Three reasons behind Ole Miss' offensive explosiveness

Few teams consistently give Alabama trouble on the football field, but Ole Miss has repeatedly found a way during Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban’s tenure. Ole Miss beat them back-to-back in 2014 and 2015 under then-head coach Hugh Freeze, and the Rebels have scored 43 or more points in three of the last six meetings. 

In Saturday’s matchup between the two SEC West foes, it appears Ole Miss is poised to challenge the Alabama defense once again. 

Head coach Lane Kiffin’s team is leading the nation in total offense, averaging 635.3 yards and 52.7 points per game.

ESPN’s Bill Connelly gave some insight into how head coach Lane Kiffin has the offense rolling at such a high level.

Three reasons for Ole Miss’ success:

1. Playmaking: Despite losing playmakers to the NFL Draft, Ole Miss has had multiple players step into the void. In addition to Matt Corral, who is now a Heisman front runner, running backs Jerrion Ealy, Henry Parrish, Jr. and Snoop Conner lead a Rebels’ rushing attack posting 298.7 yards per game. As Connelly pointed out, Dontario Drummond, Jonathan Mingo and Braylon Sanders are averaging 17.7 yards per reception, although Mingo will be unavailable for the near future with a broken foot. For the second straight season, Corral is averaging over 10 yards per pass attempt. 
2. Efficiency: Connelly notes the Rebels have gone three-and-out on 13% of their drives this season, the sixth fewest in the FBS. Of course, they have yet to face a defense Alabama’s caliber, but the aforementioned rush threat could challenge an Alabama defense which struggled against Florida, allowing 245 yards on the ground.
3. Control: Corral has yet to throw an interception this season, a significant improvement from the 14 he tossed last season. Kiffin’s offense is running shorter plays in general, as Corral’s air yardage per play is down nearly two yards. Despite fewer deep balls, the Rebels are managing the game in a near-flawless fashion.

Alabama’s opponents need to post points, as the Crimson Tide have averaged over 45 points a game since 2018, and they are on track to do the same again this year, posting 46.5 per contest thus far. Ole Miss’ defense likely does not have the talent to slow down the Tide’s offense, so they’re hoping for a shootout. 

Saban will have his team ready, knowing Ole Miss’ offense will be equally prepared.

“The most important thing is [if] the players can maintain the right mindset for 60 minutes in a game,” Saban said. “ When you play an explosive offensive team, you’re never out of it one way or the other and they’re never out of it one way or the other. So you have to be able to maintain your intensity for 60 minutes in the game.”