How Ole Miss ‘D’ is preparing for Alabama
OXFORD – Both Ole Miss head coach Matt Luke and defensive coordinator Wesley McGriff took responsibility Monday for not getting the Rebels defense ready to bring focus and energy from the first whistle over the weekend.
“Looking at the defensive side of the ball, the obvious is a tale of two halves,” Luke said of a 76-41 victory over Southern Illinois. “Same calls against the same plays. We executed in the second half; in the first half we didn’t.”
This week, however, focus and energy should come naturally when lining up opposite No. 1 Alabama. The Tide scored 50-plus points in their Week 1 and Week 2 victories. Alabama is known for its defense, but its offense doesn’t leave much room for error either. Alabama’s balanced attack put up 599 yards in total offense against Arkansas State last week.
While Tua Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts both have seen the field in the Alabama quarterback saga of 2018, Tagovailoa has earned both starts. In that time, he’s been the highest rated passer in the country. He’s also averaged 23 rushing yards per game.
“Just the ability for a young quarterback and the decision making,” Luke said of what has made Tagovailoa successful so far this season. “They ask him to do some RPO stuff where you’ve got to make some decisions. He’s got a quick release. He’s got very, very good receivers to throw it to. And then his ability to extend plays.”
Luke pointed to Alabama’s first touchdown against Louisville as an example. Tagovailoa faked a hand-off and then found himself pursued by a Louisville pass rusher. He spun in a circle and got off a touchdown pass just before being tackled to the ground.
Whether Ole Miss sees Tagovailoa, Hurts or both, it will face a quarterback that’s a threat with both his arm and his feet. That’s something the Rebels defense hasn’t come across yet this season.
“We’ll mix up our chase calls and our cue calls with regard to the zone read to make sure we account for [the quarterback] and have a hat on him every single time,” Ole Miss defensive coordinator Wesley McGriff said. “Because as you know, they have the talent that they can score from any place on the field. So the scheme will change a little bit in regard to who’s going to have eyes on the quarterback on the run game.”
In order to have a chance against Alabama, Ole Miss’ young defense has to come out at least as well as it did in the second half of last weekend’s game. That level of discipline likely won’t have the same result — Ole Miss only allowed SIU a field goal in the second half of Saturday’s game — against a deeper and more dynamic offense. But the Rebels' job on Saturday will be to give its high-powered offense a chance to make it a close contest.
The Rebels also aim to add sacks to their stat sheet, having recorded just one so far this season.
“One of our goals on defense is to wreck the decision making,” McGriff said. “And we have to get to the quarterback, we have to impact the game and we have to get him off schedule. And we’re not guilty of doing that thus far, so we’re definitely paying attention to that.”