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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Head Coach Ed Orgeron's Weekly Press Conference
9/11/2006 | Football
OPENING COMMENTS
Obviously we're disappointed with our performance on Saturday. I think we came out very flat. We have to look at what we did last week and fix it. I know our team is disappointed in their performance. Our coaches are disappointed in their performance. We couldn't stop their offense in the first quarter. When we could stop them, we couldn't get any rest. On the sidelines our defense couldn't get anything going, so it was just for our overall team a poor performance. And we look to come out on Monday and work together today as a team, and look forward to our game against Kentucky, our first SEC game, that is very, very important to our program.
There were very few positives that came out of the film, but one is Marshay Green. He got involved in offense, which was good. He made a few good plays. We only had one penalty on offense. On defense, the movement of Peria Jerry from end to nose tackle, although he still has an injury and it's hampering him a little bit, I thought he played very well there. He could be an excellent nose tackle for us. Rory Johnson made some plays, we're going to look to pull him up on the depth chart depending on how this week will come along. Also, Dustin Mouzon will be more involved in the plan.
Looking at Kentucky, they are very similar to us on defense. Although we hear that they've made some changes and are playing a little bit more freshmen this week, we can expect an over and under defense, a lot of blitzing, some similar to what we do on defense. On offense, we know that their quarterback can throw the ball very well. They're a two-back team, which we're looking forward to defending after defending these spread offenses the last two weeks.
We look forward to practice today, we look forward to being with our team. We're very positive that our team can fix our mistakes and we will.
Q: Are those the only personnel changes you see at this time?
A: Yes. We're looking for Rory to make more plays and be able to put him in a system where he can learn and simplify the defense. I think that will be all for right now. We have to check out Andrew's situation and see how many guys can practice this week.
Q: After the game, you said you did not expect your offensive performance. When you watched the tape, was that still the only area you were surprised with?
A: Yes. We just didn't execute. We're not as much of a two-back team. We didn't run the football like I know we can. We made mental errors. We got whipped on our pass protection a little bit. They whipped us on that, so we look to sure that up this week.
Q: After two games, is physical play something you can teach, or is it something the player has to have in the beginning?
A: I think we try to teach it at our practices. We're very fit on the lines, and we have to be careful in the manner in which we practice so we can play on Saturday. I think we have to do recruiting to get more physical on the offensive and defensive line. We have to have more depth. We don't have the depth right now that we need on both sides of the line.
Q: What are the techniques you're teaching?
A: Hands. Footwork. We get them in the right places. We go one-on-one. We do all those things. Those things we're teaching in practice I think we're doing a good job of.
Q: What has Rory (Johnson) provided?
A: Speed. Ability to close very fast. He's a good tackler. His deal is just learning the defense. We play a multitude of defenses, so he has to learn every defense and every adjustment, and things like that. So it's been a little tough on him.
Q: How far along is Rory?
A: I think he's pretty close. We've had to simplify things so he can play.
Q: How did Brent do week one compared to week two?
A: He played like it was his first week. He made a lot of mistakes, and didn't operate within the framework of the offense like we wanted him to. There were some holes that he missed within the scheme of the offense, so he could have made some better plays. It wasn't as good as it was the first week.
Q: Did playing from behind alter your game plan? Did you just have to play it by ear?
A: I think so. I think once Dan (Werner) saw the way their offense was moving the ball against us, he tried to play catch up and open it up a little more and move the ball, which was not in our favor.
Q: How far do you think the team has to go to be competitive Saturday?
A: We have a long ways I believe. We're not that far away in some areas. I think that offensively if we get back to the basics, then we can have a very good offense. We still have to develop as a defense. We're making mistakes on the back end that we shouldn't be making with a veteran group, so we have to fix that. We have to fix a couple of things that we're doing in covers to sure that up. Our linebacker position should be solid. I think the defensive line is going to continue to come along. Are we there yet? No.
Q: What would you like Mico McSwain's role to be?
A: I'd like him to continue to progress within the offense and show Coach Werner during the week that Dan will be comfortable that Mico can perform. It's hard to take BenJarvus out of the game when he's such a good player.
Q: Saturday's loss wasn't a total surprise to you, was it?
A: Well, did I think we were going to win every game? No. I knew that we had a ways to go in some areas when I watched us practice. There's no way that we are as bad as we showed. We just need to go out each week and play the best that we can. We were a little flat. I have to take the responsibility for that. We seemed a little tired, not as enthusiastic. We did not stop the quarterback plays like we should have so I'll take the responsibility for that, but there are some areas there that we need some help in and I'm hoping we can get it.
Q: Do you feel like Kentucky is a must-win game? You talked about needing a fast start this season and a win there would probably get you back on track.
A: I think we need to go up there and play very well and win this football game. I don't believe in must-wins. I don't want to tell that to my team, because we have a long season ahead of us. I think we need to go up there and play very well, and we're capable of playing very well and we should have success.
Q: How has Peria Jerry's injury affected his performance and where would you rate him at in terms of getting fully healthy?
A: It has hurt him a lot on the field. I think he is a fantastic player. I think he is operating at 50 percent at best right now. Hopefully he play the whole season, if it doesn't hamper him worse.
Q: Are you excited and ready to open SEC play? What does this game mean in terms of your season so far?
A: It means a lot. The SEC is very important, but every game is important to us. We had our first little taste of traveling on the road, and hopefully we will have a little more experience this week. But we have to do well in the SEC, that is why we are here.
Q: Did you expect the defense to struggle this much?
A: I expected our defense to struggle against spread offenses. I didn't expect us to struggle this much. After the first week, we weren't hitting our gaps, which is something fundamentally that we have always been able to do. So last week, we had to overcompensate. We had to start our line, and put them over in the gaps that they were supposed to be in. That ended up hurting us in other areas. But no, I didn't expect us to struggle this much.
Q: Knowing how much Coach Werner uses the tight end, is it a surprise that teams are not allowing Robert Lane to get open?
A: I think it has been kind of a surprise. But we have only played two games. I know this offense. I have seen what they do in practice. Eventually, they will come out. Maybe it is the gameplan, maybe it is the defense they are playing. I think some people see that we have tight ends that can catch the ball, and sometimes they give them double coverage and won't let them catch the ball.
Q: Can you evaluate the play of some of the younger guys you are having to lean on?
A: Sure. (defensive line coach) Ryan Nielsen thought that Marcus Tillman played real well on a couple of plays. He is still not the type of pass-rusher that we need at the rush end. That is just because he doesn't have the technique and he doesn't use his hands like he should, but he is giving us everything he has. I think Greg Hardy is going to be an excellent player. He missed some gap assignments that hurt us. But he also made some big plays. I think those guys are big and physical. They are getting a quick lesson on how to play, and I think that is going to help us down the road.
