University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Football Practice Report: Oct. 13
10/13/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Venue: Joe P. Park Practice Facility
Format: Shoulder Pads and shorts
Upcoming: Practice (4:15 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 14)
Report: Southern Miss worked out for 2 ½ hours in sunny, low 80s temperatures. The team participated in team drills and went through installation of its game plan for UTSA.
Head Coach Todd Monken
On if there is anything that intrigues him about UTSA...
"Their coaches have done a great job more than anything. Their quarterback has been in-and-out and they have had two quarterbacks quit. Now, they are playing a guy that at one time was a fourth-team guy, but let me tell you he has stepped up and is playing very well. They have good running backs and wide outs. Their offense is doing well. Last year, they held us to 57 yards rushing so this year we are going to have to run the ball better and move the ball on offense."
On UTSA moving the ball and scoring on long drives and how do you combat that...
"You have to get (them) off the field on third down. If they aren't explosive then they are doing a good job of converting on third downs during those (scoring) drives. If you do not surrender explosive plays, then you have to make them convert on third down."
RB Ito Smith
On his versatility of rushing and receiving...
"The coaches have wanted me to be more efficient in the passing game. That helps if I could improve in the passing game so defenses won't just see me in and automatically know it's a running play. So now it could be either a run or a pass. Now that I can be out there on pass plays, I can catch the ball and have some open space."
LB Elijah Parker
On what the defense has seen out of UTSA....
"They have a great tight end that is a big guy, who can also run good routes. We will have to shut him down. They also have a solid offensive line. We will have to bring it with effort and communicate all around."
This Week: vs. UTSA for homecoming (6 p.m. CT, Saturday, Oct. 17, American Sports Network)
Tickets: Don't forget about the ROCKtober Daily Deal by going online each day during the month of October at SouthernMiss.com. Golden Eagle tickets can be purchased by going online at SouthernMissTickets.com, or by calling the Athletic Ticket Office at 1-800-844-TICK (8425) as well as visiting the Pat Ferlise Ticket Center, weekdays, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
