Gators Online's Zach Abolverdi and Jake Thompson of Ole Miss Spirit preview the Florida-Ole Miss game. We break down Saturday's matchup, players to watch and keys to the game.
Gators Online Podcast
Ep. 111: Florida vs. Ole Miss Preview | Gators Online Show
what's up get a nation welcome into the Gators online shows back out of Verde here and we are going to preview Florida Ole Miss the regular season finale in the swamp senior day for the Gators a 12 p.m. kick but I think it's going to be quite the crowd for Lane Kiffin and his number nine Ole Miss Rebels come into town we'll be joined on this episode by Jake Thompson who covers the Rebels for the on three sports network and O.M. Spirit to get learn a little bit more about this Ole Miss team kind of what they've done this past week they had off coming off that big win over Georgia and what they're going to be bringing to the swamp so we'll also talk about our keys to the game and certainly what the Gators need to do on their side but we'll bring Jake in now Jake appreciate you joining us man I know you're getting ready to head down to Gainesville first time yeah thanks for having me on Zach he caught me a mid-pack in the suitcase I've got one hand in the suitcase and one hand finish up some work so I can hit the road thanks for having me on absolutely man no this is a I think a matchup that probably both sides have been looking to since it got scheduled you know it's been a while since Ole Miss came to the swamp and certainly it's been a while since Lane Kiffin came to the swamp and a lot of interesting storylines that kind of are playing out between these two teams we'll get into all of it but just to kind of start give us just your season overview of how 2024 has gone for the Rebels to this point they've got themselves in the top 10 certainly in playoff position and just your thoughts on how their year is played out so far yeah you know it's you know those first four weeks doing that what I would call the young high school style schedule playing your non-conference non-region games in the first four weeks of the season might have proved not beneficial especially the opponents and I mean they were the team right they were putting up the video game numbers is like the firmans and Middle Tennessee's had an old freshman mode and NCAA football you know everything was turning up Ole Miss but then you know get to that Kentucky game hadn't really been tested probably read more headlines than they should have or just kind of felt good and played real bad and you know gave up a fourth and seven 60-hour pass to the one Kentucky receiver you shouldn't do that to and bearing around and you know the rest is history and that was just that was tough especially at early in the season they bounced back Carolina looked really good looked more like the team we thought they were especially you know we saw the improvement on defense and then by time it out you know LSU definitely you know it was what it was they gave up or left 17 points on the board table the first like five at least first half of that first quarter and you already know everybody knows you can't just keep that team hanging around no matter how good how bad they are and it came back to you know and two losses before Halloween everybody was like well you know it's time 14 playoff this year you got those get out free cards you got those oopsies that you can have them all against where you know Ole Miss decided to hit two in the water before you know October 31st got here and two losses I mean it was the mood was down the mood was sour the you know fans on the message board for us was just all right well when does Chris Beard tip it off and when there's all you know when this basketball started it was it was not great that bi-week you know I always felt they're two bi-weeks were perfect for them and I know playing seven straight games is not fun for anybody but getting those two bi-weeks in the meat of the SEC schedule I thought was beneficial even with where they were after LSU and I think it helped for that game after they came in for heading into this game a the first one you they get to shake off kind of go moped if they wanted to feel sorry have that week to kind of go through the motions of practice but then relock in with that Oklahoma game and we saw from that second half of that Oklahoma game to now this is probably the best football team maybe you can match with anybody in the country of how they played these last two quarters I mean it's been a very impressive 10 quarters your house dark and saw in a place that's been a house of orders for them in Fayette know you know they always prefer to play voter op meet them halfway and they do a little bit better or more in stadium though Fayetteville has been awful you beat them by 30 plus and I mean shocked everybody and then the Georgia game you know it was they put themselves back in the conversation you know maybe you thought they'd have one lost head into that game maybe LSU or something not to and then they just you know did what Lane Kiffin said he was doing a year ago I mean revenge game so not really a a word you hear a lot more just because of the climate of sport or any sport but they circled that one that was a you broke up with me I'm gonna show you a year later kind of thing and I didn't really saw angry and motivated word until they said it after the game and Kiffin sat there and said this game started a year ago when I sat with y'all said we got a bigger faster stronger we got to look like NFL team we got to look heat me heat knowledge we don't even have it get off the bus look compared to the Alabama's and Georgia's you know same thing everybody says and here we are they shot the you know shot the world