Evaluations are underway as Ole Miss enters second week of spring practice
Spring football is creeping toward the halfway point already as Ole Miss began its second of four weeks on Tuesday.
Though only through four practices there is plenty for head coach Lane Kiffin to look at and start to get a feel for as far as evaluating players is concerned. That goes for newcomers and returners as there are question marks in each category.
Similar to how Kiffin — who is in his third spring at Ole Miss — felt last year there is one side of the ball that is further along than the other at this early juncture.
“I think that our offense would be ahead of our defense, which is to be expected with the returning system back,” Kiffin said on Tuesday when asked to asses the team four practices in.
“We got a brand new system on defense and a lot of new players and we lost some good players. I would say that would be my general assessment. Lot of work to do to develop depth on both sides of the ball but also really excited about our guys and knowing that we’ll continue to improve with so many new guys.”
Bringing in Pete Golding as the new defensive coordinator includes installing a new defense that is a week old but the early returns are good.
As for the Ole Miss offense the evaluations continue at the quarterback position.
Jaxson Dart is entering his second spring at Ole Miss and growing more confidence in Kiffin and co-offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, Jr.’s system. He is also once again in a quarterback battle with the additions of Spencer Sanders and Walker Howard.
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Howard has impressed in the three practices that media has been able to attend, but Sanders continues to be the one that could push Dart for the starting job.
An injury prior to getting to Ole Miss has stunted Sanders immediate progress on the field as he has not taken many reps in order to continue healing his shoulder. That is being put in the equation when Kiffin evaluates what he sees the former Oklahoma State starter.
“We’ve limited what Spencer’s been able to do from a medical standpoint. So, we’re obviously looking at the long term there,” Kiffin said. “Not pushing that too much right now. I think he’s done a good job learning a new system from a mental standpoint and, so, the physical stuff will come.”
Ole Miss will return to the practice field on Thursday before moving over to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium for the first open practice of spring for the fans on Saturday.
Watch Kiffin’s full post-practice interview below. Video provided by Ole Miss Sports Productions.
