University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Jeff Bower's Weekly Football News Conference
11/13/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 13, 2006
Opening statement: "We played really well on defense. Eighty-five yards against a team that was moving the ball and putting up a lot of points. I thought we got off to a good start and got them out of their rhythm early. We put pressure on the quarterback and got a couple of sacks. I think our down lineman played well in the game, and everybody played a good game. When you hold someone to 85 yards, you've got a lot of guys playing well.
"Offensively, I think we moved the football. We never punted in the game; that's the second time this year. Penalties hurt us, and we sometimes had a lack of execution. We had several chances to make a play, and it wasn't necessarily a missed assignment. Sometimes, you just don't get the job done. We didn't convert some opportunities, but we did some good things. We ran the ball well. We missed a couple of opportunities for big plays down the field. One time it was an under-thrown pass and a dropped pass the other time. I thought we did some good things on offense and moved the ball, but we've got to make some plays at times to get some scores. It was a good effort and a good game by our players. It was a good win for us."
Players of the week: "On offense, Damion Fletcher played 54 snaps, graded 84%, and had 26 carries for 136 yards and two scores. On defense, we had tri-players of the week. Matthew Chatelain played 47snaps, graded 85%, and had three tackles, two assists, three quarterback knockdowns, a tackle for loss and a sack. LeVance Richmond played 48 snaps, graded 85%, and had one tackle, one assist and a fumble recovery for a touchdown. The ball was knocked loose by Gerald McRath. Robert Henderson played 40 snaps, graded 83%, and had three tackles, one assist, three quarterback knockdowns, two tackles for loss and one sack. On special teams, Britt Barefoot sent 5-of-6 kickoffs in the endzone. He kicked it really well."
On Injuries: "Shawn Nelson has a banged up ankle. I think we'll have a chance to get him back. Other than that, there's isn't anything major."
On UAB: "They're 3-7, and they play really hard. I think they have a good solid defense. They have a good scheme offensively, and they're really physical. They have big backs and a big offensive line. We've got to defend the option. We're going to see some more option this week. They've been in a lot of close games, but they haven't been able to win them on the wire. I think they're a talented team. In our series, these games have been real close. They've always been tough ball games. I think we're playing a team that's got a lot of talent and plays really hard. They're very physical."
On how to prepare for UAB using two quarterbacks: "They really don't change their scheme or what they do. They're both good players, and they're both athletic guys that run the option. I think one of them got hurt in the last game; I don't know what his status is. They don't do anything differently from an offensive standpoint."
On the defense shutting down Tulane's passing game, making them run the ball: "I think early on in the game that helped. We got a couple of sacks, and they didn't get any completions early. I don't know if that was their plan, but there was no doubt that they turned to their running game. You can't let a quarterback like (Lester) Ricard get into a rhythm. He's really good when he does."
On Jeremy Young: "He played pretty well. He made some good plays. I thought he handled the ball well and did some good things mentally. "
On worrying about the team getting the results of the Rice vs. East Carolina game before kickoff: "We're still fighting for that, but we're still fighting for a bowl and a winning season. There are a lot of things that are still on the line no matter what happens there."
On the team's mindset approaching the game: "We've got to get ready to win. That's all you can do. You can't worry about anybody else. You better concern yourself with just you."
On Robby D'Angelo: "I think he'll be fine. He just got to where he couldn't move really well. It was his knee and his ankle. Rick Thompson came in and did a good job for us. He had 45 snaps in the game, and did a good job."
On dropping the ball: "You've got to make the catch. There was a cross to Ed Morgan that he could have run for a while. We need to make those plays."
On getting Travis Cooley back: "It helps us. He's such a solid player and is really smart. He's a physical player, and that really helps when he's in there. Micah Brown played some in the game. He didn't play as well as he did before, but at least we're getting our backups in there. It's good to get them game experience, and they enjoy the success."
On Ryan McKee and Cooley's conditions: "Ryan will probably be a little bit limited, but I think everybody else will be fine. Ryan's going to be fine, but it's going to be sore a day or so."
On the defense: "I think we've played pretty solid through most of the year. We have given up some big plays, but we've been a pretty solid defense for the most part. I think that here in the last couple of weeks we've been even better."
On why the defense is doing so well: "They're playing together, and Jay and the defensive staff have done a good job. We've been getting ready to play. We play well, and I think it's got a lot to do with what those guys do on the field during the week."
On if Lyons will see more play based on UAB's strategy: "Possibly, but it depends on what they do. We've seen them in some games with a different personality. Sometimes they are more geared toward option and sometimes more about toward the power game. We just need to get him ready. This will be a game that he would more than likely fit into better."
On worrying about the conference having more teams than bowl spots: "I don't worry about that. We've just got to go and take care of our business."
On if the Tulane game was the best game of the year by the defense: "Yes, they played well."
On how they decide who plays: "You watch them all week, and the ones that deserve to play, play. We didn't have that many snaps in the game defensively."
On the blocked field goal: "It was a low kick. We didn't execute our technique very well up front, but the ball was kicked low."
