Head Coach David Cutcliffe's Monday Press Conference Transcript

Aug. 26, 2002

Head Coach David Cutcliffe

Opening Comments
I was out on campus late last night, and you could tell there was a little hint of fall in the air. This is exciting because it's game week. Everybody involved in college football is always excited when game week arrives.

We're going to play a really good Louisiana-Monroe football team. I can tell from reading between the lines that they feel much better about themselves, as they should. They return a lot of quality players. They have an outstanding defensive unit that is quick and aggressive, and they have an outstanding defensive scheme. They have a lot of experience back at the skill positions, certainly at wide receiver and running back, and on the offensive line. They feel a lot better about their scheme. They have revamped some things. They are well coached.

We're going to focus on ourselves this week. This final week of preparation is going to be extremely important for us. We have had some people banged up, and more than we would like. We are going to get some back today. I have some concerns about Eddie Strong and Mario Hill. They are the two I'm most concerned about in terms of playing in Saturday's game. Everybody else, right now, is going to give it a go and be available for the game. Rob Robertson and Justin Wade, both of whom have been out for a long period of time, are moving ahead. Jason Armstead and Chris Collins will also return to practice.

It's a big week for us, and we're looking forward to a good week of preparation.

Q: Has preseason camp gone like you wanted it to?

A: For the most part, yes. Fall camp has been good. I'm a little concerned about the number of injuries that we had, those nagging injuries that cost some to miss practice. I was concerned with the numbers in the receiving corps. We've had four or five receivers out on any given day. I was hoping that wouldn't occur, but we'll be OK. They did such a good job throwing all summer, and I feel our timing is good. I'm not concerned about that. We got a quality amount of hitting in. I was really pleased with our defensive squad, and what we were able to get in from a system standpoint. We got the entire system in, and then added some. All the things you wanted to see happen in camp did occur for the most part.

Q: How important is it for the defense to come out and play strong early?

A: Our defense playing well early can be important for a lot of reasons. It will give them confidence. They have been "much-maligned," you might say. The thing I want them to do is play within the system, play smart, play hard and play the best that we can play - whatever that is at this stage. Their expectations are greater than they have been and they should be. I want them to meet our expectations and their own, and not really concern themselves with what everybody else might think. They are looking forward to lining up against somebody beside themselves and testing where we are.

Q: In the spring, you said you wanted the safeties to be able to help more against the run. How has that gone?

A: In the style of defense we're playing, they better be ready to help stop the run. Eric Oliver is a tremendous tackler and a tremendous player in what we're asking him to do. Matt Grier, Von Hutchins, Kelvin Robertson, Wes Scott, Travis Blanchard and Marcus Woodson all have been factors. We're going to play a lot of different people there and show a lot of different looks. Those guys are going to be playmakers for us. How well they tackle and how well they play will dictate how well we play defense.

Q: Did you learn anything different about the team during preseason drills that you may not have expected going into practice?

A: I don't think we learned anything different. We had a pretty good idea coming out of spring practice. I don't think we had a great deal different from what we expected. An area of focus has been special teams play. There were questions that we had answered. We've been more consistent. I wanted to see that not only in the kicking, punting and snapping, but also in the overall play. We've had a lot of competition. A lot of games in college football come down to special teams play. We can be a good football team in that area, and special teams is going to be important to us as time goes along.

Q: Louisiana-Monroe gave up over 40 points in its last few games last year. What is Louisiana-Monroe doing differently on defense than last year?

A: They are playing with veterans this year. What they did last year was they played with freshmen and sophomores and lived with it. Now, they are playing with more juniors and seniors. They are an 8-man front defensive football team. They gave up some points last season, but they play in a league that throws the ball a lot. They have also played some teams like Florida that are extremely talented offensively. That kind of throws your numbers out of line a little. A year ago, everyone in the secondary was new. This season, everybody is back. Everybody is back at linebacker and up front. It's a more veteran football team, and they can utilize their system more to their advantage.

Q: Thoughts on Indians' linebacker Maurice Sonnier.

A: He's a good football player. He's rangy and strong and is an outstanding tackler. He's on everybody's watch list for awards, and he should be.

Q: How much do you plan to rotate your running backs?

A: Going in right now and based on the performance during camp, Robert Williams will be our starter at tailback, and Rick Razzano will be our starter at fullback. I really think we are going to see all four backs in the rotation. How many of them get however many carries, I don't know. We are worried right now about just getting snaps. We are not going to change everything that happens when they are in the game. There are some things that one guy does a little a better than the other, so there will be roles for them. This isn't just experimentation, this may be the way we end up playing this year. No one has completely separated himself from the crowd. One thing that I am anxious to see is if they take care of the football like I expect them to.

