University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Coach Todd Monken's Weekly Media Conference
11/9/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- Southern Miss football coach Todd Monken addressed the media Monday with his weekly media conference, previewing the Rice game which will be played at this Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in Houston, Texas.
Opening Statement...
"I really think we had a good week last week. It was a really spirited three days. Our guys got a chance to get away over the weekend. We came back yesterday and they will have today off then it's back to work on Tuesday. I think the bye week came at a great time because we have played games the last nine weeks plus you throw in two-a-days on top of that. The guys really haven't had a break. Where we are right now is where we want to be. Not many teams get to say it's November and we have a chance to play for a championship. We control our own destiny, which is what you always want. Our players have earned that. We are excited for the opportunity this weekend to play at Rice. David Bailiff has done a great job with consistency and recruiting. They won the league two years ago and just last year they were a bowl team. They have a veteran senior quarterback with a great senior wide receiver and good running backs. Defensively, they have been beat up and that stings. They have had to replace some defensive linemen but they have continued to play hard. The guys that had to replace the injured haven't done anything but get better so we will have to be at our best. They have good coaches. I know both of their coordinators and they do a good job. They have good players and when someone has a talented senior quarterback then they are always a threat. We are talking about one of the best programs in our conference also one of the best-coached teams. We are going to have to be at our best and I anticipate that our guys will be."
Was the bye week a good time so people can get the bowl eligibility out of their system?
"I guess that can be some of it. Another way to look at it is we reached our first goal. Now it is time to take a break and refocus for the last three games. I think part of it is Dylan Bradley got banged up a couple of weeks ago then reinjured himself so I think he will be ready to go now. He has been a really good player for us. Guys like Justice Hayes and Quincy Russell have had another week to get back so that continues to add depth for our team. You know it's one of those things to get away and have a little break then get back and get ready. Two of our last three games are on the road so we will have to be at our best."
What usually stands out the most as the biggest advantage after a bye week?
"I think you get a little extended preparation on the opponent. You get a chance to look forward just be careful not to look too much because you have a lot of time on your hands. The biggest thing is getting to dial in and work a little more towards your plan. It isn't about the calls. It's about executing the calls. The more you can work on for the game against Rice the better. Did we do all that last week? No, but we did some of it. I'm not as concerned with that though I'm actually more concerned going into a bye then after a bye."
Does Rice dropping a game make them more dangerous heading into this weekend?
"I don't know. I can't speak to their mindset. I know all it took when we played UTEP. You watch them play FAU when they got their quarterback back after the bye week. They got their mojo back at home and plus it is hard to win on the road. I saw that when FAU went there so when UTEP came here I had to convince the team that every week is different. A team can gain momentum or lose it. There was a moment that UTEP may not have had it but now they do and that's a good enough football team in our league. That didn't surprise me that they went to UTEP and played a good football team. That is no disrespect to Rice it just speaks volumes to what UTEP has done and how they played. UTEP did a good job keeping the ball away from Rice and it shrunk the game. They kept the ball away from a senior quarterback and that's good football. I can't speak for Rice on how they felt after Louisiana Tech and how they had a chance to beat them and move into first in the conference. I think they will play hard and be motivated. They have too many veteran coaches on their staff, a senior quarterback and a team that is used to winning. I expect they will have a good week of practice just like I would hope they think that we are going to have a good week of practice then be ready to go."
On winning the last three games...
"Like I have said before, you want to get to the point when games matter. Everyone hopes to get to November and play our best football. We had a nice third quarter of the season when we won all three. That is where I was hoping to be but you never know. You have to go out and play the games. Now we get a chance to prepare for Rice this week. It will be another tough road test but let's see how far we have come."
How high is the ceiling for this team?
"We have good coaches, players and schemes but we haven't played the perfect game yet. You never really play the perfect game but you can strive for that. I do think two weeks ago we did a lot of thing right against UTEP. We held them under 300 yards; we didn't give up big play; we scored on special teams; and other than the one time Nick (Mullens) got hit, we didn't turn the ball over in the rain. Again you can't carry that stuff over week to week, but I think we have good skill players with veterans up front with a veteran quarterback. I think we are athletic on defense and we like to play. The good news is I don't think we have played as well as we can play."
On momentum after the bye week...
"I guess we will find out this week but I can't imagine that our guys don't understand what is in front of them. There is no reason to turn back now. I mean, this is what you play for. Our first goal was to get to a bowl game; we got that but everything else is still in front of us. I don't feel like I need to explain it. Yes, we have come a long way but the time is now and we are good enough. We don't need any good breaks to happen. All we have to do is play football to the best of our ability and we control our own destiny starting this week against Rice."
What does Rice do defensively that gives them the best chance to win?
"They are very sound in what they do and they play hard. They play very sound football and with teams like that you have to be careful because then they will figure out what you are doing offensively. We are going to have to execute. They aren't going to blow coverage's or be out of gaps. We will just have to execute better than they do. It was the same way last year but we didn't do a good enough job. They have good players and good coaches. They do good things on defense and force you to execute."
What do you see day in and day out from your players that shows that they are motivated and ready to play?
"I don't know anything in particular. Last week, I didn't think we had a good Tuesday and I told them then we came back and had a great Wednesday. It's one of those team that is mature enough and talented enough that we can be honest with them. You can tell them straight up when it is right and when it isn't and they will respond. Can I speak for every single players' motivation and if they are ready? No, I can only go on how we practice and how we bring it. Are we doing meetings, film and asking questions better than they are? All I can go on is our coaching staff day by day and their dedication to us and giving them the best chance to win irrespective of talent. Talent does win but the bottom line is are we doing our part to solve the puzzle?"
On the message moving forward...
"The message is very clear -- We control our own destiny. I looked the other day. I think I counted up going into the weekend that about 33 out of 128 teams control their own destiny. After this past weekend that has dwindled down and it will even more each and every week. That's where you want to be. Now I don't want anyone to look ahead but this is where we wanted to be as of today. Rice is next so that is our goal our guys have done a great job all year just looking at what teams do and not who they are. Our job every week is to keep our guys focused. That's the real trick."
Is there anything that you did over the bye week that you didn't have time all year to do?
"Not particularly, except for my son had a friend over and we were sitting there watching football and he looked at me and said, `So, is this your normal day off? Do you normally get Saturdays off?' I said, `Just hold on a second J.R. Think about the question you just asked.' It was kind of funny because he was like, `Yeah, I guess that was a pretty silly question to ask.' Who needs days off when you do your hobby for a job? Seriously, if you could do your hobby every day of the week, how awesome is that? I get to coach football for a living and be with these great young men at a great university. On my day off, I'm still watching football and thinking about our team and what we need to do. I get to do my hobby for a living. I mean, how cool is that?"
