Pete Golding and the Ole Miss football defense aren’t just all about that (4-2-5) base
Ole Miss football is on its third defensive coordinator in as many seasons.
But the Rebels — both schematically and personnel-wise — aren’t starting from scratch.
Head coach Lane Kiffin hired Pete Golding away from Nick Saban and Alabama in the off-season. He replaced Chris Partridge, who lasted just one season after an in-house promotion following the departure of DJ Durkin to Texas A&M.
Each utilizes a 4-2-5 base defense. However, there are subtle differences. For example, Golding likes to have four defensive lineman on the field instead of three and a hybrid linebacker/EDGE.
Golding likes to feature three safeties, even if his safety/linebacker spot is called something different (MONEY), and he values length most of all in his cornerbacks.
It’s hard to argue with the results. Golding has never had worse than a Top 30 defense in any of his previous stops as a defensive coordinator, including three seasons at Alabama. He was at UTSA before that.
“With the defense he runs and how he runs it with the meetings and stuff, it’s definitely different,” Ole Miss veteran safety Isheem Young said of Golding, in a previous interview with the Ole Miss Spirit.
“It’s a next-level difference, basically.”
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DE Cedric Johnson is another example of the small, but critically important, differences under Golding.
Johnson spent each of his previous three seasons almost exclusively with his hand in the dirt. Golding oftentimes has Johnson standing upright — most often in pass-rush situations.
Johnson is the Rebels’ active career leading in sacks (13.5). He was named preseason All-SEC by Phil Steele, Athlon and Lindy’s. He’s also the 2023 recipient of the Chucky Mullins Courage Award.
“I’m loving the new position, honestly,” Johnson said this week. Ole Miss opens its season Saturday at 1 p.m. CT against Mercer. “It gives me a lot more freedom (and) gives me a lot more room to grow as a player overall.
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“It’s been a lot of fun for me. We’ve got four defensive linemen on the field now. Won’t have to be taking as many double teams anymore. It’s going to be fun. I’m loving it.”
Johnson has full confidence in Golding helping the Rebels rebound from a tough season in which they won seven of their first eight games but lost five of their last six.
“We’re all going into it head-on. This is a big game for us. We’re locked in,” he said. “All the guys are bought in. We’ve got a lot of great depth. The vibe is great. We’re a lot more meshed together (and) everybody’s focused on one goal, and that’s to win every game. Shut out every team.
“As far as brotherhood, we’re closer than ever before.”
Golding last season guided Alabama to a No. 13 overall finish in total defense.
The Tide was No. 9 in scoring defense. Alabama was Top 20 in scoring defense in each of his four Alabama seasons.
“He puts everyone in the right position, every time,” Ole Miss linebacker Monty Montgomery said. “Golding is a mastermind. He breaks it down in the dumbest way and allows us to operate instead of playing like robots.
“It’s free-styling, in a sense, so we can make plays.”
