Ole Miss football grades vs. Vanderbilt: Unpacking slow start, Jonathan Mingo's record day
NASHVILLE − Ole Miss football waited two quarters to unleash its best football in weeks.
The No. 9 Rebels came back from an early two-score deficit to beat Vanderbilt 52-28 on Saturday. The Rebels (6-0, 2-0 SEC) played sloppy and let Vanderbilt (3-3, 0-2) control the pace of the game in the first quarter but asserted themselves as the superior team in the third quarter, outscoring the Commodores 21-0 to seize the lead.
Ole Miss had three one-play touchdown drives in the second half, including touchdowns of 72 yards and 71 yards from quarterback Jaxson Dart and receiver Jonathan Mingo, who set the program's single-game receiving yardage record. Mingo finished with 247 yards and two touchdowns on nine receptions. .
Here are the Clarion Ledger's grades for Ole Miss' performance.
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Offense: A-
This was the best Ole Miss' passing attack had looked all season. Dart was efficient and finally starting connecting on the deep shots downfield. The running game was tepid in the first half but found some rhythm in the second half behind some physical, aggressive runs by Zach Evans.
Dart's two interceptions were ugly, and a failed fourth-and-short in the first quarter will probably keep Lane Kiffin up at night. But the offense that showed up in the third quarter is the best the unit has looked in three weeks, boosting the grade a little.
Defense: B-
Vanderbilt controlled the clock in the first half, and Ole Miss' tackling, especially on the perimeter, was exposed. The Rebels defense has been at its weakest this year when tackles for loss have been hard to come by, and that was again the case this time. But the unit returned to form in the second half, especially on third downs, which allowed the Rebels to come back and win decisively.
Special teams: B
Not much to report from this one. Jonathan Cruz made an easy field goal. The kick and punt returners mostly fair caught. Kick coverage was fine. No punts. Nothing outstanding and nothing back-breaking.
Coaching: A-
For the first time in a while, penalties were a concern. The Rebels struggled with everything from staying onside to having ineligible receivers downfield. But those mistakes were mostly confined to the first half. If anything, the second-half adjustments were something Ole Miss hadn't shown an ability to do this season. It's hard to give coaches too much credit for game-shifting big plays, but the gameplan worked.
Overall: B
Ole Miss went on the road and covered a three-score spread against an SEC team. The first half was ugly and the mistakes are going to be harder to overcome against tougher competition. But this was still a decisive win.
Contact Nick Suss at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on Twitter @nicksuss.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Ole Miss grades vs. Vanderbilt: Unpacking Jonathan Mingo's record day
