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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Monday Football Press Conference Transcript
11/11/2002 | Football
Nov. 11, 2002
HEAD COACH DAVID CUTCLIFFE
Opening Comments
There were a lot of positive things I saw from the Georgia tape, and obviously more from the first half. There were some things from the defense early in the third quarter that I thought was encouraging. We are playing teams in which we need to play error-free football, and we haven't been able to do that. We've had penalties and turnovers that have hurt us. If we had been able to play error free, we would have been in the game down to the wire.
The negative side is that we're not doing all the things we need to do to win games, and we've got to do that. That's our challenge.
Q: Talk about the field position game and special teams.
A: Certainly it came into play in the second half. On the second-half kickoff, we didn't have much of a return and we had a penalty with it. We didn't need that there, so we start the second half backed up. We get a great punt out of the end zone. We stop them after three downs, and they have a short punt that helps our field position. After we gain nine yards, we punt but it's only 25 yards, and then they go down and score the field goal. We would have liked to change the field position and backed them up at that point. We were down only 21-17 at the time with five minutes to go in the third quarter. At the time we needed field position and have the kicking game help us with that, we had a letdown.
The special teams have worked hard, and they are well coached. We've had a lot of turnover with personnel on special teams due to injuries. We've had a lot of starters play on special teams, and have had to make adjustments because of the injuries. I've been disappointed in our kick returns. We're catching the kickoff, and their players are on the 20-yard line. When that happens, it makes it difficult, and we have to be almost perfect in our blocking assignments. (The problems) on special teams can be attributed to a number of things, but I know it's not for a lack of attention to detail and effort. We got to find a way to be more consistent. When we have played real well, the kicking game has been our friend.
We've had a good return game, and last year, we led the SEC in kickoff returns. We've done a better job punting the ball statistically this year. The main thing that has somewhat hurt us on special teams is how we are rotating personnel.
Q: Is this a good time for an open date?
A: We've still got a lot to work on and a lot to accomplish. The open date comes at an important time because we end the season with two games in five days. This will be valuable preparation time and valuable rest time.
Q: Talk about the injury situation.
A: I still don't know completely about Brandon Jacobs. Marcus Johnson has a thigh bruise and will be OK. Brandon is the only concern we had after the game.
Q: What is the team's schedule this week?
A: Today, we'll have meetings, and the team will do a community service project. We be back on the practice field Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and will do some running and conditioning drills Friday. We'll give the team Saturday and Sunday off.
Q: What will the coaching do in the open week?
A: We'll spend time together as a staff and begin to make preparations for the next game.
Q: Talk about Tremaine Turner's play in the Georgia game.
A: Tremaine won that opportunity on the practice field. Once he earned the start, he didn't do anything to take him out of that role. He ran the ball extremely well. We played Ronald some and he ran OK.
Q: Talk about Chris Spencer's performance.
A: He's been playing a lot. Chris, like any freshman, has little things to learn. He's been physical and playing hard. He's played well all season.
Q: Have you ever seen a team put together a 10-minute drive like Georgia did in Saturday's game?
A: It was frustrating. Our defense had already played a bunch of snaps. We had some opportunities to stop them, but the obvious issue was the third-down conversions. When we were unable to stop them on third downs, it continued the drive. But, give credit to Georgia. They didn't fumble the ball or throw an interception. It was tremendous execution on their part.
Q: What is the status of Bill Flowers shoulder?
A: He is pushing through. He is still non-contact in drills at this point, but he is better than he was earlier. It has been difficult for him because he such a fierce competitor and very tough young man. It is not easy playing with a separated shoulder.
Q: Have you looked ahead at LSU and playing in Baton Rouge?
A: We have not gotten that deep into preparations for them. We are going to look at both teams a little going into these last two ballgames. I have seen LSU on tape and on TV. Looking at their personnel, I know they are very talented. I don't know what the situation is involving their quarterback and when they are expecting him back. I haven't gotten into all of that. They are an extremely talented team. Defensively, they are as talented as anybody around.
Q: What is Lanier Goethie's status and when might he be back?
