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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Midweek Report: Kent State Week
9/19/2018 | Football
Rebels Look Ahead at Saturday Meeting With Golden Flashes
OXFORD, Miss. – After a tough Southeastern Conference opener against No. 1 Alabama, Ole Miss head coach Matt Luke described returning to the practice field in one word.
"Therapeutic," Luke said. "That's the only way you can get that bad taste out of your mouth is to go back to work. We've got great kids. Enjoy being around them. And just to go back to work and try to get that bad taste out of your mouth, sometimes that's the best remedy."
This week, the Rebels will take on a battle-tested Kent State squad that already has two games against Big Ten Conference opponents on its 2018 resume. As Ole Miss has prepared for that challenge, the mantra has been all about moving forward.
"We just have to learn from the mistakes we made, come out and fix it the next week," said senior receiver DaMarkus Lodge. "You've got to just put it behind you. If you let that linger on your mind, it can affect your whole season. We just have to bring that same energy we had throughout Texas Tech week and SIU week and just get ready for the next opponent."
The Rebels' next opponent opened its 2018 campaign with a near-miss. The Golden Flashes fell just one touchdown short of upsetting Illinois on the road. Kent State jumped out to a 17-3 halftime lead in Champaign, but the Illini roared back in the second half for a 31-24 win.
After the season-opening defeat, Kent State exorcised its demons in a 54-14 dismantling of Howard. The Golden Flashes racked up 355 yards on the ground in their first win of the season. After digesting the film, Luke was impressed with the offensive firepower of the Mid-American Conference squad.
"Just watching their offense, very impressed with their scheme," Luke said. "They're a spread, uptempo offense. A lot of screens, wide splits. Baylor kind of made that famous. They really spread you out and get rid of the ball fast. They've got a transfer from Auburn at quarterback who can really get the ball out quick, and he's a good runner. So they stress you horizontally and also attack you vertically."
On the other side of the ball, the Golden Flashes have forced nine fumbles through three games while picking off three passes. They'll look to nullify the Rebels' air raid offense with two deep safeties, which will make Scottie Phillips and the Ole Miss ground game critical to the gameplan Saturday in Vaught-Hemingway.
"Defensively, they're a three-down front," Luke said. "They do a really good job stopping the run. I've been impressed with them on tape. They play a lot of two-high quarters coverage. Penn State was able to hit them on the deep ball a few times. But just like anything else, if you can establish the run early and make their safeties come up, you'll have the opportunity to hit the deep ball late. But it'll be important to have balance."
Offensively, the Rebels can't wait to get back on track. Ole Miss was one of the most explosive, productive and efficient offenses in the country through the first two games, but they struggled to find their rhythm against a disruptive Alabama defense. However, Week 4 brings another opportunity to right the ship.
"If we come out and execute and do what we do, then it should be a pretty good one," Lodge said. "We just have to do what we do and chase space. They run a lot of zone, so there a lot of holes in the field. If we can get in those holes and catch the ball and make plays, then we'll be pretty good."
After running past Howard in Week 2, the Golden Flashes ran into a talented ranked opponent in Penn State and left University Park, Pennsylvania, with a 63-10 loss last week.
Ole Miss is in a similar situation as it looks to move past its loss to the defending national champion Crimson Tide. Luke and his staff have been working all week to ensure that the Rebels use the defeat as a learning experience.
"You use it as motivation," Luke said. "Our kids all competitors. They all want to win. The important thing is to come together and make sure we stick together as a team and block out the outside noise and move forward. College football is a week to week game. What's important now is that we get ready for this Saturday."
The Rebels will have their first chance to move on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT. The meeting between Ole Miss and Kent State will be broadcast on SEC Network.
To purchase tickets for the 2018 season, visit OleMissTix.com or call 888-REB-TKTS. Follow Ole Miss Football on Twitter (@OleMissFB), Facebook and Instagram.
"Therapeutic," Luke said. "That's the only way you can get that bad taste out of your mouth is to go back to work. We've got great kids. Enjoy being around them. And just to go back to work and try to get that bad taste out of your mouth, sometimes that's the best remedy."
This week, the Rebels will take on a battle-tested Kent State squad that already has two games against Big Ten Conference opponents on its 2018 resume. As Ole Miss has prepared for that challenge, the mantra has been all about moving forward.
"We just have to learn from the mistakes we made, come out and fix it the next week," said senior receiver DaMarkus Lodge. "You've got to just put it behind you. If you let that linger on your mind, it can affect your whole season. We just have to bring that same energy we had throughout Texas Tech week and SIU week and just get ready for the next opponent."
The Rebels' next opponent opened its 2018 campaign with a near-miss. The Golden Flashes fell just one touchdown short of upsetting Illinois on the road. Kent State jumped out to a 17-3 halftime lead in Champaign, but the Illini roared back in the second half for a 31-24 win.
After the season-opening defeat, Kent State exorcised its demons in a 54-14 dismantling of Howard. The Golden Flashes racked up 355 yards on the ground in their first win of the season. After digesting the film, Luke was impressed with the offensive firepower of the Mid-American Conference squad.
"Just watching their offense, very impressed with their scheme," Luke said. "They're a spread, uptempo offense. A lot of screens, wide splits. Baylor kind of made that famous. They really spread you out and get rid of the ball fast. They've got a transfer from Auburn at quarterback who can really get the ball out quick, and he's a good runner. So they stress you horizontally and also attack you vertically."
On the other side of the ball, the Golden Flashes have forced nine fumbles through three games while picking off three passes. They'll look to nullify the Rebels' air raid offense with two deep safeties, which will make Scottie Phillips and the Ole Miss ground game critical to the gameplan Saturday in Vaught-Hemingway.
"Defensively, they're a three-down front," Luke said. "They do a really good job stopping the run. I've been impressed with them on tape. They play a lot of two-high quarters coverage. Penn State was able to hit them on the deep ball a few times. But just like anything else, if you can establish the run early and make their safeties come up, you'll have the opportunity to hit the deep ball late. But it'll be important to have balance."
Offensively, the Rebels can't wait to get back on track. Ole Miss was one of the most explosive, productive and efficient offenses in the country through the first two games, but they struggled to find their rhythm against a disruptive Alabama defense. However, Week 4 brings another opportunity to right the ship.
"If we come out and execute and do what we do, then it should be a pretty good one," Lodge said. "We just have to do what we do and chase space. They run a lot of zone, so there a lot of holes in the field. If we can get in those holes and catch the ball and make plays, then we'll be pretty good."
After running past Howard in Week 2, the Golden Flashes ran into a talented ranked opponent in Penn State and left University Park, Pennsylvania, with a 63-10 loss last week.
Ole Miss is in a similar situation as it looks to move past its loss to the defending national champion Crimson Tide. Luke and his staff have been working all week to ensure that the Rebels use the defeat as a learning experience.
"You use it as motivation," Luke said. "Our kids all competitors. They all want to win. The important thing is to come together and make sure we stick together as a team and block out the outside noise and move forward. College football is a week to week game. What's important now is that we get ready for this Saturday."
The Rebels will have their first chance to move on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT. The meeting between Ole Miss and Kent State will be broadcast on SEC Network.
To purchase tickets for the 2018 season, visit OleMissTix.com or call 888-REB-TKTS. Follow Ole Miss Football on Twitter (@OleMissFB), Facebook and Instagram.
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