Lane Kiffin ‘highly concerned’ about the Rebels’ rushing struggles: ‘It takes everybody to have a good running game’
OXFORD, Miss. — At Monday’s press conference, Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin was asked about his team’s anemic rushing performance thus far this season and, in typical fashion, he didn’t mince words.
“I’m highly concerned,” he began.
”That’s very unusual for us, not just here, but really anywhere. It’s just been a long (time), this job, Alabama, FAU, I don’t remember the inability to run the ball at all. So, like I said, they (Tulane) did a great job, but obviously that has a lot to do with us and that’s everybody. That’s perimeter blocking, linemen execution, running back footwork, it’s everything. Running the ball is not like throwing. It takes everybody to have a good running game. We definitely look to improve there, and that’s a major issue and one I don’t think anybody would’ve guessed.”
Lane Kiffin on the Ole Miss rushing attack
With arguably the best running back in the nation in Quinshon Judkins and an experienced offensive line that returns four of the five of last year’s starters, no one would have anticipated the Rebels having just 267 total yards rushing after two games.
Against Tulane, Ole Miss tallied 35 attempts for just 89 total rushing yards.
Kiffin was asked what specifically was Tulane doing to thwart the Rebels’ heretofore potent running attack.
“(Tulane) did a lot of movement up front, and we didn’t handle it very well. They created negative plays and we didn’t finish things. They came off blocks and made plays where we didn’t turn back when we should’ve and they were very aggressive with what they did defensively after that first series.“
Lane Kiffin
Coach Kiffin talked about teams keying more on the running game this year after Judkins’ success last season.
“I think for sure that happens. Anytime you have a running back that has 1700 yards and leads the SEC in touchdowns, in the offseason teams are going to scheme to stop you in the run game,” he noted.
But don’t look for Ole Miss to abandon the run game. Coach Kiffin explained why he does not believe in giving it up when it’s struggling.
“
Whether it’s right or wrong, I look at things in the big picture, the whole season also. I think once you go that route, to submitting and saying ‘hey, we’re going to throw when you load the box no matter what,’ you can get off balance, and your quarterback takes more hits. You can have more yards, but your RPOs don’t work as well. So…it keeps more balance in your room of players and where the ball goes, too. It could be challenging for a running back to come back from 1700 yards and only have 4 carries or something in a game.”
Lane Kiffin
Ole Miss will look to get the rushing game back on track against Georgia Tech this Saturday at Vaught-Hemingway. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. (CT) and the game will be broadcast on SEC Network.
Evelyn Van Pelt
Evelyn has covered sports for over two decades, beginning her journalism career as a sports writer for a newspaper in Austin, Texas. She attended Texas A&M and majored in English. Evelyn's love for Ole Miss began when her daughter Katie attended the university on a volleyball scholarship. Evelyn created the Rebel Walk in 2013 and has served as publisher and managing editor since its inception.
