Monday Press Conference Transcript

Oct. 21, 2002

Head Coach David Cutcliffe
Opening Comments
After reviewing the tape, the obvious was still the obvious, and that was we didn't play very well. We certainly have to give Alabama credit. They played well in all phases of the game. Our players played hard and I was pleased with the effort. But, we didn't play as fierce and as physical as you have to play in a game like Saturday. That is something we have to address and address quickly. We didn't hold blocks well whether it was in the passing or running game, and some of that had to do with them. They did an extremely good job up front against us. Defensively, we did not get off blocks and did not tackle well enough to play against a good Southeastern Conference team (like Alabama).

We've got to pick our heads up and go back to work. It's no fun to be involved in a ballgame like that, but we have no choice but to get back on the practice field and prepare for the opportunity to play a really fine Arkansas team. They are a talented team, a very fast team. We certainly have our hands full, and we know we are going to have to play extremely well to be successful in Fayetteville. It's a big challenge this week, and one that we are looking forward to.

Q: How do you coach a team to be physical if that's not its personality?
A: It's a mind-set the coaching staff has to maintain and demand, and the players must meet that. We've done a lot of work this fall addressing that, with our best-against-best going during the week. We're wearing full pads a lot, and we're going to continue on that path. We're not a big, brutal football team, so we have to play with the mind-set that's really fierce. We've got to maintain that all week long in practice and in all four quarters of every game we play.

Q: How do you take that from the practice field to the game?
A: I don't think we've not been physical in every game. We've tackled well, and we've been physical on both sides of the line of scrimmage at times. We're playing a lot of people on both sides of the ball, and we've got to evaluate who are the players that are being the most physical. We may have to ask some players to play a few more snaps to get out of them what we expect on gameday. As far as this particular game, we just weren't as fierce as we had been. I thought last Tuesday's practice was the most physical practice we've had. No one may know why that didn't transfer to the field on Saturday.

Q: Do you have to raise your level of physical play now because of your remaining schedule?
A: It looks like we better. Arkansas is a very physical team on both sides of the ball, and we know that going in. We are going to have to raise our level to be successful.

Q: Are there any similarities between Alabama and Arkansas?
A: They run some of the same basic plays. Arkansas has a quarterback that is an extremely dangerous threat running the football. They can do a lot of things, and they have fine, fine tailbacks and an outstanding offensive line. That's a lot of the same ingredients that Alabama has.

Q: Are you trying to find a chemistry at tight end in the 2 and 3 tight end sets with the loss of Doug Zeigler?
A: We're not able to use the 2 and 3 sets as much. We have Eric Rice and Bo Hartsfield, and Bo has been injured the entire year. He's coming off shoulder surgery he had in the off-season, and has never been full speed. When we lost Doug, we knew we took a shot. We're probably going to spend some time working Justin Sawyer there. He previously played tight end and he'll spend some time there this week in practice.

Q: Will you use Justin Sawyer strictly in short yardage situations?
A: We will use Justin more likely in the 2-tight sets, but that depends on how healthy Bo is.

Q: Talk about how Ole Miss has played on the road this year.
A: Obviously, we haven't been successful to this point. We've been on the road twice and lost both of those ballgames. That's one of things you have to do to be a good football team - to play well and win on the road. Winning on the road is a challenge in this league because of the teams you have to play. Then, you have to play in sold-out venues where it is going to be a great atmosphere for the home team.

Q: How much did last year's game (7 ot) take out of your team mentally and physically for the remainder of that season?
A: I don't think there was any certain way to measure that. We certainly did not play as well after that game as we had going into it. I really try to avoid any excuse, and I wouldn't say that was the only reason. But, it certainly affected our team, particularly emotionally.

Q: Talk about the game and what you remember about it.
A: The effort that both teams displayed was tremendous. The players displayed a lot of courage, and it was a well-played game. The players maintained not only a physical intensity, but also a mental focus. Maintaining that focus is hard to do for that period of time, and that's what sticks out in my mind.

Q: Talk about your running game and the status of Robert Williams for Saturday's game.
A: We're not certain about Robert. He's having some more tests done today, and will not practice today. We'll see what the tests show, and we'll know a little more on Tuesday. Obviously, we're not running the football like we would like to run it. It's something we're going to continue to address.

