OXFORD — Over the last two weeks, No. 9 Ole Miss’ offensive line has been challenged in a big way. And, if you ask junior offensive tackle Diego Pounds, that will only help the Rebels as the season unfolds.
Ole Miss (5-1, 1-1 SEC) has faced Kentucky and South Carolina the last two weeks, coming away with a win and a loss. Against the Wildcats, Ole Miss saw star defensive tackle Deone Walker — a preseason All-American — and the rest of the interior defensive line wreak havoc in a 20-17 defeat. Kentucky notched four sacks in an upset win and held the Rebels to a season-low 353 yards of offense.
The challenge was different at South Carolina this past weekend but was a stiff test all the same. The Gamecocks featured a pair of premiere pass rushers off the edge in Kyle Kennard and Dylan Stewart; Kennard entered the game leading the SEC in sacks while Stewart is in the midst of a freshman All-American campaign. South Carolina totaled just one sack in the game, and Ole Miss’ offense bounced back with 425 yards of offense.
Up next is LSU (4-1, 1-0) who, despite not having star linebacker Harold Perkins, more than holds its own rushing the passer. Defensive ends Bradyn Swinson and Sai’vion Jones have five sacks and 4.5 sacks this season, respectively. The Tigers are tied for 14th nationally at three sacks per game.
“In the SEC … everybody’s good, everybody can play,” Pounds said. “So, playing against Kentucky got us ready for South Carolina, and I guess South Carolina (is) getting us ready for LSU.”
Per Pro Football Focus, one starter on the offensive line had a grade above 65 against South Carolina in pass blocking — senior guard Julius Buelow, who graded out at 67.3. Senior guard Nate Kalepo, senior center Reece McIntyre, junior tackle Micah Pettus and Pounds had pass-blocking grades of 60.2, 52.2, 47.2 and 31.3, respectively. Buelow also held the highest grade as a run-blocker at 60.1; all five starters had run-blocking grades over 50.
The Rebels are still working back from injuries up front, as seniors Caleb Warren and Jeremy James have been limited this year. Warren played 13 snaps against South Carolina — his first action of the season — while James has been out since the opener, though he was dressed for last week’s game. Junior left tackle Jayden Williams, who started the first four games of the season, has been out the last two games as well.
“(Offensive line play was) up and down. I think, just like we talked about (with) the play of the DBs, and, does it have to do with the opponent?” Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin said. “I think in this case, some up and down is because … (South Carolina has) two really elite college defensive ends. The freshman, I mean, the guy looks like he’s going to be a top-10 pick … And they give you a unique scheme in how they play. … They rush so up the field and move so much inside that they create negative plays.
“So, we certainly could have played better up front, but credit to them for doing a really good job on that end, too.”
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