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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Head Coach David Cutcliffe's Weekly Press Conference
9/25/2000 | Football
Sept. 25, 2000
Opening Remarks:
I want to first mention the loss of Jerry Claiborne, which I think is a great loss for college football. I had the privilege to coach against many of Coach Claiborne's teams. He was a man of great integrity and great for the game. I thought his teams were some of the most physical teams that I've ever coached against. When I heard that, it saddened me and I did want to mention that. I also want to mention, because I missed it last week in a kind of a hurried press conference, there is a campaign out there called "P.E. for Life". It is something that the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) is getting involved in. I am a big believer in this. I think that we've let P.E. (Physical Education) in our schools decline to a point that it has had an effect on our youth, and we (the AFCA) are going to get involved in trying to push the issue and try to create more emphasis in that area. I think there is only one state in the union, that being the state of Illinois, that still requires P.E., K (Kindergarten)-through-12. It is just something that I want to mention and something that we are going to be involved in.
I'll start talking about UK (Kentucky). UK has a lot of outstanding athletes. Obviously you start with their QB Jared Lorenzen, who has played anything but like a freshman. I think he is playing outstanding. Statistically, he is certainly outstanding, but it goes far beyond that as he is making great decisions, is an outstanding competitor, he's very accurate with the ball, and hard to pressure. I think UF (Florida) may have sacked him one time with their outstanding defense. They (Kentucky) were just doing so many things positive and using all their weapons. They have a lot of weapons on offense, tight ends, receivers, and running backs. Everybody can do their thing and do their part well. Defensively, they are very versatile. They can run and they give you a lot of problems by giving you a lot of looks. I know they are looking at a lot of different combinations. But as I look at them play the number two team in the country, without turnovers they out-gain UF. Without turnovers, they are right in the middle of that game, so, this is certainly an outstanding UK team. It is very evident what (head )coach (Hal) Mumme and his staff have done in a short time at UK. We know it will be a great challenge. Our team is anxious to get back on the practice field after taking the weekend off. Hopefully, we will get some people back out there that have been hurt, at least on a limited basis to find out where we stand. Till we can get on the practice field, there is really not much I can tell you from an injury stand point. I know that is interest to a lot of you, but we have to get on the practice field and see how guys are running and how they do. When we make that assessment, we will know about the probability of certain people being able to play. Regardless, I think we have gotten better. We used the open date to focus on Ole Miss. We put ourselves in a lot of games situations. I think it helped us a team, and I'm anxious to see what our team attitude will be like. We certainly better have a great week of preparation for a fine UK team and a fine SEC contest.
Q: What does the UK offense look like overall compared to Oklahoma?
A: Well it is a very similar philosophy (offensively). The Oklahoma offense of a year ago really stems from coach Mumme and his philosophies with (then Oklahoma offensive coordinator and now Texas Tech head coach) Mike Leach. They are very similar. Obviously, any offense has certain weapons that others might not have. They use what they use, they're going to use the field, they're going to use the field vertically, and they can use it horizontally. They are able to run the football with really aggressive back with tremendous feet. In the passing game, you're going to deal with screens, the down field throw, crossing routes and as I've said, they use 120 yards of the football field.
Q. Talk about the physical attributes of Kentucky quarterback, Jared Lorenzen
A. I don't think any of us have seen anything like him. I don't exactly what Jared weighs, but he's big. He is fit and he can move. When you are 275-280 pounds, or whatever he is, and can still move, that creates problems for the defense. I think the most important thing about him, is not the uniqueness of his body size, but that he is making good decisions and good throws and that makes him a good quarterback, not his size. It is just a part of who he is, just a different look.
Q. Did the open date help you cure some of your unhappiness with the passing game?
A. I think it has, certainly. We've got to get on the game field to really be tested. I think we've practiced better. I think our production from some of our receivers on the practice field, has improved. If they are going to play well, they have to practice well. So it has been a positive week from that standpoint. I am real concerned about the weather today. I don't know how much work we're going to be able to get, today. But that is something that we've certainly got to be better at. If we throw the football better it will help us.
