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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Matt Luke Weekly Press Conference
11/18/2019 | Football
<i class="icon-video"></i> Matt Luke Press Conference<i class="icon-video"></i> Mike MacIntyre Press Conference<i class="icon-video"></i> Rich Rodriguez Press Conference
Rebel Head Coach Looks Back on LSU Matchup, Discusses Bye Week
Opening statement…
"After reviewing the tape, it's very similar to what we talked about after the game. We didn't play well in the first half, a lot of that was LSU inflicted. Especially early, when we brought pressure, (Joe) Burrow extended the plays, and we weren't able to hold up in coverage. That was a big deal. I thought we answered with a drive, but missing that field goal was big. In the second half, it was more what I envisioned. We were able to run the ball, get some explosive plays, and go toe-to-toe with them in the second half. We have to put that in the trash and use these next 10 days, it's a one-game season, to get us healthy as we can and go try to get that trophy back. That's our mindset."
Injury report…
"Scottie Phillips is probable. He should be back. Ben Brown will be fine. Benito Jones is going to be okay. Jonathan Haynes is probable with an ankle injury. Jaylon Jones will probably be out with a knee injury. His is a little more serious than we thought."
On the only path to a bowl game being eligible via APR (academic progress rate)…
"All we can do is focus on a one-game season, and we can figure out the scenarios after that. Let's go find a way to win this game. Everything goes into it, we'll let the chips fall where they may. Tom (Luke) has the list and everything with that (APR), but again that's work for him to worry about. The team's mindset is all about a one-game season, and obviously it's a huge game for a lot of reasons."
On the importance of formations in the run game on Plumlee's long runs…
"That particular play, we were in an unbalanced formation. Everybody on one side and playing man, so that obviously helps out on the other side. Formations are very important in some of the things that we're doing, and I thought Rich (Rodriguez) had an outstanding game plan and had the right way to attack it. Unfortunately, it just took us a little while to get on track there.
On counters…
"We are doing a lot of really good things there, making people defend all 11, but also making people defend the whole field. You have fast guys going both ways, and it just puts a lot of pressure on the defense so I do like what we are seeing. The thing that we have to do is continue to find ways to get better in the passing game, and we can, we just have to continue to develop. When you have that run game, people have to do things to stop it, and that is going to open up things in the passing game. We sometimes have seven freshmen out there, and we are going to continue to develop that and get better and better. Just excited about the future and building on it."
On how the team will handle the bye week…
"We don't have any recruiting days left. We've used all of those, so this will totally be focused on practice. One of our advantages is the extra rest time and trying to go into the game fresh. We are going to have some mental days, but also some get-after-it days, so we don't lose the speed of the game. We want to go into the game as fresh and healthy as possible."
On the passing game…
"Obviously, we know that if we get this program to where we want it to be, we are going to have to be good at both (running and passing) and to be balanced. When you are leading the league in rushing by the amount that we are, and you are really good at that, you won't be leading the league in passing. I think we are third or fourth in total offense in the conference right now. Trying to find that balance that we are looking for with all of these freshmen. I do think we can improve it and get better, and hit some big plays in the passing game. I think we will."
On John Rhys Plumlee playing baseball…
"I think there are some concerns with the 20-hour rule with things he can do, but I anticipate him being at spring practice and being able to throw some to the receivers. We'll see what that looks like, especially with how he fits into the baseball program. Coach (Mike) Bianco and I will sit down and talk about that. We will have to make some progress in the offseason because he has a unique skillset, and the more we can build off that, it makes us a dangerous offense moving forward. We haven't talked to Coach (Mike) Bianco since he (Plumlee) has been the starting quarterback. We are focused on winning football games, but we will sit down and have a plan to make it work. Kyler Murray was able to do it, and a couple of others were too. It can be done. You just have to have a good plan, and we'll do a good job with it."
"After reviewing the tape, it's very similar to what we talked about after the game. We didn't play well in the first half, a lot of that was LSU inflicted. Especially early, when we brought pressure, (Joe) Burrow extended the plays, and we weren't able to hold up in coverage. That was a big deal. I thought we answered with a drive, but missing that field goal was big. In the second half, it was more what I envisioned. We were able to run the ball, get some explosive plays, and go toe-to-toe with them in the second half. We have to put that in the trash and use these next 10 days, it's a one-game season, to get us healthy as we can and go try to get that trophy back. That's our mindset."
Injury report…
"Scottie Phillips is probable. He should be back. Ben Brown will be fine. Benito Jones is going to be okay. Jonathan Haynes is probable with an ankle injury. Jaylon Jones will probably be out with a knee injury. His is a little more serious than we thought."
On the only path to a bowl game being eligible via APR (academic progress rate)…
"All we can do is focus on a one-game season, and we can figure out the scenarios after that. Let's go find a way to win this game. Everything goes into it, we'll let the chips fall where they may. Tom (Luke) has the list and everything with that (APR), but again that's work for him to worry about. The team's mindset is all about a one-game season, and obviously it's a huge game for a lot of reasons."
On the importance of formations in the run game on Plumlee's long runs…
"That particular play, we were in an unbalanced formation. Everybody on one side and playing man, so that obviously helps out on the other side. Formations are very important in some of the things that we're doing, and I thought Rich (Rodriguez) had an outstanding game plan and had the right way to attack it. Unfortunately, it just took us a little while to get on track there.
On counters…
"We are doing a lot of really good things there, making people defend all 11, but also making people defend the whole field. You have fast guys going both ways, and it just puts a lot of pressure on the defense so I do like what we are seeing. The thing that we have to do is continue to find ways to get better in the passing game, and we can, we just have to continue to develop. When you have that run game, people have to do things to stop it, and that is going to open up things in the passing game. We sometimes have seven freshmen out there, and we are going to continue to develop that and get better and better. Just excited about the future and building on it."
On how the team will handle the bye week…
"We don't have any recruiting days left. We've used all of those, so this will totally be focused on practice. One of our advantages is the extra rest time and trying to go into the game fresh. We are going to have some mental days, but also some get-after-it days, so we don't lose the speed of the game. We want to go into the game as fresh and healthy as possible."
On the passing game…
"Obviously, we know that if we get this program to where we want it to be, we are going to have to be good at both (running and passing) and to be balanced. When you are leading the league in rushing by the amount that we are, and you are really good at that, you won't be leading the league in passing. I think we are third or fourth in total offense in the conference right now. Trying to find that balance that we are looking for with all of these freshmen. I do think we can improve it and get better, and hit some big plays in the passing game. I think we will."
On John Rhys Plumlee playing baseball…
"I think there are some concerns with the 20-hour rule with things he can do, but I anticipate him being at spring practice and being able to throw some to the receivers. We'll see what that looks like, especially with how he fits into the baseball program. Coach (Mike) Bianco and I will sit down and talk about that. We will have to make some progress in the offseason because he has a unique skillset, and the more we can build off that, it makes us a dangerous offense moving forward. We haven't talked to Coach (Mike) Bianco since he (Plumlee) has been the starting quarterback. We are focused on winning football games, but we will sit down and have a plan to make it work. Kyler Murray was able to do it, and a couple of others were too. It can be done. You just have to have a good plan, and we'll do a good job with it."
Players Mentioned
DL
/ Football
DB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
QB
/ FootballPRESSER | Deuce Alexander (04-10-26)
Friday, April 10
PRESSER | Delano Townsend (04-10-26)
Friday, April 10
PRESSER | John David Baker (04-10-26)
Friday, April 10
PRESSER: Kam Franklin 4-7-26
Tuesday, April 07