Q: How much more pressure does it place on Eli (Manning) when you are unable to run the ball effectively?
A: There is no question that it puts a great deal more pressure on Eli. This is something that has been an issue. It is difficult to play quarterback in this league when you lose the ability to run or throw. You better maintain an ability to threaten teams with the run or it will get extremely difficult (for the quarterback).

Q: What has been the team's mental state since Saturday's game?
A: We visited in the locker room following the game, and I told them a few things to think about. Since then, I've been around a few of them, and our coaches had individual meetings this morning. But, as a team, I won't see them until this afternoon on the practice field. We've bounced back every time we've been beaten, and I expect that to happen again. We have no choice. I expect them to be excited about the opportunity and the challenge in front of us.

Q: Talk about Jesse Mitchell's development at Ole Miss and his role on this year's team.
A: Jesse is one of the best leaders on this team. I thought he played well in Saturday's game. He was one of the individuals that played with fierceness and was very physical in the game. To give you an indication of that, on the first play he made the tackle on the pitch on the option. He made the play while playing the shade on the center, so that tells you about his effort. He continues to get better. He is one of our strongest players. He's not extremely big, but is a physical player. Jesse Mitchell is a warrior on the football field.

Q: He's listed at 270 pounds, but in street clothes, doesn't look it. Is most of his strength in his legs?
A: He's 270 (pounds), and he's not a little person. It's just we play against so many players that are 300 pounds. He doesn't see many offensive linemen under 300.

Q: How would you say the defense has played overall with the new scheme?
A: I feel good about the scheme, and there are some nuances that people are still trying to learn. We've had our moments, and have played well for the most part. One of the things that I've said all along - and not just after Saturday's game - is that we're looking for consistency from our entire team for four quarters. We've had some bright moments, and we've had some moments where we could have played better. Our challenge is to play four quarters like we know we're capable of playing.

Q: Looking back to last year's game, was it an emotional roller coaster afterwards?
A: Like I said after last year's game, I didn't have any past experience to draw from on being involved in something like that. When it was over, you had no emotion left, good or bad. You were completely drained. I don't think I've been through anything that drained me emotionally like that game did.

Q: Did you stay up that night, replaying the game?
A: I know I watched some of the highlights following that game. I don't remember if I stayed up all night. It's hard for me to sleep after a ballgame period. It certainly wasn't a pleasant evening.

Q: Do you like the current overtime system?
A: Having been through that (seven overtimes), I think there is a better way. The NFL (overtime) rule is the better rule. Obviously, most people in the college ranks don't think that way.

Q: How's Eddie Strong doing after coming back from his injuries?
A: He's better and he's getting better each week. He may not be 100 percent at any time this year, but he's gutted it out. He's doing the best he possibly can.

Junior QB Eli Manning
Q: Any thoughts on Saturday's game?
A: It was a tough game Saturday. They had a good defensive gameplan for us and they played it well.

Q: What do you remember most about last year's Ole Miss-Arkansas game?
A: Being just a seven-overtime game sticks out the most. Neither team scored that many points in the four quarters with the score tied at 17-17. When overtime came, we only had to go 25 yards and that made it easier (to score). This year's team is doing some of the same things they were last year even though they have a new defensive coordinator. They play good defensively, so we're going to have to play better offensively.

Q: How did you feel after last year's game?
A: I was tired and drained, but not as much as our offensive and defensive linemen. Those guys were hitting all those extra plays, and that made it a little more tiring for them than me.

Q: Were you getting tired that the game was going on and on?
A: By the fifth overtime, I was ready to get out of there. I wanted something to happen to end it. We would score, then they would score, and we would also answer them. It was going on forever. It's one of those games that could have ended earlier on certain plays. They missed a field goal, and we turned the ball over.

Q: How do you put last week's game behind you?
A: You have to forget about it. We tried, but we got beat. Now, we have to prepare for Arkansas. We're 2-1 in the SEC. We have to go out and try to win this one and the rest of our games.

Q: Talk about Matt Jones and his play-making ability.
A: He's a fun player to watch. He's running around and making plays. He doesn't look like he's running that fast, but you see him run by people. He makes other people look slow. He's a great athlete, and fun to watch.

