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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Postgame Quotes: Ole Miss at Vanderbilt
9/6/2014 | Football
Ole Miss Football Postgame Quotes
No. 15 Ole Miss at Vanderbilt
LP Field - Nashville, Tenn.
Sept. 6, 2014
"We're excited to get a road, SEC win and I thought our kids played a pretty solid game. Bo Wallace really managed us well. We played really solid defensively. I was a bit concerned before the game that we were a little flat. I do expect that though and I've always believed you don't get your kids up to their emotional peak but two or three times a year. But good teams will still go out and execute and find a way to win games. There are a lot of individual efforts to talk about. I'm really thrilled that everyone who made the trip got into the game and got their chance to play. Those kids practice a lot and you never know when their time will come to where they have to step in and play so it was really good to see that also."
On the play of the offense:
"We've certainly had success throwing the ball. I couldn't tell you that it was the way we thought it would go coming in but Bo (Wallace) did a good job reading his progression. I think we have a good plan on offense. If we're running the ball it certainly helps your pass game and we were running halfway decent to start the game."
On the play of the defense:
"Theoretically, in my mind, I'll give them a shutout. We had a fumble down there and they held them to a field goal and that's all they can really do in that scenario. I think our defense has a chance to be good. We stopped the run primarily and we got some pressure on the quarterback and we didn't give up explosive plays and I think that's key for us this year. We want to make people drive to earn points and I think we did that well."
On Cliff Coleman's 39-yard interception return for a touchdown to start the second half:
"I'm really proud to see us take control of the game and to seeing our defense get that pick six was big. That really did take control of the game. I felt we had a chance to score more points in the first half, we dropped a touchdown and then they got us with two shifts that cost us another one. It easily could have been 28-0 at half and we didn't convert. We took control of the game with that play and then the offense scored on the first drive of the second half."
On his early success this year:
"It definitely is nice, I'm glad I can help the team out and get them six points."
On comparing the stress of competing to start versus playing in a real game:
"It's almost easier out there than it is in practice. You've got coaches yelling at you, and other kickers trying to make it, so it definitely helped me prepare mentally."
On getting increased playing time and the offense's success:
"It's better. There's some things we need to work on and sharpen up, but I'm enjoying it."
On facing the team his brother plays for:
"I have to try to show him up as best I can, but we encourage each other and make each other better."
On the running game this week:
"The O-line did their job, didn't mess up their blocking schemes, stayed onsides, and basically just did a good job."
On how good the offense can be:
"Very good. We just need to stay on schedule and find our landmarks and keep moving the ball and it will be very hard to stop us."
Opening Comments:
"Give credit to Coach [Freeze] and his football team. They played well and had a good game plan. We didn't get off the field on third down... We need to continue to look at ways of getting better, and we will."
"We worked on third down [this week] like we did last week. We'll continue to look, tweak, and adjust."
On Vanderbilt Quarterback Stephen Rivers:
"We wanted to get more. You're always looking to make plays. I thought there were opportunities for our wide receivers to make plays. I thought there were opportunities for Stephen [Rivers] to make throws. We're going through the process of being young."
"He looked solid [in practice]. He did a good job of leading us in practice. It wasn't about Rivers [today]. It doesn't fall on one guy. We still need to have our guys make plays. We can still eek out more in that run game."
On Whether the Team is Frustrated:
"In that locker room, I see the same fight in that group. From the outside, you're trying to find fault and blame... It's about being able to execute... As we continue to go along, we'll continue to get better."
On Vanderbilt's Ground Game:
"Until our quarterback play is stable to open up other options in our offense, [the run game will be important]. We want to get the ball to players early on the perimeter... [Until all of that happens], we still have to continue to move the ball downfield. When we executed, we moved the chains."
On the Absence of Vanderbilt Running Back Jerron Seymour:
"I felt like I didn't see the guy I saw on film. He moved well early in the week, but toward the end of the week, he looked slow and sluggish."
On Ole Miss Quarterback Bo Wallace:
"Bo did a nice job... With a lack of a pass rush, we did more to us than [Ole Miss] did to us. We can get those things corrected. Bo did a good job of making good throws."
On Ole Miss' Interception Return for a Touchdown:
"There's never a good time for that. The throw was errant, the ball was low, and the defensive back made a great play. You want opportunities like that for yourself."On how frustrating it was out there:
"It was pretty frustrating. They definitely brought some pressures, some good pressures. It definitely got us out of rhythm pretty consistently and we are unable to get a rhythm going"
On throwing an interception right after half time and how damaging that was to the confidence of winning:
"We were confident we can get out of there and get seven and get ourselves back into the game. It was one of those plays I shouldn't have thrown it. I saw an opening and went for it and he wasn't there and I shouldn't throw that. But yeah, that kind of hurt since we went out there with positive attitude and we want to get back to the game, so that's on me."
