University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Defense Continues Improvement Under First-Year Coordinator
8/14/2023 4:19:00 PM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The Southern Miss football team returned to action Monday, and with the first preseason scrimmage behind them, shortened its morning workout on the game field at The Rock.
"[We] got back out here on the turf today," said third-year coach Will Hall. "A little lighter day coming off of the scrimmage, but saw some good things."
Following practice, Hall gave his thoughts on the first scrimmage as well as about his defensive squad to the media following the team's 10th practice of fall camp.
"We did some good things on both sides of the ball," said Hall about Saturday's scrimmage. "All in all, the offense had a little bit better day. The defense really responded today and really got after it. Had some good pass rush, better run fits, more juice on the D-line, which was good. By position, we feel like we're deep and good at D-line. We feel like we're good at linebacker. We're still working on the back end to build some depth."
Leading the defense this season is Dan O'Brien, who starts his third year on the staff. O'Brien, who oversaw the safeties his first two seasons with the Golden Eagles came to Southern Miss from Georgia, where he the previous two seasons and a defensive quality control coach.
The veteran defensive coach talked about his unit's improvement from Saturday's scrimmage.
"We responded," said O'Brien to the assembled media following the Monday workout. "Saturday was not our best day. We missed some tackles. We busted some stuff in coverage, but at the same time our offense is doing a lot of good things on their side. They're doing some motion-shift adjustment stuff, making us adjust and must talk and communicate. Just with our guys going through that experience on Saturday for the first time in a live scrimmage situation where coaches out there telling them what to do and seeing how they respond as the scrimmage goes on. We did some good things at times; we did some bad things at times.
"Today we came out with a mindset to dominate the day. We did a lot more good than we did bad. We get a great look every day from our offense and our quarterbacks are playing really well."
O'Brien went on to say how he has fed off Hall and what it has been like to work under him.
"It's been great," said O'Brien. "Obviously I've known him since I got the job here two years ago, really three years ago. Between me, him and Coach (Sam) Gregg, we bounce ideas off each other a lot. He sits in a lot of my meetings so he kind of has a feel for how my mind works. You could say he's cheating or whatever you want, but I don't care. I want him to understand how I see things perceptively as a defensive coordinator, but at the same time I want to ask him how he sees it.
"We talk a lot in the intermingling between the staff of small details we notice about something that could help our offense not give away an indicator or help our defense not give away an indicator on what we might be doing next. Coach Hall and I have a great relationship. To be able to bounce ideas off your offensive coordinator and head coach, it's all about the communication within the staff there of how we can make the opposite side of the ball better, but how can we make the team better collectively as a whole."
The season opens at home Saturday, Sept. 2, against Alcorn State and tickets are still available for that game as well as the final five home games this fall. Fans can contact purchase home season or single game tickets at SouthernMissTickets.com, by calling 1-800-844-TICK (8425) or visit the Pat Ferlise Ticket Office on campus weekdays during normal business hours.
"[We] got back out here on the turf today," said third-year coach Will Hall. "A little lighter day coming off of the scrimmage, but saw some good things."
Following practice, Hall gave his thoughts on the first scrimmage as well as about his defensive squad to the media following the team's 10th practice of fall camp.
"We did some good things on both sides of the ball," said Hall about Saturday's scrimmage. "All in all, the offense had a little bit better day. The defense really responded today and really got after it. Had some good pass rush, better run fits, more juice on the D-line, which was good. By position, we feel like we're deep and good at D-line. We feel like we're good at linebacker. We're still working on the back end to build some depth."
Leading the defense this season is Dan O'Brien, who starts his third year on the staff. O'Brien, who oversaw the safeties his first two seasons with the Golden Eagles came to Southern Miss from Georgia, where he the previous two seasons and a defensive quality control coach.
The veteran defensive coach talked about his unit's improvement from Saturday's scrimmage.
"We responded," said O'Brien to the assembled media following the Monday workout. "Saturday was not our best day. We missed some tackles. We busted some stuff in coverage, but at the same time our offense is doing a lot of good things on their side. They're doing some motion-shift adjustment stuff, making us adjust and must talk and communicate. Just with our guys going through that experience on Saturday for the first time in a live scrimmage situation where coaches out there telling them what to do and seeing how they respond as the scrimmage goes on. We did some good things at times; we did some bad things at times.
"Today we came out with a mindset to dominate the day. We did a lot more good than we did bad. We get a great look every day from our offense and our quarterbacks are playing really well."
O'Brien went on to say how he has fed off Hall and what it has been like to work under him.
"It's been great," said O'Brien. "Obviously I've known him since I got the job here two years ago, really three years ago. Between me, him and Coach (Sam) Gregg, we bounce ideas off each other a lot. He sits in a lot of my meetings so he kind of has a feel for how my mind works. You could say he's cheating or whatever you want, but I don't care. I want him to understand how I see things perceptively as a defensive coordinator, but at the same time I want to ask him how he sees it.
"We talk a lot in the intermingling between the staff of small details we notice about something that could help our offense not give away an indicator or help our defense not give away an indicator on what we might be doing next. Coach Hall and I have a great relationship. To be able to bounce ideas off your offensive coordinator and head coach, it's all about the communication within the staff there of how we can make the opposite side of the ball better, but how can we make the team better collectively as a whole."
The season opens at home Saturday, Sept. 2, against Alcorn State and tickets are still available for that game as well as the final five home games this fall. Fans can contact purchase home season or single game tickets at SouthernMissTickets.com, by calling 1-800-844-TICK (8425) or visit the Pat Ferlise Ticket Office on campus weekdays during normal business hours.
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