University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Photo by: Joe Harper/bgnphoto.com
Coach Will Hall Media Conference – The Troy Game
10/4/2022 1:30:00 PM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- Southern Miss football head coach Will Hall met with members of the media Tuesday morning following practice to discuss this weekend's Sun Belt Conference inaugural game at Troy.
Game time is set for 6 p.m., Saturday, at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Troy, Ala. The game can be seen on ESPN+ as well as heard on an affiliate of the Southern Miss Sports Network by Learfield.
Here is some of what Hall said to the media on Tuesday:
Opening Statement…
"Great Tuesday. Great weather again. I thank the good Lord for that. A great competition. I heard some pads popping. It was really, really good to see coming off a bye week to get our edge back. We really knocked the stew out of each other today. I saw some high-speed collisions, saw some big plays defensively and offensively, and it was a full-fledge get after it day. Our kids have really embraced our culture and the physicality of it and how we do things and that's good to see too. As we continue to add depth, you can see some young guys, like I said, we're into our sixth week and they're really starting to get it and add value and could add some more depth down the stretch because we could play those guys in four games if we had to if we get banged up a little bit more and still save a year, and if we got to play them more than that, we got to. I'm excited about where we're headed. We have an unbelievable opportunity this week - playing an opponent that's been picked to win the West or finish second in the West by everybody. We're big underdogs again, we're on the road. So, a tremendous challenge, and looking forward to that challenge and going over there and continuing to try and build this program."
On Troy's Defense…
"You can tell it's a combination of [Troy defensive coordinator/safeties coach Shiel] Wood and [Troy head] coach [Jon] Sumrall. Coach Sumrall was with Mike MacIntyre for a long time and with Coach Stoops at Kentucky. They're a three-down team that does some different things. Then Coach Wood was with Nate Woody, so you can see some Nate Woody and you can see some Stoops and you can see some MacIntyre in it. We've coached against all those guys in the past. You can see how they've done a great job of blending that together. They play extremely hard and physical. They've got some really older guys that have played a lot of football. [Troy linebacker Carlton] Marital is a great player—I actually recruited his brother out of high school. He was a great corner at North Alabama. I didn't get him, but boy he terrorized me for years. He was an unbelievable player an undersized DB that played, and he [Marshall] plays the same way, so you can tell its in their family genes. No. 5 [Troy defensive tackle Will Choloh] in the trenches really wreaked havoc on us last year. They've got more players than that. They play really hard and physical out of their three-down front and really get after you. It's been a gauntlet for us because we've played Liberty, who's awesome on D; we've played Miami, who's been really good on D and has great players; Tulane's phenomenal on D; and now Troy is really good on D, so it's kind of more of the same for us. I have great respect for them and what they do."
On Troy's Quarterback Uncertainty…
"I don't think it changes anything. Both kids are similar in styles. They're offense didn't change much last week when [Troy quarterback Jarret] Doege came in. We have great respect for both kids. Both kids have played a lot of football, so they're experienced, and I don't think you'll see their offense change much regardless."
On Importance of Tulane Win in Comparison to Troy…
"It was a big win, but it was two weeks ago now. It's over and done with; we've got a new challenge. The great thing about life and football, nowadays with the way the world moves so fast and with social media, you do something great on one day and you get accolades for it and the next day you either do it again and you fail, and everybody thinks you're not any good anymore. You have to wake up every day and prove it every day, and so we've kind of moved on from that. Experiences in life do build confidence and we have gone on the road and won a game versus a really good team, so we've got more confidence that we can do that, but this is a new and intriguing challenge all within itself."
On Troy Game as a Measuring Stick for Program…
"If we lose, it's not the end of the world with where we're at building the program. If we win, it's obviously a huge step forward, because nobody really talks about us in the Sun Belt West. Nobody really gives us any credit. We're always big underdogs, and that's what probably what we should be—we've earned that through our play over the last three years. To be thought of differently, we have to, through our reputation and our actions, do different things. To go over there and play well in that environment and possibly get a win would obviously change a lot of peoples' opinions of us. We're not going to be a finished product either way, we've got to keep working. It's early in the season and our first conference game."
On Running Back Room's Progress Behind Frank Gore, Jr.…
"Janari [Dean] is playing well, he just hasn't gotten the opportunities. We've had a limited number of snaps the last few games because against Northwestern State, we had a lot of explosive plays and then Tulane we didn't get our first three short yardage situations to extend drives, so we had less than 60 snaps, so Janari hasn't really gotten in a groove, but I feel like Janari is practicing really well, he had a good day today. Frank is playing really well. Chandler Pittman is coming on. We're in a good situation right there. Kenyon Clay is an unbelievably talented young man that's got three games left and still can redshirt. If we stay healthy, that's probably what we're going to do with him, even though he is as talented as anybody, I just don't believe in burning a kid's year on a few snaps, but if a something happened to change it, that could certainly change."
