Matt Luke Pre-Spring Press Conference Transcript

OLE MISS HEAD COACH MATT LUKE

Opening statement:
"We're excited to get back starting spring ball. There are a lot of new faces in the coaching staff and a lot of new faces that are going to be on the field. It's exciting to get a new, fresh start with installing a new offense, new defense and I think the guys are excited about learning the systems. They're excited about Coach (Mike) Macintyre and Rich Rod (Rodriquez). There is a lot of energy in the building and we're ready to get started."

On balance at the offense run vs. pass:
"Part of being a good offense is doing what your skills set allows it to do. Coach Rodriguez is known for quarterback run, but he has also had systems where he's had talented passers and talented receivers. Getting a feel this spring will be very important, but I do want a physical blue-collar mindset. That's the edge that he'll bring to the offense and a run-first to set up the play-action mentality. A lot of it will be predicated on Matt Corral and what he does and some of these young receivers."

On the health of Montrell Custis, Jaylon Jones and DeMarcus Gregory:
"DeMarcus (Gregory) will be out there practicing. (Montrell) Custis and Jaylon Jones still have some ways to go. They'll be in green jerseys and doing the walkthroughs but won't be participating in the team drills. They will be out there just so they can help with the installation of the new defense."

On the new wide receivers:
"We have some talented guys in there and it's their turn to step up. I think one of the unique things that you see in our receiver room is you have Donte Moncrief's passing along the work ethic and it's gone down the line all the way to A.J. (Brown) and D.K. (Metcalf) but now it's time for a new crop of receivers to step up. I'm really excited. Elijah (Moore) made a bunch of plays for us last year so he'll be back and same with Braylon Sanders. Miles (Battle) has got to step up and we're excited with what we've seen from Dontario (Drummond) since he's been here. It's on opportunity for a lot of young guys to step up."

On the new NCAA rules for the spring:
"It's very beneficial for us to get our morning runs in then go through walkthroughs. We're much farther ahead than we would normally be, because you can do a lot more in a walkthrough than you can in a meeting room. That rule has been really good for us, especially in our case when we're installing a new offense and defense. We've got nine or 10 installs already before practice has even begun. It'll be a little bit cleaner than what it would normally be because of it."

On offensive lineman depth with no early enrollees or mid-years:
"It will certainly be a challenge. We're going to be running three or four groups so we'll have enough. Until those other guys show up, it will definitely be challenge but it will also give the opportunity for a lot of guys to get a lot of reps that need it. It's taken care of on the right side with Alex (Givens) and Ben (Brown), and Eli (Johnson) has done a great job at center. We've done a little different lineup with Royce (Newman) and Chandler Tuitt at left guard, but also with Bryce Matthews at tackle and Royce Newman at left guard, so it'll be a work in progress. Everyone always laughs when I tell them, the job is to find the five best offensive linemen out there and that's what we'll use these 15 practices to determine. We do have a lot of guys that have gotten a bunch of reps in Bryce, Royce and Chandler Tuitt they've been in the program awhile now it's their turn to step up."

On how the end players have adjusted to the new defense:
"It has been a little bit of a change with those defensive ends, from playing outside linebacker. Some of the longer inside linebackers moving to outside linebacker. But the one thing I do like is the focus that it creates. There is going to be their own position and there is going to be a lot more focus and attention to detail, and there's going to be one coach coaching those guys and it's going to be very specific. And then on third down, they're going to walk down and play some defensive end too and some pass rush situations, but I'm excited about it."

On which linebackers moved from inside to outside:
"The two that have really jumped out are Qaadir Sheppard and Charles Wiley. Wiley has had a really, really good offseason. He's really impressed me moving forward. We moved Kevontae' Ruggs out there. Jonathan Hess is one of those guys we've moved out there. I think a lot of those guys will be able to have that length and play out in space, I think that really helps. And then on third down we take the nose guard out and bring those guys in. They play defensive end and they can rush the passer. Sam Williams is a new guy that will be out there in that same position. He'll start at outside linebacker. If continues to grow he may move inside, but right now he's just such a good athlete, and he rushed the passer really well in junior college. I'm looking forward to seeing him rush the passer coming off the edge."

On teaching youth versus veteran talent…
"I think you always want more veteran presence, but I do think it creates opportunities and to really build this thing the way we want it. I think to build that blue collar, hard-nosed unselfish mentality, if you have young players you can build it that way. These guys are hungry and they want to step in and do it well. I think we have 11 mid-year enrollees that are here that can certainly help. You get 15 practices and all the walk throughs, and we'll be that much further ahead when we get started in August."

On who has caught his attention…
"Several players have. Again, it's probably a little bit too early to tell, but Jarod "Snoop" Conner is just a good kid and hard worker. I think he fits right in that running back room. I've been very impressed with him. Jadon Jackson is very fast at receiver. He's got a lot of abilities and has an extra gear that you want. I'm interested to see how he gets off press and some of those things, but very explosive. Dontario Drummond coming from junior college is a little more developed. He does some natural things and is a playmaker. Really excited about him and you have Grant Tisdale and Kinkead Dent at quarterback. You really don't know much until they get there and go live. Jonathan Haynes is another. Everyone knows we need safety depth so I'm excited to see what he's going to do. He's been working really well. Tay (Tavario Standifer) is coming off of that Achilles injury so you won't see him much. He will be wearing a green jersey. (Ashanti) Cistrunk, I kind of have a good feeling about him. He already has gone from 190 to 210 pounds since he has been here and we haven't even gotten started. I think if he can get to 220-225 as he continues to grow I think he is going to be a really good inside backer. Excited about him. And then Sam Williams and Jamar (Richardson) we talked about those guys out there at corner. Those guys have all been good. There is going to be that transition where they have to learn, but everybody is learning. These new guys, they are not coming in two years behind, they are leaning the system at the same time as everyone else. I think it gives them an opportunity to compete."

On the difference with the new coordinators:
"I'm really excited about the experience and the knowledge that they bring. That is your job as a leader, to bring in the best people that you can. Probably what I like most is that they have sat in my chair and they see the big picture. They understand it. And even more importantly the staff chemistry has been really, really good. I think that is the most important thing. I think the players, they feed off of the coaches, and I feel that the chemistry of the staff is very important. I really like the direction they are headed."

On the nine Rebels attending the NFL Combine:
"I think are all going to perform great. I'm just excited that you see all of their hard work pay off. Some of these guys you have been knowing since they were ninth or tenth graders and for some of these guys it was their lifelong dream to be there. So, to see it come and have that opportunity is really cool. Very, very good representatives of Ole Miss not only on the field but off the field. So, just very excited for those guys."

On chemistry:
"I just think it is important. I think chemistry is a huge part. I think people can feel it, the players can see it, and the fans can sense it. It is just a huge part not just with coaching staffs but with your team. Each team is different, has its own personality, and its own chemistry. I think that is the secret sauce between a really good season and an average season."

RebelsCalendar

Players Mentioned

Matt Corral

Kinkead Dent

Dontario Drummond

Jon Haynes

Jonathan Hess

Jadon Jackson

Jaylon Jones

Royce Newman

Braylon Sanders

Qaadir Sheppard

Tavario Standifer

Chandler Tuitt

Charles Wiley

Sam Williams

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