Ole Miss enters bye week at 3-1 after loss to Florida

No. 9 Ole Miss enters its midseason bye week with a 3-1 record after a road loss to Florida, using the break to evaluate its performance through the first four games and prepare for Vanderbilt.

Offensive lineman Patrick Kutas said the bye has given the Rebels an opportunity to review what has and has not worked. He said the loss remains fresh but has not fractured the team. “Nobody likes that feeling,” Kutas said. “But emotionally we're fine. If anything, it's lighting a fire under us.”

Kutas said coach Pete Golding urged the team to sit with the disappointment rather than immediately move past it. The offensive line is also focusing on starting faster when it has possession and continuing to develop as it gains more repetitions together.

Defensive tackle Will Echoles said the defensive line must take responsibility for its performance against Florida. “We put a lot of love on film,” Echoles said. “Lack of violence. That starts during the week. It's a mindset.”

Echoles said defensive execution cannot depend only on Golding’s calls, emphasizing the need to pursue ball carriers and make plays. He said the defense is returning to fundamentals during the bye week rather than introducing something new.

The Rebels missed more than 10 tackles and allowed more than 200 yards after contact against Florida, according to Echoles. He identified those issues as corrections the team must make, beginning with the defensive front.

Source: Ole Miss Athletics.