University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Football Practice Report: Nov. 4
11/4/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
Venue: Joe P. Park Practice Facility
Format: Helmets, shoulder pads, shorts
Upcoming: Practice (4:15 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 5)
Report: Southern Miss went through the second practice of its lone bye week this season. The team went through a workout that lasted for just over two hours. While the team began starting to put things in for their next game at Rice, Nov. 14, much of the practice was used to continue to run repetitions to not only correct mistakes but also to continue to better themselves for the final three games of the regular season.
Head Coach Todd Monken
Q: Do you use the bye week as an installation time?
"Not really, we are doing well because we do what we can do and we do it well. We just have to do it better. Yes, some of it is preparation for Rice but a lot of it is correcting and continuing to rep and get better. You are never perfect at what you do whether it's a stance, a start or a pass set. We just have to continue to get better on both sides of the ball and special teams. "
Q: Over the past few games you have gotten some good production from your younger defensive linemen especially Darian Yancey and Xavier Thigpen. What do you contribute that to?
"They are playing and practicing hard. Draper Riley has had a good couple of weeks since he has been back. Then you throw in Ja'Boree Poole and Naim Mustafaa into the mix. Mustafaa got here about 15 weeks ago. All of those guys are continuing to get better and our older guys are getting better too. Mike Smith and Andrew Bolton are both getting better inside. The more focused you are the better you practice and then you throw the skill set in with the hard work and it all works out."
Senior DL Quincy Russell
Q: A lot was made earlier in the season about newcomers that were coming in. Nine games later it seems all the chemistry meshed well together. How is it from your vantage point?
"It was risky for us too. Just having to learn a new scheme with a whole new group of guys and being at a whole new school. I would say for me personally it has worked out pretty well. I picked up on the defense quick. I gelled with the coaches and players. I feel like we took a good gamble. Even when I first got here they opened me with open arms and made me feel like part of a family. It has been great ever since."
This Week: Open Week; Return to action Nov. 14 at Rice (2:30 p.m./American Sports Network)
Tickets: 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.
