Head Coach Ed Orgeron's Weekly Press Conference

OPENING COMMENTS

Obviously we're very happy with the win against Vanderbilt. We were really pleased with the three sudden changes to our defense and only giving up three points. I think that the turnaround for the game was we fought to the end. We got pushed with our backs against the wall and our guys fought and found a way to win the game.

We had four turnovers on defense. Our program is about going to the ball. We had one on special teams, the blocked punt that didn't count, but to me that's a turnover.

Rory Johnson was exceptional, even on the film. He made a couple of mistakes but you can see his athletic ability and his speed. He's getting to the ball and helping our defense a lot. We are continuing to get improved play by the defensive front, especially Brandon Jenkins. He's coming along at nose tackle. I think Greg Hardy had a dominating performance with eight tackles. He is a really good defensive end, and he doesn't know what to do yet. I think that in the future he's going to be a really good player. Obviously, we were pleased with the interception by Charles Clark to win the game. We really were impressed by the way our defense continued to fight, although we gave up some big plays in the end. We had a couple of busted coverages.

On offense we were a little disappointed in our performance. BenJarvus Green-Ellis continues to run the ball, he had a another 100-yard game. We were also really pleased with the performance of Lawrence Lilly.

We are excited to go play Alabama. This is why you come to the SEC. I look forward to these games. I know it's on CBS at 2:30 p.m. Our team is going to be fired up and ready to play. We felt that we played very good against them last year, but that doesn't matter. We were disappointed in the end, but we know that we can play and compete and go down there and give them our best shot. They are going to get our best shot, I guarantee you that.

Looking at Alabama, the first thing we see is they're plus eight in the turnover margin. They have 17 take-a-ways and 9 give-a-ways. They are 4-2. On defense they fly around, they go after the football. Joe Kines is a great defensive coordinator. We're going to have our work cut out for us on offense. Offensively for them, Kenneth Darby is a good player. Their offensive line is pretty good. Keith Brown (WR) is fast. We can expect the same type of offense we saw last year. We know how to defend it. I'm straightening out a couple of wrinkles.

Q& A

Q: There have been a lot of different looks on defense. Do you think that led to any confusion on their (Vanderbilt) part and consequently turnovers?

A: We put in a couple of new things for some looks that have been hurting us. We weren't going to go in there with the same thing, because we weren't playing them well. That took away some of their take option game. You have to credit their coaching staff for coming up with some new things. I think our kids just played hard when they were around the ball and caused those turnovers.

Q: You've got the SEC's leading rusher with BenJarvus (Green-Ellis). Are you surprised with how quickly he has adapted and how much he's excelled?

A: I am not surprised. We thought he was a big time SEC back. I'm really pleased with most of the players on the offensive line. You've got to give credit to Art Kehoe. He has molded a new offensive line, and we are where we need to be.

Q: What is your assessment of the team at the midway point, and how close are you to being where you want to be?

A: We're a couple of plays away from being 3-0 in the SEC. We had a chance to win the Kentucky game, we didn't. We had several times where it was third and two in two-down territory and we had a turnover. We should've won that game. It was our fault we didn't win it, we beat ourselves. Looking back at the Georgia game, there were a lot of calls that could've gone another way. We caused a turnover that could've won the game. So we're very close to being where we want to be in the SEC. We're disappointed in the way that we played against Missouri and Wake Forest. There are a lot of positives. We are getting closer to where we need to be, but were not there yet. We should have a better record right now, but that's in the past. I feel that we can play with everybody that's left on our schedule and compete to win.

Q: How much were you able to rotate the guys in at defensive tackle? Did that help having some of those guys back?

A: It helped some. It really helped just knowing that we could look at the sideline and have choices. Peria Jerry got in there. Brandon Jenkins didn't have to do everything. Hayward Howard got in there a little. Marcus Tillman played most of the game. Against Alabama, we are going to need to rotate our guys. It was nice to have those guys come in and help.

Q: Can you talk about the difference in the defense over the last couple of games, and has the depth at defensive line been that much of a factor?

A: The line is playing better. The linebackers are playing a lot better. We are playing with a new attitude. We are more aggressive. We have simplified a lot of things. We went back to getting after it in practice and worked on going after the football. There were a lot of blue shirts around the ball this past Saturday. We were swarming. We are playing with a 110 percent effort. We are going into the games with an attitude that you have to have on defense. We have to continue to improve on that.

Q: What do you have to do to improve on your passing game?

A: Having Dexter McCluster out really didn't help. There are a lot of plays that are called for Dexter. We need to start getting into a variety of formations. We need to be more multiple, even on first down. We need to be less conservative. Dan (Werner, OC) was conservative because I asked him to be. BenJarvus is one of the best players on our team, and we need to use him. We need to open it up a little bit and have a little bit more freedom in our calls to give Brent some short, easy throws.

Q: How is Dexter? Do you think he will be available for this weekend? How are some of the other guys that are banged up this season?

A: Dexter is fine. He came to see me yesterday. He should be ready to play this weekend. Robert Lane may be out this weekend. Jeremy Garrett may be ready to go this week.

Q: Do you think an off weekend would help Brent get a little better in terms of getting into a more consistent mode?

A: No. We don't have one, so we are not even going to worry about it. I think that spring practice will be good for him. He has enough experience in the offense that he should be able to do better without an off week.

Q: Are you planning to pipe in some crowd noise this week?

A: Yes, we are going to do that this week.

Q: Talk about the play of your special teams.

A: I think the hard work is starting to pay off. I think we have some good athletes. We are exposing some of the other teams' weaknesses that we have seen on film.

Q: Talk about Will Moseley's play as your kickoff specialist. How would you rate him after this game?

A: Fantastic. I challenged him all week. We were disappointed last week that they (Georgia) took one out on us. It could have been a changing point of the game. He is a weapon. We are going to miss him next season. He is a great young man, and a great competitor.

Q: Talk a little about Rory's performance so far this season?

A: He got here a little late and had to get in shape. We play a multitude of defenses, fits, and coverages. He had to get used to doing those things. He has progressed every week. He and Brandon Jenkins, along with Andrew Wicker, are probably the most improved players since the season has started. I thought he played fantastic during the game. He missed a couple of things. But, Rory can take a wrong step, and make it up with speed. A guy with slower speed gets exposed out there. I'm really excited that he has become the player that we think he can become. The play that I was most impressed with was the one at the goal line. That was a big time play for us. I think he would have scored if Bryan Brown wouldn't have tackled him.

Q: How did Bryan (Brown) and Jamarca (Sanford) do this weekend?

A: They did very well. Bryan made some mistakes, but they weren't game decision mistakes. He made some good tackles on the bubble screen. It is really good to see him play. We need him in the rotation.

Q: Talk about the play of Maurice Miller at tackle.

A: Maurice played well. He made a couple of mistakes, but he is big and physical. I'm happy to see him play. He made a couple of blocking mistakes, but they weren't assignments. They were just technique mistakes that let the linebacker come over the top. Other than that, he played pretty good. He has earned a starting spot.

Q: Who actually teaches the punt blocking techniques?

A: Coach (Chris) Rippon. He's doing a good job too.

Q: With the recent success you are having on special teams, do you credit that to the youth of this team, and them not really folding to the pressure?

A: Yes. It gives some of the freshmen an opportunity to play. Plus, a lot of the freshmen are good athletes that have a lot of speed. We try to put the fastest guys on the punt block team so they can make plays. I think that is the difference this year.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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