Lane Kiffin shared the one major difference against Oklahoma that set Ole Miss apart from their losses
Ole Miss had lost two of their last three games heading into their SEC matchup against Oklahoma on Saturday in dramatic and unlucky fashion. Lane Kiffin was clearly sick of losing games that Ole Miss had no business losing considering they had been in firm control of every single matchup all year long. But what […]
Ole Miss had lost two of their last three games heading into their SEC matchup against Oklahoma on Saturday in dramatic and unlucky fashion. Lane Kiffin was clearly sick of losing games that Ole Miss had no business losing considering they had been in firm control of every single matchup all year long. But what set Ole Miss apart this week? How, when the going got tough with the Rebels down early to Oklahoma, did they turn it around and finish the job with a win?
Lane Kiffin shared one major difference that really helped his team down the stretch on Saturday immediately following the game:
"It was good to have a lead, going great, and make it two [possessions]. We've been in that position with both our losses, with the ball, ahead one score, and not pushing it to two scores. Because when you push it to two [scores] now they've got to throw more and now our pass rush can come alive. And that's really what I was hoping was happening when we had the ball in the last game [against LSU]…I think that helped getting to two scores [ahead] and they were able to pass rush more."
Ole Miss finally put it all together this week against Oklahoma. When the team took the lead in the third quarter they would not relent, and extended their lead twice for good measure. How did they do it exactly? It really came down to one player: quarterback Jaxson Dart.
Down 14-10 coming out of halftime the Ole Miss defense forced a three and out. Jaxson Dart knew what he needed to do. He stepped onto the field and immediately went 3/3 passing for 57 yards and touchdown, adding eight yards on the ground in just one drive.
Then right after that, the Rebels forced yet another three and out. And once again, Jaxson Dart stepped up, leading yet another huge offensive drive of 7 plays for 83 yards. In case you missed the game, these two throws on that drive (in my post below) were essentially what would inevitably seal the game for Ole Miss:
Dart faced pressure on a 3rd and 14, he rolled to his right, and just as he was getting taken to the ground lofted a perfect ball to hit his wide receiver Micah Davis in stride for a massive first down. Then just two plays later he pump faked to Jordan Watkins on a stutter-go route and dropped the ball into a bucket 40 yards downfield.
Clutch plays by Jaxson Dart extended the lead, but then it was the Ole Miss pass rush that absolutely buried the Oklahoma Sooners down the stretch. If Ole Miss can continue to keep their foot on the pedal, extending leads against opponents, that should allow their SEC-best pass rush to annihilate opposing passers every single week once they know teams have to pass. That might not land the team with nine sacks every time like it did against Oklahoma on Saturday, but that formula seems like a winner for Lane Kiffin's stacked squad moving forward.
Ole Miss’ one unstoppable weapon absolutely buried the Oklahoma Sooners in huge SEC victory for Lane Kiffin
Ole Miss key defensive edge demolished the Oklahoma Sooners
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