University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Larry Fedora Weekly Press Conference Transcript...Sept. 20, 2010
9/20/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 20, 2010
Coach Larry Fedora Weekly Media Conference Transcript...Sept. 20, 2010
Opening Statement:
"After getting a good look at the Kansas film and watching it two or three times, there were a lot of things that we were really pleased with from the game. One was the effort overall as a team in all three phases of the game along the enthusiasm, passion and excitement not only on the field, but also on the sideline and with our crowd. It was a great atmosphere and a lot of fun and that is the way the game is supposed to be played.
"Though at the same time, after watching the film, we saw a whole lot of room for improvement in all three phases. We are not anywhere close to where we can be yet. I asked everyone on the team last night `If anyone has played the best game they can play?' and no one raised their hand. We have a lot of room for improvement in all three phases. There were a lot of points left on the board and points that could have been taken off the board. We have a lot of work to do and we are going to try and be a much better football team this next week."
On the Play of the Defensive Line:
"They did a great job and got a lot of pressure. They did it in four-man situation and we did it with five. We mixed it up, but most of the time we got really good pressure with just four guys. Cordarro Law played a great game. He just absolutely missed two sacks, but it was still an incredible game for him with seven solo tackles and a TFL. He was just very disruptive. I thought our whole D-line played well because Anthony Gray played really well also."
On the Dropped Interceptions:
"There was three dropped interceptions in the game, one was a pick-six unless he would have just fallen down while Marcal (Robinson) and Deron (Wilson) both dropped one. Our goal is to get three turnovers in each game and we just refused to do it Friday night. It was like they were given to us in a basket."
On Facing La. Tech's OC Tony Franklin Again:
"This is the third year in a row we have faced him at Southern Miss. He was at Auburn in 2008 and Middle Tennessee last year. For me I also saw him when I was at Oklahoma State and he was at Troy. Tony does a great job and we know we will have to be prepared because he does a great job.
"He has a philosophy and it is something that he believes in and that's what he does. Basically he spreads you out and takes advantage of mismatches and the personnel that he has. You can look at him from one place to another and everyone of them are different. He does a good job of using the personnel that he has and creating mismatches. Now no matter where he has been at he has spread it out, he believes in that and he sticks with it even if things are not going right and does not outside things influence it because that is what he believes in."
On a Potential Trap Game this Week:
"I do not know if I have looked at this game sandwiched in between (Kansas last week and C-USA opener Marshall next week) because we really do not look ahead. But it is something that if your team is not used to getting all the pats on the back like we are this week and they let that effect the way they think then we have a problem. It is something that we definitely talk about. You do not listen to people when they criticize you so do not listen when they pat you on the back - it's the same thing. Just do what you are supposed to do and get your mind right and play the game the way it's supposed to be played, but that is something as a coaching staff you constantly worry about. It is proven week-in and week-out that if your team is ready to play and they play hard then they have a chance against anybody. If your team is not, they can get beat by anybody and that is proven every week. If you could bottle up whatever it is that makes them play hard and fast every week and just sell it, you would be good to go because I do not think anyone knows what that answer is."
On the blocked punts the last two weeks:
"It is just believing. Guys are starting to get that feeling that they expect to block a punt. It does not matter who it is; they just want to be the guy. It is like when a shark smells blood in the water and you start getting that feeding frenzy. We scheme everything and they are all antsy and want to go after it.
"The other night I did not want to call that block there but there were about three players who convinced me to go after it. They are taking ownership and we are getting things going in that right area. You can have the fastest guy in the world up there and if they do not believe they are going to get there then they are not. Very seldom are they not going to block you and just turn you loose and let you go. There were two guys blocking Tim (Green) when he got to the punt, but he spilt them and willed himself through there. They blocked him but he wanted it more than they did. He just truly believed he was going to block that punt."
On Louisiana Tech's Defense:
"They are a four-man front with three linebackers, and basic quarter coverage in the secondary. In the two games we have watched the most they have blitzed quite a few times. They do not mind pressing you up on the corners and seeing if you can play."
On the atmosphere last Friday:
"For us and our team, our kids love playing at home. They love playing in "The Rock" because they know it is a tough place to play and they believe that. They fed off that energy the other night all throughout the entire game. Our crowd was into it the whole game and stayed that way. I expect that our next home game will be exactly the same and more.
"I cannot say enough about our students. Our student section does a great job, it is packed full and they are getting after it the whole time. That is the way the game is supposed to be - it is fun. That is the advantage that every team has at home and that is why the home team usually has an edge. It is always tougher on the road."
On the health of the Team:
"Jason Weaver came up earlier and said he would be out there (at practice) tomorrow. We did not play Lamar (Holmes), but Darius Barnes and Thomas Edenfield did a nice job. Lamar actually practiced last week but was limping around. Last night, I did not notice anything so I think he is ready to go without a problem.
"DeAndre (Brown) is dinged up and did not do much last night so we will watch him as the week goes. He has lower leg strain that is bothering him, but we will see how he feels as the week goes.
"Quentin Pierce and Tracy Lampley played extensively Friday and did fine. Johdrick Morris also got a few reps as well."
On the Play of the Special Teams:
"Peter (Boehme) has done a nice job handling all the snaps thus far this season. We were a little inconsistent on our snaps Friday and (Ben) Schoenberger is usually right on the money there, but he got it corrected later in the game. Peter handled a high and low one but nothing is bothering (Danny) Hrapmann right now.
"When we go through on Thursdays with field goals I usually put him back around 60 yards and distance wise he has hit it every time, so it is not like he cannot get it there. He has plenty of leg."
