Football Weekly Press Conference 10.26

Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt and quarterback Jevan Snead met with the media on Monday and discussed the Rebels' win over Arkansas and upcoming Halloween game at Auburn.

Houston Nutt

Opening Statement

We watched the film and put that to rest. The one thing we felt like we improved on was the physical part of the game - especially at the line of scrimmage. Guys in the trenches - I am really proud of their play. We are really going to build on that. We have to get better in the red zone offensively. Especially inside the five - we have to get that corrected. Jevan (Snead) took care of the ball for the most part and really made good decisions. He threw the ball away which was good to see. He got us in some good plays and got us out of the wrong ones. Our running backs ran hard and our receivers caught the ball well. Defensively - you can't say enough about our defensive line - that we able to have this many bodies that continue to play very hard. They put pressure on quarterbacks and they have been very good. Our linebackers - Jonathan Cornell especially - were outstanding. Patrick Trahan, Allen Walker, and the two young guys keep coming. I was really proud of Joel Kight and D.T. Shackelford - who keeps fighting that ankle. It seems like he gets it hit every 10th play or so but he just keeps going. You love his fight and spirit. Special teams - we are going to keep working hard on that. We feel like we are getting better in a lot of areas. Jesse Grandy has been a big lift for us on kick off return and we are excited about how far he has brought that team.

Q: What is Kentrell Lockett's status this week?

We don't know that much. I know he was a little bit sore yesterday. He didn't practice with us, but he went to the meetings and went outside with his teammates. He felt good and had a good range of motion. We are pretty hopeful that he will be okay. He just made a move to the quarterback (against Arkansas). He kind of tweaked the inside of his knee - probably a sprained knee.

Q: What have you seen out of Auburn's running game?

(Ben) Tate is running the ball very well. They have another speed back who has been hurt a little bit. They mix up formations and do different things to get those guys the ball in a variety of ways. They do a good job of keeping the defense off balance with that and play-action. Tate has been their guy. We are really familiar with him and know he runs hard and is very physical. They have some big guys upfront who are very physical and do a good job blocking.

Q: What is the key to Gus Malzahn's offense?

He loves a fast tempo. He loves to go very quickly. He gets his players to the line of scrimmage, uses motion and different sets with varieties of motion. He uses a lot of different types of schemes and tries to keep you off balance. The biggest characteristic of his offense is that they hurry up.

Q: How has Malzahn's coaching style changed from high school to college football?

I think the biggest thing is that he saw the caliber of athletes each Saturday. He had a lot of mismatches in high school. When you get to the college level, you realize that there are two or three guys you are going to have to be concerned with because they are so athletic. You have to be very concerned with protection to give your quarterback a chance. Maybe not so much how people line up, but the speed of the game and the variety of blitzes the defenses use to keep you off balance. It is a fast game - the SEC.

Q: Why did you go to the Wild Rebel in the red zone against Arkansas?

We tried (to go without it) two times in a row with Brandon Bolden and (Jerrell) Powe up there. They stopped us twice and the third time we bootlegged out of it. It was just a little different. Last year, we scored a lot of times with (the wild rebel) and had a lot of confidence in it. We just felt like it was a little bit of a different package that they hadn't seen before. We were hoping we could get the ball in the end zone with that. It was just to throw them a little bit of a wrinkle. It wasn't a wrinkle to us because we are running and blocking the same. We have to have a little bit better execution. If you look at it, we are a block away each time. Brandon Bolden - he usually wins that one-on-one at the goal line with a linebacker. I bet he will next time. I feel like he will be more prepared to get those pads down lower and punch it on in for us.

Q: How important is Dexter McCluster to the offense?

Dexter is a special athlete and we have known that. This guy makes things happen. As long as he is healthy, you always want to try to get him the football. He can catch it and he can run it. He can play inside receiver or outside receiver, wild rebel, take a direct snap or play tailback. He is just a tremendous weapon for us and we have to keep him going.

Q: How much does Dexter McCluster help the confidence of the entire offense?

It is 37 minutes of possession time. There is a confidence on the sidelines that is hard to explain. You feel so good about moving the chains and getting first downs. The defense is well rested and they are playing faster. Everybody is moving faster. It just lifts you and gives you confidence. Jevan (Snead) plays better and the receivers play better. The offensive line has confidence - we haven't given up a sack in three games and we are excited about that. Those are things we can build on and get better.

Q: How many touches a game do you see as ideal for Dexter McCluster?

As many (touches) as it takes to win the ball game. We start every game saying we are going to get the ball to him a minimum of 15-20 touches. That is the way we have started every game since September. We are going to try to get Dexter the ball at all of his positions. A lot of people have taken it away from us. When the offensive line is blocking the way they have blocked and there are some creases in there - he is quick enough to hit it. You feel good about handing the ball to him because he gets first downs. You have that confidence in him so he got a few more carries than normal. We didn't expect him to get 30 touches, but we had a good feeling because he knows what he is doing when he gets the ball.

Q: How do you keep a smaller running back such as Dexter McCluster healthy?

We have never had one that was this small - 5-foot-8 and 168 pounds. You have to always be cautious of how many times he gets the ball in between those tackles. He is tough and lays it on the line. He has been protecting the ball very well. We just try to pick and choose our spots. (The Arkansas game) was a critical game and the next one (Auburn) is the biggest game of the year. We are going into the game the same way - expecting him to touch the ball 15-20 times.

