The Ole Miss Rebels hope to spark a furious pass rush Saturday afternoon against the Florida Alligatorsas they hope to maintain their playoff aspirations.

Meanwhile, the Gators hope to thwart the Rebels en route to a bowl invitation. Despite Lane Kiffin’s dedication to the offense, remember he is the son of someone whose heritage is completely tied to defense.

As a result, Ole Miss and their head coach are fully embracing the defensive side of the ball. What Ole Miss has put together when it comes to the pass rush needs to be studied and emulated. Yet for every defense, an attack awaits to defeat it.

Because as complex as the game of football may be, a layer of simplicity will exist.

Depth and versatility

THE Rebels lead FBS in team sacks with 46. Additionally, they come home 11.94% of the time to drop the quarterback. Now, the key to success comes from depth. Eight defenders had at least two sacks. This includes linebackers, edge rushers and defensive linemen. Moreover, 14 players can boast of having at least half a sack.

Looking at the scheme, Ole Miss values ​​speed and quickness from the start. For example Suntarine Perkinswho leads the Rebels with 10 sacks, weighs between 210 and 220 pounds. However, sometimes he plays with his hand in the dirt.

Mix and match based on opponents and blockers. Sometimes they will show three rushers and send a walk-on or two. Keep an eye on Perkins as an indicator of where the defense wants to go.

What to avoid/What to do

First, DJ Lagway needs to ignore the superficial deployment. That is to say, when the pressure begins, he must not drift into areas approximately one meter from the offensive line. No team is closing in faster than Ole Miss. If they can’t get to the quarterback, they will try to throw the ball in the air.

The smart move? Commit and go all in, don’t hedge your bets or get caught in no man’s land.

Additionally, when Florida passes, the offensive linemen must be as physical as legally possible. Too often, we see that teams throw the ball away too early. The innate alarm will tell Lagway to throw the ball.

The tight ends’ double play will slow down the run, allowing for completed passes. Using your running back to help warm up the A gap helps. You can’t allow Ole Miss to pull a consistent bead on Lagway.

Outlook

Ole Miss poses a serious threat to Florida’s passing game. However, as prolific and athletic as they are, Florida possesses the ability to slow them down while completing passes.

First and foremost, the offense can’t panic. They should feel comfortable knowing the Rebels will be rushing the quarterback all night.

However, the biggest adjustment occurs between the ears. Like a boxer, knowing that your opponent wants to punch you and you’re ignoring him could be the difference between winning and losing.