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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Head Coach David Cutcliffe Press Conference Transcript
9/10/2001 | Football
Sept. 10, 2001
OPENING COMMENTS
"This is the time of the year early in the season when you continue to find out a lot about your football team, particularly a young football team like ours. We certainly made too many mistakes Saturday to win a big conference game. We've got to avoid making mistakes in critical situations. You start with ball security. Field position was horrendous, and that is something we have to be responsible for. We've got to run the football better. We certainly are at a point where we have to defend the run. And we've got to get some pressure on the quarterback, particularly this week facing a quarterback with the ability and experience of Greg Zolman. I'm anxious to see how our team will respond on the practice field. We've got to go right back to work and get things corrected rather quickly."
Q.: Talk about the injury situation.
A: "I think we're alright. We've still got some concerns about Chris Collins. He obviously didn't play much, and I want to find out what's going on there. Lanier Goethie is a little banged up with a ankle again. Outside of that, I don't know anything new that will hold anyone out today."
Q: What are some of the things that went wrong in the Auburn game?
A: "We were just not as physical as we needed to be. We had opportunities. I think you have to give Auburn some credit. They are a good defensive football team. We can be more physical than we're being, and we're going to have to be. To run the ball in this league, you're going to have to block a good defensive line, and try and do it consistently. There wasn't any real magic involved. We need what to do. From an assignment standpoint, we did a good job. We just didn't win the physical war, and we've got to get to work on that quickly."
Q: How did you think the team did on the defensive side?
A: "I thought our effort was outstanding for the entire team. The defense had their backs to the wall from a field position standpoint the whole first half and a lot of the second. Those kids played really, really hard. They flew to the football. They helped each other. Certainly the secondary supported the run much better than we did the week before. There were a lot of positives. We have a lot of things still to improve. But if you are worried about our heart and our effort, then you would have a big problem. We have some things that are correctable on the practice field, but we're going to have continue to play with that great effort."
Q: Was the punting game on Saturday a case of nerves?
A: "Cody Ridgeway hasn't punted as well as we think he can in either ball game. You do what you do in the game based on how you perform in practice. Last week, he practiced well. We need to get him started in the right direction. He's a very talented youngster, even though right now he doesn't look like it. He has a strong leg, and is capable of really being an outstanding punter. Shae Orrell will continue to work as our backup, and hopefully he will push him. Based on performance in practice, we'll make a decision at the end of the week."
Q: Do you ever make a change at punter during the game?
A: "I think you can. You have to be smart about when you do that. I'm not as apt to do that if a youngster has worked all week long, if you've see what he's done on the practice field, and you think he's prepared himself well. I liken it to quarterbacks. I've never been one to pull a quarterback, unless I didn't think he prepared well during the week. I think Cody is working hard. He just needs to find his rhythm and get it done in a ball game atmosphere. I've seen him do it before in high school, and I believe in my heart he'll do it now."
Q: Talk about your relationship with Vanderbilt head coach Woody Widenhofer.
A: "I think Woody is a tremendous football coach, and obviously defensively, he has really made a name for himself through the years at any level he has been involved at. Not only do they have a good scheme, but the team is really coached well. They do have an outstanding scheme, but they tackle well, they play blocks well, they run to the ball well, and they play with great intensity. I think they're, now and for the last couple of years, an outstanding offensive team that has talent and people that can get things done. I have great respect for their quarterback and their skill people. Their offensive line has continued to get better. They could have just as easily won both of their ball games, which would have been big wins."
Q: What kind of adjustments did Vanderbilt make from week one to week two?
A: "They played two different teams. I think people are now starting to realize how good Middle Tennessee State is after their performance in week two, and that they're not a fluke. It's like a lot of us. You get through the first week, and then correct some things. They tackled well, and played better, and they were able to get a lot more pressure on Tyler Watts. Middle Tennessee just executed extremely well against them."
Q: Talk about falling behind against Vanderbilt the last two years.
