College Football Preview: 2011 Ole Miss Defense

When you think of the SEC, you think of defense. Big, strong, physical athletes at every position across the board. Players that look as though they could immediately put on an NFL uniform.

In 2010, Ole Miss' defense, in all fairness, was just the opposite. When mentioning defense, numbers don't lie. The unit finished 81st in the nation in total defense, giving up 399 yards a game. Giving up 35 points a game slid them all the way down to 107th in scoring defense.

However, the most frightening statistic is that opponents scored 95% of the time they made it into Ole Miss' red zone. Dead last in the entire nation.

Could the defensive woes be attributed to youth? Perhaps.

But the Rebels had six seniors and three juniors start on defense a year ago. Experience can be very overrated at times in college football. Teams would much rather have a stud sophomore at safety or defensive end than an average fifth year senior.

For the defense to be successful, it starts up front. 2008 was arguably Ole Miss' best season in the last 20 years. The common theme: get to the quarterback early and often. That season the Rebels finished in the top 10 in sacks and tackles for loss.

The anchor of the line has to be sixth year senior Kentrell Lockett. The  6'5, 250-pound end is coming off a torn ACL, but appears to be at full strength. And, for the defense to be a force, he has to be an absolute terror.

Opposite Lockett the Rebels have options. Juniors Gerald Rivers and Jason Jones showed promise of good things to come a year ago. Both have the quick ability to get into the defensive backfield. The other guy fighting for time is senior Wayne Dorsey. With just 12 tackles and one sack, his 2010 season has to go down as disappointing. Bottom line, defensive ends that can't get to the quarterback are just taking up space.

The interior of the line should feature many players.

Redshirt freshman Bryon Bennett will try and take over the void left by Jerrell Powe. He has shades of a young Peria Jerry with his quickness and potential ability to get into the backfield.

Other candidates for playing time include junior Justin Smith, JUCO transfer Gilbet Pena and sophomore Corey Gaines. Smith has seen little playing time so far in his career, contributing just eight tackles a season ago. Pena adds bulk to the line at 336 pounds, but is raw coming out of JUCO.

Gaines was recruited by many elite programs, but chose Ole Miss. It's now time for him to prove just why he was a highly touted prospect.

The linebacking corps took a major hit when D.T. Shackelford injured his knee this spring, subsequently knocking him out for the year.

The loss of Shackelford opens the door for true freshman C.J. Johnson. A blue-chip recruit, Ole Miss stole Johnson away from in-state rival Missississippi State. He immediately looks the part at 6-2, 235-pounds. With the speed to go with his frame, all Johnson needs is game experience and he could become the next stud linebacker in the SEC.

5-9, 225-pound Joel Kight is a stout run stopper who has the ability to get into the backfield. Look for him to line up at various spots on the field, as defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix loves to create havoc.

Sophomore Mike Marry should plug-in at the middle linebacker spot.At 6-2 and playing around 245 pounds, he has the length and range you love to see out of the guy in the middle. He is still very raw having only played as a backup his freshman season. However, he did contribute with 22 tackles, a sack, and three tackles for loss.

If Kight can remotely garner the stats Shackelford would have, and Marry continues to progress, this could be the best unit of the defense.

College football is quickly becoming as pass happy as the NFL. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that, in order to combat this, teams need to be able to rush the passer and cover.

Going into last year's season Ole Miss lost three seniors. Kendrick Lewis, Marshay Green, and Cassius Vaughn are all playing in the NFL now. Ole Miss didn't have the depth at any position to not expect to suffer a setback the next year.

At times last season (losses to Jacksonville St. and Tenn.) the secondary hit rock bottom. And as cliché as it sounds, the only way to go is up.

The anchor of the defense always starts at the safety position.

Cornerbacks can only cover half the field. But a ball-hawk at free safety can truly impact a game. Kendrick Lewis was very underrated as an Ole Miss player. They have to find a player similar to his instincts and ability.

Last year Damien Jackson struggled in that role.

At 6-2, 210 pounds, he has the size and range to be that guy. There's talk about him being a big hitter, which he is. But, at the free safety position, this trait means nothing without ball skills.

When you think of "big hitters" at the safety position over the past decade three names stick out. Eric Berry, Sean Taylor, and Taylor Mays. Berry and Taylor had exceptional instincts and ball skills to match their physicality. Mays did not and is now having trouble finding a spot in the NFL. Get my point?

Brishen Mathews looks prime to step into the starting role at strong safety.

Look for him to be flying all over the field and potentially lead the team in tackles. He has decent size at 5-11, 190, but his ability to work with Jackson next to him is a must.

Marcus Temple returns to fill one of the corner spots. Most noted for his part in the stop of Tim Tebow three years ago, he has to show improvement from last year. He broke up only three passes and had zero interceptions. He can be a force in the run, but, once again, a defensive back's first priority is to cover.

Opposite Temple will be redshirt sophomore Charles Sawyer. The Miami native led the team in interceptions a year ago with two, and looks to be the most promising of the secondary players. Quick with good instincts, he has the athleticism to become an All-SEC performer. He now needs to show the ability to cover the SEC's best receivers.

The wild-card of the group could be true freshman Senquez Golson.

He immediately became a hit in Oxford when he turned down a contract from the Boston Red Sox. Coaches are already raving of his potential. The combo of him and Sawyer could be dynamic in a couple years.

It's no secret the defense has to play better for Ole Miss to become bowl-eligible. Houston Nutt would tell you that. While the offense was good in the recent Cotton Bowl triumphs, the defense was the catalyst behind those wins.

Luckily, they won't face the South Carolina duo of Marcus Lattimore and Alshon Jeffrey. But they will have to square off against an Arkansas passing attack that has arguably the best group of receivers in the country.

The one certainty is that we'll find out from the start how good this unit is, as BYU brings a more than capable offense to Oxford on September 3.

I am a 2010 graduate of Ole Miss. Member of the football team (2006-07). Originally from Houston, TX.

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