Week one for Ole Miss proved to be full of good and bad. The overall result was quite positive, as they took down Georgia State 63-7. And clearly, the result is the most important thing when it comes to college football. However, despite the route of the Panthers, there were plenty of needed improvements for Ole Miss that were put on full display in the opener.
So what went well, and what needs improvement if they want a chance at a College Football Playoff berth?
The Good and Bad Following Season Opener
The Positives
The first thing to address is the rushing attack, and more specifically, Kewan Lacy. Last year, the Rebels’ rushing game didn’t even have a pulse. Through one game, it looks completely revamped. They put up 295 yards on the ground, along with four touchdowns. For his part, Lacy ran for 108 yards and three of the Rebels’ four rushing scores. More importantly, it was the way he ran. He ran with aggression and physicality, which is something Ole Miss lacked in that department a season ago.
Then there’s the defense. Following the departure of a ton of production on the defensive side, there were plenty of questions as to how they’d look this year. Through one game, the answer is that they’re just about where you’d expect. The secondary was simply elite, as they only gave up 69 yards passing, allowing less than half of the passes to be completed.
On the other hand, the defensive line needs work. The Rebels gave up 191 yards rushing to a Georgia State team that they should’ve overpowered. And it looked completely different from a year ago. Last year, they had success with size. The defensive line was massive. This year, they’re extremely quick, but lack that same size. So while the pass rush this year should be okay, stopping the run could prove to be problematic. When it comes to bigger, physically overpowering teams, that could end up being a major issue.
The Negatives
There’s no way around it; the offensive line simply isn’t good. There were questions coming into the season, and based on one week, those questions were for good reason. As mentioned earlier, clearly, the run blocking was decent. Good enough for nearly 300 yards on the ground. On the other hand, pass protection was egregious. Quarterback Austin Simmons spent way too much time avoiding pressure, certainly more than he should’ve against Georgia State. This pressure is what led to one of Simmons’ two interceptions in the opener. If they couldn’t keep the Panthers’ pass rush at bay, major questions arise as to how they ultimately fare against some teams deeper on the schedule.
The other biggest negative is of far less importance, as it’s likely fixable. That is the decision-making of Simmons. He’s athletic enough to avoid a lot of the pressure he may face, even though he’s more of a strict pocket passer. He’s also extremely accurate with his passes. None of that is really up for question.
His decision-making, however, is. His second interception was simply terrible. Throwing over the middle late and not seeing a deep safety is a recipe for disaster. A few other questionable decisions were made that didn’t end up hurting the Rebels. While worthy of criticism, it was also his first start. Even against a subpar opponent, that brings some nerves. Assuming the decision-making gets better with experience, Simmons is going to be fine as the starter.
Improvements For Ole Miss Needed Fast
Against Georgia State, the problems didn’t end up being a difference maker. However, the Rebels open their conference slate next weekend at Kentucky. The same Wildcat team that was a large reason for them missing the playoff last season. Even with Kentucky being a lower-level SEC program, if things don’t get better, it could end up being a problematic matchup.
Against the Wildcat defense, the Ole Miss pass protection simply has to be better. If it ends up being similar to this past week, Simmons is once again going to be running for his life on nearly every snap. Along those same lines, Simmons’ decision-making has to continue to improve. If it does, the offense should ultimately be okay.
On the defensive side, it’s primarily a matter of the defensive line playing bigger than they are. We know they’re fast, but can they take up space inside to prevent opponents from getting to the second level? If they can, the defense should continue to be a problem for opposing offenses.
In the end, the opener was a good start for Ole Miss. They got the win and looked pretty good, for the most part. But it won’t be enough if they plan on making a run at a playoff appearance. The good news is they now know what needs to be fixed; it’s simply a matter of improving those individual aspects.
