Ole Miss led the nation in scoring defense in 2014. Five games into this season, the Rebels are next to last in the SEC by allowing 29.6 points per game. That is a touchdown more than last season.
The next hurdle to improving those numbers for the No. 12 Rebels is Saturday at 6 p.m. CT at No. 22 Arkansas.
That hasn’t led to any questioning of defensive coordinator Dave Wommack, who’s in his fifth year with Hugh Freeze in Oxford.
“Dave’s been incredible for me personally and professionally,” Freeze said. “Of course he’s been with me since Arkansas State, and I don’t think I have the success in our programs we’ve had without him.”
Ole Miss (3-2, 1-1) finished eighth in the SEC last season in scoring defense, allowing 22.6 points per game. There are a couple of clear factors that go into its low ranking this season – being ranked 80th in the country.
Neither Freeze nor Wommack would use these as excuses to the 2016 struggles, but one is the plethora of young recruit talent on the field. The defensive backfield is a who’s who of talent in four-stars Deontay Anderson and Jaylon Jones and three-star Myles Hartsfield. Jalen Julius and Montrell Custis were three-stars in the 2015 class. All of that group is being asked to contribute.
The schedule has been brutal, Florida State and Alabama made up two of the first three opponents, and there are road games coming up at Arkansas (4-2, 0-2), at LSU and at Texas A&M.
Ole Miss is currently ranked 10th in the SEC in passing defense and 13th against the rush.
“We’ve had our struggles some this year, but it’s nothing Dave has not faced before and I expect him to … he’ll stay the course and continue to provide good leadership for us on the defensive side,” Freeze said. “I’m very indebted to the job Dave’s done for me.”
Freeze said Wommack is the balancing calm to his own sometimes over-reactive side.
Freeze is expecting what he calls “an angry team” after the Razorbacks lost to Alabama a week ago. Arkansas is third in passing offense behind an ever-improving Austin Allen. Allen is second in the league in passing yards.
Wommack was asked during a local media scrum what he saw from Arkansas offensively against Alabama.
“I saw (Allen) throw for 400 yards. He put it on the money most of the time when he wasn’t sacked,” Wommack said. “He made some great throws. He’s done that all year. I’m impressed.”
