.png&width=32&height=32&type=webp)
The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Head Coach David Cutcliffe's Press Conference
11/6/2000 | Football
Nov. 6, 2000
Opening Remarks:
"I thought we had a great team effort against Arkansas. I thought we played well in all phases of the game. We tackled better on defense and that was evident very early. We had some really good series' defensively particularly early in the game. It took our offense awhile to get started, but we were very effective and we made a number of big plays. In the kicking game, obviously Robert Williams' kick- off return was a big play but we had some other big plays. Certainly we saw improvement in our team, but there is much needed improvement still to be made. We need to get back out on the practice field and get back to work. We are going to be playing a very talented and balanced LSU team. We came through the last game pretty well from an injury standpoint. It looks like we will have most of our people back on the practice field today. Deuce (McAllister) should be able to work today. Anthony Sims should be able to get back out there and get some work done today, which is good. He needs it. Toward Sanford may be a little limited, but I expect most of the other people to be out on the practice field. We still have some people with some bumps and bruises, but for the most part we came out of the game healthier than we have in some of the previous games.
Q- Can you comment on the offensive line's performance against Arkansas?
A- "The offensive line played their best game against a very good and physical Arkansas defense. I thought we competed well for four quarters on the offensive line. The progress we have made there is evident. We can and need to get better, but it certainly was their best game so far.
Q- Can you tell us about Deuce's health?
A- "Deuce's hamstring tightened up slightly on his last touchdown run. Fortunately he pulled up to a point to where he did not pull his hamstring. He has responded well to treatment. We will see today where he is exactly, but I expect him out there as long as he feels good."
Q- Did you notice Romaro (Miller) asserting himself more Saturday?
A- "Romaro has asserted himself more in the last few ball games. His confidence level has continued to grow, as it should. He is a senior quarterback. This is his last go-round and I think he senses that. He is a competitive young man and is well prepared. His statistics may not have been all that you would want, but he was very much in charge of what we were doing offensively. He handled our offense extremely well in this game."
Q- Talk a little bit about Syniker Taylor's development as he tries to balance both football and basketball.
A- "First of all, just talking about playing both football and basketball, that is difficult for any athlete. Syniker is an outstanding athlete. He does a great job of handling himself. I think Coach Barnes and his staff do a great job working with Syniker. It is tough academically and physically over a long period of time. He is a great competitor. He loves to compete and play. We see that everyday on the practice field in football. He puts everything he has out there on the field. I think he has continued to get better. He was a good football player when we started this season, but he is playing extremely well now. He is an outstanding safety and can do a lot of things for our team. He can play all of the positions in the secondary. He is smart and a good athlete."
Q- Tell us what you thought of Shawn Johnson's play in Saturday's game?
A- "Shawn Johnson has played well when he has been healthy. Shawn's play Saturday was evident to the fact that he practiced for the first time in a while. He has been hobbled with his ankle and has not had enough practice time. That is kind of indicative of our entire team over the last month. His practice time paid off. He is a great competitor and an outstanding tackler. He loves to compete and he plays fast, which I like. Shawn did some really fine things, which were evident to everybody, but most importantly, he played consistently throughout the game."
Q- Could this LSU team be the most balanced offensive team you will have faced this season?
A- "They are probably one of the most balanced teams overall. They are good on offense and defense. They also have a solid kicking game. They are very athletic and they play hard. They do a lot of things well. They have figured themselves out and are now used to their systems on both sides of the ball. They are playing just about as good as anybody right now."
Q- Talk about Coach Saban's philosophy on offense and defense.
A- "Defensively they are a very aggressive, defensive football team. They are an outstanding run defensive football team. They challenge you in the secondary. They are not afraid to pressure you at any time. They are going to make you execute. Offensively they are a physical football team, yet they show their ability to spread out, throw the ball and make big plays. I think their running backs are outstanding, their offensive line is playing physical and their receivers are very dangerous. Because of the weapons they have, they certainly are the most balanced looking team we have seen offensively.
