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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Head Football Coach Ed Orgeron Preseason Press Conference
8/11/2005 | Football
Aug. 11, 2005
OPENING COMMENTS
First of all, I am glad to see everybody here. We hope you enjoy being around our football team. I'm sure enjoying it. They have had a great attitude. I also want to compliment our football coaches. Since we have gotten back from vacation, they have worked very hard.
We have just completed acclamation days, and I think we are very well acclimated. We are progressing very well with the installation of our offense and defense. Our special teams are coming together. We are starting to build a football team and form an identity, one of toughness, of working hard and competing. I'm really excited about that.
This is a fun time to be a football coach. This is my first year of being a head football coach at a major university. This is a great university here at Ole Miss. It has been fantastic. Everyday we wake up early and come to work hard. We go home at night and we start thinking about getting better the next day.
Our offense today really had a great day. (Quarterback) Micheal (Spurlock) led our offense today. We scored several touchdowns from the third and one situations. He has really become an electric football player with the ball in his hands. He has shown that he has the leadership qualities that we are looking for in our offense. I think he is having a fantastic camp.
At offensive line, (offensive line coach) George DeLeone is doing a great job. Yesterday, in the goal line situation, I thought our offensive line was fantastic. They have gelled together. We have lost (center) Darryl Harris for a couple of days. I don't know how long he is going to be out. I think Coach DeLeone has made a tremendous adjustment there. We are excited to have Michael Oher here. He is a tremendous talent. As soon as he learns what he needs to do I think we will see some exciting things from him. Our offensive line has played well. We have moved David Traxler to guard. It is a good combination with him at guard and Tony Bonds at center. Also, Ben Boyce has stepped up. The competition factor is great. Thomas Eckers is really feeling it with Michael Oher behind him. He (Eckers) has really practiced better than he ever practiced in the spring. With Tre' Stallings and Bobby Harris we have two really outstanding tackles.
Our tight ends have really performed well. They have performed better than any time they did in the spring. I think yesterday they had the best day. We moved Robert Hough over to first team and immediately Lawrence Lilly had his best day. Funny how that works, but it works that way sometimes. Jimmy Brooks is also having a good camp. We moved LaMark Armour over from defense to tight end. We didn't necessarily want to do it. He is a good defensive end. But we needed some depth there, so we have tried him over there.
I'm pleased with the quarterback situation. In the running back position, we have not yet established ourselves as the type of running back unit that we really want. Jamal Pittman has been nicked and bruised along the way, so we haven't really got to see him the way that we want to. Alan Abrams has showed up in spots. I am really pleased with our freshman, Antonio Turner and Kendrick Perry. I think they are two really good recruits. They will be able to play for us this year. Probably our best football player at times, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, is not going to be eligible. We have to hold him out of being with the first and second unit because they look too good.
At fullback, Jason Cook is having an excellent camp. He had an excellent day, today. Seth Michaelson is having a good camp. Those guys are doing a really good job there.
At wide receiver, Mike Espy is really coming to the forefront as a senior, as a leader and as a playmaker. Along with Milton Collins, I think those two guys are having a tremendous camp. We also have Mario Hill there. He is doing a good job, as is Burnell Wallace. Taye Biddle is taking a course. Once he becomes eligible, he will be able to practice. Overall on offense, Noel Mazzone has done a great job. Our offensive staff is coming together. They are putting in the type of offense that fits the type of personnel that we have. I see them starting to gel.
At quarterback, Robert Lane is in a heated battle with Micheal Spurlock. He still has a chance to be the starting quarterback. Micheal has come to the forefront right now. I'm to let them battle it out and things will work out the way they are supposed to.
Q&A
Q: Do you have a timetable for naming a starting quarterback?
A: It will happen. I just want to let it happen. I want the competition to happen. I think it is evident on film, evident on the playing field, evident in the stats the way the offense is going to move the football, and I just want to naturally let it happen. Obviously, game week we are going to have to name a quarterback if it doesn't happen before then.
Q: When do you expect Taye Biddle to return?
A: I think there are about five more days left in the class. I think it is about another week.
Q: You moved Andrew Wicker from defense to the offensive line. Talk about that.
A: It has created some depth on our offensive line as well as some toughness too. Obviously, he has some things to learn, but he is doing a good job there. He is a good guy who is working hard.
Q: You mentioned Thomas Eckers earlier. Talk about him and what he has done in camp.
A: He has helped ease things up for Micheal. He has practiced hard. He has come everyday to work. He is very focused. He goes against McKinley Boykin everyday and Peria Jerry, which are two very good defensive tackles, and he handles his own. He has really matured in the last six months.
