After allowing 62 points against defending national champion Alabama on Saturday, the Ole Miss defense is looking to change its course for the remainder of the season.
Though Saturday’s matchup was a blowout, there are a few takeaways that the Rebel defense could potentially use as building blocks, going forward.
Foremost, the Rebel defense allowed a mere six points in the entirety of the second half. (The Tide’s remaining seven points in the half came from a Jordan Ta’amu pick-six.) Though it is certain that Saban’s crew stepped off the gas in the second frame, it is still encouraging to see such a successful period for the defense — especially following a first half in which it gave up seven touchdowns.
“What I was proud of more than anything is that they kept fighting and that they keep trying to get better,” defensive line coach Freddie Roach said. “The confidence is a lot better.”
Another aspect of Saturday’s game that may provide relief for the unit was its ability to get turnovers against an Alabama offense that is normally averse to mistakes. The Rebels were able to recover a fumble and grab an interception, two plays which gave the team both the ball and a jolt of energy.
“I just (felt) excited,” defensive tackle Benito Jones said, regarding the effect of big defensive plays.
Jones, who had two tackles for loss against the Tide, will likely be an integral cog in the effort to turn around the Rebel defense. The veteran noted that much of the defense is young and inexperienced.
“Let (the young players) focus in on what they have to do,” Jones said.
Jones went on to explain what he felt the defensive unit as a whole needed to do to improve.
“We have to execute,” Jones said. “It’s just small things. (We need) to just key into our assignments.”
Roach felt similarly regarding the solution to the team’s defensive woes thus far. He echoed head coach Matt Luke’s sentiment about how vital the little things are to a team’s success.
“We (need to) just lock in and get better (and) hone in on little things,” Roach said. “It’s okay to make mistakes — they just can’t be fatal mistakes.”
Though Saturday’s loss leaves the team in a tough spot, all that can be done is to move on and look forward to the rest of the season. The season is only a quarter over, and SEC play has just begun.
“We have nine more opportunities,” Roach said. “It’s week-in and week-out.”
The first of those nine opportunities comes this Saturday at home versus Kent State. Playing a relatively underpowered team before diving back into conference play will give the Ole Miss defense a chance to regain its feet, but the unit must understand that it can’t rush its improvement.
“You can’t go out there and expect a perfect game,” Roach explained. “It’s not going to happen overnight.”
