What Went Wrong For Ole Miss Defense in 2022? Rebels DE Jared Ivey Explains
OXFORD, Miss. -- Spring Practice kicked off for the Ole Miss Rebels on Tuesday, and the team is ready to put their lackluster finish to the 2022 season behind them.
The Rebels got off to a hot 7-0 start last fall but could only muster one more win to close out their disappointing 8-5 campaign, including a loss to the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the Texas Bowl.
While last season's curtain call is still fresh on everyone's mind, Ole Miss defensive lineman Jared Ivey spoke with the media during his first presser this spring about how the Rebels are using those results as fuel to improve.
"It's something we live with every day," Ivey told reporters. "We talk about it often. We want to forget, move on, and focus on the next play. It's good to process those feelings and try to use them going into the next season to go harder and have more attention to detail."
Ivey also gave his thoughts on what went wrong down the stretch for the Rebels in 2022 and what they are focusing on this offseason.
"It could be a number of things," Ivey said. "Defensively, we weren't being consistent or playing as physical. We were dealing with injuries all over the place, but we just weren't as physical as we were when we started the year off. That definitely was a focal point going into this offseason, keeping our bodies right and staying in the training room so we can outlast."
The training room has certainly been a focal point of Ole Miss' offseason, as a reporter brought up that Ivey looks a little bigger this spring, but the senior ensured that it is all good weight.
"I'm looking a little more muscular probably because I'm losing body fat," Ivey said. "That's been a main goal of this offseason, not to slim down, but tighten up."
Ivey kept it short and simple when asked about his own personal goals for the offseason.
"Just getting bigger, faster, and stronger," Ivey said. "Staying technical and consistent."
Last season, Ivey recorded 3.5 sacks, 4.5 TFLs, one forced fumble, and 37 total tackles, appearing in all 13 games.
The Ole Miss defense is under new management this spring, with Pete Golding taking over as its new defensive coordinator after commanding the Alabama Crimson Tide defense for the last five seasons. Ivey discussed what it has been like playing under Golding.
"I was very excited [when Golding was hired] and the first time I talked to him was great," Ivey said. "He's a big-time guy who's had success everywhere he's been. Getting a coach like that is always great."
You can follow Ben King on Twitter at @BKing_2023.
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