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LSU COACH LES MILES' - Tennessee week
Opening Statement…
“I
can tell you that Saturday was a joy to our team because of the great
number of fans that packed the stadium. The feel of the stadium was
electric. Our guys just played to it and enjoyed it. It was a nice and
satisfying afternoon. I felt like we played well in the Florida game,
but certainly not perfect. We won in all three phases.”
“We
got off to a great start in scoring on the second play from scrimmage –
a well thrown ball from Jarrett Lee. We put 453 yards of total offense
on them, 250 rushing and 215 passing. Again the biggest key was that we
had no turnovers. I felt that Spencer Ware came and played with a
physicality and passion that he is becoming known for. It is his style
of ball. He had 109 yards and two touchdowns. He ran hard on every
play. I felt our offensive line gave great effort, again not perfect in
any way. I felt that they were physical and came off the football. Late
in the game, we said ‘the game is ours if we control the ball and run
the ball,’ and they responded very well and took the ball down the
field. More significant than the score on that drive was the time that
they ate off of the clock. I thought they a very good piece of work.
They have only given up four sacks all year, and that leads the
conference. Will Blackwell is the SEC Conference Offensive Lineman of
the Week. He continues to improve. It is really representative of the
five guys that are coming to life again and again this season.”
“Defensively,
they play with great intensity, again not perfect in any way. They are
playing the style of football that we need from them play after play so
that we can do the things we need to do. They held a very explosive
Florida team to 200 yards less than their season average. We’re getting
takeaways. We had two interceptions. It gives the offense the
opportunities to add positions and opportunities to score. I can tell
you that the defense is ranked in the top 10 in virtually every
statistical category. That speaks to the effort. That defense comes to
the field with the want to make an impression, the want to be ambitious
and the want to be recognized. They play that way.”
“I
thought we did very well in special teams. Drew Alleman had two field
goals. Brad Wing punted the ball well. He kicked it down in there when
we needed him to do. On the fake punt, just so you know, we have an
awareness within our special teams where we react well to situations. I
think that is what was there. We recognized that there was an
opporunuty, really the guys on the field did, and made an adjustment to
extend the possession and gives us a first down. Obviously, also the
opportunity to score. Overall that is what we want. We want that
awareness and ability to see the field and understand what is going on.”
“In
the same thing, we cannot taunt an opponent. It is an interesting rule.
It is a rule that you can look at in a bunch of different ways. A game
on Sunday where the celebration is excessive and does appear that there
is not that rule, that is one thing. You look at it and go what is the
harm. If you look at from the guy that is scoring the touchdown, that
is his enjoyment. If you look at it from the opponent who says I really
wish you had not quite done that. That is the reason the rule is in
place. If I am the official, I am making that exact call. I think Brad
will understand what we expect from him. Certainly, it will be a great
opportunity to teach our football team what to do and what not to do.
Overall, it was very positive, but we just have to take stock of the
position that we are in. Take the points and celebrate with your
teammates after.”
“I think Tennessee is a quality football
team. They are physical. They are 3-2 overall and 0-2 in the SEC. Derek
Dooley is doing a tremendous job in his second year there. They have
their guys playing well on every down. They are very quality in special
teams. Offensively they move the football. Defensively they give you a
number of looks that you need to prepare for. Again, this is going to
be a physical game. It is every time we play. I know that their
quarterback Tyler Bray is not expected to be there for our game, but I
can tell you that Matt Simms played well against us the year before in
our stadium the year before. We understand that they are very capable
no matter who they play at quarterback. I can tell you playing Neyland
Stadium is a joy and it is one of the great places to play in college
football. We look forward to it. It reminds us of a number of places
that we have played this year. Our team seems to get really excited
about the opportunity to play in great venues. I think this is another
one where our guys will look back on and say that this was a great
place to play. They are a very quality SEC opponent.”
“We
have the opportunity to improve. The thing with this football team is
that they have taken the challenge each and every week. Each and every
week the challenge is to improve, prepare and defeat the opponent.
Frankly I felt that they improved this week. If they continue to
improve, I think we will have the opportunity to be a special team. It
is a process that continues and will continue.”
On the changes in the offense from last year…
“I
think it is a mark of a team that wants to be champions. They are a
team who applies its focus and the pieces of the game that need to take
place. A team that comes to the line of scrimmage and understands a
snap count, is certainly ready on offense. A team that knows how to
carry the football and provide ball security is ready not to give up
any turnovers. Steve Kragthorpe has taken the exact plays that we have
run and added some of his own pieces. He has interpreted it so well
that the quarterbacks are making decisions very quickly. Jarrett Lee
and Jordan Jefferson are both veteran guys now. It is easier for them
to make the decisions and get the ball out of their hands. That speaks
to the efficiency that is going on now.”
On ball security…
“It
is important to our team that the person that we entrust with the
responsibility of the football, return it to the team. In other words,
respective of the gain or a loss, it is our ball. It is a basic
responsibility. We work in it every day. It is not something that
escapes us in any day, including game day.”
