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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Football Press Conference Transcript
11/25/2002 | Football
Nov. 25, 2002
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Ole Miss Football Press Conference Transcript in PDF Format
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Head Coach David Cutcliffe
Opening Comment:
It's always an interesting week for many reasons. It's a short week and we've already gotten back to practice on Sunday. We had a good workout, we were spirited, and responded well after a disappointing loss, but a hard fought game against LSU. They were tired because we got home late, but they had good concentration, good work and good retention on some things we needed to work on for Mississippi State. It's a big challenge this week. Mississippi State is a talented football team. They have weapons on offense, weapons on defense and they are playing better each week. We are at a place where both teams are getting better. It's an exciting match up and we're excited about being back home and playing so quickly after such a disappointing loss in Baton Rouge.
Q: After the last five games, how important is it for this team and program to win this game against Mississippi State and go to a bowl game?
A: Well, I think it's pretty obvious that it's a big game. It's an in-state rival and a chance to play for the post season. Both things mean a lot to the program and the squad realizes and understands that. We have to go play football and play it the best way we can and compete at the highest level we can possibly compete at this week.
Q: How's Eli and the injury to his arm?
A: He's going to practice. He didn't throw yesterday and he's still day-to-day. We'll see how he responds this afternoon. He'll get some work, though we may limit him some and just see how he is. I expect him to get better each day. I'd say he's very probable. He's got a significant amount of swelling and it's a significant contusion, but from talking to him I think he'll respond well this afternoon in practice.
Q: Is it a lot less contact and more repetition this week?
A: Well, we don't have the time for the contact. We're playing our 12th football game. There's some physical work today, but the speed of the game and doing things full speed is important, not necessarily with the contact.
Q: Could you talk about your run defense a little bit, especially the improvement in the last two games?
A: I think the more we play the defense, the more comfortable the players are. The players are getting better individually and that makes the defense better. It's a challenge every week because in this league people have weapons in the passing game, weapons at receiver and great speed in the running backs. Each week it's getting better and I thought we had one of our better games at Baton Rouge.
Q: Jerious Norwood has really burst on the scene the last few games. What is your impression of him?
A: He's a talented running back, with great speed and good vision. He gets as much out of a run as he can get. He's a threat to take it all the way at any time, so he's a dangerous player.
Q: How much of a difference did switching Von Hutchins and Travis Blanchard make this weekend?
A: I think it helped. Travis' natural position is safety. He is more involved in run stoppage and supporting stopping the run. It was something we were wanting to look at, but Von got hurt. This was the first opportunity to try it with Von out of the cast and I thought he responded very well.
Q: When you don't win, what kind of psychology do you need to help get your team up for such a big game?
A: It was difficult Saturday night, everybody had the same feeling. It was a disappointing loss, but whether we had won or as we did lose, you have to put the game behind you because you go back to the practice field the next day. They've handled it well to this point.
Q: Is the pressure on your club since you have everything to play for in the postseason and State has nothing to lose?
A: I can't comment on how they feel, but I would imagine with both teams it's evident on how much of a rivalry it is each year. I think the focus is on Ole Miss and Mississippi State, and that should be enough in itself.
Q: What's your assessment on Eli to this point as compared to last season?
A: We haven't been as successful offensively as a year ago. I don't think you can point just to Eli and assess it just based on Eli. His numbers aren't what they were a year ago, but he's played well under tough circumstances. He's had throws and plays he'd like to do better, but I think that's true at any position. He just plays a high profile position. He's a great player. The things he does for our offense can't be measured in statistics alone. He's a great football player and competitor. It's been tough at times for all of us. It's not fun to lose. He's had great energy and enthusiasm and focus. Everything you would ask of a player, he has done for us this year as well as he possibly could do.
Q: Have you done anything special to get ready for Mississippi State, particularly is there anything special you have to change considering it is such a short week?
A: We haven't done anything drastic. We have spent some prep time on Mississippi State as a staff. We have a plan. They're an annual opponent and all these SEC teams we keep files and records on from year to year. There are some adjustments. They are a different style of defense and offense. A lot of what we do will be similar and you hang onto them because it is a short week.
Q: Were you satisfied with the offense, especially the misdirection you used against LSU?
A: I thought the misdirection helped a lot. LSU has spent most of the year as the top ranked defense in the country for a reason. They are powerful and strong up front. We felt we had to make them move and run using misdirection. We did that successfully. We moved the ball at times successfully. What we didn't do was make the big play. Against them you aren't going to move the ball 80 yards on 15 plays easily. We played the misdirection well, but weren't able to convert a big play into points.
