Ole Miss didn’t spend the open week making excuses. Pete Golding wanted the Rebels getting more physical.
And there was a reason for it.
Ole Miss has missed 62 tackles. Golding said those misses have cost the Rebels 482 yards, making tackling one of the biggest points of emphasis coming out of the 52-28 loss at Florida.
“You’re going to fight like you train, so you have to train like you fight,” Golding said Monday.
Golding also put the responsibility on himself.
“I think they came back and responded the right way,” Golding said. “Accountability and ownership come from everyone, and it started with me first.”
There was also good news on the injury front.
Running back Kewan Lacy returned to practice after missing the Florida game and is expected to be available Saturday at Vanderbilt.
“He practiced last night, came back, did individual and did some team sessions,” Golding said. “I fully anticipate having him this week.”
Now comes a different challenge.
Vanderbilt’s two-quarterback approach gives Ole Miss more to prepare for, with Golding saying the Commodores can essentially look like two different offenses depending on who is behind center.
“It’s almost like two different offenses, to be honest with you,” Golding said. “We have to work on both of them all week. I think we’ll see both of them in the game, no doubt.”
But Saturday is also about Ole Miss proving its open-week work actually mattered.
“What matters is what product is on the field at 2:30 on Saturday,” Golding said. “It isn’t going to matter until you put it on tape and do it consistently.”
The changes have been made.
Saturday in Nashville is when Ole Miss finds out if they worked.
