For three weeks running, the SEC’s Offensive Player of the Week honor has gone to a running back that had just faced the Ole Miss defense. Each topped the 150-yard mark while the Rebel run continued its fall to the bottom of the conference’s stat table. Mississippi has allowed 1,814 yards rushing this season and 5.48 yards per carry.
“(Opponents’) tailbacks are getting too many yards,” Houston Nutt said, stating the obvious. “There are too many explosive plays. We have to be better. I think out guys know that.”
Here’s a look at how Tyrone Nix’s unit has been bludgeoned on the ground:
| Opponent |
Total Rushing Yards |
Leading Rusher |
| BYU |
91 |
J. DiLuigi, 12 for 56 |
| S. Illinois |
223 |
S. Strother, 10 for 116 |
| Vanderbilt |
281 |
Z. Stacy, 11 for 169 |
| Georgia |
207 |
I. Crowell, 30 for 147 |
| Fresno State |
163 |
R. Rouse, 28 for 123 |
| Alabama |
389 |
T. Richardson, 17 for 183 |
| Arkansas |
206 |
D. Johnson, 15 for 160 |
| Auburn |
254 |
M. Dyer, 27 for 177 |
Horrible, right? Well, it gets worse.
Crowell, Richardson, Johnson and Dyer all recorded their season high in rushing yards against the Rebels. And Vandy’s Stacy ran for more yards only against Army.
Lucky for Ole Miss Kentucky is banged up at running back and ranks just ninth in the SEC in rushing yards per game (139.7). Then again, Arkansas cranked out 206 on the ground against UM and they rank one slot behind Kentucky.
