Sanders has strongest performance

With starting defensive end Dee Ford out with an undisclosed injury, Craig Sanders moved up in the rotation and had his best performance of the season against Ole Miss. He said he enjoyed the playing time, but was not used to that many snaps.

“I don’t like that Dee was hurt but it was great to be able to fill in for him and get some playing time,” Sanders said. “There was one drive… I was out there for maybe 10 plays and I was hitting my helmet. I feel like I did pretty good, but I need to get more endurance.”

Sanders has split time behind Ford with Nosa Eguae and equalled his season total of four tackles against the Rebels. He also had 1.5 tackles for loss. Under defensive coordinator Brian Van Gorder, Sanders said he has improved in all facets of the game.

“He’s taught me a lot,” Sanders said. “His favorite thing to say is, ‘It’s like a blind dog running around a meat market.’ I was out there playing but I really didn’t know everything that was going around me. He’s helped me to see the big picture of everything around me, focusing  on technique and everything. I feel like I’m a better player this year than I was this time last year.”

The Tigers’ defense wore down and let up 17 points in the fourth quarter, bringing the season total to 62 points allowed in the final quarter this season. Sanders said there has been an emphasis on finishing.

“Football comes down to five or six plays throughout the whole game and you don’t know when those plays are going to be,” Sanders said. “They could be in the first quarter, second quarter, third quarter. You’ve just got to keep playing like every play’s that play.”