Football Weekly Press Conference 10.19

Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt and quarterback Jevan Snead met with the media on Monday and discussed the Rebels' homecoming win over UAB and upcoming SEC battle against the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Houston Nutt

Opening Statement

We had a good workout on Sunday. Today is a good study day - the guys get to be students. We are looking forward to getting back on the field tomorrow to continue our preparation for Arkansas. Arkansas is much improved from last year. They have looked very good on film, both offensively and defensively. We've got to do a good job of preparation this week.

Q: What areas has Arkansas improved in since last season?

Everything. Offensively - with (Ryan) Mallett - we know a lot about Ryan. He is a big, tall, 6'7" guy that can throw it. They have receivers like D.J. Williams - a big tight end - and Greg Childs, a wide receiver. They have a lot of good weapons out there and they can get the ball down the field. When Michael Smith is healthy at running back, we all know what he can do. It looks like Dennis Johnson is really coming on. Defensively they are playing much faster than they did a year ago. I think they understand what they want to do now. Especially the defensive front with Malcolm Sheppard - he's a good player that is relentless and never takes a lazy step. Jake Bequette is another guy that has great character and a great attitude. They've got a front that has been there. Their linebackers have gotten older - Freddy Burton, Jerry Franklin and Wendel Davis. They have some experience, they are playing hard and they have gotten some confidence.

Q: How are you going to get Dexter McCluster more involved in the offense?

Every week we always try to get him involved. A lot of people know where he is located. He is a guy that is always in the plan and we always try to get the ball to him different ways. That is the one guy I don't think you have to worry about. He is such a team player. We want to get him the ball because he is a playmaker.

Q: Are you running out of ways to get Dexter McCluster the ball?

I don't know of any other way to get him the ball - he's at quarterback, wide receiver and tailback. I guess we could put him in there at tight end. I just think he is going to be okay. His time is coming.

Q: How big is this game against Arkansas the second time around?

This is the next game. This is the biggest game of the year because it is the next game. It's the time of year where it is a big game for everybody in the conference. This is a big week for everybody. Everybody knows this time of year, when you get back into SEC play, it is big.

Q: Has the start to the season been disappointing?

Naturally, when you are rated that high for the first time in 40 years, there is disappointment. We went to South Carolina wanting to win that ball game. Alabama here - we had an unbelievable crowd and our defense played lights out. Yes, you are disappointed because you don't win the game. I'm not disappointed in our team. I think they are working hard and getting better. I think we played two good football teams and I think that is the bottom line. I don't really worry about anything else except for the next game. You just want to get better each week. You're disappointed because you wanted to win those games, but you can't do anything about that now. It is time to move forward, and I think our guys did that last week and we got better.

Q: Have the team's goals changed?

Not really. We don't stop mid-year and reassess everything and change our goals. If you recall, we went to Atlanta twice (at Arkansas) and one of those times, there were three losses involved. This league is so crazy any given Saturday. You just can't say that it is locked up and done. Not in this league - you can't do it. I think you just keep working hard and see what happens.

Q: Do you think this game will be more about football this year?

I think so. After going into the second year, I think it will be much less (emotional) than what it was last year - it was very big going back for the first time. I think it will be much more about football and much more about the players. That is the way it should be.

Q: Was it emotional last season, even though you tried to not let it affect you?

Absolutely. When you have been at a place that long and you go back on the visiting sideline - it is a little bit different.

Q: Do you keep in touch with many of Arkansas' current players that you coached?

Not as close as it once was. There are a few that call every now and them - mostly during the summer because of the relationship, but no so close right now.

Q: When was the first time you saw Ryan Mallett play?

He came to our camp about five or six straight years starting in the 6th or 7th grade. He was always an unbelievably talented guy that loved to play and loved to compete. He is a winner. I remember him always winning all of the 7-on-7 games. He has a strong arm and he always found a way to win those little games. No matter what group or team he was on, that group found a way to win. We had a very good relationship as he grew up during the junior high and high school years.

Q: Has Jeven Snead's start to the season surprised you?

Yes, it has been a surprise. Some of those interceptions he doesn't deserve. That is what is tough - they go under his name. There have been some balls that have popped up from a receiver's chest or have been taken away from a receiver. Some of those things are not his fault. It is a team game and he accepts that. He knows he can play better. He started playing much better last week - making good decisions. That is all we want him to do. We want him to be Jevan - a guy that makes good decisions, he has a good arm and he is a good quarterback.

Q: How big of a concern is pass protection against Arkansas?

It is a big concern because of Malcolm Sheppard. When we recruited him and signed him, we knew that he had one thing - a full-speed motor. He is a guy that never takes a lazy step. He is much bigger and stronger now. Adrian Davis - he is a very athletic guy who was actually a safety in high school. He has gotten much better. Jake Bequette is a young man with great character, good technique, very quick and doesn't take a lazy step. They have good athletes in the front. They do a good job of mixing up blitzes with the linebackers. We have to do a good job. It is a concern because it has been one of our weakest areas. We have to do a good job on protection.

Q: Why have you used the "Wild Rebel" so much less this season?

It has been the flow of the game. There were a couple of games where we felt like that we needed some things to happen. There have been some times where (the other team has) stopped us so we got away from it. We got behind the count on third-and-longs. Those two games - South Carolina and Alabama - stick out in my mind where we had planned on using it much more. It is the flow of the game and the kind of results we are getting out of it.

Q: Can Dexter McCluster do anything differently to get the ball more?