Q- Looking at LSU's quarterback Josh Booty, what is the difference you see in him between last year and this year?
A- "Well you can tell he has played. It had been awhile for him. Josh Booty is a very talented young man. He has a great arm. The more he plays the better he gets. You are now seeing the product of him becoming more comfortable back there again. He has the physical skills to make the throws and the plays.
Q- Do you think in Saturday's game your team got over a hump mentally?
A- "It certainly propelled us. It was a confidence booster. It also was an emotional uplift. After the game they felt good about winning, but they were more hungry to go out and go back to work, which is what you want to see. I am anxious to see how they respond in today's practice, but that was the feeling we had after the game. It was a good feeling for them, to get a win on the road in the Southeastern Conference.
Q- After losing a game like Ole Miss did to Alabama, sometimes you see finger pointing and that sort of thing. Obviously that did not happen with your team. What do you account for that?
A- "Anytime you go through a game like that, it is unsettling to say the least. Our philosophy is to go back to work and do your best to focus on the job at hand. In this business you are going to suffer setbacks like that, but sometimes how you respond to them may be the most critical test of your team's character. It shows how we've grown as a team. This team does not have the mentality of finger-pointing, our program will not get to that point.
Q- What is the status of Justin Blake and Shane Elam?
A- "Justin Blake will be back on the practice field today and Shane is going to get some work today."
Q- Do you think having Rohan Davey as a back-up has made Josh Booty a better quarterback?
A- "Competition at any position is generally a good thing. I cannot speak on their particular situation, but competition makes everyone work that much harder."
Q- Will you have to change your Saturday routine any with the game not starting until 8 o'clock?
A- "A little. We will stagger some times a little differently. It is just something you have to deal with."
Q- LSU had a lot of success running the ball against Mississippi State. Will that affect your preparation?
A- "They are going to run the football without question. They have great people up front, but they are a balanced team. They are certainly very capable of running the football and they will. They are a very physical team on offense and they will try to establish that."
Q- Can you comment on L.J. Taylor and Antionne Scott?
A- "L.J. Taylor has had an outstanding senior year in all phases of his game. He is blocking well despite his size and continues to make big plays for a wide receiver. He displays the right attitude on the practice field. Antionne Scott's season has gotten better each game. Has made tremendous progress. He has been a journey-man for us, having played tight end, defensive end and now defensive tackle. He's really stepped up over the last few weeks. I am really proud of what he has done. He has pushed himself and gotten a lot out of his senior year."
Q- Can you talk about Deuce's game against Arkansas?
A- "Deuce wasn't 100 percent with his shoulder or his ankle, but he just went out and competed hard anyway. He really showed his versatility in that game. There is not a player out there that can do all of the things he can do. He does so much and he really showed that against Arkansas."
Q-Earlier you were talking about tackling better?
A- "We haven't had a chance to work on it a lot because, we have had quite a few people miss a significant amount of practice time. We have more people healthy now. You have to focus on the little things and fundamentals until the end of the season. Our staff did a good job of doing that and we have to continue doing that."
Q-Was Saturday the best game of the year?
A- "It was our best consistent-wise. We did the little things better on a more consistent basis. There are other games where we did some things good, but in this game, we were consistent. All three units (offense, defense, and special teams) played well together. I felt that the competition at practice was good leading up to Arkansas. We had our best players out on the practice field."
Q- When will Anthony Sims be back?
A- "He will be back on the field today (Monday). He will get some work at practice.
Q- Talk about the passing game?
A- "We were effective in the passing game. We came close to having a big day throwing the football. We had some misfires and some balls that could have been caught. The passing game did not hurt us, it helped at some critical times."
Q-Will you get some snaps out of Sims and Elam?
A- "We certainly hope so and I think that we need to get all of our people out there. It helps to get two of our four starters back on the defensive line.
Q-Did you know that Shane Elam had gone back to the dressing room?
A- "I did not know until I saw him on the sidelines. I didn't say anything to him. I came over to Coach Hobby and we thought that he wasn't ready. That's a great indication of Shane's spirit and what you want to see in a player."
