After starting the season with two 70-plus-point performances, the Ole Miss offense has shown regression and quarterback Chad Kelly’s QBR has gone down in each of the Rebels’ last three games.

Although Kelly is considered a dual-threat quarterback that can make plays with his legs when the pocket breaks down, he still needs solid pass protection, especially against SEC defenses, in order to be successful. And so far this season, the Rebels’ pass blocking, without the services of All-American left tackle Laremy Tunsil, has been average.

Tunsil has missed the first five games of the season because of an NCAA investigation into whether or not he had contact with sports agents.

Now of course, any offensive line that’s missing it’s best blocker is going to have some struggles. But the Rebels have plenty of other capable offensive linemen like Javon Patterson, Rod Taylor and Fahn Cooper that have to be more consistent in protecting Kelly moving forward.

The inexperience of Patterson and Taylor, a freshman and sophomore, respectively, could also be part of the reason for the unit’s shortcomings. Senior guard Justin Bell has missed the last two games with an ankle injury, which has left Taylor playing left guard and Patterson at right guard. Both Patterson and Taylor were highly rated recruits coming out of high school and are being asked to fill big roles for the Rebels early in their careers.

Not only are Patterson and Taylor inexperienced, they are also banged up. Taylor tore his labrum during a non-football activity in fall camp and is still dealing with residual effects from the injury but playing through them. Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze said this week that Patterson is “gimpy” with an undisclosed injury and Oct. 7 Patterson was ruled out for the Rebels’ next game.

Nine of the 10 sacks the Ole Miss offensive line has let up this season have come in the Rebels’ last three games, all against SEC defenses. The line’s worst performance came last week in Gainesville during Ole Miss’ 38-10 upset loss to Florida. The Rebels allowed the Gators to sack Kelly 4 times in The Swamp.

The next SEC opponent on the schedule for Ole Miss is Texas A&M in Week 8. The Aggies’ pass rush, featuring defensive ends Myles Garrett and Daeshon Hall, is considered by many to be the best, not only in the SEC, but in all of college football.

Non-conference games against New Mexico State and Memphis the next two weeks should help Ole Miss make whatever corrections are needed on its offensive front, and also allow more time for the NCAA’s investigation of Tunsil to sort itself out before conference play resumes for the Rebels.

If Ole Miss can ever rid itself of injuries and investigations and get its five best offensive linemen out there on the field at the same time, then Kelly will really have a chance to flourish in the Rebels offense.