Q: Talk about Eddie Strong and his presence in the defense at this point.
A: He's gotten better. Eddie, like all of our guys are at this time is getting better, but that ankle won't be well at this time. It won't be until the end of the season. All that missed work hampered him some, but he's gotten better and more comfortable each week. He's starting to play at his best level. Football is important to him. If you asked him if he couldn't play, he'd like to be around it coaching or somehow. It was frustrating for him to have a whole year he had to sit out. It's been great for him as a person and helped him mature a lot. Ole Miss people are positive and rightfully so about him. Ole Miss will miss Eddie Strong.
Q: Talk about your seniors.
A: This senior class has done a lot of outstanding things. We're going to miss the ones on the field and the ones who aren't on the field as well, like Doug Ziegler and Lanier Goethie. I am sure people around the league look at Ben Claxton at the start of the year and ask if he's really back another year. These guys have contributed a lot to this program and helped each year to make this a better place and a stronger program. What they have the chance to do, not in wins and losses is to leave this place better by touching an underclassman with their example, and something about their passion and commitment to Ole Miss will rub off on the younger players. It'll be sad to see them go, but I am sure the crowd and atmosphere Thursday night will be great to see these guys out on their last home game in this last challenge.
Q: Will Lanier Goethie be back, even for just a play or two, for his last home game?
A: I won't risk his health and future for a play. We've accelerated the therapy regularly. He's got to be the measure. He knows if he cracks that foot again he'd have to go and do that entire thing over again and I wouldn't risk that for a couple of plays. If he were to come to me and say he felt great and was ready, we'd be glad to get him out there, but he's missed a lot of work.
Q: Can you talk about the injuries some?
A: Matt Grier and Charlie Anderson are a little banged up and will be limited in practice today. Outside of that, I don't see anyone threatened to not be able to play in the ball game. They had a little head injury and got shook up a little bit. Matt sustained his injury at the end of the game while Charlie's was in the first half. I think they'll be fine.
Q: Can you talk about the running game against LSU and Georgia?
A: Well, we ran the ball better at times. We had some effective runs, but didn't run it a lot. LSU is an exceptional run defense. No one jumps out and just runs on them. Alabama was able to generate some runs against them in big plays, but they didn't just line up and run the ball at them. I thought we blocked better and got better at running the football. It's a challenge every week. Each week we get better at that and responding to the challenge.
Q: With the short week to you have to cut anything from your regular routine or ignore some things you would normally like to do?
A: From a practice standpoint we really don't have to ignore anything. We got right back to work on Sunday and got into doing a lot of game plan work. We're not going to shortchange any one aspect of the game. We do a little less full speed work in certain areas, but try to be efficient. From a coaching standpoint it's impossible, when you're normally working 16 hour days in preparation. You're doing it trying to go as hard and as long as we can, but you have to sleep sometime. We are watching a lot of tape. You're not shortchanging it, but you have to take on a lot more than you normally would to get it all done.
Q: Do you think it's better to be playing so soon after the LSU game from an emotional standpoint?
A: It's good because you haven't had time to suffer. You still suffer, but not quite the same. You can't afford to. We have to maintain the enthusiasm for this week.
Q: How are the players handling things with school being off with the different schedule?
A: I hope they're using their time wisely. We have to still go out in the afternoon. I moved practice up today to avoid this weather this afternoon so we can get our work in. We still have to have time for our coaches to work through the day and get ready for practice and do our studying of the opponent. Hopefully the players are making the most of their time to study academically and get ready for the game.
Q: What have you done to prepare for this game against Mississippi State?
A: As I've said, all SEC teams have got balance. They have people who can run the football, they have speed at receivers and quarterbacks who are playing well. You know defensively (defensive coordinator Joe Lee) Dunn and his staff give you a lot of looks and things to prepare to face. They have had a good year defensively and have a lot of capable players. You have to work on getting all the looks for what you might see and preparing for whatever might happen. It's a short week and you don't know what's going to happen so there's a lot of mystery involved with what they might have ready.
Q: What have you seen in the last few games that has helped the running game?
A: I think we've become more physical and we've sustained blocks. We're playing with a better edge. I've seen that the last month. Tre' Stallings, Chris Spencer, Doug Buckles -- these young guys have started to improve by leaps and bounds. And the ones who aren't playing are improving and you see it in the practice field.
