Ole Miss football grades vs. Auburn: Making sense of immaculate offense, suspect defense
OXFORD − Ole Miss football showed its offensive prowess but had some of its biggest defensive weaknesses exposed against Auburn.
The No. 9 Rebels defeated the Tigers 48-34 on Saturday at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Ole Miss (7-0, 3-0 SEC) rushed for more than 400 yards but allowed 301 yards on the ground in a game that was interrupted by a lightning delay late in the fourth quarter.
Putting up this kind of offensive performance against an SEC defense is one of the most encouraging signs of the season, but struggling so much on defense brings doubt to some of the murmurs about the Rebels' defensive growth early in the year.
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Here are the Clarion Ledger's grades for the Rebels' win.
Offense: A
Any time your team has three different players run for 100 yards, you call it a win. The passing game wasn't really necessary − Dart only threw 19 times − but it worked for big plays and three touchdowns. Without much of a need for an aerial threat, Dart and running backs Quinshon Judkins and Zach Evans led the way and put together one of the best rushing performances in school history.
Defense: C-
It's hard to feel good about this one. An interception and a fumble recovery in the first quarter plus some key sacks and tackles for loss throughout the game papered over what was easily the worst defensive showing of the year. The Rebels missed tackles on the perimeter and were bullied at the point of attack. Auburn had 10 carriesthat broke for 10 or more yards and became the first team to run for 300 yards against the Rebels since Arkansas did so last year.
Special teams: A+
A surprise onside kick is going to be the highlight here, but the Rebels' special teams played well across the board in this one. Fraser Masin boomed a 50-yard punt and kick returners Dayton Wade and Jalen Knox both had long returns to set up short fields. Jonathan Cruz also made two crucial field goals, including a 41-yarder to give the Rebels a two-score lead early in the fourth quarter.
Coaching: B
The onside kick was a stroke of genius, helping turn a seven-point lead into a 14-point lead at a crucial time. The offensive game plan, built around outside runs and getting the running backs into space, worked really well. But the defense had no answers or adjustments for Auburn's game plan, even though the Tigers had no interest in throwing the ball. That's going to knock the coaching grade down.
Overall: B
This game felt a lot like it belonged in 2020, not 2022. Ole Miss has won its fair share of games with bad defense and great offense, but a game like this is a step back for the team's growth. Take the win, but know a performance like this against any other team in the SEC West might end differently.
Contact Nick Suss at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on Twitter @nicksuss.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Ole Miss football shows unstoppable offense, porous defense vs. Auburn
