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The University of Mississippi Athletics
David Cutcliffe's Press Conference
9/7/1999 | Football
I thought we did a good job of getting back to work yesterday. I thought they labored pretty good on Labor Day. I felt like there were a lot of things we needed to get done, and I think we got started in that direction. This is an important week of practice for us. There are many areas we can improve upon and have to improve upon. I was real excited about their attitude going back to work. After having played Saturday evening, we went out and got a about an hour and 40 minutes on the field. And I thought their attitude was real positive. It's very important this time of year that we keep improving as a team everyday.
Q: Besides the fumbles, what were your main areas to try and correct?
A: We weren't very consistent on offense. Our first down production was very below average. Our passing game was below average. There's no question we have to throw and catch the ball better. A combination of things - not throwing the ball well, or maybe to the right place but also dropping some balls - could have a made a big difference in the game. Generally, our execution on offense has got to be a lot more crisp than it was.
There are many things in the kicking game that you see and you work on. The kids really had a good attitude about that yesterday. That's a positive.
Defensively, we played a good football game, but there are things with execution, assignments and techniques that we've got to improve on or it will show up glaringly at a later date. This time of year, early in the season, there are numerous things that you focus on to try to make sure that you've covered as many things as you can. Sometimes early, those things, so many little things, become enormous to the team. The bottom line is we want to continue to improve and play as well as we did defensively. Offensively, we've got to execute our total game plan much better than we have.
We have coached hard about taking care of the ball, there is no doubt in my mind. And we have coached hard about what we want done with the football and with the passing game and all of those things. But obviously we have to get them more game-ready. That's a challenge to us.
Q: What is Deuce McAllister's status?
A: He's day-to-day right now. We're just trying to get him feeling better, keep working him and hopefully this thing will be behind him soon.
Q: How much did injuries affect the team against Memphis?
A: I don't think it should have affected us but I think there is validity to the fact that we probably practiced without our starting backfield more than we practiced with them during preseason. We had numerous times where receivers weren't involved in practice. That concerns me, and that is something that I looked back at and talked to our staff about yesterday, trying to find everything we could to evaluate why we did some of the things that we did Saturday night.
Q: Is there any word on Grant Heard?
A: Grant Heard right now doesn't look like he's going to be ready this week. We're still trying to get him ready and improve his strength level and his confidence. Until he feels like he can go out and get through practice, there's really no way we can count on him to play. So we're still in somewhat of a day-to-day mode to see when he feels good enough to go give it a shot.
Q: Who else is having injury problems?
A: Ben Craddock is another one listed day-to-day. He's going to try and get some work in today. We'll see how we does. Armegis Spearman is in the same boat, day-to-day. When ball games start rolling in, particularly physical games and we had a really physical fall camp, you're going to have contact players that are going to have some problems. They're not going to be 100 percent all the time, but we're trying to work through the injuries.
Q: What jumps out about Arkansas State?
A: I really like their quarterback. I think he's a very athletic young man and a very tough competitor. He throws the ball extremely well.
I know they were shocked, somewhat like we were, as to how they played last weekend. I think this is the best team they've had, and they knew they had some returning players who were quality athletes and quality players. They certainly impressed me with their effort and intensity.
They're well-coached. They are certainly, I'm sure like we are, disappointed in some facets of their game, and both of us are in the early stages, trying to go back to work and be the best that we can be.
They'll be excited about playing just as we are. Their running backs are very talented players. They've got some receivers that can make plays. On defense, they run well. They really did a nice job of containing Illinois, and then they would give up a big play. They're very multiple and do a lot of things. We have a lot of looking at them to do and a lot of figuring to do. With their new defensive coordinator, it's another situation where you don't know completely what to expect.
Q: Talk about coaching your first game as a head coach at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
A: I've said all week I'm extremely excited about this home-opener. Having coached two games, it feels funny to never have coached in Oxford until this weekend. I'm certainly anxious. The two times I've seen our crowd, our fans have been wonderful. On Saturday night, we had a great group of fans. I can't wait to see this stadium full. I can't wait to see the Grove and walk through the Grove. I know our team mentioned that, and they're excited about the opportunity to play at home. And I know this staff is excited about the opportunity to play here in Oxford. Everything looks bright. The stadium is just gorgeous. I'm anxious to get there and looking forward to Saturday night.
Q: What are the chances of Ken Lucas playing on both sides of the ball?
A: I think there is a chance that Kenyatta, before the year is over with, could end up seeing some time on offense. Right now our focus is still going to be on defense and what we have to be over there and focusing on our young men that are playing receiver now and elevating them. I do think that is an option, and I do think that you try to get your good players on the field in situations where they can make plays.
Q: Did you think the combination of the Memphis defense plus running your offense for the first time, kind of got Romaro down a little bit?
