Lane Kiffin could only do so much with only four starters returning from the last season. The Ole Miss Rebels' scoring defense was No. 1 in the SEC last season, No. 2 nationally with just 14.4 points allowed.
This season is a far cry from that, and its lowest, almost nightmarish point came in Week 3 against Arkansas. The offense gets all the credit for winning that one. Fortunately, it has been an upward curve for the Rebels' defense since.
Coach Lane Kiffin addressed the unsaid expectations of improving his defense, given their previous season's rankings, and how DC Golding has been managing them.