shot Oxford shocked everybody tore the goal post down and I think having that week off was good because that's this game streamed hangover game or whoever would have been next spring hangover game because the buzz is still here from that game in this town and you can't sit here and tell me that you know yeah players and coaches will say the right things coaches probably can't get past it faster with experience but these are still just kids who've just done what nobody thought they could do even though they were better this year for them to shake that off a week later and go on the road to a place like the swamp no matter the kind of season floor is having that that's tough and I think it is my big set them straight and here we are as probably a longer version than you asked for but no no that's a great rundown and it has been interesting to watch it play out because you're right a lot folks maybe thought they were done in the water after those two early season losses and much like Florida a bi-week came at the right time to kind of write the ship and you know now they got themselves in prime position before we break down this matchup Jake I got to ask you know early in the fall before actually Ole Miss took some losses there was a lot of talk about Lane Kiffin and Gainesville um how much of that trickled into Oxford did he ever get asked about it in a press conference and and how much of a talking point was it those few weeks where it was really ramped up with just how the Auburn situation went a couple years ago we I at least and I can't speak for everybody else in the room but I it was gonna at least wait until to see if there was news worth meant you know being oh like if the trigger was pulled with Napier during the season or what you know I was gonna wait for that to happen because you know a note people can sit here and lie to you to your face in town but everybody knew this was the job the next job to kind of worry about or circle so to speak up if it opens that Gainesville would be the place that Ole Miss might have to worry about again Carter may have to see you know see what he still got his pockets to boost Lane's contract here but uh yeah no it was no secret that you know unfortunately it was the talk of the town amongst kind of us even in media days I mean like it feels like Florida has you know the tough schedule the closing schedule and then you know what are they gonna do and then it started poorly and and we all watched you know and you were there you saw how the season started and went you know we felt like it might happen and then they they got some wins you know they beat a Kentucky team that we didn't know you know that you know luckily you know Florida should be we didn't know how back Kentucky might be after that Ole Miss went uh but you know you take the Texas game out of there that's just what it was you didn't have that way the Florida has looked like a better team they got that vote of confidence maybe it came at the wrong week before that Texas game but you know maybe your got the vote of confidence in it and it and it's all died down you know and we never asked him he never nobody ever broached the topic uh you know kiffen has said the things he said not you know nationally that he's never said before about family and being rooted down here and so we all kind of got the impression it would have to take a tough offer or hard sell to get him to leave Oxford but we knew that you know Florida was the school if that happened but for right now it looks like that we don't have to have that conversation what did you think of him uh tweeting out the Gators was that just I will say uh that he did one like at South Carolina because I missed it I was driving into the stadium or getting dropped off and then so I missed the initial thing but I saw the blowback of people mad and tweeting gators and you know at that time of the season I was kind of where you didn't know what the nature you know hot seat was or what you know outside of y'all who were there every day and I was I it's kiffen so I just roll my eyes and move on but for a lot of people his strategic or lack thereof tweets can ruin a day or a month or a year and so a lot of people were were angry about him not being focused being locked in but then they beat South Carolina and it didn't matter and he did it again I don't know if it was the truth but somebody gave him I think a cop out which I don't blame him I take it too they asked him well he tweeted one for the South Carolina game and it was and they won so maybe it's a superstition thing and he he ran with that and a reply and said thumbs up I'm a song on my morning job or something so who knows they look like the same gator from you know two weeks earlier I doubt he was jockeying in Columbia you know the same day as the hell this year game or whatever came that was but uh yeah he does that and you know or he says hey I'm busy I like this I'm sure others do what he asked them to do if he's not near his phone or computer but you know luckily that's died down we haven't seen many gators I'm hoping we don't see any today or tomorrow but it would be funny if he didn't when he got to Gainesville this would be the week that a gator could pop up again and then everybody just hopes that breath because you know it's you know everybody loves it when you're doing well and you're number nine in the country and you're winning and you'd be to be to Georgia but if he does it and then they're coming back from Gainesville with a weapon where else just happened it will it would be a scarlet ladder type thing one other thing on this note uh because it seemed like there was a point in the year where he was critical of the fans and either the crowds or them not