A: I think he had a tough test first time being in this system, versus that style of defense. You can ask any quarterback that's played against that style of defense. Plus, it's not easy to change when you've been in a system two or three years. He would certainly like to play better, and we would like for him to play better. He did some real positive things in that game that don't show up like getting us in the right play, managing a lot of things well and some of the calls he has to make. He did a real nice job of consistency. That's one of the things that a player wants at every position, but when it doesn't show up from the quarterback, it's a glaring problem. He's an intense young man with a great deal of pride, and I think it was frustrating to him that it didn't click like he might have wanted to. Those are Saturdays that we all face. You face them early, you face them late. You never know when it's going to jump up and stare you right in the face. You have to fight through those types of games, and I think it was good for him to have that kind of game early. It will help him down the road. That's a tough situation to be in, a tight game where you're not putting points on the board. There's a lot of pressure, and I'm sure no one felt more pressure than he did. But he responded like I would expect him too, and he went back out on that practice field yesterday and he's pushing hard and working hard. He's got the tools. He'll be fine.
Q: Bringing the second unit in, is that something you want to do throughout the year?
A: I would like to think that we would be able to play those young people more and more often. If a young man truly earns the right to play in a game on the practice field, I mean works and prepares and is game-ready, I think you've got to play those people. I thought they did an outstanding job. I think it's a winning edge. I would like to do that as much as we can. We played two-deep on defense and two-deep on offense, and then some at a couple of places. If we can manage that week after week, that's going to make us a better football team now and in the future.
Q: Talk about Kendrick Clancy.
A: Kendrick is, first of all, very, very talented. He's a very explosive young man. He's got really good quickness and speed. He's a very powerful youngster. He's one of the most powerful people in the weight room. Having all those physical tools are important, but he takes it to another level because of his intensity and the way he is as a competitor. He is truly a leader on the field. Every time you put on the pads, and every time you go to practice, Kendrick Clancy practices how you should practice, and plays how you should play in a game. He's a coach's dream from that standpoint. As I've said all along, he's a disrupting force when we're scrimmaging. He'll be a body to be reckoned with against anybody we play. He's a special player. He's certainly an all-star candidate in every sense of the term. He's good enough to be on anybody's all-anything team.
Q: Talk about Maurice Flournoy's first game.
A: Maurice Flournoy came in and did a really good job in his first game to start in at wide receiver. I thought he ran good routes and made some tough catches. He had the one drop. But the thing I was pleased most about Maurice, was he competed whether the ball was thrown to him or run away from him. He competed the entire game. He competed in his blocking and in his route-running when he might have thought he wasn't getting the ball. If he continues to do those things, he's going to become better and better as a player. I'm excited about his start.
Q: What about the two true freshman that played against Memphis?
A: Robert Williams, I thought, really played well at tailback. He dropped the ball one time, but he ran with the ball in good position, holding onto the football. He can make some cuts that a lot of people don't make. Robert has good vision, really quick feet and he's a very competitive youngster. I thought he had a really good start for a freshman. Wes Scott didn't get to play near as much, but Wes has got great speed. He's a guy that's going to get better with some playing time. We feel like we're going to need him before the year's over with. We just have to play Wes and let Wes get a feel for the game and learn on the run. He's got a chance to be a real fine player and a player that we need, because he has such outstanding speed.
Q: What factors are involved in whether Deuce McAllister will play this weekend?
A: It's based on what his health is. We're still day-to-day. If he's healthy, he'll play. If he can't protect himself and shouldn't be out there, then we'll make those decisions as we get through the week and see how he is at the latter part of the week. He wants to play. He's a competitive youngster. We just have to see if he's healthy and capable of playing.
Q: Talk about Justin Coleman's progress.
A: Justin has been one of the most improved players we've had. He had a little setback with a little injury back toward the midpart of two-a-days. I think that held him back a little bit. But the early part of two-a-days, he was really setting a tempo. I am impressed. He's a very quick youngster. He's another one that plays with great intensity. He's a young player that you're going to see become more and more of a factor and get better each week, because he works very, very hard.
Q: Talk about Tim Strickland.
A: Tim Strickland played a lot of snaps at corner. He's very consistent. I know he was excited about playing in the Liberty Bowl and playing in Memphis and so close to home. He went up there and at the end of the game got an interception, which I'm sure was exciting for him. He's a really good athlete with outstanding speed, covering ability and experience. He played like you want an experienced senior corner to play.
Q: Talk about the offensive line.
A: I thought our offensive line was very physical. They were challenged by a good defensive team with a scheme with a lot of folks moving. They weren't sitting still. There weren't many targets that they could aim at. Most folks were moving in front of them. It was a very physical football game. Our offensive line is a very physical line. There are little things, techniques, fundamentals, that we have to continue to grow with. We have to continue to be more consistent, and for the most part, they came off the football physically like we hoped they would.