A: That is still up in the air. I am hoping that this open date will give us enough time to get him back for either the LSU or Mississippi State game, hopefully both. We will have to see this week. What this open week has done is that his rehab has stepped it up a notch. As he responds to rehab, we will make the decision as to when he can go out in practice and try to run. He will know when he is ready.
Q: Do you think the team is struggling emotionally during this four-game losing streak?
A: I am real proud of how we have handled adversity. It is not an easy thing. The schedule is tough and it gets tougher as it goes on. Emotionally, it is tough when you are not winning. It's difficult even when you are winning, but I have been real proud of the team. We have started games other than the Georgia opening drive that we came back and played well. We have started games well. I know it is aggravating emotionally. It will be a challenge to see how intense we get during this opening date. I really believe in this team, and I believe from top to bottom that we will try and get better starting tomorrow.
Q: Do you feel the success you have had in Baton Rouge gives you some kind of advantage?
A: You hope it does. But every year is its own animal. It does give you some positive thoughts, but LSU is tough. Our team knows how tough LSU is and how good they are. Our team knows that if you go out there and play as good as you can, you have a chance to win anywhere.
Q: Talk about the season Ben Claxton has had.
A: Ben has played consistent all season long. He is a very physical player, a very tough player playing in the middle. It is amazing looking at the number of snaps that young man has played over his career. He is a smart football player. He handles a lot of things for us in the interior, so he is very tuned in to what we are doing.
Q: Has he been influential in developing some of the younger players on the offensive line?
A: Certainly, all the players look up to him. Whether you are a freshman center or a sophomore guard, all of them look up to him for leadership and as an example. They see the type of person that he is, and that he is a man that takes care of his business.
Q: Do you see much of him nurturing the others in practice?
A: Sure. He is out there coaching and giving pointers. He has enough snaps that he is qualified to do that.
Q: How much of Tremaine's running on Saturday was his play and how much of it was the line?
A: He hit some blocks and broke some tackles. We blocked well, especially in the first half. He broke two or three tackles that turned into yards after contact of seven yards or more and we haven't been getting a lot of that.
Q: How has Coach (Chuck) Driesbach reacted to this streak after experiencing success in the past?
A: Most of us are use to having success. When you are use to having success, how you handle adversity becomes just as important. Coach Driesbach is a solid man and a solid coach. He has handled the tough times like I thought he would. He comes to work with the same energy and same enthusiasm everyday.
JUNIOR QB ELI MANNING
Q: What is the team going through right now?
A: We are just trying to get back on schedule, back on target. We need to focus on playing good football. We have lost four games in a row, which is never easy to handle. We need to keep our spirits up and get ready for LSU.
Q: What was the team's mind-set at Georgia?
A: I thought we came out and played well in the first half. We ran the ball well. We were doing good things on offense and defense. We had a good mind-set at the beginning of the game. In the second half, they started playing well. We got down by 14 points and they held the ball for the majority of the fourth quarter. They did not give us a shot to get back into the game. We could not get our offense on the field.
Q: What is the team's focus now?
A: We just need to focus on playing good football. We need to keep our spirits high and keep working hard. We are going to go out there and keep playing hard every week. We are not going to get down. We need to keep the players' heads up and make sure they are still working through practice. We need to focus on doing our job and making plays. We have two games left, and they are both big ones. LSU and Mississippi State are both big-time rivalries for us. They are games we want to win. It won't be hard for us to get up for those games. We will go out and play hard.
Q: Have you worn down as the season has progressed?
A: Not really. I have kept my weight up. I have kept my strength up in the weight room. My body feels good and I feel good out on the field."
Q: How has the success of the running game in the last two games helped you?
A: We kind of put Georgia in a bind, they did not know what to do. They tried to leave a sixth man in the box and double safety, but we were running the ball on them. So, then they tried to put seven men in the box and we were throwing the ball on them. They used a bunch of different things. They tried to put three men down and we were able to throw on that. We put them in a bind in the first half, and they really didn't know what to do. When we can run the ball, it allows us to use play action. It opens up a bunch of different things. It makes my life a lot easier.
