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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Football Media Press Conference Transcript
9/22/2003 | Football
Sept. 22, 2003
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Head Coach David Cutcliffe
Opening Comments:
We had some good work last week, some quality work. We handled the off week well and worked on Ole Miss. We certainly got some work on Texas Tech. They present you with a lot of problems on both sides of the ball, so it was good to get some work there. This is a big week for us. We have a number of things to evaluate. We'll look at some of our injured players. We've got a real challenge in front of us with a really good Texas Tech team. I think everybody realizes the yards they threw for last week and what they are capable of doing. They are a well-coached team in every phase of the game. They just had some things go against them, got behind, and couldn't catch up against North Carolina State. It's phenomenal what they are able to do with the ball.
Our injured players are Rick Razzano, who continues to be out. We had a player injured in an accident over the weekend. Slate Amos, a reserve tight end, will be out. He injured his hand and had surgery and is out indefinitely. Other than that we'll look at some people individually and see where they are. McKinley Boykin, Cory Robinson, Ronald McClendon, Tremaine Turner, Eric Rice are a few we will evaluate on a day-to-day basis. Hopefully they will be on the plus side, because we need them back. It will be a big week of practice for us.
Q: On defense, do you have to mix it up or play assignment football? What's the key to stopping their offense?
A: Everybody has tried all different type of things with no success. Simmons is extremely accurate, and they've got outstanding receivers. They just have weapons and they use them all as well as any team in the country. They use all the different weapons they have available. Every position is dangerous. They're difficult to defend. One of the things that will be key is having the right people in the right places. Assignment football is important all the time. We can't find ourselves out of position. They are going to complete passes and execute their offense well. We have to be in the right place to make plays when we can make plays. I think you have to mix it up, and we'll try to give them different looks. Most importantly, we can't mix ourselves up. We have to know what we're doing and be in the right places.
Q: With the problems the secondary has had the first few weeks, how important is it to have had two weeks to get ready for Texas Tech?
A: Well, we've had some problems defending the pass. We didn't get enough pressure on quarterbacks. We think we're better and have used the open date to improve. Hopefully, we'll be much improved because we will be challenged in a big way by this Texas Tech offense.
Q: Do you see anything they do now better than they did at the same time last year?
A: They are doing a lot of the same things. They only lost one receiver, so they have a veteran group of receivers who know what they are doing. They throw fades well when you are up in press coverage. They do a number of things well.
Q: Can you talk about the impact special teams had on the game last year and what you see from them?
A: I think everyone is aware that a year ago they did a tremendous job on special teams. They had a punt return for a touchdown. We had the muffed punt snap that set up a score. We tried a fake field goal that didn't work, coming away from inside the 10-yard line with no points. They pinned us inside the 5-yard line a couple of times on punts. A year ago, it was a nightmare. We know they are capable in all aspects. Wes Welker is a tremendous threat, as are others in kick returning. I think it's a big aspect and important aspect of the game. They turned the game in a hurry a year ago.
Q: Evaluate your own special teams play.
A: We've had a couple of letdowns in coverage. It's been more consistent than it has been. We have to continue on that path. We've probably been better at kick returns, but not as good at punt returns. We've worked hard at that. We haven't had a game yet where we've had a big return that's swung the momentum in our direction.
Q: Talk about your tailback situation.
A: Our strategy today is to find out who's healthy at that position. Neither Tremaine Turner nor Ronald McClendon has had a snap since the last ball game. They haven't practiced a down. We'll have to evaluate where they are at this time. Vashon Pearson missed some time and has been banged up. Jamal Pittman practiced, but missed some time due to a death in his family. It's been shaky at best over the open date. I don't have a specific plan in my mind. I want to see where we are after today's practice, and we'll make some decisions based on who's healthy and who looks ready to go.
Q: How unusual is it for Jamal Pittman to come back so quickly?
A: It's pretty unusual, but he's like a lot of athletes out there. He's got exceptional leg strength and he used that to his advantage. He worked hard. Our people worked hard. I commend Tim Mullins and Kyle Wicker. He just really worked hard. It was important to him.
Q: With Texas Tech's quick-strike ability, is it important not to fall behind early and stay in it in the first half?
A: I think you have to be prepared for any of it. If you have to play from behind, you have to play from behind. That can happen to you. It's not what we want to occur. It's always important to establish a lead or the tempo at the beginning of the game when you can. It doesn't always happen that way. They are a dangerous team regardless of what you go into the fourth quarter with. A year ago, they overcame a 28-point deficit going into the fourth quarter against N.C. State and forced the game to overtime. They're a dangerous football team because they can strike so quickly. It can work against you whether you are ahead or behind.
Q: Compare Eli's play last year to this year.
A: He's played extremely well. I don't know if I'd say he struggled. He had some games where he didn't play like we would like him to, or like we have come to expect. He's been really consistent. He's throwing the ball well and making good decisions, but we've still only played three games to this point.
Q: How much were you impressed by the Texas Tech defense against N.C. State on Saturday?
A: They do some good things. They gave N.C. State some problems. They changed some things for that game. They're very effective and very fast. I was impressed with how well they tackle. There are a lot of things they are doing well. They give you a lot of problems and present a lot of looks you have to deal with. It seems we face that more and more every week in college football, defenses that present you so many problems.
Q: How do you feel about non-conference games like Texas Tech and your overall success against non-conference opponents?