A: "We had a lead two years ago but couldn't hold on to it. I'd like to be the guy not making the miracle comeback. We'd like to come out and play well early. We need to get into a good rhythm early in every phase of the game. The field position situation has not been good to us yet to start a game. We'd like to get started fast and see what that feels like and see how we play from that end. You never know. We've got to be prepared to handle whatever comes our way."
Q: After what happened two years ago, is it easier to convince the players not to take Vanderbilt lightly?
A: "I think our players are coming to the realization much more quickly than the fans or the media, because they're out there on the field with them. Our players are realizing that there's not much difference in anyone's football team anymore. Just the thought of taking someone lightly is from days gone by. There are quality athletes and quality football players in every program, and our guys know this. We're playing another big conference game, and there's a lot on the line. Both teams should be extremely hungry come Saturday."
Q: How do you prepare for a senior quarterback like Greg Zolman as opposed to a freshman quarterback like Auburn's Jason Campbell?
A: "Vanderbilt runs a different style of an attack. They're using a little bit more option. They control the ball and spread the ball extremely well. We're going to have to play smart football and minimize big plays. We're going to have to get pressure on the quarterback, and we intend to do that. Week-to-week preparation is going to change based on scheme, and I think the bigger challenge is the different scheme."
Q: Talk about Kenny Jackson.
A: "Kenny Jackson is a much improved football player. He's playing really hard and much more consistent. Having a year under his belt as being a major college football player has helped him a great deal. It's evident that Coach Mendoza and his staff had a good winter and summer with Kenny. I think he's in much better shape than he's been in since he's been here."
Q: Is Eddie Strong playing at his highest level yet?
A: "He played really hard and made some really nice plays on Saturday. The first play of the game was a really nice play he made. It was indication that he was more comfortable. I think as he plays in the scheme, he'll get much more comfortable. He's playing a completely new position for himself. He was running and chasing balls and reacting, and you could tell that he was much more comfortable with what he was able to do in this ball game as opposed to the first one.
"Physically he's back and in better shape than he was at any time since he's been here. He's stronger and faster."
Q: What sort of challenges does a left-handed quarterback pose for a defense?
A: "It's really not that much different. The blind-side changes and maybe the favorite side of an offense changes. Most teams aren't as right-handed as they used to be, and certainly the same would be true of a team with a left-handed quarterback. Once the game settles in, I don't think anyone pays a lot of attention to it, outside of their tendencies that someone might have going into the game. But I think those tendencies have lessened through the years."
Q: How do you think Eli Manning handled the jump up in competition?
A: "I thought he played really, really well. It was evident to everyone down the stretch, but he played well the entire football game. He missed a couple of throws that he would like to have back. He made numerous outstanding throws. He stood in against their pressure, and he took more hits than I would like our quarterback to take. But he took those hits and kept playing and stayed focused. I was really impressed with how he managed the offense. We had very few if any communication problems. I thought his game management was outstanding. We didn't have any illegal procedures, offside penalties, delay of games or a lot of those things you see from a young quarterback on the road. He managed extremely well."
Q: Talk about Jamie Armstrong.
A: "Jamie got tired, but can't kept pushing himself. He was evident all game long. He made tough catches, and I thought he made one great catch in our opening game. It shows what hard work will do. He has competed and pushed himself. Hopefully, we're going to keep him healthy, which we haven't done in the past, and find out just how far Jamie can take us. He's got great leaping ability and much better speed than people realize. We just have to keep him healthy."
Q: Although disappointed, did you sense the team left the stadium somewhat confident?
A: "I think they realized that if we play good, we can play with anybody. We're more athletic and stronger. We still have lots of challenges. We realize that if we don't play good, we'll struggle like anyone else, because all the opponents are good. The focus is going to go back on the practice field. Not that every area was a giveaway. Guys are competing and trying hard, and things will happen in wins and losses. Obviously they're magnified when you lose. I think they sensed that we really played well. If we focus and play well, we'll have a chance to compete with anyone. They know they're playing hard and practicing hard, and they're putting what they need to into it. Now we just have to find a winning edge."