staying for the whole game what was with all that because I saw Florida fans you know jump onto that on social media and be like hey coach you want us to worry about that in Gainesville but yeah yeah it's it's been he's he's done it last year he's that he's always does it in September when there's a not so great start to the home schedule which you know hey y'all kind of control that if you would like some better non-conference games and stuff and and it just is what it is fans come or you know there's a close fan base in Oxford and it's close not to drive but there's a larger fan base further away and when they see now that almost every game's on app or SCC network or ABC and it's not not a Georgia game or host of the Florida type game that they can watch it at home and and you know I think there's work to it that on that side of those factors with each individual fan or family of hey we can stay home this Saturday watch it save our money or whatever and then go to the bigger games now doesn't coach like that though probably not but you know he would probably prefer to have the stadium full for 60 minutes blowing out you know firm in 73 to 6 or whatever it was but that's just it's just not what it is and I think he knows that I think he just like you know he's not going to pass up a chance to get quick you know quick then or a thought in especially this week when when I asked him about what does the conference championships matter and he said what he said and then like if him once again became the top of the week so it's it's just what he's going to do and I'm sure he'll do it next year I don't know whether September schedule is yet because they're doing a year to year now instead of announcing stuff what you know year and a half or more in advance so we'll find out what what the knockoff just getting Washington State as a replacement for Wake Forest probably helps at least that one game early in the year so but yeah it's just he's done it before and he'll do it again especially if they have a good year this year and he feels you can kind of peacock and and do it again no doubt all right well before we get into this match-up breakdown we're gonna pay some bills real quick and I encourage everybody to go visit roeback.com for the best fit best feel for those who aren't familiar with roeback they're completely changed the game with their incredibly comfortable active wear they just released their new license game day collection and it's fantastic novel polo designs clean hoodie and zoop and cues zip designs from some of your favorite schools including the Florida Gators definitely worth checking out nobody else on the market is pairing these level of custom designs with this quality of active wear use the code Gaters20 on roeback.com for a generous 20% off all new customers through the end of this fall that's r-h-o-b-a-c-k.com 20% off all performance performance polos shorts and more with the code Gaters20 now as we kind of get into Saturday's match-up you know I will start with some players to watch for Ole Miss I know there's some that I at least won at least the Florida fans are very familiar with and we'll start on the defensive side of the ball Jake who are some guys that the Florida fans who either haven't watched Ole Miss or have need to be concerned about maybe giving the Gators fits I think it's that entire starting defensive line for starters kind of full stop you know we'll acknowledge the the Gater in the room with the returning princely who mommy Ellen coming back and I'm very proud that I got that last thing correct because you did very well and uh but no he's been great with us to talk to it but we did not get him this week they've been a little better with you know we didn't get you swells before South Carolina so you know that's just how they're doing it but uh that that defense in front with him Jared Ivey won't you know and J.J. McGee's that's you know that's the most dominant uh unit of a whole defensive line I think Ole Miss has ever had especially in this modern era you know you've had your rubber kindiches and star guys or your Patrick Willis at linebacker but you've never had a total group that can control or change the game no matter you know you blocked these two but the other four and you know I'm leaving out converted linebacker to defensive end centering purpose you know the sophomore who everybody was kind of like well he didn't really put a lot of weight in y'all's season we saw him in August and got a little worried but he has become perfect didn't that position at peak polling and random joiner defensive line coach have you know found him the perfect spot so those those are some to watch but also that line back group it's with with Chris Pupal transferred from Arkansas he is played I think higher than my expectations were for him uh he's he can take over a game as well that that defensive line is blocked you've got to watch out for him and TJ Daudery uh another guy who's on that linebacker group so it's really that front seven that you know the defense uh Trey Amos Alabama you know defensive back came here this year he's been good but that secondary as we've seen at times especially that the end of Kentucky game and even throw out some other games that's the area that can kind of get picked apart at the quarterback has the time to find his guys or or has time to just find his progressions and as Jake mentioned a ton of pressure this year from that defensive front four Ole Miss they rank number one nationally with 46 sacks on the season just incredible what that unit's been able to do on the offensive side a lot of firepower over there as well Jake who are some players to watch on that side of the ball and I'm I know it's got to start with