Column: Cleaning out the Notebook (and the Fridge) on an Ole Miss Bye Week

OXFORD, Miss. — This was my last weekend off until hopefully after the January bowl season, so I instead of keeping my eye on football, I kept my nose to the grindstone.

It was probably my last chance to take on some neglected chores around the house. Of course, as I did my work, I could not help but think about some of the aspects of the 2021 Ole Miss season thus far, so I might as well clean out my notebook as I clean the house. 

It came as a shock to me when Jacquez Jones decided to transfer to Kentucky. I also did not expect Chance Campbell to come to Oxford after earning his degree from Maryland. All-in-all, both the Cats and the Rebels are pleased with how these two young men have performed thus far.

Campbell is leading Ole Miss with 19 tackles, eight of them solo, 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack, two quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery. In Lexington, Jones has 20 tackles, 11 of them solo, an interception, three broken up passes and a quarterback hurry. 

Looking at my refrigerator. How many bottles of Ranch dressing does one person need? At least they are all a different brand and only one is passed the expiration date. 

Defensive improvement

“Deee-fence” has not been a chant heard much over the past couple of years in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. It just might be revived this season. Last year, Ole Miss gave up 38.3 points per game, 519 yards per game and 6.7 yards per play.

This year, albeit against non-conference competition, the Landsharks are surrendering 20.67 points and 344.7 yards per game and 4.8 yards per play. It doesn’t matter who you are playing, that is improvement. 

Okay, how did mayonnaise that is not Duke’s get into this fridge. Note to self: have a heart-to-heart talk with the roommate. 

Kiffin playing Moneyball

In the movie, Moneyball, the Oakland A’s are forced to replace star first baseman Jeremy Giambi who was lost to free agency. Being a small-market team, the A’s can’t afford to buy a replacement. So general manager Billy Beane decides to replace him in the aggregate. In other words, find a variety of players who together can produce numbers near to Giambi’s. 

At Ole Miss, many wondered who could replace former slot receiver and current New York Jet Elijah Moore who averaged 13.87 yards per catch and grabbed eight touchdowns a year ago. So it appears Lane Kiffin is playing a little Moneyball. 

Three receivers are averaging more yards per catch this season than Moore did a year ago. Jonathan Mingo (19.33), Dontario Drummond (16.95) and Braylon Sanders (16.63) are filling in quite well. By the way, that trio already has one more touchdown in three games than Moore did in eight last year. 

Heading onto the wrap-around porch to move things and get the push broom out to get rid of the accumulation of dirt. Moved the stack of ice coolers and found Zeus the dog’s secret stash of “lost” tennis balls. That crosses off an item on the shopping list this week. Bad dog, Zeus. Bad dog. 

Double-digits in season two?

Kiffin is 3-0 so far this season at Ole Miss and looking at the schedule ahead, should the Rebels stay healthy, double-digit wins are not out of the realm of possibility. That should not come as a shock to anyone. In his previous stops at Southern Cal and Florida Atlantic (he was only at Tennessee one year), by his second season, Kiffin’s team won double-digit games. 

In his second season at USC, Kiffin’s Trojans finished 10-2 and in his first season at FAU in 2017, his Owls were 11-3. In 2019, Florida Atlantic went 11-3 again. Let’s hope that trend continues. 

Thanks to my buddy Chris, I now have hotter water going to my washer. Who knew there was a filter in the washing machine? I feel much smarter now and if you want to send me your “Thank You” cards, I will forward them to him. 

Time of Possession

Perhaps time of possession is an overrated statistic. Ole Miss has had 20 touchdown drives (21 touchdowns including Sam Williams’ fumble return against Austin Peay). The most plays it took the Rebels to get into the end zone was 12 against Tulane. The longest Ole Miss had to travel was 94 yards versus Louisville, and the longest it took the Rebs to cross the goal line was 4:06 against APSU. 

The average touchdown drive for Ole Miss this season is 6.85 plays, 64.5 yards in 2:09. 

If anyone is curious, the shortest drive in plays was one, in distance 28 yards and in time seven seconds. 

What does one use to clean an oven? Clorox? Spray and Wash? Turpentine? Oh wait, how about this stuff under the sink labeled “oven cleaner?” 

Does Mac Brown get bored?

Does anyone wonder if Ole Miss punter Mac Brown gets bored? Sure he has been able to punt seven times this year, but the Rebels have gone for a fourth down twice as many times as he has punted. The Rebels have converted 12-of-14 fourth downs this season.

Believe it or not, that is good for only 14^th nationally in percentage. But that is kind of deceiving. Ole Miss has converted more fourth downs than any team ahead of them in the rankings have attempted. The most any other team has attempted is Houston who is 5-for-5, tied for best in college football. Four teams have converted all four attempts, five teams have been successful on both its tries and a pair of teams are 1-for-1. 

Gee, impressive guys. 

It is turning cooler here so it is time to pull out the quilts and air them out after being in storage for several months. I wonder how I can get the musty smell out of them? Time for a run to the store to pillage the laundry aisle. 

Even if they don’t get fully cleaned, I will have to use them. My grandmother made them. 

And Granny was an Ole Miss fan. 

(Feature image credit: Josh McCoy, Ole Miss)