On Field Wide Receiver Position…
"Frog [Latreal Jones] is playing well. He got his first catch the other night. Nobody has gotten as many catches as we'd like through our quarterback change and transition. Again, we've gotten a limited number of snaps. We had a bunch of guys catch balls versus Northwestern State, but we rotated a lot of them so nobody had big stats. [Jason] Brownlee and [Jakarius] Caston had good games versus Tulane. Frog got his first catch and you'll continue to see him catch more balls as the year goes on."
On Cultural Ingredients of Good Special Teams…
"Well, number one, it's got to start at the top with the head coach, and it does. From the moment we got here, we've talked about if you're going to start on O and D, you have to be heavily involved in at least two special team units. So, that was the standard that was set from the opening team meeting, and then you can't lie, you've got to stick to that. Outside of unbelievable circumstances, we pretty much do stick to it. Right now, at inside linebacker, we're kind of divvying from it, but our kids understand—we've been up front with that—because we're thin at that position. Then our kids, you have to show them statistics in the NFL and how much it matters statistically to win games but also how if they're going to play in the NFL, they're going to have to do it and put it on tape and we've got so many instances with, right now, guys from Southern Miss that in the NFL and we get them to text message and show that if you can't play in the kicking game, they won't take you or keep you. So, it's just what we talk and preach every day. I'm heavily involved in punt and kickoff return, so they see me in there too. They know it matters to me and I just think it's got to be part of what you do."
On Ability to Rotate 9-10 Offensive Lineman…
"I would say that's very rare in year two of a program. What we've done from a recruiting standpoint and getting Sam Gregg here in a coaching standpoint and Coach [Lance] Ancar in a development has been unbelievable to be able to do that in year two. Very few programs can do that anywhere, especially in year two in the trenches. What you're looking at right now is we're playing nine O-lineman consistently and we're playing seven D-lineman consistently in three spots. If you count the jacks in it, we're playing 10 D-lineman consistently. So, that's an unbelievable job of recruiting, developing and coaching in year two, because when you look at the Alabama's, the Georgia's and those guys, that's what they do, and that's what we want to get to at the group of five level."
On Team's Overall Health After Bye Week…
"Good. Obviously, everybody knows the guys that we have hurt and lost for the year, but the guys we're playing with are healthy and ready to roll."
Game time is set for 6 p.m., Saturday, at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Troy, Ala. The game can be seen on ESPN+ as well as heard on an affiliate of the Southern Miss Sports Network by Learfield.
Here is some of what Hall said to the media on Tuesday:
Opening Statement…
"Great Tuesday. Great weather again. I thank the good Lord for that. A great competition. I heard some pads popping. It was really, really good to see coming off a bye week to get our edge back. We really knocked the stew out of each other today. I saw some high-speed collisions, saw some big plays defensively and offensively, and it was a full-fledge get after it day. Our kids have really embraced our culture and the physicality of it and how we do things and that's good to see too. As we continue to add depth, you can see some young guys, like I said, we're into our sixth week and they're really starting to get it and add value and could add some more depth down the stretch because we could play those guys in four games if we had to if we get banged up a little bit more and still save a year, and if we got to play them more than that, we got to. I'm excited about where we're headed. We have an unbelievable opportunity this week - playing an opponent that's been picked to win the West or finish second in the West by everybody. We're big underdogs again, we're on the road. So, a tremendous challenge, and looking forward to that challenge and going over there and continuing to try and build this program."
On Troy's Defense…
"You can tell it's a combination of [Troy defensive coordinator/safeties coach Shiel] Wood and [Troy head] coach [Jon] Sumrall. Coach Sumrall was with Mike MacIntyre for a long time and with Coach Stoops at Kentucky. They're a three-down team that does some different things. Then Coach Wood was with Nate Woody, so you can see some Nate Woody and you can see some Stoops and you can see some MacIntyre in it. We've coached against all those guys in the past. You can see how they've done a great job of blending that together. They play extremely hard and physical. They've got some really older guys that have played a lot of football. [Troy linebacker Carlton] Marital is a great player—I actually recruited his brother out of high school. He was a great corner at North Alabama. I didn't get him, but boy he terrorized me for years. He was an unbelievable player an undersized DB that played, and he [Marshall] plays the same way, so you can tell its in their family genes. No. 5 [Troy defensive tackle Will Choloh] in the trenches really wreaked havoc on us last year. They've got more players than that. They play really hard and physical out of their three-down front and really get after you. It's been a gauntlet for us because we've played Liberty, who's awesome on D; we've played Miami, who's been really good on D and has great players; Tulane's phenomenal on D; and now Troy is really good on D, so it's kind of more of the same for us. I have great respect for them and what they do."
