University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Coach Todd Monken's Weekly Media Conference
10/19/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- Southern Miss football coach Todd Monken addressed the media Monday with his weekly media conference, previewing the Charlotte game which will be played at this Saturday at 11:00 a.m. in Charlotte, N.C.
Opening Statement...
"No difference today than any Monday. We went out last night and got the corrections form Saturday's game and moved on to Charlotte. We are excited to take another step in the 2015 season against a Charlotte football team that has a lot of chances to win. They are 2-4 but they have given themselves opportunities to win. They had their chances against FAU, Old Dominion and Temple. They are really good on defense they actually lead the conference in rush defense. They give a lot of different looks. On offense, they have moved the ball. That hasn't been the problem and we have been there in the past just trying to get it in the end zone and red zone at times. It's going to be a challenge we have an early kickoff so we will have to get up early and get going. We have had seven weeks to practice and preparation and I don't see this week being any different. The good news is when you start winning every game becomes important. Whatever UTSA was this is more important. Why? Because we are trying to get five and that's all that matters though. We have to focus on our preparation and going to play a good football team. Coach Lambert had done a great job, they have a great team, they play hard and we are excited about this week."
On the improvement of the defense...
"First, you have to have to have talented guys who can make plays and we have that now. It starts with that premise. Then, you have to take the right guys that have the right approach whether that is being attentive at meetings, working at practice or feeling their energy at practice. Sure, we have Elijah Parker and Brian Anderson who were first year players last year and now they are a year more mature. Then you have guys like (Niam) Mustafaa, (Andrew) Bolton and Darian Yancey who are getting their first year of playing in games here. D'Nerius Antoine and Picasso (Nelson Jr.) are playing at different positions. It's a week-to-week thing I say it all the time. We just can't forget what got us here and that's working hard, anticipating success and being confident. That confidence comes through how you prepare during the week and having it all fit together. We are athletic enough on defense to where we can get after people. Offensively, we just have to score to take pressure of the defense and make plays."
On players feeding off of other players' success...
"That's a compliment to those guys and our offensive staff. There is only one ball and when one carries it the rest of them have to play their butts off for him. That's just the way it works. It's nice to have multiple guys that can make plays. D.J. (Thompson) had a couple of weeks with not as many opportunities but kept working just as hard. That's just the nature of that position. You can go weeks with Casey (Martin), Mike Thomas and D.J. Thompson where one gets the ball more than another one. It just works out this way and I haven't seen one person at a skill position get selfish. Skill positions now a days are selfish because everyone wants the ball. I get that and they should but our guys have an understanding about that and are still working."
Is it easier to game plan now that defenses have to prepare for Thomas, Martin, and Thompson?
"I think the more guys that can make plays it is beneficial to you. No question that if D.J. continues to play like he has been playing and we keep developing those younger receivers enough to where they are comfortable along with our quarterback. Really, it comes down to the confidence of your quarterback. If he doesn't have confidence to look in someone's direction then that hinders your offense."
Do you ever look back and see how far this team has come since two years ago?
"I try not to think back about 2013. Like I have said before, if you want to humble yourself then go back and watch some of that film. We really don't look back though. I'm doing it better, our coaches are doing it better, the changes that we have made are doing better, having more talent has made us better and the culture that we have created have made us better. I didn't know that would be due to their play against Colorado State and LA Tech the result, but playing them at home in front of our fans; we got after them a little bit. I don't reflect back that often. At least, I try not to."
In the past couple of years, you have seen how the team responded to some tough defeats. How do you see them reacting now that y'all are winning?
"First of all, I learned more in those first two years here than the other 25 years of coaching. I learned how to continue every day to bring it and stay positive while continuing to recruit. That's what our job is. Are we always perfect at it? No. If you need to change, then make whatever changes you need to make to keep moving the program forward. We did that. Right now that is a part of it. When you start winning you get relaxed. That is human nature. When you're down nature is to quit and when you are winning your nature is to settle. That's something we are in no position to do. We can't settle. We have four wins and that's it right now. I told the team the other night like ever game `Crazy things happen at the end of games. You have to stay focused and continue to fight till the end.' Just look at the Michigan game this weekend or the UTSA game against Louisiana Tech. LA Tech dominated them early then UTSA came out firing in the second half and they had to fight, scratch and claw to get a win. How do you maintain the focus throughout the game? The same thing goes with the season. We can't stop until it is all over. We have four wins. All we have right now is prepare for Charlotte to go get number five. What is hard for coaches I building it up when times are tough and not shutting it down and when you're successful is to not settle. You can't carry over points and you can't carry over statistics. Charlotte has turned it over some. Do we just assume that will happen this weekend? No. Same goes for us, we have turned it over the past couple of weeks. Are they counting on us turning the ball over four or five times? I hope not. Those are the things. What does Charlotte pose and what do we have to do to keep them focused?"
Last week the message was to the seniors. What is the message this week?
"It's the same. All we have left is six weeks and a bye week for our seniors who have played football since they were little kids. Then with the rest of the team you don't know. The team is always changing. This 2015 team is really different and so will the next one. Let's make this year special because there is no reason it can't be. We have good players and good coaches. If we understand what it takes on a daily basis meaning every rep, every practice, every game; if we take it that way with every step then we will be fine."
How do you tell your guys about how important ball security is to your team?
"It's no different. Certain things you can emphasize more. Last week, it was fumbles. This week it was some poor decisions by Nick (Mullens). We want to be explosive and move the ball. That hasn't been the issue through five games; we had five turnovers. Since then, we have fired up nine. Again, that is something we harp on every day and something we have to get back to."
Is there anything intriguing that Charlotte does that is different to what you have seen?
"Offensively, I wouldn't say so and I'm not saying they aren't good at what they do. I don't mean it that way. They pose a lot of problems with their quarterback running some stuff and the hybrid stuff. Defensively, it's a little but different because they give some multiple looks. It's good football. They try to get you in lost yardage situations. Just getting to and disrupting the quarterback is a good way to get teams off the field with three and outs. We have to be really sound in what they do. That's probably the main thing they do and that's just give multiple looks defensively."
Players have talked about you not looking at the scoreboard. Can you elaborate on that?
"Everyone talked about not looking at the scoreboard. It comes down to fighting human nature. That's what life is about. If I'm in a meeting and we start off the week talking football, am I dialed in and listening? Am I taking advantage of these moments? Human nature now a days makes our attention span so short. Everything is instant. How do we fight that? Whether it's walk through or in the game, everything is different. Every series is different. You could stop a team and go three and out then they score the next three drives and that's 21 points. It's as simple as that. Then you look back like what happened? We have to stay focused and stay in the moment. We will have plenty of time to celebrate and worry about the end. Until that thing rings zero then it is constantly bringing your team back to that. Whether you're down or up that doesn't matter you can get back in it or you can finish it if you stay in the moment."
You and a lot of players have mentioned, "Spot the ball." What is that?
"It started with Pete Golding. He talked with the team and I liked the way he said it. It just means spot the ball and play. It doesn't matter if you're playing in front of 5,000 people or 90,000 people. The game is the same. Different teams pose different problems, but if you like to play then let's go play."
