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Ole Miss Football: 3 takeaways from blowout win over Vanderbilt

By Connor Muldowney

Oct 31, 2020; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Matt Corral (2) leads the team onto the field before a game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Vanderbilt Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 31, 2020; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Matt Corral (2) leads the team onto the field before a game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Vanderbilt Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Ole Miss football was trying to gain some momentum after a 1-4 start and facing the Vanderbilt Commodores was the perfect opportunity.

After three straight losses following a win over Kentucky in the second game of the season, Ole Miss looked like a team trending in the wrong direction under Lane Kiffin.

That 1-4 record wasn’t an issue on Saturday as the Rebels faced the hapless Vanderbilt Commodores, 54-21.

Vanderbilt continued to sink down to the bottom of the SEC standings in this one and it might be the last season for Derek Mason in Nashville. Losing by 33 points at home to a 1-4 team is unacceptable, right?

What’d we learn from this SEC beatdown?

3. Defense needs to be a focus of the future

Lane Kiffin wasn’t hired at Ole Miss because he was an elite defensive coach. No, he was brought to town because of his offensive mind and ability to connect with players and recruits. He also learned from the best in Nick Saban before taking a head coaching job at FAU — he’s been just about everywhere.

But that doesn’t mean defense can just go without addressing. Former Michigan assistants DJ Durkin and Chris Partridge are co-defensive coordinators and you can bet they’ll be hearing all about what they need to do this offseason in order to keep their jobs through 2021.

Giving up over 420 yards to the worst team in the SEC is unacceptable and luckily the Rebels’ offense is one of the most prolific in the nation because this would have been an unforgivable loss.

Time to focus on defense.

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