Q: Mario Hill, what kind of camp is he having?
A: He is having an okay camp.
Q: Burnell Wallace and Milton Collins are two new receivers. How have they looked so far?
A: Milton is really having a good camp. There are some specific things that Milton does better than the other receivers. We are going to use him in those specific areas. We are going to use both of them in spot situations until they learn the whole offense and can compete every down for us.
Q: How are you feeling about special teams right now?
A: I wish that we had a little more experience, an experienced kicker coming back. I think that Will Mosley is doing an outstanding job. He may be our kicker, our punter, and he may be kicking PAT's and field goals. I really don't know. The competition is still open. Rob Park has done some good things, but he is only a freshman. We have to bring him along. Also, Matt Hinkle is doing a good job. The nuts and bolts are in. (Special Teams Coordinator) Chris Rippon is doing a great job. We have our best players playing in special teams. I feel good about them.
Q: When do you expect Justin Sparks to enlist?
A: In about a week.
Q: What is your overall assessment of the special teams?
A: We have a lot of skill. We have some really young freshmen that can play in those areas. With Mike Espy being the returner that he is, I think we have some guys who can make plays on special teams. Larry Kendrick and all those guys, I am really pleased with them. Chris Rippon is excellent at teaching how to block punts and kicks. I think we will be able to do that.
COACH ORGERON'S COMMENTS ON DEFENSE
On the defensive line we are really excited to have McKinley Boykin back. With my experience on the defensive line, he shows flashes of some of the great guys I have coached before. He needs to become more consistent. He's coming back from a knee injury. He's a doing a tremendous job. I am really excited about Peria Jerry (South Panola), who is currently backing up McKinley. He's a tremendous football player. Along with Michael Bozeman, we are going to be very strong in the middle of our defense. Jayme Mitchell and Brandon Jenkins have had good camps. The "Leo" position is still wide open with Chris Bowers and Corvelli Haynes. We are excited about LeRon King from Miami. He's a little small right now, but extremely quick off the ends. I am pleased with how Ryan Nielsen (Defensive Line Coach) his coaching our front line. They are coming together.
Patrick Willis, who leads our linebackers in the middle, is having an excellent camp. Kelvin (Robinson) is having a good camp as well. He has come on the last couple of days and made some good plays. Garry Pack has established himself and is currently with the first unit. He's had an excellent summer and camp. It's all about the competition. Dontae (Reed) was ahead of him coming into camp, and Garry has won his spot back for now. I am really pleased about that. The young guys I am impressed with are Robert Russell, Rogers Loche and Quentin Taylor. Those guys are going to play for us this year.
At cornerback, we have had a battle going on between Nate Banks and Travis Johnson. That battle will continue. At the other spot, Trumaine McBride and Dustin Mouzon are battling it out.
At free safety, Charles Clark is really solid. He has been the quarterback of our defense. He's an excellent football player, and I really trust him back there. Jamarca Sanford is a playmaker.
The defensive scheme is going well. We may have to blitz a little more, until we become a great pass rush unit up front. That remains to be seen.
Q&A
Q: What's been the biggest difference in Garry Pack from the spring to camp?
A: For him it has been learning the defense and competing. He also understands better the way we want to play defense and the speed to which we want to play. He's more consistent.
Q: How has his attitude been after losing his spot and having to work to regain it?
A: He has had just the attitude that we expect. He has come out and competed for his job. He had a chance to regain his position and act like a man, and he did it.
Q: Where does Viciente DeLoach fit in on the defensive front?
A: Viciente is doing a good job. The last couple of days, he has really showed up. We are going to have to use a rotation with our defensive line, and we can play him at either end or rush end. Corvelli Haynes is also having a good camp. He is a good pass-rush specialist and he could end up starting at defensive end.
Q: You guys have used Nate Banks some at linebacker. Can you talk about his versatility.
A: He gives us a lot of versatility with our nickel package. We are looking for the best guy that we can bring in our nickel package. We will try several guys there. The nickel blitz package and the nickel cover scheme will be a big part of our defense on third down.
Q: Talk about Jeremy Garrett.
A: Jeremy Garrett is having a good camp. He's really quick. He will back up (Michael) Bozeman. I expect him to play a lot and have a good season.
Q: In the preseason you said you were concerned about press coverage. Has it gotten better?
A: We are working on it. We will use it in certain situations, and then we will have to adjust in the situations that we can't use it.
Q: How much of a different attitude have you seen since your first meeting with the team?
A: It's a night and day difference. We had a great meeting the first night of camp. I told them exactly what we expected at camp. We have had no problems. Everybody has been focused. We report here at 7:30 a.m. and we go back to our dormitories at 10 p.m. We stay here as a family, and we have not had any problems. We have curfew at 11 p.m. They get up every morning and they go to work. I love their attitudes.
