Ole Miss hopes to overcome weak defense with prolific offense in 2018

Prior to SEC Media Days July 16-19, Olin will preview each of Texas A&M's conference opponents for the 2018 season. Today, the Ole Miss Rebels.

An emerging quarterback, an experienced offensive line, a highly-touted receiving corps and a heralded new running back suggests that Ole Miss will have one of the SEC’s most productive offenses.

It had better because the defense projects to be a disaster.

The days of the “Land Shark” defense are long gone. Oftentimes, in 2017, so were opposing running backs that routinely shredded the Rebels for big gains.

Ole Miss allowed at least 31 points in seven of its eight Southeastern Conference game last season.

This year’s defense might be worse because defensive linemen Breeland Speaks and Marquis Haynes, who were selected in the NFL draft, and ’17 leading tackler DeMarquis Haynes, are no longer on the roster.

Justin Ford/USA Today Sports

Ole Miss quarterback Jacob Ta'amu had a breakout year in 2017, despite only starting five games for the Rebels. 

Second-year coach Matt Luke has found some optimism, but he’s basing that on allowing just 31 points in a loss to Texas A&M and just 28 in a win over Mississippi State, in which Bulldogs quarterback Nick Fitzgerald was injured.

"What you have to look at, and it’s well-documented, (is) that we have to get better on defense,” Luke said during spring practice. “The way we played at the end of the year — we shut out Texas A&M in the second half and got five turnovers in the Egg Bowl (vs. Mississippi State).”

Defensively, Luke is seeking rays of hope in a thunderstorm, but the Rebels offensive outlook is incredibly bright.

Quarterback Jacob Ta’amu started five games in 2017 and threw at least two touchdown passes in two of them. He projects to be even more productive in his first year as a full-time starter. He certainly has the tools around him to be successful.

All-SEC selection A.J. Brown, who had 75 catches in 2017, returns to head a proven group of receivers. Also, All-SEC tackle Greg Little is back along with three other starters on the offensive line.

Last year Ole Miss was second in the SEC in total offense. The Rebels offense could be even more prolific this year.

It had better.

Ole Miss Rebels

• Coach: Matt Luke
• 2017 record: 6-6, 3-5 in the SEC West
• Postseason result: None

Returning starters (at least six starts)

• Offense: (8) WR A.J. Brown, G Alex Givens, TE Dawson Knox, OT Greg Little, WR DeMarkus Lodge, WR D.K. Metcalf, G Javon Patterson, C Sean Rawlings
• Defense: (7) LB Detric Bing-Dukes, DT Josiah Coatney, CB Myles Hartsfield, DT Benito Jones, FS Jaylon Jones, CB Ken Webster, SS Zedrick Woods
• Special teams: (1) KOR Jaylon Jones

Area of strength: One could scour the entire nation and not come up with a better group of receivers than those in Oxford. A.J. Brown might be the best in the country. DeMarkus Lodge and D.K. Metcalf both had more than 600 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in 2017. Depth could be an issue, but if healthy Ole Miss is loaded.

Area of concern: Ole Miss fans may wake up in cold sweats because of nightmares about the Rebels’ run defense. Last season Ole Miss allowed an average of 245.3 rushing yards per game (124th in the nation). And that was with Breeland Speaks, a second-round pick of the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs, on the defensive line. Ole Miss also lost the 2017 leading tackler, linebacker DeMarquis Gates. The Rebels surrendered 33 running plays of at least 20 yards. They have to improve, but there’s little reason to think they will. Benito Jones and Josiah Coatney are solid tackles, but the linebackers are inexperienced and not very athletic.

Top players

A.J. Brown, WR: A big and fast All-American candidate. He’s looking to improve upon a school record-setting 2017 campaign in which he 1,252 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns.

Greg Little, OT: He’s living up to the vast potential and expectations he had as a five-star prospect. He was an All-SEC selection last season. Some have projected him as the best left tackle in the country.

Jordan Ta’amu, QB: Though he only had five starts last season, Ta’amu passed for 1,682 yards and 11 touchdowns. He passed for at least 365 yards in his first three starts. He’s the first Ole Miss quarterback to post consecutive 350-yard passing performances against SEC competition.

Impact newcomer: Last year’s leading rusher Jordan Wilkins completed his eligibility. Meanwhile, Eric Swinney and D’Vaughn Pennamon have been slowed by knee injuries. That opens up a great opportunity for Scottie Phillips, who was the top-rated junior college running back in the 2018 class. Wilkins rushed for 1,070 yards and 13 touchdowns at Jones County Junior College.

2018 schedule:

• Sept. 1 vs. Texas Tech at Houston
• Sept. 8 vs. Southern Illinois
• Sept. 15 vs. Alabama
• Sept. 22 vs. Kent State
• Sept. 29 at LSU
• Oct. 6 vs. Louisiana-Monroe
• Oct. 13 vs. Arkansas at Little Rock
• Oct. 20 vs. Auburn
• Nov. 3 vs. South Carolina
• Nov. 10 at Texas A&M
• Nov. 17 at Vanderbilt
• Nov. 22 vs. Mississippi State

Predicted finish: 6-6