Ole Miss’ John Saunders Jr. focused on sticking to assignments and limiting Arkansas playmakers
Ole Miss defensive back John Saunders Jr. talked earlier this week about preparing for the Razorbacks and the second-half defensive success in the recent win over Oklahoma.
Back on the road
🆚 Arkansas
🗓️ Nov. 02
🕚 11:00 AM CT
📺 ESPN#HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/M4UXoQ52jV— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) October 28, 2024
Going into the halftime locker room against the Oklahoma Sooners last Saturday, the Ole Miss Rebels trailed 14-10 despite coming into the early matchup as 20-point favorites. It’s safe to say the adjustments were made heavily on the defensive side of the ball for the Rebels, as Pete Golding’s group allowed only 72 passing yards and 22 rushing yards as they pitched a shutout in the second half.
Rebel veteran and starting safety John Saunders Jr. said it was awesome watching the defensive front for the Rebels go to work late in the game as it took the pressure off of the Ole Miss secondary.
“It’s amazing. The first couple of quarters, they were holding up and getting pressure, but those last couple of possessions were amazing. We only had to cover for like two seconds each time, so it makes our jobs much easier (in the secondary)…it frustrates the quarterback and the O-Line, it deflates their whole team.”
~ Saunders Jr. on the Rebel D-Line
It’s no secret how good the Landshark defense is when it comes to stopping the run. The Rebel front is in fact ranked number one in the country in yards allowed per game on the ground, allowing just 76.6 yards. This has noticeably forced the Rebels’ opponents to rely on the passing game, something that Saunders Jr. seems to expect when stepping on the gridiron.
“With our front and how we always stop the run every week, it always usually feels like a pass. We know the game is on us and we just have to make the plays that come to us,” Saunders Jr. said.
The Rebel defense will have another big test on their hands heading into the hostile environment of Fayetteville today as they take on the Arkansas Razorbacks. Just last week, the Razorback offense hung 50 points on Mississippi State, a game that Saunders Jr. and the Rebel defense have broken down over the week to game plan for the dynamic SEC offense.
“They are a good overall offense. They have a good rushing attack, a good O-Line, they have good receivers too. We just have to focus on us and make sure we do our jobs because if all 11 of us on defense do our jobs, we are a force to be reckoned with.”
~ Saunders Jr. on the Arkansas offense
When talking about the Razorback offense, opponents have typically keyed in on quarterback Taylen Green. Transferring from Boise State, the dual-threat playmaker has brought his dynamic style of play into the SEC and has not looked back, rushing for 395 yards and 5 scores this year which has helped Arkansas rank top 10 in the country in total offense.
Saunders Jr. says the only way to limit a player such as Green is to have everyone on the Rebel defense sticking to their assignments throughout the game.
“We have to use everybody now on defense to stop the run because he (Green) might pull the ball and run it. We have to make sure to account for the quarterback every play and make sure that we know where he is at…When we get the opportunity to hit him we have to make him feel us.”
~ Saunders Jr. on Taylen Green
Similar to the Rebels having the Jaxson Dart to Tre Harris connection, the Razorbacks have a Green to Andrew Armstrong connection. Armstrong is second in the SEC in receiving yards behind Harris this season with 722 yards, proving to be the top target within the Razorback offense.
Saunders Jr. explained the Rebels see receivers like this all the time having to go up against Harris on a weekly basis, but also gave credit where it was due as he broke down how to limit a playmaker like Armstrong.
“He’s (Armstrong) a good player, big guy. He has some similarities to Tre (Harris), so we see receivers like that typically. We are just going to work our techniques, do our jobs, do our assignments and limit him.”
~ Saunders Jr. on Andrew Armstrong
Game info
Today, the No. 19 Ole Miss Rebels will take on the Arkansas Razorbacks at 11 am CT on ESPN. Hotty Toddy!
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.
