Roman Harper calls on Lane Kiffin to resume Ole Miss offensive play calling duties

Heading into the final stretch of the 2024 season, Roman Harper would like to see a change a top one SEC program. While he’s not calling for anyone’s job, Harper does want to see Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin take back more control of his offense on game days.

Specifically, Harper would like to see Kiffin take back offensive play calling duties. Right now, the job has fallen to offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr., who Harper and Paul Finebaum — who had welcomed Harper on for a usual Friday segment on his show — are not particularly impressed by.

Finebaum even went so far as to say that beyond his name and familial history, there really hasn’t been much to commend Weis Jr. for the role he’s done, or to really deserve it in the first place. And while Harper wasn’t quite going as far, he did think it makes sense for Kiffin to retake that control.

“I just think Ole Miss could be even better than where they are if he was calling plays,” Harper said. “They’re not as explosive as we anticipated them to be or thought they would be, especially when you have as many NFL-ready wide receivers and tight ends that you have. You have the running game going, all of it’s just sort of misfiring right now. And I’m not pointing the finger at anybody in particular as much as I’m sitting here with my hands up.”

Things haven’t exactly gone poorly for the Rebels in 2024, as they’re 6-2 and averaging nearly 40 points a game, good for No. 13 nationally.

But Ole Miss has taken two losses in SEC play in a season it expected to contend for a league title and more, and has seen it’s points per game drop significantly across four conference games.

So far, Ole Miss averaged 55 points a game in non-conference play, with the lowest output being 40 points.

But since starting SEC play — and going 2-2 in the league so far — Ole Miss has averaged just 24 points per game. And in conference play, Ole Miss has yet to score 30 points or more.

And with four conference games left, Harper isn’t backing off the notion that a change in offensive play caller could got a long way to giving the Rebels some needed juice.

“I just think they could be better and I would love to see him do that. And if he did, they would be better. I do believe that and I’m not going to back off that statement,” Harper said.