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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Nutt Speaks With Beat Writers
10/12/2009 | Football
Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt spoke with the media on Sunday and reviewed the Rebels' loss to Alabama and discussed the upcoming encounter against UAB.
Opening Statement
After watching the film, the high point was our defense. They played hard from the moment the ball was kicked off until the very end. They did an excellent job throughout the ball game of putting pressure on the quarterback and stopping the run, for the most part. We really kept Alabama out of the end zone. That has been their trait all year. Offensively, the disappointing thing is that we got whipped up front a little bit. We have to improve on our offensive line and become much more physical. We can't have turnovers. Jevan Snead gets credited with four turnovers - four interceptions - but two of those the receivers have to help him. The ball pops up out of a receiver's belly into a linebacker's hands and then a ball gets taken from a receiver. On the slant that was picked off, Shay Hodge has to run a better route than that. It's a team thing. We all have to improve and get better and we have to give Alabama credit, they are a good football team.
On the passes that were not intercepted, where was Jevan Snead mechanically?
After he got hit quite a bit, you could tell his footwork struggled on those short throws and he was out of sync. He missed some easy throws that he normally hits. He has to get that corrected.
Is it frustrating that you don't have many options on the offensive line, or do you feel you have a couple of guys who can help you?
It is. We have some guys like Bobby Massie and A.J. Hawkins who are coming, but we knew that was the thin part going into the year, that the offensive line is a thin group.
Will improvement of the offense require any dramatic changes in personnel or scheme?
We are going to have to look at everything real hard tonight. We have to look for what our guys do best and what keeps the ball moving for us without turnovers.
How is Marshay Green and the team's injury situation?
Enrique Davis has a pretty bad sprained ankle right now. Marshay has a cracked rib with a little bit of a kidney laceration. We have a few banged up but not real bad. It was a very physical, hard-hitting game yesterday. We don't know for sure how long Marshay will be out, but at least a week.
How did Andy Hartmann respond coming back?
Andy did very well. We are very proud of him. I thought he came in there - him and Brandon Bolden - and really played well throughout the ball game. Andy had close to 20 plays and it's good to get him back. His knee responded well.
Has there been any thought of giving Nathan Stanley some snaps to let Jevan Snead have a different perspective?
We have talked about that a little bit and will continue to have talks about it, but we have so much faith in Jevan. As I mentioned, it's not all him. He's got to get some help too.
How is Pat Patterson developing?
He's getting better. He went against some real corners and safeties yesterday who covered him up pretty good. He's got to get more physical but I think he's coming. He's been doing a good job in practice and he is only going to get better.
Was the lack of rushing a product of the offensive line or where guys not hitting holes?
There weren't many holes (to run through). For the most part, they dominated us up front. We have to get better. There were times we had some running lanes, but again we had one guy missing a block or one guy getting pushed around. We have to get that running game going. That's been our trademark is to be able to have a running game and make the passing game much easier.
Is UAB one of the games that Rishaw Johnson has to sit out?
Yes. We will look at Brandon Green, Massie or A.J. We have some options there and will see how we put this thing together this week in practice.
Do you feel Alabama's defense is the best you will see, or do you expect this from all conference opponents the rest of the season?
I think it is going to be physical, but what I said yesterday I still stand by. They are probably, if not the best, the top three in the country. From top to bottom, I'm talking about from one to 11 on their defense, every position they are good. And they have depth. They are outstanding. I'm sure LSU and Auburn and the others will look the same, but I don't know if you will have a better 11 that we will face.