the quarterback and a Jackson Dart is kind of the end all be all you know as you you know most elite offenses are especially SEC you got to have a quarterback but you know what I've been more impressed with with Dart but it's by proxy is not having Trey Harris who may or may not play Saturday he may step on the field once as a decoy which he's held before and then hop off he's listed his problem which is the best status we've gotten from him in a month on those availability reports but without him and the nation's best receiver numbers lives it's called starting an offense to evolve and rely on guys we thought he would rely on but you know Harris was just that safety and especially when games were we're not going well or tight he just was always going to Harris trying to find it but in this last month Jordan Watkins who have that day and get started saw Kagan Lee who's has you know flashes he's he's taking that next step in his sophomore year that we thought he would take they have they have become the you know reliable juice wells has been up and down he just hadn't had the consistent year that people thought they were getting out of him I think that injury was still bucking him so maybe he's playing better in this last little stretch and maybe more healthy and then finally they remembered Kagan preschoolers on their team and it's a tight end and had those team dishes in a peach bowl and you know I think a lot of his disappearing app was I think they needed him and didn't transfer day one right to block with the offensive line injuries and they were having so much past protection problems at the start of the season that I think they had to use them as extra guys on the outside to block and so they just weren't there making the catches but they have shown up a lot more especially in George game that Arkansas game that I keep going back to it's so he's got a cast of characters now that we all thought that every defense had to look out for they just hadn't been used and in this last stretch without sure Harris they had to use them and start seeing oh we're you know they may be better is it is weird to say it might be better totally without your Harris on field this is making him have to utilize all his weapons so I'm hoping he's learning that whenever trade comes back whether it's now postseason or the egg bowl next week to use everybody and that stretches that you know this is coach you want to want it's easy to sit here and say it but it's he I'm hoping he's learning that that he's got guys out there and that's not where number nine they can do just as well and then do they have any dynamic returners that could make something happen the return game you know they got Mike Davis late I'm talking like camp might have already started type late or at least a week of as a transfer to kind of be that returning guy he's never shown big splashes he has some decent returns you know non-conference games list or opponent type match-ups but he's just been great they just need a guy to catch him all that's all he needs been an issue for them historically a lot they've never just had a guy that they felt great you can just catch a ball with somebody staring in the face or running him down and he's been great and kick off sorrow at the art now you you don't see left kick turns but punt game they got what they needed and just a guy that can hold on to the ball and catch it and and give it to the offense no doubt well we'll start looking at some matchups here as we get Jake out of here so he can get on the road ahead of the Gainesville before we do that I want to give a shout out to my perfect franchise.net as we do each and every week if you're ready to leave the corporate rat race for the American dream looking for a side hustle while working your current job wanting to diversify build wealth and or leave a legacy Andy can help he's a franchise consultant as well as a franchise owner and helps people find franchises that fit their skill sets financial requirements time to commit and more his services are 100% free and he's here to help if you have any questions about business ownership you can learn more and contact Andy anytime at my perfect franchise.net or calling or texting him at 404-973-9901 and 12 p.m. Saturday in the swamp these two teams will kick off we have a preview coming at Gators online where kind of Jake gives his thoughts on Ole Miss in this matchup we'll be returning the favor over I don't want him speared as well for you guys to check that out but but I asked you about it in there Jake and and you already mentioned it you know the one thing that hasn't been elite from Ole Miss defensively is their past defense how much of a concern is that for Saturday against a quarterback in DJ Lagway that has shown that he can push the ball down the field yeah you know and we saw last week he didn't have to be fully healthy to still be a threat you know still he just if he has time to stand there and throw he didn't have to use his legs you know stay in that pocket that that is a that's the one question weren't kind of the area of concern you know I mentioned Trey Amos has been good but Isaiah Hamilton wants to transfer he's had his moments he's the one who got turned around on burying Brown gave up that big play on fourth down LSU picked on Jaden Kennedy who's been with Ole Miss for a couple years to transfer from Tulane a few years ago so I mean there's been times when they found the guy that matches up poorly you know I say opposing offices and just picked on a ballgame or gone to them when he had to get that conversion or make that big play and so that's that's where the secondary has had its problems now of course you can say they played better last month that's because the