A: I'm excited about playing Texas Tech. They're a quality opponent. It should be exciting for our fans. It's a great match-up of the SEC and Big 12, two of the premier conferences in the country. It's a great match-up for a game in Oxford.
Q: Against a return player like Welker, do you have a player keyed on him or is it a team approach?
A: You just have to play football. Obviously if he's the return man, everyone is keying on him. If he's in the game on offense, you have to be aware of where he is and what they like to do with him, but you still have to play your standard defense.
Q: Is this one of those games where the best defense is a ball-control offense?
A: I think it's important to maintain possession of the ball against a team like Texas Tech. They are so explosive. On defense they try to present you with a lot of problems where you won't be consistent. I think consistent play on offense and possessing the football could be very important this week.
Q: What is your philosophy on scheduling non-conference games with "BCS" teams?
A: I don't know if I have a philosophy. We all play a tough schedule in our conference. I like home-and-home, but that's not what people are looking for. Some of the "BCS" schools are always looking for home games, and I'm not going to do that. Going on the road and playing a big name opponent and them not coming back to Oxford, I'm not in favor of that a bit. If people want to go home-and-home, I'm all for that.
Q: Could you elaborate on Rick Razzano and his injury?
A: Razzano is out this week, and we'll see from there. It's projected at three-to-six weeks. We're taking it day-to-day to see how his knee responds. It's an unusual injury, but it's a significant injury, so it's hard to tell how it will respond.
Q: Compare current Texas Tech quarterback B.J. Simmons and last year's quarterback Kliff Kingsbury.
A: Well, they are similar in production, playing in the same system. They are different in size, but as far as their ability to make plays, scramble and run, they both do that. Simmons is a great-looking player.
Senior QB Eli Manning
Q: How are you looking at the Texas Tech game?
A: "I think it will be a big game for us. Obviously they have a good offense. They put up a lot of points and they do a good job of throwing the ball. Our defense has a big challenge in front of them and our offense will have to score some points. It is going to be a big game for us and I think it can help us get back on track for the rest of the season."
Q: Are there a number of points you have in mind that it will take to win this weekend?
A: "No. You can't play the game trying to figure out how many points you need to score. You never know in college football how many points you have to score to win. It could be a 10-7 game. You never know what the game is going to be like and how the defenses will play. You have to see early on what kind of game it will be and decide how your team is going to play the game based on that."
Q: Is this a game you have been looking forward to since last year and if so, why?
A: "I have been looking forward to this game for some time. Last year we came into Lubbock and I threw an interception for a touchdown. I did not play very well at first. We had some mistakes. I think we kind of wanted to play them again. We wanted to have them come here and have another shot at trying to win a game."
Q: What are some goals the team has set for the season?
A: "We always set goals at the beginning of the season. We set goals to win our conference games, win the SEC title and win as many games overall as we can. We have a big game this week. We want to play well offensively and defensively and play smart football. That is our goal for this weekend."
Q: Is there much difference in the Texas Tech defense from last year to this year?
A: "They have a lot of new defensive players this year. They lost some good guys from last year's team, but they have some good players back. They do some different stuff defensively. They do some good blitzes and some good coverage's that we are going to have to prepare for. I am going to watch last year's game, but I should focus more on the games they have played this year since they are doing some different stuff."
Q: There is a lot of blue-chip talent assembled on the team, is there added pressure for the players to step-up their games?
A: "We are going to have to step it up because it is another game. We have had an off-week so the whole team is excited to get back on the field and get practicing. We are ready to play a game on Saturday. We have a lot of good players and Texas Tech has a lot of good players. Most people think it would be a high scoring game, but you never know. It should be exciting and we are looking forward to it."
Q: How important is it for your offense to have a sustained drive and establish the running game?
A: "It is going to be a big challenge for our offense. We need to establish the running game, we can't just go three and out and keep our defense on the field the whole game. We need to get our offense on the field. We need to maintain drives and give our defense a rest and try to wear out Texas Tech's defense. It is going to be a challenge for us. Hopefully we will get off to a good start and not let Texas Tech get out to an early lead and then finish out well."
Q: Can you talk about Jamal Pittman and what he has shown when has run the ball this year.
A: "I think he has run the ball well in the chances he has been given. He got in against Memphis and made some good runs. Against Louisiana-Monroe at the end of the game he got some good runs. He just has to learn his pass protection and get more consistent in everything he is doing like catching ball and running his routes. He needs to make sure he knows exactly what he is doing when he gets in the game"
Q: Last season Texas Tech's defensive line had an unusually high number of batted passes. Is there anything you can do to counteract that or is it a mark of a good defensive line?
A: "Sometimes it is a little of both. At times the quarterback needs to move around and find lanes. Other times the offensive line needs to do a better job of maintaining their blocks and keeping contact with the defensive linemen to make it hard for them to get their hands up. Sometimes it is just a good defensive line that is good at throwing up their hands. Sometimes it is luck. Early on last season, I had a bunch of deflected balls at the line of scrimmage. As the season went on they disappeared. I don't know exactly what it was that changed."
Q: How impressive is it as a quarterback to see another guy pass for 586 yards?
A: "I have not seen it on tape, but I heard that he (B.J. Symons) threw for that much. It is impressive. Their offense has a lot of talented players that make some big plays. Throwing for that many yards is not easy to do."