Q: Do you think you might use Charles Stackhouse more in the single-back set?
A: "There are possibilities, depending on how many of those sets we use. Charles and Toward have run well. I don't think it's Joe Gunn and Robert Williams or their inability to run that has been an issue. Our ability to be more physical up front is where it all starts. We're looking at things in general that we think we could do to help ourselves to get a spark going there. Because we realize to play our schedule in this league, you have to maintain the ability to run the ball."
Q: What is the key to a balanced offense?
A: "The definition of a balanced offense to me is what I just said: maintain the ability to run the ball. You don't to have run it to be balanced, but you better not lose the ability to run it in this league. Sometimes the score of a game will indicate who lost the ability to run it, and suddenly everyone knows all of sudden how good the pass rush looks from the other team. But if you don't have the ability to run from the very beginning and defensively they realize that, it gets very difficult to throw the ball under those circumstances. I think we can be an outstanding throwing team, and I think we can maintain the ability to be a real quality running football team. But that doesn't mean we're going to be 50-50 in our play-calling. It's great if you're doing that. We just have to improve the ability to run it where we can maintain that threat."
Q: Talk about Syniker Taylor.
A: "I thought Syniker played really well. He's getting in better shape. He had a tough summer, with knee surgery. He's a guy that knows how to make plays. He finds a way to get his hands on the ball. He's a quality tackler. He's very strong and quick, and he can compete with receivers at the line of scrimmage. Syniker played extremely well in this past ball game."
Q: Is there anything you can do in practice to make the guys protect the football better?
A: "I think there are some things. We've got a big amount of drills that all of our coaches do when you're talking about fumbling. We coach it from a positive standpoint. We teach them how to hold the ball, and we put them in a situation where they have to hold the football. Sometimes you may have to get some licks for your receivers because those guys are also involved in the kick return game. We weren't sloppy with the football, even the one Eli lost in the pocket. He's pretty smart with the ball in the pocket, and he never felt the guy on his blind side. He was in the throwing motion and that was the only reason he had the ball in one hand. We've been talking about some things that we're going to do that might help us."
Q: Talk about L.P. Spence and Matt Grier.
A: "L.P. Spence has started for us both games. He's still got a lot to learn, but he's a physically talented youngster who can run and is rangy. I think L.P. is going to be a real fine player as a sophomore.
"Matt Grier is a real talented guy, and he's having to learn some things that he hasn't done before from a coverage standpoint. But he's always seemingly making plays. His challenge is going to be catching up mentally with that position and all the things we're asking him to do. Physically, I think he can be an outstanding football player."
QUARTERBACK ELI MANNING
Q: Talk about how well you guys played in the fourth quarter. Obviously you would like to have a lot of those fourth quarters this week against Vanderbilt?
A: "We finally got our rythym going. We couldn't move the ball in the first half and we weren't picking up huge first downs. We need to work on that for this week. The fourth quarter definitely gave us motivation and it proved to us that we can compete in the SEC and with these teams."
Q: With the injury to Collins, Jamie Armstrong and Omar Rayford stepped up. You have some good receivers?.
A: "We have receivers who can make plays. Jamie stepped up. He's had to work at every receiver spot, and he had to take over for Chris (Collins). He was getting open and making some big time catches."
Q: How does the team handle it being down and having to come back and what do you say to them during the game?
A: "I just told them 'We need to make some first downs and try and get in field goal position and move the ball to get us going.' Even though we were down, our entire team kept their heads held high and continued to compete."
Q: Talk about what you've seen from Vanderbilt on tape so far?
A: "Vanderbilt does a lot of good things. They've given us problems before. They will blitz a lot, and come from everywhere to try and press on our receivers. We have some things to look forward to, but we will be ready to compete."
Q: Do you feel like you perform better under pressure, for instance when you got down 27-0 against Auburn?
A: "I would like to be able to perform under any circumstance, whether we are up 27 or down 27. I go out there and try to do my job and compete. I am just trying to make plays and good decisions.