Q. Did you pinpoint specific things to work on?
A. I don't think it's been a specific thing in any problem that we've had. We certainly have been outstanding at times, throwing the ball. I think that we addressed the protection standpoint and we better. We are playing a team that leads the conference in size. From the protection standpoint, we've worked hard to improve ourselves there. Also, people being at the right place at the right time. The passing game is all about decisions and timing. That is something that we have to work out, something we have to be more consistent with. I think whether it's protection or the throw, we've got to find that grove and show consistency. That is the thing that concerns me most. Looking at the entire team, it wasn't just one thing, different things at different times.
Q. Talk about the special teams coverage.
A. The kickoff coverage has been good for the most part. If you kick the ball in the right place, and if you've got talented kickers to put the ball in the right place and they've got a lot of speed, than they've done a good job. Our punting game helped us win the last game, there is no question about it. That is something that we've worked hard on, just the kicking game in general. (Kentucky) has an outstanding return man, a very dangerous returner. I have seen him up close and personal before, so we'll have to be on our toes and do a great in job in that area.
Q. Talk about Deuce's health.
A. We are going to address the injury situation when we get on the practice field. We've got to see where we are. We are going to try to get, basically, everybody out there. Eddie Strong and Ben Claxton are on the injury list. We'll have to see where we are after we practice, and see what occurs from there.
Q. Do you have to be cautious with Deuce McAllister because of how much he means to the team and how much he wants play?
A. We still have to evaluate his health, regardless, we all know what he means to our team and certainly more than one game is important to the entire year. But we are not going to be able to put a player out there that can't protect himself. That is the first evaluation. If he's not ready, he's not ready and there is nothing that we can do. He stayed here all weekend and got a lot of treatment. He is doing everything in his power to get himself well. The trainers are doing a great job with him. We'll know more today. We'll see how he feels out there today. Obviously, he won't be in contact, but just getting out there and running around.
Q. Would you just use Deuce as a running back rather than both special teams and running back?
A. No, because if he is that tender, he really shouldn't be out there period. He is either well or he's not. With a shoulder injury at running back is hard to hide. He is either going to be ready to go or he won't. We will evaluate that as we go along.
Q. Talk about UK's quarterback, Lorenzen in the shotgun formation.
A. They have been shot-gunning forever. They are more of a shotgun team then they are other aspects. They get under the center a little bit. There is not much change in their deep drop. The big guy has made good decisions. If he keeps playing like he's playing, he's going to present a lot of problems to a lot of people.
Q. Talk about UK's running game.
A. Well, they still run they ball in the shotgun in certain plays. They will get up under there every now and then. There are things that they like to do from under the center. They still run the ball and do most of their offense from the shotgun, and always have since I've been watching them.
Q. Have you ever coached a quarterback of Lorenzen's size?
A. Not quite like that. When I was a Tennessee, we played against Penn State, and they had some big quarterbacks in the 240- 250 pound range. He's (Lorenzen) big, I haven't seen him in person, yet. I'm kind of wishing I didn't have to, but I do. He is a big powerful guy with good mobility. As I've said earlier, the best thing is his decision-making, accuracy and things he's getting done throwing the football.
Q. What are the problems caused by a left-handed quarterback?
A. You don't see left-handers a lot, but I don't think it makes any difference.
Q. What impact does having played both Tulane and Oklahoma have on this game?
A. I think it helps that we've played Tulane and Oklahoma in recent time, and playing against teams that will spread the field. Our kids are not shocked by that. Certainly Oklahoma has similarities. Kentucky is unique in itself. I think it's a benefit. Whether it makes a huge difference, remains to be seen. I am glad to have seen some offenses like that.
Q. Is a good offense, the best defense?
A. You like to keep the ball and keep them off the field on offense. I know that their (Kentucky) defense is very aggressive and they try to keep that from happening. They pride themselves in that defensively, and when they get hot they get really hot. I would rather see Kentucky's offense stand on the sidelines watching us play. That will be difficult to try to get done, though.
