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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Nutt Weekly Press Conference
9/29/2008 | Football
Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt met with the media on Monday and discussed the Rebels' victory over Florida and this week's homecoming match-up versus South Carolina.
Opening Statement
Just watching the film, I'm really proud of our effort. More importantly, the second half was so much better. Being down 17-7, we executed very well without foolish penalties. We just played well together as a team. The defense played extremely hard. They got turnovers for us on crucial parts of the field. I can't say enough about our special teams because they are so big play orientated. Brandon James can beat you at anytime. I was just really proud of everybody's effort, and we just have to build off of that. We got a good start yesterday, and I like their attitude.
Q: Are there dangers or roadblocks coming from this win with their attitude?
A: They haven't been here. This time last week, we were asked about our attitude and lack of enthusiasm after Vandy. Now, it's the flip side, and that's why you have to be very steady and go back to work. The thing about this league is that all you have to do is look at the scoreboard. Every week, anybody can beat anybody at any given time. This is just a very tough grind, and it's every week. So you have to be ready to go. There is just no room to say, We kind of made it.' We haven't made anything. Not a thing. All we have to do is look at the second quarter. We looked very disorientated and disorganized. We let the 90,000 people get to us and lose a lot of valuable field condition. We've got to go to work.
Q: Did you expect that much from Greg Hardy? What does he bring to the defense?
A: Just the little bit that we knew going against him in the spring, we knew that you needed four hands on him at all times. He is a tremendous athlete that has a real knack of getting to the passer, disrupting plays, loss yardage plays. He's an athlete. We knew that just going against him. What is difficult is that he hasn't been with us. He missed all of camp. He missed the first three games, so that is what you don't know because fundamentally you are all off. He's coming back a little quicker than I expected because he's a tremendous athlete, but I'm glad he's healthy and he's with us now.
Q: What did you say in the locker room at halftime?
A: I told them I was disappointed because we made a commitment to one another not to beat ourselves this week. We were right back in the same way of jumping offside, illegal procedurescostly and giving up valuable real estate. There is just no way you can beat anybody like that. It was a pretty hard conversation. I wanted them to be more physical in the blocking, and I wanted them to tackle Percy Harvin and (Chris) Rainey. I really thought the seniors stepped up out of the dressing room, and boy, third quarter, I really thought we put together some drives and the defense kept them out of the endzone for the most part.
Q: What is the value of this win to the team and staff?
A: It's definitely big, and you felt that in the dressing room after the game, on the bus and on the plane and Sunday. They have always been good listeners for the most part, but it just felt like even though they were listening and they want to do it, they won't do it. So we felt that Sunday when we went to practice, it seemed like they were sitting up in their seat a little bit better and went to work Sunday a little bit better than normal. We were sore now. That was a beat-them-up, rock em, sock em game. That was a war, especially for our linemen in the trenches. To answer the question, it should help us. It should really take us to another level.
Q: Walk us through the fourth and one.
A: I thought Tyrone (Nix) made a good call to really overpopulate the line of scrimmage. They had one wide receiver and we had one guy out there covering him, and we basically said that we were stopping the run. I don't think you could just say that it was one guy. Peria (Jerry) had a lot to do with it because with the interior linemen, there wasn't any movement or pushback. They held their ground. Marcus Temple really made the first contact if you look back at the film coming off the edge, and that was good. It just kind of held him up until his teammates got there. Peria, (Kentrell) Locketit's just really the entire defensive line deserves credit along with the linebackersTony Fein and all those guys. So I don't know if you can really say that one guy did it. It was totally the team. It was a team effort for how they did it that play.
Q: Talk about Tony's tackle on the third down before that play.
A: Tremendous. Probably his best play since I have met him. We pointed it out yesterday on what an effort play to come across the field and not give up to make that tackle. A great effort play.
Q: Will this help with recruiting?
A: It has already helped us. We got more calls Sunday nightthey were calling ussince we have been here. Monday night is a good phone call night for us after the film study, so I'm anxious to get on the phone. It can't do anything but help. We got a lot of Florida calls this past weekend from Florida athletes, so it's good. It's going to be good. It's going to help us. You can mark that down. That this Saturday after Florida is going to help us. No question.
Q: What have you seen from South Carolina so far?
A: Defensively, they are a team that is very talented and a team that doesn't give up very many big plays. When you watch the Georgia game or Vanderbilt game, those teams are going up and down the field, very sound and disciplined. Jasper Brinkley, (Eric) Norwoodthese guys play hard. (Emanuel) Cook and the safeties, Captain Munnerlynthese guys are all experienced. You really grow numb to the level of defense and the athletes. There is not ever a time when you come in on Sunday morning and say, Oh, this is going to be an easy game.' It just doesn't happen. These guys are fast and physical. I have never really played against linebackers that weigh 270 and 260. So like every week, you have to bring both chin straps buttoned and you have to be very physical. Offensively, they have been up and down, but the thing you have to know with Coach Spurrier, they're going to have a good tailback and they are going to have a good passing game. There are always going to be tricks, so you have to be ready to go.
Q: Talk about Marcus Temple's progress, and are you surprised at how much he is playing?