Q: At what point in the season did you see the most improvement in the offensive line?

I know a lot of people said that we were jumping out of conference and it wasn't a big deal - but the UAB game. We saw improvement the week before UAB, we wanted to take it to the field, and we did. I thought that is really where it started. Brandon Green has really given us a lift. The chemistry is right. John Jerry has been playing very well all year. Reid Neely has been playing well and Bradley Sowell has made the most improvement since game one. He has had a very tough position. He goes against the fastest athletes in the league. Everybody has improved, and then we got Gerald Harris and Andy Hartmann back so the chemistry of that group has really taken off. It started UAB week.

Q: How does Dexter McCluster compare to some of the other great athletes you have coached?

He is up there because he has tremendous hands, a tremendous heart and is unselfish. He can be a kick returner or a punt returner. He has the ability to make the first guys miss. The great ones have the ability to make the first guys miss no matter what the situation is. It is a tremendous asset and that is what Dexter has, along with his speed. When you have the breakaway speed to take it to the house at anytime - that is special.

Q: What have you done to try to limit Bradley Sowell's growing pains?

It started way back during the Cotton Bowl practices. It is hard to prepare at that position. The best thing you can do is go against a good defense, which is what we do at practice. You are making calls and seeing different fronts. The speed of the game is so fast. It is kind of slowing down for him. Fundamentally he has gotten much better. His pad level is good and he is playing physical. I have just been really proud of how far he has come.

Q: How important has it been for some of your role players to step up?

They have been very important. LaMark Armour had a really good spring. He worked his way up to the two-deep and then started right where he left off during two-a-days. Our concern was offense because of the depth. Defensively, we felt okay. We got a little concerned when Justin Smith went down. That is where someone steps in. We always say that they are a play away. Sure enough, LaMark Armour was a play away. He has taken advantage of it and has really been playing well. Offensively - our concern was depth. As much as we tried to push those young guys, it is hard in this league to throw a freshman in the fire when things are moving so fast. Brandon Green is an older guy who cares and is a fighter. He may not be as tall or as quick as you would like, but the other guys on the line can count on him. They know he knows how to block and they know he is a fighter. That is what it's about.

Q: Were you surprised that LaMark Armour came back for his 5th year?

There was a time you thought he may not (stick around). We knew in the spring that he was going to see everything through. He showed commitment during the 5:30 a.m. workouts. You know last year in the winter and summer workouts that he was going to fight.

Q: Will there be less contact in practice now that you are halfway through the season?

We will probably keep our pads on for goal line drills. We probably won't go as long, but we are going to make sure we stay very physical and get the goal line stuff corrected.

Q: With the way the season is going, does this feel like last year?

There are a lot of similarities. It is a different year and I think the teams we are getting ready to play are probably a little better than last year. They all seem to be doing pretty well and have good athletes. It does have a familiar look to it, but it is one day at a time. We need to go to work, keep improving and keep the blinders on. Let's go.

Q: Did having Gus Malzahn on staff you last season at Arkansas change your coaching philosophy?

I knew that we had Darren McFadden, Felix Jones and Peyton Hillis - three great backs. I knew I wanted to get them the ball. That was probably the only difference in philosophy. If you really go back and look at it, that was a really good year.

Q: What is your relationship with Gus Malzahn like?

We don't talk very much. Everybody is so busy in college football. When you get into the season, you have a lot of things to worry about. You have all you can handle with the task at hand.

Jevan Snead

Q: What does Dexter McCluster bring to the offense?

He provides a spot for our offense and allows us to get going, get rolling and helps build our confidence.

Q: How do you feel you played against Arkansas?

I definitely feel like it was my best of the season. I felt real comfortable back there and that all has to do with my offensive line. They did a spectacular job. I cannot say enough about those guys. They have made improvements every single game and I believe they will continue to do that. I believe it was a very good game for our offense. We are at a point just like last year, and maybe we can take off from here.

Q: Why is the offensive line's protection so much better?

I think a lot of it has to do with playing together and having to come together as an offensive line. They are one unit and have to play as one. I definitely think that has a lot to do with it. With experience you definitely get better and I feel like the offense as a whole - we're kind of doing the same thing as the offensive line, going along with them. However, they're playing is how we're playing, and fortunately they're getting better every single week and so is our offense as a whole. I'm really excited about those guys and the improvements that they are making.

Q: How has Dexter McCluster opened up things for the whole offense?

Anytime you can establish a running game like we did, it opens up the pass offense and makes it a whole lot easier on myself and also on the offensive line. When we keep the defense on their toes, it makes everyone's job easier.

Q: Have you been anticipating the rush less often in the past few games?

The offensive line is making improvements every single week. I would get hit the play before, I would get rushed or maybe sacked and the next play I would feel like I was getting pressure when maybe I really wasn't. With the way the offensive line has been playing the last couple of games, I have felt really comfortable in the pocket, and I believe I will continue to do so.

Q: Have the defenses changed the way they are playing you with you running the ball some?

I think they pretty much play the same defense. I'm not an option quarterback or anything like that. If the opportunity presents itself, I will definitely pull the ball down and run it. I enjoy it. It kind of gets me in a rhythm, and maybe adds a little something to our offense. I'm going to throw first, but if that's covered and I have a lane, then I'm going to take off.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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