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Ole Miss Football: Grading Out The Ole Miss/Arkansas Game

By Daniel Skipper

OXFORD, MS - OCTOBER 28: Head Coach Bret Bielema of the Arkansas Razorbacks calls a time out near the end of the game during a game against the Ole Miss Rebels at Hemingway Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Oxford, Mississippi. The Razorbacks defeated the Rebels 38-37. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
OXFORD, MS - OCTOBER 28: Head Coach Bret Bielema of the Arkansas Razorbacks calls a time out near the end of the game during a game against the Ole Miss Rebels at Hemingway Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Oxford, Mississippi. The Razorbacks defeated the Rebels 38-37. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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Coaching Staff

Ole Hotty Toddy isn’t here to beat on coaches. There is nobody associated with Ole Miss who wants to see this coaching staff succeed more than I do. However, there are obvious issues within this staff which we can’t simply ignore. That being said lets look at the grades for the three main coaches on the Ole Miss football team.

Head Coach

First, I really like Matt Luke as a coach and as a person. The Luke family has been a huge supporter of Ole Miss football and stay involved with the program in any way they can. The Luke family and interim head coach Matt Luke are definitely part of the Ole Miss family.

The fact he is doing the best he can with the cards he was dealt with is one thing. When you consider none of this was his fault to begin with makes it hard to grade him on his performance. However, in an effort to be fair and balanced we have to grade him on the Arkansas game and it all begins with the head coach.

Ultimately the game-plan also begins with the head coach. Whether defensively or offensively the head coach has the final say in every aspect. In the game against Arkansas we saw the offense jump out in front early and at one point had a 24 point lead. However, we fell ruin to ‘The Tale of Two Halves’. Of course, we’ve seen this happen before this season. Remember the Cal game?

There were obvious adjustments made by the Hogs in the second half and no adjustments were made by the Ole Miss staff. Besides the obvious adjustment issues there were also questions with some of the play-calling in the second half. Whether he calls the plays or not is not the issue. The game-plan rest on his shoulders. Until Matt Luke takes control of his coordinators and governs their play-calling he will continue to see his head coaching resume get weaker each week.

Head Coach Grade, C-

Offensive Coordinator

No need in sugar-coating this grade. Coach Phil Longo has fallen short of the true potential of this offense. I realize he was starting a new quarterback in Jordan Ta’amu and had a number of players dealing with injuries. However, Saturday Longo and his very talented offense played well early. The Rebels put up 21 first quarter points in what I believe was their best quarter in SEC play as of yet. They followed it up with another TD and FG in the second quarter. 31 first half points is something we were all very happy with. Then there was halftime.

The proverbial wheels fell off this very talented offense and Long was willing to run the ball in situations where he should have been passing. I realize it was Ta’amu’s first career start but Longo seemed to have a lack of confidence in Ta’amu. You can’t win kicking FGs with the defense we have. The Rebels were held to only 2 FGs in the second half and those came after a scoreless third quarter.

Right now Longo is coaching for his future job wherever it may be. Every game now is a resume builder or a deal-breaker. Until Longo opens up the playbook for Ta’amu and has more faith in his arm, I’m afraid we see more losses and sub-par grades.

OC Grade, C

Defensive Coordinator

Oh how we would love to see this man succeed this season. We have wanted and waited to see the resurgence of the Landshark defense. So far there have been moments where they have shown their ability to make big plays but they also continue to give up the big play as well. We haven’t seen them play hard and fast on a consistent level and can’t stop the run.

To have this much talent on the defensive side of the ball and see them play so poorly is tough to watch. For some Ole Miss football fans it has left us banging our head against a brick wall trying to play Sunday morning DC. We keep waiting to see them really step up as a complete unit.

Of course, much like every other coach on this staff coach Wesley McGriff is coaching for a future job. He has to expect more from this defense and I have faith this defense will get better. It will be like flipping the switch to stay always ON. However until we see more from this defense and McGriff there will be low marks.

DC Grade, D

Next: Some Better Grades!

In Closing

Well Ole Miss football fans and OHT followers those are the grades for the Ole Miss/Arkansas game this past weekend. Of course we want to see better grades this week. We won’t have to wait for long as the Rebels travel to Lexington Kentucky to take on the Kentucky Wildcats. Kickoff is scheduled for 3pm CT and will be televised on the SEC Network. Hotty Toddy!

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