I think he is doing it. He works hard everyday in practice and works hard with running good routes. He works part-time at receiver and punt returner. He has a lot of things that he has to do for us. I don't see him working any less. He still has a good attitude and is working hard. I think his time is going to come. There is no doubt in my mind. We are going to call on him and we will need him. Dexter has always been that playmaker for us. It has just been a little harder this year because ever since last year, he did so much for us so everybody is very aware of where No. 22 is located.

Q: How special is this year's group of freshmen?

We knew we signed a very talented group, but you don't ever know which one's are mature enough, can handle terminology and how they adjust to college. We take those first two weeks of two-a-days, put them through the playbook and see who can handle it. We throw a lot at them. We put a little pressure on them and let them go against the big guys. Usually you know (which ones can play). We knew early on that Jesse Grandy had excellent quickness, excellent hands and he could be a kick returner or a punt returner. We knew we had to have him. The same thing goes for D.T. Shackelford and Joel Kight. We knew from the very first drill that they were going to put their faces in there. We were going to need them on special teams and we were thin at linebacker. That is just how it goes. Patrick Patterson - same thing. He made a play a day. He did it against good competition. You find out what your needs are and you go from there.

Q: What is Rodney Scott's roll going to be after his performance last weekend?

We always knew two things - that he was fast and he was tough. We knew he was a good running back. What is hard during two-a-days is when you have three guys coming back who all had good summers - Brandon Bolden, Cordera Eason and Enrique Davis - it is hard to get them enough scrimmage time to know. Early on, Rodney put the ball on the ground so we were a little bit hesitant to put him out there, but he kept working and working. This past weekend we gained a lot of confidence in him. He will keep working from where he is right now - Cordera Eason, Brandon Bolden and Rodney Scott - those three guys.

Q: Did Arkansas' performance against Florida surprise you?

I know this about Arkansas - they are always going to play hard. There is good talent there - good players. When you mention names like Malcolm Sheppard, Jake Bequette, Freddy Burton, Jerry Franklin, Ramon Broadway and Adrian Davis - you know how hard and physical they are going to play. They are good players. On the other side - D.J. Williams, Michael Smith and that offensive line with Seth Oxner and DeMarcus Love - all of those guys are good players. Then you add Ryan Mallett to the recipe and everything gets a lot better. That guy can throw the ball. There is not one throw that he can't make. They've got a really good football team and we know a lot about those players.

Q: How good has your defense performed so far this season?

I have been really proud of them. They have played so hard this year. They are athletic. Our defensive line has been our strength. They are relentless to the ball and hard-nosed. They have done a good job all season long for us. Our thinnest part has been our secondary, and those guys have really held up well and played the ball very well this year. Our defense has played well enough for us to win every game.

Q: What is your take on Arkansas' favorable turnover margin?

That is always big. That is why we have to take care of the ball. Whenever you get four fumbles the previous Saturday, it really helps that turnover margin - especially when you don't turn it over. It will be very important. Each Saturday, to me, the biggest stat is who wins the turnover margin.

Q; Are you surprised of where you are ranked in rushing defense?

No, not really. I have never been more proud of a defense. We have put them in a lot of bad situations if you go back to the first game until now. There were so many times they have had to stop people in the redzone and have had to stay out in the field for a long time. We have put them in too many bad situations. I am very proud of our defense - how hard they play.

Jevan Snead

Q: Why does it seem that it is harder to get the ball to Dexter McCluster this year?

I really don't know exactly what it is. I guess everybody kind of has an eye out for him this year, something like that. We're just doing our best to get the ball down the field period, whether it's to Dexter or somebody else.

Q: Knowing that Dexter McCluster is the target of many defenses this year, does that make you look for other players on the field?

There are different things we watch on film. We watch the teams, how they play, other people's plays, how they might play our plays and how they might jump routes. I think that they definitely look at Dexter and see that he's one of our big play makers and they certainly may play to him a little bit. You definitely just have to go through your options and be ready to hit your second or third option.

Q: Last year the Arkansas game was the game that seemed to get the team going. Do you hope that will be the case this week?

Yes. I definitely think that it was kind of our spring-board game, and kind of got us on a roll. I'm hoping last week may have been that game for us this year, and we can pick up and get rolling. I know they're going to play with a lot of intensity. I haven't had a chance to really watch much film on them yet, but from what I've heard, they have a really good defensive line and just a solid defense. I'm looking forward to playing them. We know they're going to play us tough, and I'm looking forward to a good game.

Q: Was the UAB game a relief for you personally, being able to get into a rhythm and complete the majority of your passes?

It definitely felt good to finally get out there and play well as an entire offense. Any time you go out and put some points up, it definitely feels good. I feel like we've been stumbling before that game and hopefully that was kind of getting us kicked off and will get us rolling into the rest of the season.

Q: Was it nice to finally get some of your other receivers the ball against UAB?

It's definitely nice to get them the ball, especially after seeing how hard they've worked throughout camp and throughout the season. (Markeith Summer and Lionel Breaux) work extremely hard, and they deserve to score some points. I always had faith. It's just a matter of getting them the ball and letting them make plays afterwards. I have all the confidence in the world in those guys, and I look forward to seeing them score some more touchdowns.

Q: How comfortable were you against UAB?

I was extremely comfortable. I think a lot of that had to do with the play of the offensive line, and also our running backs and protection. They did an excellent job, and I couldn't ask more from them. I think every week they've improved, and I think they'll continue to improve. It just felt good to get back there and have some time to throw and be able to hit those receivers.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

Related News

Related Videos