys to work back there and run more 4-3 defenses bringing up a husky or a weak side linebacker to help fill those gaps.
Teams this year have been spreading out the field and using short passes to negate the Rebel pass rush. If the linebackers are way down field in coverage, this leaves a lot of space open in the middle of the field if receivers get past the Rebel front line.
GET BETTER EVERY DAY
Ole Miss has gotten some help from MSU beating LSU to move up in the polls and to possibly secure a visit from ESPN Game Day October 4th if both teams are undefeated that day.
Alabama and Ole Miss are #1 and #2 respectively in total defense in the SEC. Ole Miss is giving up more rushing yards that you would like, while Alabama is giving up their ground in the secondary.
Their is still some time to work on these issues and Ole Miss certainly has the talent and depth to defend the rush better than they have so far.
When the first team defense is in the game, they do a much better job of defending the rush and that should be apparent early in the game against Memphis.
If the Rebels want to keep their top 10 ranking, showing they can stop the run is priority number one.