Inside Slant

The Sports Xchange

September 18, 2018 at 11:11 pm.

Ole Miss focuses on execution after 55-point loss

Little things added up then spread like wildfire.

It was the execution, not the effort or scheme that led to a 49-point outburst by No. 1 Alabama last Saturday, Ole Miss coach Matt Luke said.

Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban began subbing before halftime, and the Tide rolled to a 62-7 win.

The Rebels remain at home this weekend and hope for better fortune against Saban’s alma mater when they kick off against Kent State on Saturday morning at 11.

The Rebels’ game against the Tide was billed as the explosive Ole Miss offense against a revamped Alabama defense.

The Tide has nine new starters, but it wasn’t evident as they locked down the trio of talented Ole Miss receivers.

The Rebels went deep on their first play from scrimmage, and quarterback Jordan Ta’amu connected with DK Metcalf for a 75-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead just 11 seconds into the game.

Ole Miss averaged 2.98 yards per play on 58 other snaps.

The Rebels were unable to find an answer for the Alabama pass rush as Ta’amu was sacked four times and hurried many others.

Luke, who was the Rebels offensive line coach when he was hurriedly promoted to replace Hugh Freeze last July, said technique mistakes Ole Miss players may have gotten by with in the first two games burned them this time.

“Little things showed up. Steps that maybe didn’t affect you against Texas Tech or Southern Illinois, the set, the hand placement … Little things show up when you play against really good football teams. It’s up to us to correct that,” he said.

Luke found himself defending his offensive and defensive schemes at his weekly presser for a second-straight week.

He says correcting mistakes is about hammering home the little things during the week. He hopes to get his players to think less and react quicker the next time the face defensive speed like Alabama’s.

“The magic’s not in the scheme. The magic’s in the effort and the execution of it. A lot of that is coaching, getting us to react, see things and play the game.”