At the conclusion of the 2014 season, the S&P+ advanced metrics system ranked Ole Miss as the second best defensive in the entire country—three spots above Bama, seven spots above LSU, 12 spots above Ohio State.
Two years later, the Rebels were down to 72nd. In 2017, they plumeted to 113th. The program’s defensive free fall hit a new low last Saturday when Alabama racked up 62 points and over 500 yards in a lopsided beatdown.
Much has been made of the shortcomings of defensive coordinator Wesley McGriff, whose resume was light on experience when he was hired by Hugh Freeze two years ago.