Q: Do you like playing on Thursday or would you rather play on Saturday?
A: I like it and I'm ready to get out there and go play. Our team is the same way. I like the fact that the spotlight is on the state of Mississippi. All the fine players we have on our team, many of them are from the state of Mississippi and it's that way on both teams. It's the only game going on Thanksgiving night. It's great exposure and I think both teams are ready to go play.
Q: Do you think this game with State could be bigger considering what's at stake?
A: I think it's very obvious what's at stake and what's on the line. Our players know that. I don't think it's possible for it to get any bigger than it is each year.
Q: What are you thinking you will have to prepare for with them at quarterback?
A: They don't really change what they do. They're running the same things. Kevin Fant has been injured and playing tough through what looks like a painful back injury. They both handle their drop back game and are both getting reps as far as downs. They can handle running the football. They are both good players and we're going to have to do a good job on both of them.
Junior Quarterback Eli Manning
Q: How's your arm?
A: It's doing good. Yesterday I just took a day off from throwing. We didn't have a lot of throwing anyway. I thought it would be better to give it a little rest and let it heal. I tossed it around in the training room today and it felt good. I will throw today in practice. It's still a little tender and a little sore, but I felt better throwing it some earlier today.
Q: How sore was it after the game?
A: It was sore, just going out there to practice. Still a little tender, but practice yesterday just didn't make a big difference. I still went out to practice, went through my reads and everything. I just didn't throw.
Q: What have you been doing to help the arm along?
A: I have just been keeping it wrapped and keeping it compressed and some ice on it. We're trying to keep the swelling down in the elbow. I am just taking my time to get some of the soreness out.
Q: Is it possible this game could mean more this year than it usually means?
A: It's always a big game, playing Mississippi State. It's always a game we'd like to win. Playing it in this situation is kind of do or die about going to a bowl game. It's a big game for us and obviously it's coming at a time when we're in a losing streak. Hopefully we can turn that around and end the regular season with a win and go to a bowl game.
Q: How did you feel about the way you prepared for LSU?
A: I liked the game plan. We did some bootlegs and a lot of naked bootlegs. We had a lot of good throws. We had chances to win the ball game. We got some turnovers and good field position but didn't make things happen to get the ball in the endzone enough.
Q: Do you feel comfortable rolling out of the pocket?
A: It really doesn't matter. You have to mix it up. You can't always be sitting in the same spot or defensive players will blitz you knowing where you will be. You have to mix it up and roll out of the pocket.
Q: Would a brace or something help your arm?
A: I am going to try throwing a little bit with a small brace on today, just to see how it feels. I don't know whether it would help or not. We'll see how it goes and see if I like it. It's just something to keep some pressure on it and keep the swelling down.
Q: I believe State has won three of the last four games. What is it like when you win the game afterwards as opposed to not winning afterwards? A: It's not fun losing this game. I know how it felt last year and it's not a fun situation losing at Mississippi State. It's a fun game to win, especially when you have a shot to go to a bowl game. We're going to be fired up for this game and try to end the season on a good note.
Q: Can you assess your own performance this year compared to last year?
A: I really don't know. It's been tougher this season. Things haven't worked out as easily as they did last year throwing the ball and throwing touchdowns. I am competing hard and things get tough and you try to make plays maybe when you shouldn't. I don't know if I'd played worse or better, but I'm just trying to win games, and we've had a tough time doing that. We've just got to find a way to win games.
Q: Have you given any thought to the NFL?
A: I'm not thinking about that now. I'm worried about Mississippi State right now and trying to get a win there. I want to get to a bowl game. I'll think about that later on.
Q: How much has putting on the extra weight in the off season helped you?
A: I think it's helped me retain my strength all season and kept me healthy. It's helped me sustain taking some hits, but taking a hit on the elbow, there's not much you can do about that. This hit on the elbow, the guy just got his helmet on it and I just have to work through it. My strength and weight have stayed constant. It helps keep your fundamentals consistent throughout the whole season.
Q: What did you learn about the game this year?
A: I learned that sometimes things get tough. Playing this position and this game, things aren't always going to work out for you. Last year things worked out well throwing a lot of touchdowns and scoring a lot of points. This year things are not happening as easily as last year. You have to play smart football still. When you're not scoring as many points, you can't turn the ball over and give their offense the chance to put up points. You have to play mistake free.