University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Will Hall Media Availability - The Old Dominion Game
10/3/2023 11:28:00 AM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss head football coach Will Hall met with members of the media Tuesday morning following practice at the Joe P. Park Practice Fields. Coach Hall discusses last week's game against Texas State and looks ahead at the Old Dominion game on Saturday, Oct. 7, at The Rock.
Southern Miss celebrates homecoming this Saturday, Oct. 7, against Old Dominion at M.M. Roberts Stadium at Carlisle-Faulkner Field. Kickoff between the Golden Eagles and Monarchs is slated for 6 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and can be heard on any affiliate station on the Southern Miss Sports Network presented by Learfield and on the Southern Miss Gameday App.
Tickets for the remainder of the football season are available and can be purchased by visiting SouthernMissTickets.com, by calling 1-800-844-TICK (8425) or by visiting the Pat Ferlise Center during regular business hours.
Here is what Coach Hall said to the media:
Opening Statement…
"Lot of urgency and intensity today. Obviously, we're embarrassed about where we're at and we're on a mission to fix it. We're doing some really good things and we're doing some stupid things that's caused us to lose, we all know that, and we're addressing those issues day by day as we continue to build this program. We've got a good opponent coming in this weekend in Old Dominion. They're 2-3 but they could very easily be way better than that. Every game they've played some really good teams like Marshall and Wake Forest and had the lead on them for a long period of time. Really good football team. They've already beat Louisiana-Lafayette, who's having a really good season. We've got a tremendous challenge. They run a similar offense to Texas State. From a schematic standpoint it will looks almost identical to our fans except they'll be in different colors—they'll be in their colors where Texas State was in theirs. Defensively, they're totally different than Texas State. They play a drop-eight defense with a three-man front. They very rarely bring pressure and they want to keep it in front of them and try and die a slow death and frustrate you a little bit offensively.
On changes made to the depth chart and scheme…
"There are some changes. I'm going to wait until game day just because I don't want to give us a schematic disadvantage to Old Dominion and put it out there, but you will some changes on Saturday. Some of those changes are dictated by Saturday and the Tuesdays and Saturdays before and consistency of play and then obviously today will matter. Tuesdays and Saturday's matter with playing time. Based off last Saturday's performance coupled with the reputation that kids are building coupled with today's tape watch, yeah there will be some changes.
On executing better in the first half…
"Well, a lot has been made of that. Offensively, we drove and scored on our opening versus Arkansas State, arguably our best drive of the year. Defensively, for two weeks in a row, we've not executed so well and then Tulane drove it the opening drive as well too. That's something we're addressing because it's something that has happened consistently. You've got to look at a larger sample size. I've coached a lot of games as a head coach, and we've not had that issue. So, is that a program issue or is that something that's stemming right now and what is causing that. So we're looking at it from a holistic standpoint and also a small sample size standpoint of the most recent weeks. We did change our practice schedule today. We changed with how did if y'all noticed that. We came out and got after it earlier in practice to simulate getting the game started. There's some other subtle things that I don't want to share that we're doing as well."
On what offense has done well on through five games…
"For two weeks in a row we've rushed for over 200 yards. We've thrown well too. We just got to not turn the ball over and we've got to not do stupid stuff. We snapped the ball off the upback's shoulder pad or we win the game after all that in a formation that we hadn't been stopped on all year—and we would've got the first down. We were whatever, 100 percent on that before that, it's never happened practice or game. We want to be a team that runs the football and play actions and drops back when we choose to and not when we have to. That's what our O-line's built to do. That's what we've inherited and what we've been able to recruit the best to. We've transitioned a little bit to where we are better in pass pro than what we've been, but we're still built with our size and girth to run the ball and play action.
On Chris Hayes' status…
"Right now, we're trying to win every game we play. So, whoever can help us do that. He [Chris Hayes] (Starkville, Miss. / Starkville HS) has brought some tenacity to the tight end position. There's some looks where we're playing him. We think he's going to be a great left tackle. If we can win every game and redshirt Chris, we're going to do it, but if Chris can help us win, we're going to play him. That's where we're at right now this early in the season.
On Old Dominion's run game…
"A lot of times what they do offensively is dependent on the defense. Marshall played some five-man box because they do like Texas State—they spread the receivers out. So if it's a light box they'll run it, if it's a loaded box they'll throw it. They got some light boxes last week and their runners popped it through the middle and made some plays. They also changed quarterbacks. The new one, fast guy, ran a quarterback draw up the middle for a big touchdown on the third play of the game and that helped them as well."
On which Old Dominion quarterback to prepare for…
"We think the guy they played this past week is going to be the starter. That's who we're preparing for. If they play the other ones, we'll adjust in-game."
On if he worked primarily with defense today during practice…
"I don't know if I was or wasn't. I bounce and roam as I see things. Our whole D-line is back, all of our linebackers are back, we've got a lot of new secondary kids. Making sure that those younger secondary guys' eyes are right and honed in because they're talented kids that want to do good. That's something I was really focusing on today, just making sure they were communicating and making their calls while Dan [O'Brien] (Defensive Coordinator) was calling the defenses. Something I felt like I could bring a lot of energy and juice to today. That doesn't mean that I was in the offensive meetings, I'm everywhere man. This is my program and my heart and my life, so I'm pouring everything I got into all facets of it."
