Four Keys to an Ole Miss win over Vanderbilt

OXFORD, Miss. — As we look ahead to Saturday’s Ole Miss game against Vanderbilt, here are four keys to a win over the Commodores. 

Defend the Outside Run

As a team, 48% of Vanderbilt’s rushing yards have come when running outside the tackles. 

The Commodores’ leading rusher, Ray Davis, has run for 402 yards on 81 attempts this season. Fifty-two percent of his yards (211 on 37 attempts) have been accumulated when running outside. 

In the game against Vanderbilt, it will be important for players on the outside of the Rebel defense to get off their blocks and make fundamental tackles on ball carriers. It will also be on the defenders in the middle of the field to not over-pursue and be able to take away any cutback lanes.

Defend the Play-Action

Vanderbilt has two quarterbacks who have essentially split time this season. AJ Swann and Mike Wright have different styles of play. Swann is more of a pocket passer; whereas, Wright is a more mobile scrambling quarterback. However, both of them execute play action well. 

Vanderbilt’s offense has run play-action passes on 44% of their plays up to this point this season. The Ole Miss defense will more than likely be tasked with playing both Swann and Wright. In such event, it will be vital for the defense to focus on their keys and have their eyes in the right spot and limit big plays that come as a result of not doing so.

Score From Far

This season Vanderbilt has been prone to giving up big plays through the air. Through five games, the Commodores have surrendered 13 passing touchdowns and only picked off opposing quarterbacks once. 

Opposing quarterbacks have completed 15-of-27 (55%) passes of 20+ yards this season. Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart has completed 29% of his passes of 20+ yards this season, but 31% of his passing yards this season have come on such throws. 

This will be a good chance for the Ole Miss offense to push the ball down the field and exploit Vanderbilt’s vulnerabilities in the downfield passing game.

Run Wild

Currently Ole Miss is the only team in the SEC with two players who rank in the top five in rushing yards. Quinshon Judkins and Zach Evans have rushed for 535 and 389 yards, respectively. 

Judkins and Evans are also the only two teammates in the SEC to have at least five rushing touchdowns this season. Getting the two running backs going on the road against Vandy will keep the Commodores’ defense off balance, giving the Rebels a chance to light up the scoreboard.

Game info

Ole Miss and Vanderbilt kick off at 3:00 p.m. in Nashville. The game will be televised on the SEC Network.

(Feature image credit: Dan Anderson, The Rebel Walk)

Nick Filipich

Nick Filipich was born and raised in Biloxi, MS. He is an Ole Miss alum with a degree in Sports and Recreation Administration. A sports junkie with a great passion for all things Ole Miss, Nick played baseball and football in high school — which is where he discovered his love for sports. He is an avid Braves and Saints fan, and in his free time enjoys spending time with family, friends and his black lab, Dixie.