Auburn Football: Scouting the Ole Miss Defense and Special Teams
Oct 4, 2014; Oxford, MS, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back T.J. Yeldon (4) runs for a short gain during the first half against Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
The Auburn football team averages 39.3 points and 496.9 yards of total offense, including an SEC-leading 281 yards on the ground. But, the Tigers will have their hands full with the Ole Miss Rebels this Saturday in Oxford.
Simply, the Ole Miss defense has been great this season. In fact, it’s one of the best units in the nation.
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In each of the Rebels’ first eight games this year, Ole Miss has held their opponents under their average total yardage output. In most cases, the difference has been dramatic.
Boise State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Memphis, Alabama and Tennessee were all held at least 100 yards below their average offensive performance, and Vanderbilt had 99 yards fewer than its usual total.
The most impressive statistical performance of the season was manhandling Memphis. The Tigers have put up 451.1 yards of offense per contest this season, but Ole Miss held them to just 104. That’s a difference of 347.1 yards below their normal output.
All of the Rebels’ opponents to date have accumulated a combined average of 427.4 yards of total offense per game. Against the Rebels, the group has been held to 305 total yards per contest. That ranks second in the SEC statistically, and ninth nationally.
Sure, yardage statistics may be overrated or skewed, but something that can’t be argued is the fact that Ole Miss has held its opponents to just 10.5 points per game, which is the best in the nation. The defense (when taking a safety and defensive TD against the Rebels into account) has allowed only 9.4 points on average because they’ve allowed just seven total touchdowns in eight games.
The Rebels keep opponents off the scoreboard, and they also take the football away. They lead the nation with 17 interceptions and are second with 24 takeaways and have even found a way to score four defensive TDs.
So, yeah, pretty great so far.