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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Houston Nutt Press Conference: 09.13
9/13/2010 | Football
Sept. 13, 2010
Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt met with the media on Monday and discussed the Rebels' win over Tulane and upcoming SEC opener against Vanderbilt.
Opening Comments:
It was good to get back on the practice field yesterday. Much better lessons can be taught after a win, and that was much needed. I still think our guys can see that we have a lot of improving to do. We can get better, but there were a lot of positive things. I think our kicking game is getting better, and we have to keep that going. Our kickers, return team and coverage team are good. Bryson Rose made some plays for us. We didn't know how he would do coming into the season because he was brand new, and he's very consistent. Offensively, I was really proud of Markeith Summers. He gave us a lift down the field with some big plays. Jeremiah [Masoli] really played very, very well. We have to continue to get better. We are playing a very good football team in Vanderbilt. They played very well against LSU and it was close all the way up until the fourth quarter. Their defense runs hard and they play hard like they always have. They are very sound, and offensively they do some good things. We have to have a good week of practice and be ready to go for the first conference game.
On making improvements:
I want our defense to play their best game this weekend. The way they do that is to get lined up right every snap and be sound tacklers. The secondary needs to play the ball right. We have to do a good job with that. We were on the field too long in the third quarter, and we have to be more consistent, especially now in the SEC. Offensively, its the same thing. The only two drives we had in the third quarter were three-and-out, and we can't have that. One reason we won the game though was because we took care of the ball. We had one turnover, and we have to continue getting better with that. We need to keep executing. We have to get better in the run game. In our passing game we are making some plays, but I want us to be better run-blockers. We need that balance.
On using one quarterback for most of the game:
At the time what made it a little easier was that Nathan [Stanley] did not practice last week. The way things were going, it was just easier to go with Jeremiah [Masoli]. He's making plays for us right now, so we're sticking with him. He gives us a little bit more athletic ability when things are breaking down with the young offensive line. I still believe in Nathan Stanley. He's a good quarterback. Right now we're going to start Jeremiah [Masoli]. In order to get the flow of things and get that chemistry, it is probably best to have one quarterback.
On the running backs:
Brandon Bolden and Enrique Davis have been running extremely hard. Towards the end of the game we depended on Enrique [Davis] to be a very physical guy. We appreciate how tough he has been for us. I want them to continue to get better. They know that we expect more than half-speed as we jump into the SEC.
On the rushing game:
I do not think its back to square one, but I think there is going to be a bit of a learning curve when you break in someone brand new. Their eyes were wide open and it was their first experience playing. That was the first time Josh Tatum had ever played outside of Friday night ball. Now that he [Tatum] is out, our brand new starters will be Michael Brown, Jared Duke or Patrick Junen. We are working a lot of young guys. I am hoping that we are not back to square one, but just because they haven't played its tough. Hopefully we will continue to get better. A. J. [Hawkins], Bradley Sowell and Bobby Massie are really improving. We have to keep going.
On the defense:
We expect more from our guys. I think Jerrell Powe and Kentrell Lockett will tell you that we expect more from them. Kentrell [Lockett] not being there that first game really hurt us. With him back, I think you can see that there was a step up. We need his leadership. We need all of our guys to play better. I think they know that. They are not satisfied by any means. I heard Ted Laurent and Lawon Scott saying the other day walking off the field that they know that everybody depends on that front seven. They have the most experience. Jonathan Cornell made a lot of tackles the other night, and he will tell you the same thing. When you are replacing three starters in the secondary, that front has to be good. They have to make more plays, get off blocks, and do better.
On the condition of Josh Tatum:
I do not know how long Tatum will be out. He will probably miss this game, but we are not for sure. He is going to miss practice, which usually means he is going to miss the game.
On Vanderbilt:
Every year we play them, they always play hard. They run to the football on defense, and are hard hitters. They tackle well. Their kicking game is good. Offensively they spread you out a little bit and they will try to run the bootleg. They will probably keep a little option going, too. They do a good job. Their game against LSU was right down to the fourth quarter. It was the same thing against Northwestern. They are fighters, and that's what I really like about them.
On the shot-gun snap:
There are different ways to attack people. We had every intention to use it in the last two games, but things are working and we have been scoring points. The thing about Jeremiah [Masoli] is that he is comfortable in the shot-gun. There are a lot of things he can do. I think it falls back on the running game. We want to be able to run the ball, and when you do that, you have the best of both worlds and can do more formations. You want to be able to execute, take care of the ball and put points on the board. We have to mix it up with different formations.
On Jeff Scott:
He was better yesterday, and we will see how he is this week. I think he is learning that this a different deal than Friday night football. There are bigger, stronger, faster hitters, and he has to get a little bit more durable. Hopefully he will be full speed this weekend.
On Jeremiah Masoli's running game:
He is always a threat, and that is what we like about him. Having him there, and his ability to run lets us do a lot of different things. The first two games, our goal was to get our tailbacks going, and try to use play-action. We really weren't that concerned about Jeremiah [Masoli] running the ball. The ability is always there, and that's the good thing about him.
On the secondary:
I saw Tony Grimes fight for playing time. He acted very confident when Ty [Nix] sent him in. As a freshman, he didn't flinch. He has quick feet, and I love how aggressive he is. He is going to get more time if he continues to work the way he has been working.
