Lane Kiffin talks about preparing for SEC play, the strength of the Kentucky defense, and his relationship with Jaxson Dart
OXFORD, Miss. – Monday afternoon, Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin took the podium for his weekly press conference, answering questions about the opening week of SEC play, his relationship with players and having something to prove.
Doing things different in the ‘Sip 🍿#ComeToTheSip pic.twitter.com/lW2KpKdRwo
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) September 23, 2024
Building Culture
Although his team is opening SEC play this coming Saturday against Kentucky, Coach Kiffin spent a lot of time at the podium today answering questions regarding his players’ improvements and relationships he has built with them.
With quarterback Jaxson Dart going through his third year at the helm of the Kiffin offense, many football watchers as well as the Rebel head coach have witnessed the leaps the signal-caller has taken each year. Monday, Kiffin said Dart has improved in many areas and is locked in on being great.
“I think he (Dart) has really physically improved through a lot of work, a lot of work in all areas, his body, his feet, his arm. The guy is relentless in his pursuit of being great…we give them (the team) some days off sometimes in the summer and breaks, he’s usually flying somewhere to go throw. He’s always working, trying to get better.“
~ Kiffin on Jaxson Dart’s improvements
The third-year Rebel starter is currently a Heisman favorite, leading the country with 1,554 passing yards. Kiffin explained on Monday how his relationship with Dart has grown, giving him the ability to trust the quarterback and let him play his game.
“I think Jaxson is a wonderful person. I think he treats people well. He spends a lot of time with his teammates, a lot of time with kids around here (in the Ole Miss facilities), including my own son and nephew…I just think it’s the relationship from on the field, there’s a trust level there. We spend a lot of time with him, and then let him play-to on Saturdays. I think we built that, especially being a guy we didn’t recruit out of high school. It pays off to have relationships where the quarterbacks trust you, too.“
~ Kiffin on his relationship with Dart
Building trust with our QBs 🎯@Lane_Kiffin | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/p5v9TNxqQi
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) September 23, 2024
Kiffin has made a name for himself recruiting players out of the portal, seemingly making it work immediately, despite not having a relationship such as the one he has with Dart now. Wide receiver Tre Harris is one of those players as well, leading the country in receiving yards just a little over a year after transferring to Ole Miss from Louisiana Tech.
The Rebel head coach claimed he knew exactly what type of player he was getting out of Harris during recruitment but would be lying if he said this was what he pictured for the Rebel wideout in the current day.
“I knew we were getting a great player, and one that really wanted to work, was humbled, wired the right way and from a great family. Now he has worked on his game a lot to improve his size, strength and speed. I don’t know I could tell you I knew he would be, by far, the leading receiver in the SEC at this point, but we knew he had a chance to be really special.“
~ Kiffin on Tre Harris being a great player
Looking forward to Kentucky
On Monday, Kiffin stated an 11:00 a.m. kickoff in the Vaught should not be a problem for his players since practice for the Rebels is usually an early morning thing. However, Ole Miss has taken a more ‘pro-style’ practice approach so far this season, allowing players to be ready for bigger games such as the one coming up against the Wildcats. The Rebel head coach believes that there is still plenty to prove for a team that he says is elite.
“Well, I think we are going find out more come Saturday,” Kiffin said when asked if he believes the new practice style has paid off.
“Statistically, teams we have played have struggled this year. That is why I am not making big statements about where we are ranked or how good we are on offense or defense. I said we have a chance to be really elite and really good, but we are going to have to prove that against bigger and better players.”
~ Kiffin on having something to prove
Staying on the topic of practice, the Rebel head coach claimed that he hopes the competition of elite players in his own practices has prepared the team for what is to come in SEC play more than their opponents have thus far.
“I’m a realest. I don’t think our opponents have really prepared for the SEC play. My hope is that our practice and our fall camp have prepared us because we play against very good players on both sides of the ball. Defensively we play against really big linemen, same the other way around. The schedule is what it is. I hope our practice has (prepared us) because our practice is similar to what we will face.“
~ Kiffin on being prepared
Going into SEC play in 2023, the Rebels clearly had some holes in places on the roster despite still being a top-ranked team in the country. The lack of size and depth is now no longer the question for the Rebels, and Coach Kiffin fully believes the trenches are where the main differences will be seen in 2024. The Rebel head coach explained what will be different about his team this year and how every week another elite player is on the other sideline.
“I think the length (will make a difference), the length you have seen. Front sevens in the SEC over time really have been better than any other conference…every week you play a unique, high-draft-pick defensive player. This is a good example of it, with this inside guy (for Kentucky) that’s a problem. He’s 6’7, 330 (pounds) and can rush. He’s a perfect example of an SEC problem-type player.“
~ Kiffin on facing an elite player every week in the SEC
The large human lined up inside to whom Coach Kiffin is referring for the Kentucky Wildcats is Deone Walker. However, Kiffin stated that the Kentucky defense is good as a whole and looks like a pro-defense.
“They have really good length on defense, great size. They are able to play with Georgia…they very much look like an NFL defense, from the structure but also from a size standpoint, coverages and techniques. That is why a lot of people struggle with them. It’s like NFL games, it’s hard to make yards, it’s hard to run the ball (against the Wildcats).“
~ Kiffin on the Kentucky defense
Last Saturday, Coach Kiffin recorded his 99th career win in the victory over Georgia Southern. With a win at home this coming weekend, the Rebel head coach would reach the milestone of 100 career wins. However, the only thing on Kiffin’s mind is going 1-0 in SEC play.
“That’s a lot of places, a lot of really coaches and players (who) help(ed) do that. I don’t know, I don’t have much thoughts on that. This is a really big game against a really good team. We have gone down to the wire both times we have played them. So, we need to prepare really well and play really well.“
~ Kiffin on possibly reaching win No. 100 in his career Saturday
Up Next
Lane Kiffin and the Rebel football team will continue their week of game prep heading into SEC play this coming Saturday. On Sept. 28th inside Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, the No. 6 ranked Ole Miss Rebels will host homecoming against the Kentucky Wildcats at 11 am CT on the ABC network.
First SEC Game of the season 🦈
🆚 Kentucky
🗓️ Sept. 28
🕚 11:00 AM CT
📺 ABC#HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/6oEYMV2XAQ— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) September 23, 2024
Kameron Wicker
Kam is a senior at Ole Miss, currently pursuing a degree in Journalism. Even though he's from Delhi, Louisiana, that didn't stop Kam from growing up a diehard Ole Miss fan. He's a sports guru who watches and follows all sports at all times. He lettered four years in football and baseball in high school and is an avid Saints, Pelicans, and Astros fan. In his free time, you can find him watching sports or at the rec participating in them.