Q. Does defensive depth come in to play with their kind of attack?
A. They will have eight-five and ninety snaps a lot of games. When you're chasing the quarterback, you want to have depth up front and keep fresh people. We've played a lot of people on defense. You would like to have as much depth as you could when you are facing the potential of that many snaps.
Q. Have you given anymore thought to next year's opener with Troy State dropping out?
A. There are not a lot of choices out there, right now we're just visiting with people. I've had visit with John Shafer, yes. There are not a lot of choices. I don't know how quickly that will be resolved.
Q. With Auburn the following week, would you want the opener that previous week or earlier?
A. I would rather open the season that date, if we can. Again, there are all kinds of problems associated with trying to get a match up. There are different things we're looking at, but I would rather play then.
Q. Talk about Ken Lucas.
A. Ken possesses a lot of skill physically. He is relatively young when it comes to playing defensive back. So he has learned on the run. You can see him getting better and better and he competes hard and he likes the competition. He likes the competition at practice, you see him getting better everyday at practice and he certainly possesses the skills to be a man-to-man corner. He is a guy that has a lot big plays in front of him.
Q. Talk about Les Binkley.
A. Less is a great worker. Les trains hard in the off-season. He trains hard physically, mentally, works hard at his trade. I guess if you were a professional golfer, Tiger Woods gets it in the rough every now and then. You go make the next shot the best you can make. The only kick he can do anything about is the next one. His focus has been good. When you miss it, you don't like it. It's part of the game, part of risk when you go out there. You just have to line up and make the next one good.
Q. Talk about Tremaine Turner.
A. Charles Stackhouse beat him out in pre-season scrimmages. I thought Charles seemed to be playing better than most people on our team. Tremaine hasn't gotten worse, it's just he has an experience veteran playing in front of him. Tremaine can still do a lot of things for us. It is hard to get a lot of opportunities when someone is playing that well. It is just a position that we have some competition and depth at the time being. He certainly is a positive player and has done a great job in our kicking game. When he gets on the field offensively, you don't have any concerns. You know he is going to get the job done.
Q. Talk about Charles Stackhouse.
A. Charles finally got healthy. I think it was good decision to keep him out in the spring, and a good decision physically. He has improved himself. He is a very physical player and has played consistently. He has played with emotion and intensity, and he has been a consistent football player for the most part. I didn't think he played as well in Nashville as he could have, and he knows that. I am looking at him to step it back up and get back on that level he displayed earlier.
Q. If for some reason Deuce doesn't come back, who will be returning the punts?
A. Robert Williams. Robert could possibly be back on kickoff as well.
Q. Talk about the Southeastern Conference.
A. This is the 19th season in a row coaching that I've been coaching in the SEC. I think this is the most balance we've seen in the league. I think every Saturday we see that to be true. It's a challenge, no question when you play in our conference you better bring you're A-game. Anybody can beat anybody. It is exciting, it's fun and I think it's hard for a lot of people to get used to. We've seen this coming as coaches for some time now. There are a lot of good football players at all institutions in this league. You better come and play each week. It makes for a great league, and it is tough because we beat each other up so much.
Q. Is the size of Lorenzen perhaps setting a new look for future quarterbacks?
A. I don't know how many people you see that big, that skilled. He's got good mobility, and it may change some thought processes of certain people. He fits their offensive system, but I don't know if it changes what we are going to see over a period of time. There are all different kinds of way to skin the cat and there always has been. I don't see any real trends. I just see when a guy is a good football player, it shows up that he is a good football player, regardless of his size.
Q. Is UK throwing the ball down the field more?
A. I think they are. His arm strength allows them to do that. He has great poise in the pocket. You have to be willing to hang in there, and have good movement in the pocket. There are a lot of things that you would like to see your quarterback do well and he does them. He is a big guy and he sees down the field really well.