Q: How fast are Eddie Strong and Mario Hill recovering from their injuries?

A: They are both walking and getting up on their toes, but you just never know with an ankle injury just how much they can take. They are not running yet, but we still have a couple of days before we get into the mode that we had better get some running done. So Eddie and Mario are still questionable, but I am not ready to rule them out at this time.

Q: You said that no one has separated himself at tailback. Has Razzano done so at fullback?

A: Right now, he is our guy at fullback. Toward Sanford has missed a lot of work, and Rick has just been the most consistence performer. Brandon Jacobs has certainly played some too. He just has some more maturing he has got to continue to do.

Q: As the lead blocker, does Razzano bring a little something extra to the table?

A: He is the biggest and probably the most powerful. He is a very physical football player, and that is what that position calls for us to have. He enjoys that part of the game. He is also a very skilled receiver and a skilled runner. He loves the physical parts of the game, and that is what we need our fullbacks to be like.

Q: How do you feel about breaking the attendance record on opening day?

A: I'm excited and anxious. I hope we see 60,000 plus and put a body in every seat in the house. It's exciting. I know our players are extremely excited about it. The fact that it is an evening kickoff where it is going to turn dark, the stadium should be gorgeous. They have really done a good job with it. Our fans have really responded with season ticket sales that have, far and beyond, set records. It is going to be a great atmosphere. I'm anxious to hear how loud it is going to be. It's going to be interesting to see how loud our crowd can be with 60,000 plus Rebels in the seats.

Q: Is there any kind of urgency to play Eddie Strong even with this being a non-conference game?

A: Eddie probably has an urgency to play, just from wanting to play. We have got a long season ahead of us. We're not going to rush anything. We are doing everything we can. Eddie is rehabbing about three or four times a day. We are doing everything we can to get the young man where he can compete, but we just have to see day-to-day where that takes us right now.

Q: As a coach, do you expect busts putting a new defense on the field for the first time?

A: No, I don't expect busts. I expect us to know what to do and be in the right places. We have done that well in scrimmages. We have done that well in communicating a very multiple defensive system. I like the way the system is called. Once the players learn their world, they can mange themselves on the field, and I expect them to do that. It's one of the things that we're going to be talking about as an entire football team, minimizing errors and playing as good as we can possibly play.

Q: How difficult is it for a junior college transfer to have success at quarterback? That is what is happening at Louisiana-Monroe.

A: Well, he has obviously been through spring practice. Anytime you can get a spring practice under your belt, it changes things. You have a whole spring in the system. You have the summer to study it. So it's a little different than just stepping on the field in August. Anytime you break in a quarterback, there is anticipation and nervousness. But if a guy knows what to do with a football, where and when to throw it, and is a good football player, which I'm sure that he is, you have a chance to be successful.

Q: Talk about the rotation of the defensive front.

A: We are going to play a lot of guys there, and we have more competition there. I see us playing at least five tackles inside and four to five ends as well. I have not completely decided what I'm going to do with some people on the defensive front. We are still making some decisions about what exactly the rotation is going to be.

Q: Any advantage to seeing teams like Texas Tech play a game earlier in the season than you do?

A: I don't think so. I think they are open this weekend, and then they play another game, before they play us. So I don't think there is an advantage or disadvantage either way.

Q: Have you made any ironclad decisions on any true freshmen for this weekend?

A: No. That is part of what I was talking about in the decision-making. I haven't made my mind up. I'm just going to look at how the week goes, and where we are from an injury standpoint with some of them that are a little banged up. So I'm just kind of looking at the entire picture before I make any final decisions on who is going to play out of this freshman class.

Q: How do you think Eli will perform in this year's season opener as compared to last year's opener?

A: I know he is anxious to go play, after not playing in a game for quite some time. I think people who haven't seen Eli will see a bigger, stronger and quicker product. He is throwing the ball better. Certainly experience has been a great teacher to him, so I don't think you will see any great, great difference. He could hardly improve upon his opening-day performance from a year ago, but hopefully he will go out and play like Eli. I'm sure that is what he wants to do -- to play the best that he can possibly play.

Q: Comment on the SEC toughing up its non-conference schedule this year.

A: I think certain match-ups that are inter-sectional match-ups are fun and good for everybody. I don't have a problem with that. A nice blend is fine. Those are fun games for the fans, and for the people who follow college football in general.

Q: Do you think it is BCS driven?

A: I don't think so. Most of the games have been scheduled for quite some time. Some of those games are an added 12th game. It could be the case, but I don't think it is. Sometimes it is just hard to get that 12th game. It's hard to get everything added into the schedule.

Q: What are your feelings regarding the expanded schedule?