defensive line is just playing you know at an insane rate and the secondary just has to kind of play preven defense on third long second and long and it makes their job easier it would for anybody but when it's when a defensive line isn't getting the pressure they need and it's kind of it's still that tight match up that that secondary isn't as concerned as if DJ gets time back down yeah and Florida has only allowed 13 sacks this season you know tied for first in the SEC how much are you looking forward to that matchup between Florida's O line and Ole Miss's defensive line and where do you think the Gators online could stack up against some of the better fronts that Ole Miss's face yeah you know just from us from afar who are focusing on our teams every Saturday or in that really we're just seeing results score results your highlights I was shocked to see that you know that's not a Florida's weak point that offensive line is doing his job and whether it's or DJ or somebody else they've done their job and 13 only give it up their two sacks at this that's what a sack a week if you're playing every week at this point I mean that's that's what you asked for that's tremendous numbers and so I'm excited to see this kind of basically good on good match up to see what the defensive line can do against the unit that is not letting people in their back feel very often and that's been the bread butter this last month is you're you're putting guys behind schedule behind chains focus from the jump and so I think the little tests will be good for them you know that Georgia's offensive line I thought we'd give a test but that those you know the Ole Miss defensive front was just on a different level that night you mean everybody seen that clip from above the sky cam where they just ran through that offensive line like it was a walkthrough practice drill so I'm excited to see after a week of rest and everybody get a little healthier how this helps us matches up on Saturday and then on the other side of the ball you know Florida they are coming off a really strong performance when it comes to sacks they got seven against Garrett Nussmeyer and LSU's you know passing attack which had been ranked really high still ranked in the top 10 not quite as good as Ole Miss but what do you think about that dynamic and I asked Lane Kiffin about it on Wednesday because it again if you look at Ole Miss's offense that's one area where they haven't necessarily been great kind of just middle in the pack of sacks allowed but they've allowed 20 this year is that something that Florida could probably try to attack them at yeah no for sure that's the offensive line that's kind of the one soft spot it's gotten better they've got some guys healthy and a little bit more depth but they have been out of whack out of sorts from the jump they've had injuries and camp didn't have everybody back since week one and then moving people are out or guys to come back and get hurt or even just come out there enough you know middle of a game and then you listen for a game so that it's been why the numbers are what they are in terms of dart getting sacked more than you would have expected them to begin sack this season so yeah if that defensive line can Florida can find soft spots to get through get pressure you know I think it's going to come down to you know the pass pro again maybe they you know tight ends aren't open as much or both aren't running routes they're staying back Dominic Thomas who was just a running back that they've tried just most because Henry Parrish had up season ending injury yeah had a couple nice pass pro or blocks in that Arkansas game and I think they've gone to them a couple times since but I think you're going to have to get creative at just the normal offensive front five or having trouble especially early on it and they're not finding that in zone as fast as they need them to be interesting to see how it plays out Jake as you mentioned this year first time ever to the swamp what are you looking forward to on the trip man besides seeing the stadium well I I've lived in Florida for 13 of my years 10 in this and so I've been close to Gainesville but even living down there and then even penalty each I never made it to the swamp so I've heard stories I've seen it on TV as a Tom Petty fan I'm excited to see what with this you know that experience is when they play that song yeah no it's uh it's one of the best traditions in college football wish it wasn't a nooner but it's good for guys like you and me we get to get down right into a little bit early so we'll just have a normal dinner time hours sometimes that's right that's right um well I really appreciate you coming on and joining us giving us some perspective on the rebels it's been uh quite the season for them and uh the return of Lane Kiffin to the swamp happens on Saturday first time since 2009 when he came as Tennessee's coach and he was the villain back then uh Jake and now he's coming as one of the most popular guys among Florida fans so uh it should be a great matchup I'll let all the folks know where they can follow you and I read your work oh yeah on uh X Twitter whatever we're still calling it uh it's at Jake Thompson and the letter O letter N and then the number three and then Owen spirit comms where you can find all our stuff good stuff man we'll uh happy travels uh make sure that you uh enjoy Gainesville this weekend hopefully you get to uh have some great dining spots that you check out and uh get a great game on Saturday I will see you guys in the swamp afterward for our rapid reaction uh for Jake Thompson I'm Zach Ababurty take care
Gators Online's Zach Abolverdi and Jake Thompson of Ole Miss Spirit preview the Florida-Ole Miss game.