Hot Hot Hot!

It cannot be overstated: the Ole Miss defense has performed like the best defense in the SEC, maybe in the nation, during its 4-0 start to the season. A good day for a running back would amount to 80-100 yards rushing and maybe a touchdown; for a passer it might be 200 or more yards and a touchdown. Last week against Memphis, Ole Miss held the Tigers to 104 yards as a team (rushing and passing combined) and did not allow a touchdown for the entire game. Sure, it’s only Memphis, but it’s the same Memphis team that scored 35 points on UCLA earlier this season. The Rebels are complete in every area of the defense, and fans will see just how good that unit is when Ole Miss squares off with Alabama this weekend.

Getting Warmer

Wideout Laquon Treadwell had been quiet in the Rebels’ last two games, but he was electric in the win over Memphis, catching five passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns in a 24-3 win. Treadwell, who led Ole Miss in receptions last year, has become an explosive No. 1 receiver relied on more for big plays in big moments than for volume of catches. Treadwell opened the scoring with a 63-yard touchdown catch, and closed the scoring with a 17-yard touchdown catch to cement a victory, showing he makes his biggest plays in the biggest moments. Saturday’s game should be filled with big moments, and Treadwell should play a major factor in the Rebels offense if they hope to upset the Crimson Tide with most of the nation watching.

Tepid

For an Ole Miss running game that accomplished next to nothing in its first three games, “tepid” is actually a step in a positive direction. The Rebels ran for 178 yards as a team in the win over the Tigers, but still averaged just 4.2 yards per carry, which is good but far from great. Ole Miss had two runs of greater than 20 yards, which is a huge improvement for a running game that normally struggled to earn more than a couple yards on any given play. Still, the Rebels have used a handful of tailbacks throughout the season, indicating Hugh Freeze does not think he has one guy who can carry the run game like so many other SEC teams do. If the Rebels cannot find that guy, and if quarterback Bo Wallace continues throwing interceptions, the offense could be in trouble in the second half of the season.

Completely Frozen

It was just mentioned, but Bo Wallace regressed back into his old, turnover-prone self against Memphis. He threw two more interceptions against the Tigers, which now puts him at six for the season, worst by far in the SEC. He also lost a fumble against the Tigers, and he has been directly responsible for seven of Ole Miss’ nine turnovers through four games. When Wallace is locked in, the senior commands the Ole Miss offense as well as any quarterback commands an offense in the conference. The problem is, Wallace is never consistently locked in, and he’s yet to face the toughest defenses on the Rebels’ schedule. The quarterback needs to find a groove in the offense or Ole Miss is in big trouble.