Ole Miss DL Jared Ivey explains the mindset of the Rebels’ defense and the preparation and work that are going into the unit’s improvement
OXFORD, Miss. — For the third consecutive week, the Ole Miss defense stole the show and propelled the Rebs into another SEC win, this time over Vanderbilt.
Ole Miss defensive linemen Jared Ivey played a key role against the Commodores.
“It felt great to go out there and get a great team win. We were all over the place that night on defense so it felt like we went out there and handled business early on in the game,” Ivey said after practice Monday.
Handling business may be an understatement for the performance of the Ole Miss defense. As a collection, the Rebs finished the game with two interceptions, five sacks, seven tackles for loss, and four pass deflections. Vanderbilt was only able to throw for 60 yards and rush for 169, and this comes only a week after the Ole Miss defense held Auburn to just 100 yards passing.
Not only has the secondary been dominant, but the boys up front are getting the job done for the Rebels as well, ranking fourth in the country in sacks with 30 and averaging 3.75 per game.
Ivey, who has 31 tackles on the season, leads Ole Miss with 8 tackles for loss for 47 yards thus far in 2023. He also is No. 1 on the team with 5.5 sacks. Ivey led the Rebels with 2.5 sacks against Vandy, as well as five total tackles, and recognizes that since the LSU game, the defense has played a big role in keeping the Rebels victorious. He talked about how the unit has become such a presence for the team.
“Having that spot-the-ball mentality. Just going out there whatever circumstance it is and giving our absolute best whenever we can. I think we have been a lot more consistent in the run game, I think we have rushed very well, we have covered tremendously, we have been getting turnovers, and really having the offenses back the past few weeks, and I think that’s been great.”
Jared Ivey on the Ole Miss defense
In perhaps one of the most well-reasoned and thought out answers this season, Jared responded when asked about Ole Miss’ momentum going into the upcoming game. Ivey explained that he does not buy in to momentum, per se, as a means to success, but rather in bringing the preparation that allows the defense to blossom every Saturday.
“I’m not a big believer in momentum,” Ivey said. “We put ourselves in position to make plays and we’re not surprised when we make them.
“You hit a big three in the NBA and the crowd gets pumping and somebody gets frazzled and turns the ball over. You could call that momentum, but I just think in the grand scheme of the things, I see our success as preparation based more than momentum based. I think we’re doing the right things during the week. We’re preparing the right way, we’re detailed in our film study, detailed in our practice. Our scout team guys are giving a hell of a look. I think it would be a shame to just call that momentum.”
Jared Ivey
Ole Miss, currently 7-1 this fall, also began 2022 with a record of 7-1 before dropping four of its last five games. Ivey explained how that affected the defensive line for this season.
“I think the [defensive line] really took this offseason to heart. Obviously, we didn’t end the way we wanted to end last year, and it really left a bad taste in our mouth. We felt like we could have done more, so we really put the work in. Coach [Randall] Joyner was really detailed about what he wanted and how he wanted things to go. I think we’ve matched his energy with the work.“
Jared Ivey
Ivey explained what else is different this year for the unit than last, starting with new defensive coordinator Pete Golding.
“PG (Pete Golding) I feel like has a great mindset and he’s our leader. After wins, he’s just a critical as he is after our one loss. We’re trying to look at every possible thing we can fix, no matter how good it is, we don’t want to win to hide the errors and mistakes that we need to fix moving forward.”
Jared Ivey
“The less mental errors and missed assignments we can have, the better,” he continued. “The less missed tackles we can have, the better. I think we had six missed tackles this week, so I think that’s just a testament to the moxie of this defense and how we’re handling our Tuesday practices,” Ivey added.
Up next for Ole Miss will be the Aggies who are 5-3 on the year including losses to Miami (FL), Alabama, and Tennessee. A&M leads college football in sacks and in Monday’s press conference, head coach Lane Kiffin continuously reiterated the amount of talent on the Aggie roster, comparing it to an “NFL roster.”
With the number one Georgia Bulldogs scheduled in two weeks, Ivey was asked if having Georgia coming up presents any challenges in staying focused on A&M.
“It’s not difficult at all. Texas A&M is on the screen,” Ivey began. “They’re on our film study notes and that’s all we are worried about….We’re watching that tape…that’s all we are looking forward to now is this week and A&M,” he continued.
At the end of the day, however, Ivey isn’t focused on the Rebels’ opponents, but on his own team instead.
“[Texas A&M] has a good team. They’re good on the perimeter, and they’ve got a really good running back corps. Same type of team we’ve been facing the past two years since I’ve been here. It’s the SEC, everybody’s got players and everybody’s got dudes. We try to take the mindset that it’s more about us and what we do and what we’re not willing to give them.”
Jared Ivey
Ole Miss fans, Pack the Vaught this Saturday at 11 a.m. or tune in to ESPN to watch the No. 11 ranked Rebels take on the Aggies of A&M. Hotty Toddy!