A: I think we have to look at more than just the 12-game issue. It is difficult to be a student. It's difficult to play such a tough, physical game. It's different than any other sport. And when you add another game, it just added length to the season. Some people have three open dates, and that is just a long period of time. I think we have to discuss it and look at the total ramifications. We may consider doing something with our numbers, or looking at our eligibility, like maybe adding a fifth year of eligibility. There are just a lot of issues to talk about.

Q: Talk about Eric Oliver.

A: Eric Oliver is one of the best tacklers on our football team. He is a very aggressive young man. He loves to play the game. He loves to compete. He's got great explosiveness and speed. He's a good cover guy to go along with that. He has all the tools to be an all-star in this league.

Q: Are you looking forward to the first game?

A: You are just always looking forward to game week. The staff looked better to me this Sunday than they normally do. Everybody is just anxious and that's what we do it for. There is a lot involved year round to come down to these 12 games. If you don't enjoy what you do, you are in the wrong profession. Every coach will tell you that this what they do it for. It's the ultimate test, to play the ballgame.

Q: Talk about Mike Espy.

A: Mike has had one of the better camps this fall. He is a very explosive guy. He has been a playmaker all through his high school career. I know it was difficult for him to redshirt last year. He has done a lot of growing up, not only through spring practice, but also through the summer. I thought he came back well ahead of where he was in the spring. I'm anxious so see what Mike does on the field. He is certainly going to be an integral part of our receiver rotation going into the first game.

Q: Comment on the wide receivers.

A: We have had quite a few injuries happen to our receivers. Bill Flowers has really been a great leader, and steadfast all the way through. He finished the year out great last year. Bill is kind of our guy going in because he hasn't missed a beat. Unfortunately for Chris Collins and Jason Armstead, they have had some mixed practice time due to injuries. Mario Hill and Ross Barkley have also missed time. Kerry Johnson is a young man who has stepped up and taken advantage of the extra reps and time. Certainly, we will see them all. Mike Espy, Taye Bibble and Trey Fryfogle all have positioned themselves. We are going to have a lot of people there to stay fresh and fast. Eli has thrown to all of those guys because of the injuries. He has worked with a lot of different people.

Junior Quarterback Eli Manning
Q: Last year the spotlight was on you. This season, it is on the defense. You have seen the defense in practice, but are you anxious to see them in a game?

A: I am. They are excited about this season. They are better and more confident in what they are doing out there. They are really flying around. Last year, I think sometimes they were unsure about their responsibilities, so they weren't running as fast. They have a good attitude now, and they'll be fun to watch.

Q: Obviously, you have practiced against this defense. What is it looking like?

A: They are mixing it up and giving us a lot of looks. It's fun and also challenging for me. I'm learning a lot more about defenses by just watching them. It's been fun watching their film, and I'm understanding more about defenses and the different things they can do.

Q: Is it going to be hard to get excited about playing Louisiana-Monroe?

A: I really haven't looked at their schedule this year or how they did last year. I've watched them on film. It's pretty easy to get excited for your first game. It's something we've been waiting for a long time. It's something we've been working all summer for. We've been working hard in the spring and two-a-days, and now to get to game week and play that first game, it gets the season started. It's not going to be too hard to get excited about this one.

Q: Any nerves about the first game?

A: It's the first game, and everybody is a little nervous and has butterflies. That first game can tell you how the season will go. You see how the defense and offense will play. We just have to go out there and play hard and try to execute what we're supposed to do. If we don't make too many mistakes, we should be OK.

Q: Coach Cutcliffe said that four tailbacks might play in Saturday's game. Will that require an adjustment on your part?

A: I don't think so. All of our tailbacks are good runners, and they catch the ball really well out of the backfield. I trust them all to pick up the blitzes. During two-a-days, they have all been rotating in, so I'm confident with all of them.

Q: Is there an adjustment to the heights of each running back? Or how fast they hit the hole?

A: It is a little adjustment. Some are quicker and some run wider on some plays. It shouldn't cause any problems with handing the ball off because we worked all summer with each running back. They're also pretty much the same height. It's not like we have a 6-4 guy and a 5-6 guy. They are all right around 5-10. It's won't be a big difference.

Q: Do you get a feel about their differences in camp?

A: It's just little differences. Some may be a little slower, and some may run a little wider. But, I should be able to adjust to them so I don't even know which one is in the game. A lot of times I don't notice which running back is in the game. I trust them all to do the right thing, and I should be able to execute with all of them.

Q: Talk about the newcomers in the receiving corps.

A: The young guys have really stepped it up. Mike Espy has had a great camp. He has played well, and is making some big-time plays. Once he catches the ball, he is making people miss. Taye Biddle has also had a good camp. He can really run. He's catching the ball better than last year. Last season, he was catching it with his body, and now he is catching more with his hands. He'll be able to make some plays also.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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