A: We are surprised. For a true freshman, he's our starting nickel back now. I'm just really proud of his intensity. It's just really unusual. That's a tough position that he's in. To ask him to play defensive back in this league at a very early age is a huge task. He's accepted it, and he's gotten better. He's very physical. He hustles and listens. I'm very excited that he's in there. He's helping us on special teams as well. He's very mature for his age, and I'm very proud of him.
Q: What's turned around Tony Fein's play?
A: Number one, he's a senior. There are very few games that he has left in his career that are guaranteed. He was probably one of the first ones to test the system. That may be a little harsh, but he was always on the line of doing things his way. I think he has really helped himself of, I'm going to give in here. I'm going to be a team member. I'm going to play as hard as I can. I'll see what happens.' I think it hurt his pride a little bit when he wasn't the starter. What I love about Tyrone so much is that he tells it as it is. You're No.2. You're No.3. You're in my doghouse.' He tells it to him up front. Even though he may not like some of the things that Coach Nix tells him, he accepted it and he's worked through some of those things. Now he is playing football and is hustling. That's what you like. That's what helps us win.
Q: Why didn't Mo Miller start at his usual spot?
A: He overslept. He overslept Friday morning. Hey, you're late. Get a better alarm clock. It wasn't anything big. Reid (Neely) came in and did a good job. What's good is that Maurice felt bad about it on the sideline during the game. John Jerry went down, and Mo, you got to go at right tackle now. It really worked out kind of good. He's over there watching the Florida game, and he doesn't go back in at guard, but he goes in at tackle. He played the position he played all last year which was really good. It's just a good lesson for everybody. You've got to be on time and do things right. I'm not sure if it's a one time thing. We kind of liked how things ended up, so we will see. I like competition like that. So we will see how Tuesday and Wednesday play out here.
Q: Do you think you played as physical as a team like Florida?
A: One of the things that has been a little disappointing is that as big as we are on offense, we really should be more physical and should have bigger holes. They just haven't been like I expected. I really thought this game especially, talk about going against one of the top defenses in the countryand I think at the end of the year Florida is at the topthose linebackers, those ends, the speed of the secondary, they work together and they are fast. I really thought our guys showed some toughness and really got physical. Our guys went downhill. We didn't go sideways, we went downhill. I was proud of that. We got better.
Q: Talk about Dexter (McCluster)'s versatility and what to expect from him this week.
A: Dexter gives us so many things. He is a great weapon for us. You never know where he is coming from receiver, slot, quarterback, tailback. He's just really special. He's really tough. He is a true difference maker for us. Every game, we pinpoint how many touches we want him to have, and we try to get to that point. We feel like he can change the game. Knock on wood, if he stays healthy, we've got a chance to keep moving the chains with him because he can do so many things that can help you.
Q: Talk about Mo Miller's versatility and his job on the offensive line.
A: Maurice has done a very good job because he played tackle last year. He is very open to do whatever we ask him to do, whether it be to play guard or tackle, right side or left side. He will do anything we ask him to do, and we appreciate that. He is one of our strongest football players. We felt like he could play a little more physical. We feel like he is making an effort. He's out there early hitting the sleds and trying to do the little things. We have been very proud of him and he just has to keep going.
Q: Talk about how the secondary held their own against Florida and how the defensive line helped with that?
A: I think the defensive line definitely helps. We were also fortunate on a couple of passes as well. Their receivers were in pretty good position, but the ball wasn't quite there because he was pressured, and that's where the defensive line comes in. Our secondary Jamarca Sanford was just outstanding. What a leader for us. I always like to go back mid-year and see why they voted for the captains, and why each person had that many votes. You can see why Jamarca does he's a hustler, a hitter, a fierce competitor and he loves to win. Kendrick Lewis is really coming on. Johnny Brown is getting better. It's contagious back there. It's a tough job because there is nobody else behind them and they are going against the fastest of athletes.
Q: What happened to your nose?
A: After the game, I think one of our seniors asked our coaches if they could pour Gatorade on the coach. I tell you what, they haven't had too much practice because they hit my nose. I didn't feel anything, and the trooper said I was bleeding. They've got to get better at that. I hope they get a lot of practice at that.
Q: How did Patrick Trahan do at linebacker?
A: He's really been doing a great job against the run. He's getting better with his assignments and with the passing game. It's tough when you have to come in here straight from junior college and you have to learn a new system with new terminology. That's really tough. He's getting much more comfortable. He's been on special teams for us, hustling. He's moved ahead and right now, he'll stay there. Ashlee Palmer, Brumfield and all those guys, I'm really glad to have them. Tyrone has really developed some depth there for us. We've got to keep getting better. The last couple weeks, Patrick Trahan has had a feel for reading the play and being physical at the point of attack.
Q: How healthy is the team and an update for John Jerry?
A: We will know more tomorrow. We were pretty bruised and beat up yesterday, but we expect everybody to be out there. He's got a sprained shoulder. I don't think it's too bad. Hopefully he'll be ready to go. It's just that time of year, almost to the midpoint, you're going to be sore and hurting with the teams you're playing. We've got to go though. We've got an open date next week, so we've got to go.
