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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Head Coach Ed Orgeron Weekly Press Conference
9/12/2005 | Football
Sept. 12, 2005
OPENING STATEMENT
First of all, we are excited to open up Southeastern Conference play against a very good Vanderbilt team. Obviously they have come off of two very big road games, and we are expecting a big-time battle up there. Our team is fired up. We had a good practice yesterday and today we will be off. We are looking forward to our first SEC game.
Q: Talk about Justin Sparks and the kicking game.
A: With the field goal kicking, Justin Sparks has had an opportunity this week to show us what he can do. He has been really inconsistent during the week. We are going to continue with the guys we have throughout this week and see who does the best job, chart them, and then play this game. The run game we have been working hard on. We have given Mico McSwain more carries. Alan Abrams has come to the forefront as a good solid runner, and we plan to play him more. But we really have been working extensively on the base plays and getting things right.
Q: What are your impressions of Vanderbilt's offense?
A: I am really impressed with Jay Cutler. He is a competitor. He has come back on their last drives and played very, very well and found ways for his team to win. He throws the ball very well. Last year, he ran the option very well, and he is the key to their whole offense. They run the right plays, they are very well coached, and they have a great scheme. I think the receivers Erik Davis and Marlon White are really good. Their offensive line is pretty good. I think they are solid on offense.
Q: Which past game tapes of Vanderbilt help you the most in your practice situations?
A: All of them. We will use these two last game tapes. They seem to be a little different from last year. They seem to be spreading it out a little bit more and throwing the ball more. It's a little less option, but we are going to prepare for everything. I watched the last two games this morning, and he is throwing the ball very well.
Q: How does Micheal Spurlock help you prepare for Vanderbilt's option plays?
A: The whole key to defending the option is being able to create an atmosphere in practice in which the option looks the same as in the game and at that speed. We used Micheal yesterday on some certain periods to be able to assimilate the options that they run.
Q: The game against Vanderbilt has come down to a field goal for the last two years. Have you gained any more confidence in your kickers through the week if that situation were to arise?
A: No, we have not reached that point. Hopefully throughout the week, we can put them in a situation where we can make a choice. It's going to come all the way up to gameday for us to know who is going to kick those field goals for us.
Q: Talk about how much the defense will get tested.
A: There is no doubt they are going to get tested. They are probably going to get tested on the first play. He likes to open it up and throw it deep, and we are really going to get tested back there. We have to have an excellent pass rush and have to have an excellent scheme on getting to the quarterback. We cannot give him all day, so it's going to take everybody. We will be challenged this week.
Q: Last week you said you were disappointed in the play of the tight ends in blocking. How have they come along this week?
A: They have showed some improvement this week but still are not where we need them to be. Hopefully we can get the ball to them a little bit more on the passing routes and use them more in our offense. I think we need to get back to the basic fundamental part of the offense that I brought in from USC. We had a great weekend (in Los Angeles). I got to spend some time in California with Coach (Pete) Carroll and really work out some kinks we had on offense.
Q: Update us on the competition between McKinley Boykin and Jeremy Garrett.
A: There is no competition. I think Jeremy Garrett is the starter right now, and McKinley is going to have to catch up.
Q: Has Boykin's practice habits changed?
A: A little bit, but he is still not where he needs to be.
Q: Has Mico McSwain adjusted to the offense pretty well?
A: Yes, he has. We have spent a lot of time with him. Now, he is going to have to learn the complete package, and I would say he is about 75 percent there.
Q: Talk a little about Vanderbilt's defense.
A: They have really good linebackers. Those guys made some plays. Moses (Osemwegie) is a really good football player. They have two excellent linebackers, an excellent safety in (Kelechi Ohanaja), and a good defensive end. Their defensive scheme is very similar to ours, which is going to help us in practice going against our offense. They do a very good job.
Q: Do you expect them to have a lot of eight man fronts, and if so, how will your offense adjust to that?
A: Our offense is designed to run against an eight man front, and we just did not get it done (against Memphis). The offense I have brought in should be able to run against eight man fronts, so we are going to have to run, and also hit the long balls down field when we get those opportunities. They were there against Memphis, but we did not hit them. It is a combination of protection, throwing the ball and catching it.
Q: You have been experimenting some with personnel on the offensive line. How has that been going?
A: We are really getting solid there with Michael Oher at right guard. Michael may start there for us this week. We will see how he progresses through the week. He has been getting a lot of snaps at guard. We have to improve at the center spot. Darryl Harris did not practice yesterday, but I do expect him to practice Tuesday to see what he can do. Tony Bonds at center and those guys, have to produce for us.
Q: Can you update Thomas Eckers' progress?
A: Thomas is doing really well, but I think Michael is such a great talent. He is big and fast. We need some help in the middle of our line, and I think Michael can bring it to us. He has done a great job of learning the offense and his plays with (Coach) George DeLeone, and I feel comfortable that we can perhaps start him this week. We are not sure yet, but at the end of the week we will know for sure. (Eckers) is doing a really good job. We are going to have to use a rotating offensive line. We played nine guys in the offensive line last week, and we will continue to do that.