On Troy's Quarterback Uncertainty…
"I don't think it changes anything. Both kids are similar in styles. They're offense didn't change much last week when [Troy quarterback Jarret] Doege came in. We have great respect for both kids. Both kids have played a lot of football, so they're experienced, and I don't think you'll see their offense change much regardless."
On Importance of Tulane Win in Comparison to Troy…
"It was a big win, but it was two weeks ago now. It's over and done with; we've got a new challenge. The great thing about life and football, nowadays with the way the world moves so fast and with social media, you do something great on one day and you get accolades for it and the next day you either do it again and you fail, and everybody thinks you're not any good anymore. You have to wake up every day and prove it every day, and so we've kind of moved on from that. Experiences in life do build confidence and we have gone on the road and won a game versus a really good team, so we've got more confidence that we can do that, but this is a new and intriguing challenge all within itself."
On Troy Game as a Measuring Stick for Program…
"If we lose, it's not the end of the world with where we're at building the program. If we win, it's obviously a huge step forward, because nobody really talks about us in the Sun Belt West. Nobody really gives us any credit. We're always big underdogs, and that's what probably what we should be—we've earned that through our play over the last three years. To be thought of differently, we have to, through our reputation and our actions, do different things. To go over there and play well in that environment and possibly get a win would obviously change a lot of peoples' opinions of us. We're not going to be a finished product either way, we've got to keep working. It's early in the season and our first conference game."
On Running Back Room's Progress Behind Frank Gore, Jr.…
"Janari [Dean] is playing well, he just hasn't gotten the opportunities. We've had a limited number of snaps the last few games because against Northwestern State, we had a lot of explosive plays and then Tulane we didn't get our first three short yardage situations to extend drives, so we had less than 60 snaps, so Janari hasn't really gotten in a groove, but I feel like Janari is practicing really well, he had a good day today. Frank is playing really well. Chandler Pittman is coming on. We're in a good situation right there. Kenyon Clay is an unbelievably talented young man that's got three games left and still can redshirt. If we stay healthy, that's probably what we're going to do with him, even though he is as talented as anybody, I just don't believe in burning a kid's year on a few snaps, but if a something happened to change it, that could certainly change."
On Field Wide Receiver Position…
"Frog [Latreal Jones] is playing well. He got his first catch the other night. Nobody has gotten as many catches as we'd like through our quarterback change and transition. Again, we've gotten a limited number of snaps. We had a bunch of guys catch balls versus Northwestern State, but we rotated a lot of them so nobody had big stats. [Jason] Brownlee and [Jakarius] Caston had good games versus Tulane. Frog got his first catch and you'll continue to see him catch more balls as the year goes on."
On Cultural Ingredients of Good Special Teams…
"Well, number one, it's got to start at the top with the head coach, and it does. From the moment we got here, we've talked about if you're going to start on O and D, you have to be heavily involved in at least two special team units. So, that was the standard that was set from the opening team meeting, and then you can't lie, you've got to stick to that. Outside of unbelievable circumstances, we pretty much do stick to it. Right now, at inside linebacker, we're kind of divvying from it, but our kids understand—we've been up front with that—because we're thin at that position. Then our kids, you have to show them statistics in the NFL and how much it matters statistically to win games but also how if they're going to play in the NFL, they're going to have to do it and put it on tape and we've got so many instances with, right now, guys from Southern Miss that in the NFL and we get them to text message and show that if you can't play in the kicking game, they won't take you or keep you. So, it's just what we talk and preach every day. I'm heavily involved in punt and kickoff return, so they see me in there too. They know it matters to me and I just think it's got to be part of what you do."
On Ability to Rotate 9-10 Offensive Lineman…
"I would say that's very rare in year two of a program. What we've done from a recruiting standpoint and getting Sam Gregg here in a coaching standpoint and Coach [Lance] Ancar in a development has been unbelievable to be able to do that in year two. Very few programs can do that anywhere, especially in year two in the trenches. What you're looking at right now is we're playing nine O-lineman consistently and we're playing seven D-lineman consistently in three spots. If you count the jacks in it, we're playing 10 D-lineman consistently. So, that's an unbelievable job of recruiting, developing and coaching in year two, because when you look at the Alabama's, the Georgia's and those guys, that's what they do, and that's what we want to get to at the group of five level."
On Team's Overall Health After Bye Week…
"Good. Obviously, everybody knows the guys that we have hurt and lost for the year, but the guys we're playing with are healthy and ready to roll."
Players Mentioned
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