Ed Orgeron Weekly Press Conference

OPENING COMMENTS

Obviously we're ready to get back to work after a much-needed open date. Our guys will be back today ready to get after it. We're anxiously awaiting the game against LSU. It's a great rivalry between Ole Miss and LSU, we know that. We know what it means to our school and we're ready to represent.

LSU has a very strong defense. They're very good, one of the best defenses in the nation. We're going to have to do a very good job of scheming them. They're very strong up front. They have a great defensive line, fast linebackers and one of the best safeties in the nation. We know a lot about LSU. We understand their defense, so I think we'll be very well prepared.

On offense, they probably have the best receiving corps we're going to face in Dwayne Bowe, Craig Davis and Early Doucet. We're going to have to do a great job of putting pressure on JaMarcus Russell and also covering these great receivers when they catch the ball. When they do catch the ball, we're going to have to make the tackles right away. Besides that, we're ready to get to practice and get to work.

Q: What did LSU mean to you when you were growing up?

A: This came across the wrong way last year and I want to make it straight this year. I have a lot of family in Louisiana and a lot of great friends in south and north Louisiana from when I was in school. I signed with LSU. You know when you grow up there you want to go to LSU just like it is at Ole Miss, you want to go to Ole Miss if you're in Mississippi, so it meant a lot to me. They have a great school, they have a great tradition and they have great football, so I highly respect their program.

Q: Is it special to you going down there? Do you have a lot of family down there?

A: Sure, it will be fun, but this game is not about me being from Louisiana. It's about my team. Just Ole Miss versus LSU is enough. That's enough right there. It will mean a lot to my football team. We have a lot of guys from Louisiana on the team and their families are going to be there, and we hear it's a very rowdy stadium so we're looking forward to it.

Q: Coach, talking to Bryan Brown earlier today, he mentioned how mature JaMarcus Russell has become. Have you seen his maturation from last year to this year?

A: Yes, it's hard to miss it he's so big. He throws the ball very well, but he has committed some turnovers and those are some of the things that he doesn't do well. You can see the last few games he's been running the football a lot more and making some big plays scrambling, so we're going to have to be able to tackle him.

Q: Talk about what your offensive line is going to have to do to prepare for this defense.

A: They are a very quick, agile defensive line. They don't stay there, and they move around a bunch. They're probably the best defensive line as far as getting off the football. We're going to have to do some things to neutralize them up front, some double teams. We can't allow them the penetration we've allowed them in the past. I do believe that we have a lot of experience on our staff against LSU therefore we can come up with a great game plan.

Q: With the Miami coaches on your staff, what did you take from the Peach Bowl last year?

A: A lot of respect for their defense. I think they zone-blitzed Miami in the first nineteen snaps of the ball game. We're from the same background, the defensive coordinator and I. We know exactly what they're going to run. We don't know when they're going to run it, but we have to be prepared for the speed. It's not only knowing what they're going to run, but how they do it and how fast they do it, so we have to do a good job preparing for this team and this defense this week.

Q: We often hear about finishing strong. What does finish strong mean?

A: We're taking it one game at a time. We're going down there to give our best effort. We're going to go down there to win the football game. We're going to go down there to play well and give it our best effort to continue to improve and continue to play well on the road. We haven't played well on the road in all games but I thought we did our best against Alabama, so we hope to build on that.

Q: What kind of year has the secondary had?

A: Obviously everybody knows that we have not had a good year, very inconsistent.

Q: Do you think Dexter McCluster will be ready?

A: No. He thinks he is, but I don't think he will be. We're going to be very cautious with that situation, and we're not going to put him in a bad situation.

Q: What would a win over LSU mean to your team?

A: It would mean a turn around, a step in the right direction against a very good team on the road.

Q: Could you update the offensive line improvement and about Andrew Wicker, you've called him one of your most improved players?

A: He's our team captain. I think the light has come on for Andrew. I think the new style of offense in which we pull and run powers has fit him well. He's a good athlete we've moved over from defense. I think the most improved thing about Andrew is his attitude. He wants to win, he wants to be a good player and he wants to be a team leader.

Q: LSU has really large wide receivers as well as talented. How do your guys match up against them individually?

A: I don't think they match up individually very well. We're going to have to play one of our best games there. We're going to have to do some things on defense to help out our guys. We're going to have to pick and choose the times we're one-on-one and sometimes give them some help.

Q: Is there a defensive lineman for LSU that stands out to you?

A: Yes, 72 (Glenn Dorsey), he was one of our favorites. I watched the whole front four. I follow defensive lines, I know their line coach. He came from South Florida and does a very good job. I think 72 is one of the most dominant linemen in the country.

Q: Can you talk about how BenJarvus came to Ole Miss and what he means to your team?

A: He means the world to us. He was at Indiana and wanted to transfer and come back home. We had some guys on the staff that knew BenJarvus and when I watched him on film we decided to take him. He's a transfer that's come in and made a big contribution to our team.

Q: Do you feel like maybe he's the backbone of your offense?

A: For sure. He's a guy that we want the ball in his hands. He's averaging almost a hundred yards a game, maybe more. He's very tough, he's going to make the play when we need him.

Q: Is he healthy?

A: Yes, he's as healthy as a good back is going to be toward the end of the season. I think what happens during the game is he starts wearing down a little bit, but hopefully the off week got him a little more healthy.

Q: How different is Joshua Shene now than he was back in the spring?

A: Confident. I think as confident as a freshman can be. I think that going out there the first couple of times his mechanics were a little shaky because of the crowd and nervousness. I believe now he believes he can kick the winning field goal at any stadium. I think the one at Alabama really helped him.

Q: LSU runs a lot of screens. What will that mean for your defensive plan?

A: Well, they spread you out. They throw the football a lot more than you'd expect an LSU football team to do. They throw a lot of screens and they have a lot of speed. They'll use a lot of speed and run a lot of reverses. I think they found their running back in Keiland Williams, a guy we recruited. We know a lot about him. He's had a couple of good games. Their team is speed and JaMarcus is a good thrower. They want to spread you out and get you one-on-one and make plays.

Q: Talk about LSU's depth.

A: They have a lot of depth. When you look at Coach Saban, who I followed closely while I was at USC, you're looking at back-to-back number one recruiting classes. Now these guys are getting older and this is what you're facing. We've recruited a lot of young men that have gone to LSU. I believe that those young men would be starting for us and now they're on second and third team at LSU. We know that throughout the years they've recruited very well and they have a lot of depth on their football team.

Q: Comment on the progress of Mike Wallace.

A: Mike has shown a lot of confidence. He's our fastest receiver and he's shown a lot of confidence in being able to catch the deep ball and catch the ball when he needs to. His blocking has gotten a lot better and he's matured as a young man.

Q: Is there any update on Wicker and Bowers?

A: Wicker is fine, he'll be playing Saturday. Bowers is out for the season.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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