Ole Miss offensive line went back to fundamentals and kept things 'simple' as run game takes off
The Ole Miss run game has gotten into midseason form over the last month and a lot of credit has gone towards a healthy Quinshon Judkins and Caden Prieskorn, but the offensive line needs its due as well.
After the performance at Alabama and the Rebels offense scoring only 10 points, head coach Lane Kiffin specifically challenged the offensive line room. The group responded the following week against LSU when Ole Missed rushed for 317 yards and three touchdowns.
Over the last four games the run game has put up its best numbers of the season and all against Southeastern Conference defenses.
For Victor Curne the reason for what is working up front the last five weeks is an easy one.
“Just being on the same page and getting back to the fundamentals. I think that’s probably the best thing,” Curne said. “Just trusting our fundamentals and just going out and doing what our coaches want us to do. I think just keeping it simple, not being too exotic and just running the ball and being aggressive and finishing on blocks.”
Things appear to be getting back on track when it comes to the offensive front, or the issues are getting corrected.
One area that could continue to see improvement is the pass protection for quarterback Jaxson Dart. After keeping Dart’s jersey clean and not allowing a sack against LSU the Rebels offensive line has allowed the junior signal caller to get twice against Arkansas and four times against Auburn.
This goes back the the keeping things simple approach Curne and the rest of his offensive line has relied on the last month.
“Just trust your instincts,” Kurne added. “Don’t get caught up in, ‘Oh, should I do this? Should I do that?’ Just see the call, know the call, do your job. That’s the three principles. …When the whistle blows then you let off. But until then, just do the call and do your job one play at a time.”
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The search for that complete game by Ole Miss is still ongoing but one that players feel is coming to and end soon.
Entering the Auburn game Kiffin spoke about the desire to finally get that complete effort out of all three phases. Saturday inside Jordan-Hare Stadium produced a win for Ole Miss but not a clean game.
The last three wins have come in different ways with offense winning the shootout over LSU and the Rebels defense playing the key roles against the Razorback and at Auburn.
Saturday against Vanderbilt provides the next chance for Ole Miss to have that complete performance ahead of games against Texas A&M and at No. 1 Georgia.
“Once it clicks it’s going to click and it’s going to turn us up a little bit more,” Curne said. “That’s what’s exciting for us. When it all clicks in all three phases I think it’s going to be something special.”
Curne is also not one buying into the ‘It’s just Vanderbilt’ approach to this weekend’s Homecoming opponent. For a first-timer in the Southeastern Conference Curne is not looking past anyone on the schedule.
“Any given Saturday anybody can beat anybody,” Curne said. “I’ll never take it as it’s just Vandy. I’m new to the SEC so I think everybody in this conference is good. Just got to go 1-0 every week. So it doesn’t matter who it is, who we play. Could be a Friday, Saturday, Sunday. It doesn’t matter. We got to go out and go 1-0 against any team.”
