University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Larry Fedora Weekly Media Conference Quotes...Sept. 13, 2010
9/13/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 13, 2010
Head Coach Larry Fedora's Weekly Press Conference Transcript
Opening Statement:
"We did not spend a whole lot of time looking at the Prairie View game film. We wanted to get going on Kansas right away. We were obviously very pleased with the win and just looked at some things and got some corrections made that we needed to get corrected. We started yesterday morning with Kansas and that's where we are at right now.
"We did a real quick run-through of the film looking for any major mistakes or major corrections that need to be done. We found plenty of corrections that need to be made, especially in the second half. In the first half, there was some really good things that happened in the game. our guys came out and played really hard with a chip on their shoulder. They played the way we needed to play early in the game."
On the Running backs:
"We went into the game saying all four of our running backs were going to play. We wanted to make sure that (Kendrick) Hardy and (Jeremy) Hester got some reps. Again, we are going with the theory that we are going to need all four of these guys this season and we don't want to run into what we did the last couple of years so we are playing a lot of guys right now."
On the players who missed last week with injuries:
"I am hoping to have them out at practice today. From my understanding, they are very close so I anticipate they will be out there today."
On playing the first three games on three different days:
"It is difficult on the players because they are creatures of habit and right now we do not really have a habit. Every day is something new for them. We met early this morning with them and we will go out to practice this afternoon, but all of them have classes today, so just finding a window for the team to practice will be difficult because we will have guys in and out of practice."
On the play in the second half against Prairie View:
"I think we were playing a lot of guys in the second half and did not have continuity in a lot of places. Probably we lost some of the edge. There was an accumulation of a lot of things there."
On the similarity of the Kansas offense:
"Coach (Todd ) Bradford said it is like looking at us on film. Obviously, there are a lot of things that they are doing that we do and we will do a lot of things that they do so we will have to see who executes well.
"I think they are going to play two QBs. I do not know that, but both of their guys have played in their first two games so we are anticipating that we will see two quarterbacks."
On Former Southern Miss OC and Current Kansas Coach Darrell Wyatt:
"We have talked a couple of times, about the same (number of times) that we would have talked before Darrell was here, going back to our days when we coached together at Baylor back in 1995. That's probably about what you do with all the guys you have coached with, you probably talk to them once or twice a year. Darrell and I talked right at the end of camp actually."
On the Difference between Kansas' first two games:
"It looked like they opened up the offense a little bit more last week. I will say this though, do not take credit away from the team that they played in week one. That team played hard, they really did. They stayed in the game and stayed in the game and finally, you are in the second half, and getting more and more momentum as they go. It has happened how many times this fall already, four or five times? I was concerned about that the other night, the same type of situation. That's why it was important to come out and jump on them early and not let them hang around the game."
On the improvements thus far:
"We improved from game one to game two in all three phases of the game. Now we are far from where we want to be, but we have made improvement. We said special-teams wise we were going to have at least one big play and we blocked the punt. I think all three phases we improved, but we still have a long way to go."
On the play of the offensive line:
"The guys played well. They were improved over the first week. I do not know how much it had to do with the opponent either, because I thought they did a decent job versus South Carolina. I thought that going into this game they were going to be a better unit and they were - it is just reps and experience and those guys along with those guys all playing together. We have rolled a lot of guys out there because we want them all to be ready. Those guys are getting just a little bit better, but any time you are rolling guys you are not going to have the continuity you want to have and that has bit us a few times."
On the play of DeAndre Brown:
"I thought he responded very well and I expected him to (respond). He played harder, made plays, was blocking and getting after people. He played the game the way he can play the game."
On the team putting together four full quarters:
"Last year at Kansas we did not finish the game and that was the key. We turned it over in the redzone and did not get points there and just did not finish it in the fourth quarter when we had a chance to win the football game. We will definitely talk about that and make sure that we play the full game."
On What Kansas has shown on film so far:
"Offensively for us, from the two films we have gotten, the first game was a two-back, two-tight end set offense that was just running and pounding the ball. The second game was an option team, so for the offense we really do not have anything to go off of on film and that's frustrating. Its almost like it's the first game of the season and you have to go into it not having any idea what they are going to do. On the defensive side, we have a better feel because we can see what they are going to do. It has been a little tough on the offense as we are game-planning trying to figure out what they are going to be when they get in the game. Neither of those two teams threw the ball much against them but hopefully we can change that."
On Playing on a Friday Night:
"The only thing I do not like about it is that it can take away from high school football in the area. I do not mind playing at night, on a Friday or any day really. I would prefer to play on Saturday, but that is just not the way this game works out with ESPN. We are excited to showcase what this University has on Friday. I think out fans will be here and be rabid. The Rock will be a hard place to play.
"(Athletic Director) Richard (Giannini) talked with the local schools very early on when ESPN contacted us about playing on Friday to see if it would be a problem for them and a lot of those schools did accommodate so it work out for both of us."