Q: You talked about being ahead of schedule. What did you mean by that?
A: Our installation schedule is the same schedule we used last year after three years with Pete Carroll. We are a little ahead of schedule for a first-year staff. I am really proud of our staff and their ability to put in things and have it right. We are moving at a fast pace.
Q: How is the attitude and work ethic of this team compared to the teams you had at USC?
A: Our attitude is getting right where it needs to be. The work ethic is getting there. They are willing to do it. We just have to go through some adversity to show them that they can go through some adversity. When it gets hot and they are tired, they have to push through it.
Q: Is part of that adversity the competition for so many spots?
A: They know if they miss an assignment or don't perform that day, they are moving down. I want the best players to perform on the field.
Q: Talk about the difference in the heat in California and down in here in Mississippi?
A: It's great. I love it. I believe the heat is a big time advantage for us. The hotter it gets, I hope the harder we play.
Q: There's been a lot of talk about the attitude of the team. Does it have a long way to go?
A: From day one they accepted me and the system. We just had to show them a couple of things here and there. It's been fine.
Q: How are you doing wearing so many "hats"?
A: I would wear another hat if I could. Being the head coach here has been the most gratifying part of my football coaching career. It's been fantastic. I can't wait to get to work.
Q: You always said you wanted to focus on the future and not look back. How important is it for these guys not to think or talk about what's happened in the past?
A: We teach them to focus on the day at hand, and that is so challenging that they don't have a choice. We talk about how we are going to act and how we are going to speak. You'll see that when you talk to the players. It's part of our program. We don't hear too many things about the past, and if we do, we don't give it much power.
Q: Talk about the defense and having Patrick Willis. Are they going to have to be the "leader" of the team?
A: As long as I am here, we need to be the leader. Defense wins championships. We are no where near where we need to be, but we are going to get there. I believe we have the talent, we have the know-how and we have the coaching staff. We are going to be a good defense.
Q: How do you rate the physicality of this team in terms of hitting and contact?
A: We are very physical. We are a lot more physical than we were in the spring. I have to give the credit to Aaron Ausmus (Strength & Conditioning Coach). He has worked very hard with our guys in the weight room. We weren't anywhere close to where we needed to be in the weight room and he has done a good job of improving that area. We've gotten stronger and tougher, and it shows on the football field.
Q: Talk about the team speed and the freshmen and their speed?
A: I am really pleased with the team speed of the freshmen. Obviously some guys are not where we thought they would be, but that always happens. Some guys are little ahead. Anytime you can bring in linemen like Michael Oher and Peria Jerry and start you recruiting class with those guys is exciting. Those are going to be the basis of our recruiting. We have to be great on the offensive and defensive lines. Then when you can bring in two big backs in Antonio Turner and Kendrick Perry, you build a solid foundation for your program. We want to be physical.
Q: How would you rate your first recruiting class here to the ones you helped bring in at USC?
A: I really like the lineman and the running backs. The receivers are really good. I haven't had the opportunity to see the defensive backs in action, because we have so many other defensive backs.
Q: How long for a team to find it's identity?
A: We are going to form an identity throughout camp. At the end of camp we will have an identity. We will know what we are about.
Q: You come in here having had a lot of success at USC winning the national championship, and that's the ultimate goal here. How much have you had to change your patience level here because you're rebuilding this program.
A: Coming here on the plane I got our first depth chart that we had our first year at USC under Pete Carroll. I remembered when we were 2-5 at one point. I remember the process it took for us to get where we did. I am going back in that first-year mode and remembering the things that had to happen for us to have success. I am very patient, because I understand the things that have to happen for us to build a championship program. I really believe that process helped me.
Q: What are some of those things that helped you?
A: It helped being able to go through the first year and the decision-making process of what are we going to do on defense and offense. Coach Carroll taught me a lot about how to do things. He kept his team. He never lost his team. I don't plan to lose mine either. I plan for my team to always be with me and to understand every day where they are at. We talk about personnel every night as a staff. I show them the good plays. I show the things that they have to get better at. It's a daily process.
Q: What's been the biggest challenge for you and what has been the most rewarding thing for you?
A: It's all been rewarding. I don't look at it as challenging. I've been doing this for 20 years. I love camp. I love this time of year. I love practicing.
Q: What do you say to the people who have said that you are all rah-rah and more talk than trying to get things done?
A: My focus is on our football team and the fans. The guys who get to know us, really like being around us and get to know the type of people we are. They think that we are running a great program. They see the way that we coach and how we are about discipline.