Southern Miss celebrates homecoming this Saturday, Oct. 7, against Old Dominion at M.M. Roberts Stadium at Carlisle-Faulkner Field. Kickoff between the Golden Eagles and Monarchs is slated for 6 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and can be heard on any affiliate station on the Southern Miss Sports Network presented by Learfield and on the Southern Miss Gameday App.
Tickets for the remainder of the football season are available and can be purchased by visiting SouthernMissTickets.com, by calling 1-800-844-TICK (8425) or by visiting the Pat Ferlise Center during regular business hours.
Here is what Coach Hall said to the media:
Opening Statement…
"Lot of urgency and intensity today. Obviously, we're embarrassed about where we're at and we're on a mission to fix it. We're doing some really good things and we're doing some stupid things that's caused us to lose, we all know that, and we're addressing those issues day by day as we continue to build this program. We've got a good opponent coming in this weekend in Old Dominion. They're 2-3 but they could very easily be way better than that. Every game they've played some really good teams like Marshall and Wake Forest and had the lead on them for a long period of time. Really good football team. They've already beat Louisiana-Lafayette, who's having a really good season. We've got a tremendous challenge. They run a similar offense to Texas State. From a schematic standpoint it will looks almost identical to our fans except they'll be in different colors—they'll be in their colors where Texas State was in theirs. Defensively, they're totally different than Texas State. They play a drop-eight defense with a three-man front. They very rarely bring pressure and they want to keep it in front of them and try and die a slow death and frustrate you a little bit offensively.
On changes made to the depth chart and scheme…
"There are some changes. I'm going to wait until game day just because I don't want to give us a schematic disadvantage to Old Dominion and put it out there, but you will some changes on Saturday. Some of those changes are dictated by Saturday and the Tuesdays and Saturdays before and consistency of play and then obviously today will matter. Tuesdays and Saturday's matter with playing time. Based off last Saturday's performance coupled with the reputation that kids are building coupled with today's tape watch, yeah there will be some changes.
On executing better in the first half…
"Well, a lot has been made of that. Offensively, we drove and scored on our opening versus Arkansas State, arguably our best drive of the year. Defensively, for two weeks in a row, we've not executed so well and then Tulane drove it the opening drive as well too. That's something we're addressing because it's something that has happened consistently. You've got to look at a larger sample size. I've coached a lot of games as a head coach, and we've not had that issue. So, is that a program issue or is that something that's stemming right now and what is causing that. So we're looking at it from a holistic standpoint and also a small sample size standpoint of the most recent weeks. We did change our practice schedule today. We changed with how did if y'all noticed that. We came out and got after it earlier in practice to simulate getting the game started. There's some other subtle things that I don't want to share that we're doing as well."
On what offense has done well on through five games…
"For two weeks in a row we've rushed for over 200 yards. We've thrown well too. We just got to not turn the ball over and we've got to not do stupid stuff. We snapped the ball off the upback's shoulder pad or we win the game after all that in a formation that we hadn't been stopped on all year—and we would've got the first down. We were whatever, 100 percent on that before that, it's never happened practice or game. We want to be a team that runs the football and play actions and drops back when we choose to and not when we have to. That's what our O-line's built to do. That's what we've inherited and what we've been able to recruit the best to. We've transitioned a little bit to where we are better in pass pro than what we've been, but we're still built with our size and girth to run the ball and play action.
On Chris Hayes' status…
"Right now, we're trying to win every game we play. So, whoever can help us do that. He [Chris Hayes] (Starkville, Miss. / Starkville HS) has brought some tenacity to the tight end position. There's some looks where we're playing him. We think he's going to be a great left tackle. If we can win every game and redshirt Chris, we're going to do it, but if Chris can help us win, we're going to play him. That's where we're at right now this early in the season.
On Old Dominion's run game…
"A lot of times what they do offensively is dependent on the defense. Marshall played some five-man box because they do like Texas State—they spread the receivers out. So if it's a light box they'll run it, if it's a loaded box they'll throw it. They got some light boxes last week and their runners popped it through the middle and made some plays. They also changed quarterbacks. The new one, fast guy, ran a quarterback draw up the middle for a big touchdown on the third play of the game and that helped them as well."
On which Old Dominion quarterback to prepare for…
"We think the guy they played this past week is going to be the starter. That's who we're preparing for. If they play the other ones, we'll adjust in-game."
On if he worked primarily with defense today during practice…
"I don't know if I was or wasn't. I bounce and roam as I see things. Our whole D-line is back, all of our linebackers are back, we've got a lot of new secondary kids. Making sure that those younger secondary guys' eyes are right and honed in because they're talented kids that want to do good. That's something I was really focusing on today, just making sure they were communicating and making their calls while Dan [O'Brien] (Defensive Coordinator) was calling the defenses. Something I felt like I could bring a lot of energy and juice to today. That doesn't mean that I was in the offensive meetings, I'm everywhere man. This is my program and my heart and my life, so I'm pouring everything I got into all facets of it."
– @SouthernMissFB | @USMGoldenEagles –
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