Q: You have been hit a few more times the last couple of games. Has that knocked you out of your groove?
A: It's frustrating. Our offense is not clicking the way we thought it would be. We just have to go back to work. Our opponents are putting together plans to stop us, and that's putting us in some third-and-longs and we're not being able to convert those. We need to execute, move the ball and get some scoring opportunities.

Q: How frustrating has it been?
A: It has been frustrating. I can't put a finger on what it is or what is causing it. We're not executing, and our opponents are getting pressure and dropping back in zones. We have to work on getting the ball out of my hands quickly and getting receivers open. Our line needs to work on blocking and give me a little time. It's just everything that we need to work on.

Q: What took the most out of you mentally and physically - last year's Arkansas game or Saturday's Alabama game?
A: As for the Alabama game, it wasn't tough to lose because it was a regular game. The Arkansas game last year was tough to lose because we gave it our all. We competed for over 90 plays. We tried everything we could to win the game, but things didn't fall in our favor. This Saturday, Alabama just played better than us and beat us.

Q: Do you know Tony Bua or met him in the off-season?
A: I don't know Tony. I've seen him play and he is a good player. I've never met him or run into him in the off-season.

Q: During the seven-overtime game, was it frustrating and tense on the sideline or was it more excitement?
A: It was kind of frustrating to see the game keep on going. In the fifth overtime, we scored and went for two and got it. So, it made it where they had to score and also get the two-point conversion to send it to another overtime. I was sure it would end right there, but Matt Jones scored, and then on the conversion, he was running around and found someone in the back of the end zone. The game kept going on and on. By that point, you start giving looks to each other on the sideline and wonder, "What's going on?" and "Why can't we get out of here?" It was a fun game to play in, but I wouldn't want to do it again.

Q: Would you rather have the NFL overtime system?
A: It really doesn't matter to me. The system we have is fine. The way that game worked, it just kept going on and on. Both teams could have ended it earlier on a couple of plays, but it was just the way the game happened.

Q: Did you watch this year's Tennessee-Arkansas six-overtime game and what was going through your mind?
A: Yes, I watched it. It was unbelievable that it was happening again, and that Arkansas was involved again. It was a fun game to watch, and it reminded me a lot of our game. I knew what the teams and the players were going through.

Q: Do the linemen's legs get dead in that situation because there is not a lot of down time?
A: I think the linemen do get tired. The defensive linemen especially get tired. When you go second on offense and you score, the defense has to go right back out there. When we scored, everybody was excited and ran on the field, but then they had to get right back out there to play defense. They get tired and they want the game to end as soon as possible.

Q: Talk about playing on the road.
A: Playing on the road is a little more difficult. At Texas Tech, we got off to a slow start, but made a comeback and then gave the game to them in the end. At Alabama, we didn't play well at all offensively. We scored on our second possession, and we got down there two more times but couldn't convert. We have to get better. We need to get in better situations and convert more third downs.

Q: Talk about the pressure it puts on the defense when the offense goes three-and-out.
A: It makes it hard. You never want your defense on the field that long. You at least try to get some first downs and move the ball, so even if you do punt, you don't give them good field position. You can back them up inside their 20, whereas if you go three-and-out, you give them field position at the 40-yardline. It makes it easy for them on offense.

Q: How crucial is this game?
A: It's a big game. You never want to lose two in a row, especially in the SEC. Arkansas is a good team, and they're doing some good stuff. They're in the SEC West. We have to really play well and try and get a win there to have a shot to win the West.

Q: Talk about how the Arkansas game usually affects the team's season.
A: I'm not even sure. I've never really looked in to it. Obviously you try to win all the games you can in the West. We lost to Alabama. That's one loss, so we can't keep our heads down from that. You have to believe we still have a shot to win the West. We don't know who is going to beat who. A lot of these teams are good and can win each week. We just have to keep playing our game and doing our best.

Q: How much do you think about the school records you've been breaking?
A: I don't pay attention. I don't know which records I've broken or which ones I haven't. I'm just trying to win games, and do my best.

Q: Compare your play this year to last year.
A: I think I'm playing good football and making good decisions. Our offense isn't scoring as much as it did last year and not as productive. But we've just got to get back to playing good football. Hopefully I won't do anything more than I have to, and not turn the ball. I just have to make completions, hit the receivers and move the ball.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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