University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss-Tulane Postgame Quotes
10/24/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 24, 2009
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SOUTHERN MISS ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS Post Game Quotes vs. Tulane HEAD COACH Larry Fedora
Opening Statement: "We are very happy to be 1-0 (this week). I am pleased with the guys' efforts tonight. Defensively, we got after it and created a bunch of turnovers. We went into the game saying we needed to create at least three turnovers and add more possessions because we thought they would grind the clock on us. Our defense did a heck of a job, I think there was really only one drive Tulane put together that we did not play well defensively on.
"Offensively it was a frustrating night, I do not know if I have even been in a game where you do not punt but still do not feel good about what you did on offense. We left a lot of points on the field. We have to finish drives off. The same things that we keep focusing on each week are the things we have to get better on.
"We did some good things on our special teams, obviously our extra point and field goal teams were atrocious tonight and we will have to get those fixed.
"I though our guys played extremely hard and like I said we are happy to be 1-0
On scoring touchdown from all three phases of the game: "It was encouraging, but I tell you the first thing was to see C. J. (Bailey) come off the edge and block that kick, especially with Michael McGee going down and that being his specialty. I told Mike over on the sideline that C. J. learned from the best and then Andre (Watson) took it the distance. That is a huge play and kind of a back-breaker for an opposing team when that happens. We scored in all three phases, but we did not score enough offensively, though
On the Defense: "I would have to say this is the most complete game that we have put together this season. (Andre) Anderson and (Jeremy) Williams both had under 100 yards and that was two of our goals coming into the game, to hold both of those guys under 100 yards each. The guys played hard and rose to the challenge.
On the play of QB Martevious Young: "He did a good job taking care of the football. The play to Johdrick Morris, if he would have just laid it out there, we would have scored a touchdown, but he under threw it. He is doing a good job and getting better and better. Each play is a new experience for him. Something new happens in a game and he is learns from it. He is getting a lot of reps in practice. The team has been comfortable with him from the start. That was never going to be a factor. It was just him getting enough reps for him to start feeling comfortable and I think he is starting to feel that away.
"Each and every week we start to expand the playbook more. When he feels more comfortable we add a little more. We have been able to do that each week and I think he has handled it well."
On Playing Houston next weekend: "It is the next game. Our goal is to be 1-0 and that is all we are going to focus on. We understand that Houston is playing really well and they are a heck of a football team. We will have our work cut out for us."
On how DeAndre Brown is progressing: "We keep saying that he is getting a little bit better each week. I think he is feeling better about what he is doing and his endurance is back. All the things he has to adjust to he has done. I know that he does not have any problem mixing it up or getting in the air and making plays. I think he is starting to feel more comfortable as we go."
On the running game tonight: The disappointing thing is that we turned it over twice and we cannot do that. That was the biggest disappointment of the whole game, but we did run the football very effectively. It did not matter who we put back there. That says a lot about what the offensive line is doing up front and I am proud of the way those guys played."
Southern Miss Player Quotes
Martevious Young, QB, #14 On running game being open: "They gave us a big running box tonight. We improved on our `pounding game' and we got what we could."
On throwing to DeAndre Brown: "He is a big target. I don't single him out, but if the chance is there, I take it."
On challenges playing Houston: Our offense is going to have to put up a lot of points, because they [Houston] have a good offense. We have to go into this week focused. Everyone must fill their role."
On offensive frustrations: "I feel good about the win, but we did turn the ball over two times, and that was the main thing we tried not to do. That is frustrating and something we have to improve on."
Terrance Conner, DE, #29 On getting to QB: "In practice, coach asked me about the moves I use in one-on-one drills and asked me why I don't use them in a game. I told him it looks different in the games, but I tried it tonight and it turned out pretty good. I used the spin move three times."
On defense's performance: "This is the best we played. We had five turnovers. This is our best performance so far."
Jamie Collins, #22 On recovering fumble for TD: "Coach always talks about getting to the ball. I was on the blitz, so I had to peel back and get to the ball. I have to play hard for the team."
On defense's performance: "We had to play tough. They have a pounding offense so we had to pound them back."
On Houston: "It's the biggest game we've played. They're ranked and they are tough. We know we have to play hard."
DeAndre Brown, WR, #5 On pass from Young: "We've worked on it all week, getting the timing right between Martevious and me. It finally paid off and we were able to capitalize on it."
On defense's performance: "It's big for our defense. They've been practicing real hard. They came out and played their game, forcing turnovers and capitalizing on them."
