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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Head Coach David Cutcliffe's Memphis Press Conference
8/30/2004 | Football
Aug. 30, 2004
Opening Comments
We are excited that it's game week and are looking forward to playing a really fine Memphis football team. Our team is prepared and ready to play. It will be interesting to see if the off-season rest has helped us. We should come out with a lot of energy. We will learn a little more today about the status of our injuries. Daniel Booth won't work any today, but we should have Brandon Jacobs, Kerry Johnson, Lorenzo Townsend and Andrew Wicker back on at least a limited basis. We will start that group off slowly and, then, the coaching staff will make decisions based on their performance this week in practice.
Q: What do you differently in the first game with a new quarterback?
A: You'd always like a new quarterback to be successful early, so he can get in a good rhythm. Micheal (Spurlock) is the type of guy who just needs to play. He is in a situation where he hasn't started a game in more than three years. He just needs to get out there and mix it up. We will try to get him involved as early as possible.
Q: Is it harder for Memphis to scout a player like Micheal Spurlock since he hasn't played in a game?
A: You hope there will be some advantage, but that will wear off pretty quickly as the game is played.
Q: Do you think Micheal Spurlock will be nervous heading into his first career start?
A: I would think he'd be a little nervous. I haven't been around him as a starter, so I don't have a definite answer to that. I would think that all of us would be a bit anxious if we were put in a situation like this. Micheal is not the type of person who typically gets nervous, but it will be interesting to see how he responds.
Q: Can you talk about what you expect from (Memphis QB) Danny Wimprine and (Memphis TB) DeAngelo Williams?
A: I saw them in person last year and have obviously seen a lot of tape on both of them. Danny and DeAngelo are both outstanding athletes and outstanding football players at their respective positions. They both had a great season in 2003, but I would imagine they are ready for bigger and better things in 2004.
Q: Can you talk about the revenge factor after losing to Memphis last year?
A: People talk a lot about revenge, but I don't know if revenge lasts very long as a motivator. Our main focus (in this first game) is playing well. This is our opening game, we are playing against a big non-conference rival and, yes, we did lose to Memphis last year. There are a lot of factors, but we have to be a motivated team outside of just wanting to beat Memphis.
Q: What kind of role will Eric Oliver play this year and how have you seen him grow up over the past three seasons?
A:Eric is an exciting player who always plays with a great deal of intensity. He's gone from being rather inconsistent to showing a lot of consistency as one of our top returnees on defense. He always comes up with the big hits and is very important to us at defensive back. He's there to support the run and is an integral part of our defensive schemes.
Q: Will it be tough for (Micheal) Spurlock to pick up on some of Memphis' defensive schemes since he is relatively inexperienced in a live-game situation?
A: Micheal has watched a lot of tape on Memphis and he's seen their schemes as a back-up. When he played behind Eli (Manning), he always prepared himself like he was the starter. Mentally, I think he's ready for all of the things he might see. Now, he just needs to be functional.
Q: Can you talk about the running game?
A: Our running backs are going to be important to our success. Anytime you are breaking in a new quarterback, it helps to have a good running game around him. That running game certainly involves the running backs, offensive line, tight ends, receivers and others. I think our backs are ready to go. We've run the ball well in the preseason and have had some flashes of running it really well. We just need to continue to focus on taking care of the football.
Q: Can you talk about the inexperience of the defensive line?
A: If Daniel Booth is unable to go, we will be breaking in four new defensive linemen and two new linebackers. Sure, that is a concern, but I'm real anxious to see how we respond. Memphis is a very balanced football team - they can run the ball and throw it. The defensive front is, first and foremost, responsible for stopping the run. Then, they are responsible for putting pressure on the quarterback. Memphis has a great running back and a great quarterback. We will be challenged early and will find out a lot about our defense in this first game.
Q: Have the roles at back-up quarterback been fully defined?
A: We will have both Ethan Flatt and Robert Lane ready to go. Right now, Ethan is second on the depth chart because he is a year older. Those two may play some potentially. We will just have to see how everything works out this first week.
Q: What do you know about your team now that you didn't know coming out of the spring drills?
A: I think we've answered the fact that we can be physical. We've had some physical preseason practices and we've responded to that well. I think this team will have an outstanding work ethic. We've improved our depth since spring practice.
Q: Do you see Micheal Spurlock having trouble with throwing on the run?
A: Micheal is going to be throwing on the run a good bit. We have worked hard in that area. He's a very accurate passer and I think he'll be fine.
Q: Can you talk about the performance of your receivers during the preseason workouts?
A: At the beginning of camp, we weren't catching the ball on a consistent basis. That improved as the preseason workouts went along and, now, I think we are doing an exceptional job in that area.
Q: Were some of those early problems a result of a new quarterback?
A: The quarterbacks threw all summer, so I don't know if that had a whole lot to do with it. Micheal does throw a fast ball and, at times, has an extremely quick release. In that context, it may have been a little different for the receivers.
Q: Can you talk about the return game?
A: Mike Espy is going to return punts. Bryan Brown and Larry Kendrick will also get some work in the return game. We will have to see how things go in practice this week.
Q: Will any true freshmen have a chance to contribute this year?
A: That area is not totally defined, but there is a chance that a few many be able to contribute this year. Right now, it looks like Garry Pack and Corey Mills may be playing in the first game. Mico McSwain is another guy who has the talent to make a difference. We haven't made final decisions on some of the other guys, but we will communicate our expectations with them.
Q: What do you expect from Brian Lester this season?
A: Brian has picked up a lot of responsibilities in the off-season. He'll be starting for us at linebacker and he's had a good camp. He's a fine young man and a very intense player. From spring practice until now, I think he's improved as much as anyone on this team.
