University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Todd Monken Weekly Media Conference
10/20/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
Opening Statement...
We had a good Sunday yesterday. The mood is always better coming off a win. I am happy for our team for getting a win on the road. We didn't do things perfect, but we are getting better. I think our guys are gaining confidence as we move forward. We've got a real challenge this week with LA Tech. They are much improved from last year. Skip (Holtz) has done a great job there since a couple of years losing a bunch of seniors replacing a number of guys giving themselves a chance to win. They are also doing good defensively by bringing in Mannie Diaz who does a great job. He does an aggressive, attacking style of defense and forces you to execute and try to avoid loss yardage plays and turnovers. We've got a real challenge for us Saturday but we're excited about them coming here and seeing how we can build on last week.
Biggest improvement in Louisiana Tech over last year...
I think the biggest improvement is just having a second year with majority of their staff. From the coaches on down, I think that enables you to move forward being able to hear the same message. Then I think adding the quarterback and running back, they have a number of receivers who are older. Defensively adding Coach Diaz adds an element of confidence. I think he's always had a swagger to him, a confidence, and I think their players feed off of that. I think just a second year with the staff, defensively and adding that quarter back, they have improved.
On Louisiana Tech...
They had the Northwestern game in hand but they just turned it over. If you turn it over at the wrong time, in which they did at the end, and you've already counted that win, I wouldn't even look at that. They dominated that game. They're a good football team, and they are improving. As they have continued they have played better on both sides. They're doing a great job of taking care of the football and they're playing hard. It's going to be a real challenge for us, but we've continued to play better and better as well. Not always perfect at times, but we've continued to get better.
Last week's game...
We were really good on third downs. We have been much better. We always talk about the five ways to win: turnovers, explosive plays, third down conversions, touchdowns in the red zone and loss yardage plays. Other than the snap over our head at the end, we only had one loss yardage play. Our running backs had no loss yardage plays. Other than a couple of penalties, we were always able to stay within arm's length of a first down. We've done better with that in the last couple of weeks. The culmination of the turnovers and kicking field goals has stopped us in the last couple of weeks from putting numbers on the board, but we have improved. I think a lot of our plays have gotten better and that is going to happen. Casey Martin, our leading receiver, was not here in the spring. Mike Thomas, our second leading receiver, was not here in the spring. Markese Triplett, one of our leading receivers, didn't even go through spring. Kyle Foster wasn't here in the spring. A lot of our running backs were not here in the spring and George Payne is now healthy. We've got a number of guys who just in a matter of time would continue to get better. A lot of these things added to our ability to function as an offense.
On the return of Jalen Richard...
When you've got an experienced running back when you didn't have that, it's hard to dump the ball down. There were a number of times where we got Jalen the ball, who was our leading receiver (against North Texas), because he gets it. He can route run, he can protect, and he can catch it. I just think it's also with who we're playing. Stats are skewed. We played Alabama and Mississippi State and its going to skew things when you're playing teams in your wheel house. You're going to gain some confidence from that and I think our players are starting to feel that as we move forward, offensively.
On the play of Casey Martin...
He's a good player. He knows what to do. He's a pretty good route runner. He knows how to get open and he likes to play the game. That gives you confidence and allows you to be steady offensively.
The players' reaction on the ride home...
It was certainly not like last year when we returned from UAB. It's hard to do what you do on a daily basis, and not reap the benefits of your hard work. Singing the fight song with the team, seeing all of the hard work and seeing smiles on their faces. All it means is that we've come a long way in a year and a half and this week is bigger. That is the fun part about it. I told the team that this week is bigger and there is something to play for. You've got to get close enough to where you're playing for something. This week is bigger. It's a big game for us and a West Division game.
On players losing focus...
I'm not worried about the team losing focus. We have to continue to do the things that we've done to get better and eliminate some of the things that we're still doing that is stopping us from being better. Those things are self-inflicted: alignment and assignment. Those things stop you from being as good as you can be. We have enough talent. We have great players but we're not capable of just going out there and rolling a ball and winning. So, how do we eliminate some of those things that stop us from being the team we want to become and can become?
On the rivalry between the two schools...
I think everybody is dying for something to be called a rivalry, but I don't know. Usually, rivalries occur when someone is in close proximity or it means something to you. What does it mean in terms of winning a conference or division when you have two good teams within proximity, recruiting and also having ties there? I think it's natural to think that could develop into a rivalry, but I don't know if it's there yet. I just think its two teams that are trying to take another step forward in year two of their program and that is what we're both doing.
On taking it easy with Jalen Richard...
We had trouble with that earlier in the year, whether it was George (Payne) or Ito (Smith) carrying the ball too much. First, our running backs have to take care of the football. That is our first priority. I think we did a much better job this week of who we wanted in the game. We lessened the load a little bit and played to their strengths, and I can see us continuing to go down that path.
On the offensive line...
We've come a long way. We don't have a lot of them. They've been banged up a little bit, but I think with that move with Devin Farrior to right guard has stabilized it some and then our right tackles have rotated but I think that Cameron Tom has been steady, Brandon Farmer has been steady at left guard and Rashod Hill has been better. But we have been much more consistent, and we have to continue down that path of keeping it simple, doing things well and playing physical. I think they've had better practices and it has led to seeing it on Saturday.
On the potential to become bowl eligible this season...
We are not in a position to think about that. The only thing we need to think about is what Louisiana Tech poses to us offensively, defensively and special teams. What can we do on our end to keep us moving forward because you don't have to be bowl eligible this week? You have to be the best team on the field. That is all we have to be this week. If you're the best team on the field on more Saturdays than not, that will be a by-product of what you do. The moment we start worrying about bowl eligibility is ridiculous. Right now it's LA Tech.
On scoring more points on the road...
The game with UAB they kept giving it to us. They kept turning over the ball and that helped us. It was the last game of the year. Middle Tennessee, we screwed it up early and then found a way late. We had every opportunity to score more than we did against Rice and we didn't. But we're getting better. I don't really see it that way; I just know that we are getting better.
Do you think you have a shorter leash with players this season?
I just think that with positions like running back, if you're going to fumble the football of course you're going to be on a short leash because that is the number one way to lose football games. Obviously not with Nick because he's our best player, offensively. I think the more competition you have, the more depth you have, the more I think it allows you to produce. The guys have to understand that you have to produce. We're in a business where we have to produce. I have to produce and they have to produce. But, I wouldn't say we've had a shorter leash; maybe with the running backs, but I think that's because we're trying to find a guy that can be an every down guy. I don't think there has been any difference that way.