On the keys to the game…
“I
think what we need to do is play like we play like we’ve been playing.
Maintaining the consistency that we have maintained. Running the
football and throwing the football. I think we need to play well on
special teams. It is another opportunity to establish who we are on the
road in a hostile stadium. We need to play like we’re capable and that
is it.”
On John Chavis returning to Tennessee…
“I can
tell you that John Chavis is a tremendously loyal person and supporter
and advocate of Tennessee. Certainly he has maintained relationships
back there and roots with them when they are not playing LSU. He will
want to represent his past by being an excellent defensive coordinator
against Tennessee this coming Saturday.”
On the skills of both quarterbacks…
“We’re
going to be able to run it or throw it with either quarterback in the
game. It does not make a difference. Our offense is handled well by
both quarterbacks. It just means that you cannot gang up on certain
skills that Jordan Jefferson has because of his feet. We’re going to
throw the ball with balance like we always have.”
On last year’s close win against Tennessee…
“Victory
is victory. No matter what way you cut it. The enjoyment that I had
after that game was significant with the feel of victory. I don’t
necessarily think there was bad taste in anybody’s mouth in anyway. I
can tell you that we did the things we needed to do in unusual
circumstances to get victory. I enjoyed it and I am going to stay that
way.”
On short yardage situations…
“I think all our
backs really can carry the ball in short yardage. Not just Spencer
Ware. I can tell you in short yardage situations we made a couple of
mistakes where we let guys free. I don’t care who is carrying the ball.
That guy is going to have a very difficult time. I can tell you there
were two very specific instances where guys came roaring through, and
really shouldn’t have. Our backs are good. Any of the three can handle
the ball in that situation.”
On Spencer Ware’s value…
“He
has great vision, is very physical and runs with a passion. He was a
quarterback in high school. That gives someone a certain moxie and
understanding of the game. The thing that I am learning in whatever
number of years that I have been in coaching is that those quarterbacks
have great view of the line scrimmage. Guys that have run the ball in
their high school career generally make few bad cuts. They understand
where the front is. They understand what the seem looks like and why
that seem is there. He runs with a want. That is why Spencer is so
valuable to us as a runner.”
“There’s a great physicality
on our offense right now. It’s at all our positions. Spencer Ware
brings 225 pounds to the table and that’s important because football is
a physical sport and he plays that way.”
On Tennesse’s quarterback situation . . .
“I
think Matt Simms runs the offense in a manner similar to Tyler Bray.
Simms doesn’t have the most recent experience on the team but he
does have a lot of experience and I’m sure he will step in a do a very
good job.”
On the running game . . .
“Any time you run
the football it creates an issue for the defense. If effects where you
put the safety, you need to put an extra guy in the box to stop our
rushing attack. That leaves single coverage on both wide receivers.
This week Rueben Randle got the ball. Last week it was Odell Beckham
Jr. and Russell Shepard has gotten in there intermittently. It’s a
choice a defense makes and we’re going to get the ball to the guy who
should get it. If it’s one-on-one coverage we will get the ball there.
If it’s soft coverage, where they’re trying to stop the pass, we like
to rush it. It sounds simple but that’s our thought process.”
On the rule that caused Brad Wing’s touchdown to be called back . . .
“As
the coach, if the rule is in place I’m going to coach it hard. To me if
you look at the play from the perspective of a father, you wouldn’t
want your son to be taunted. In Brad Wing’s case, I’m not sure it
wasn’t a little bit more joy than taunting. I’m not sure it was
flagrant, but when you’re an official, where you need to be objective,
I think they threw the flag at the right time. If the rule changes it
can change in a number of ways. You can keep the points on the board
and assess the penalty on the kickoff. In any event, points off the
board or not, I’m for it. If you want to leave the points on the board
and allow them to celebrate, that changes the rule entirely. All
they’re trying to do is to protect what college football is about. To
me college football is about protecting your opponent.”
On the historic start to the season . . .
“We’ve
had a nice start, but we’re not satisfied with our position right now.
I like how the season has progressed, but we look forward to the next
games. In this season and in every season it’s about the next game,
never about the last game. Our guys are looking forward to Tennessee.
They recognize they just accomplished a nice victory over a quality
opponent but it’s time to move on.”
On the linebacker play . . .
“Kevin
Minter had a very strong game. Stefoin Francois and Ryan Baker are
playing a lot and their output and productivity is extremely good.
They’re becoming more comfortable in SEC play. They’ll continue to see
more snaps and have greater impact.”
On the lessons from last season’s Tennessee game . . .
“We
made some changes the week after last season’s game so that situation
won’t happen again. We work on it all the time anyway. In a normal
week, we work on two minute drill on Monday and Thursday. During our
two-a-day package it’s the first series that goes in so we work on it a
lot anyway.”
On Brandon Taylor’s performance against Tennessee . . .
“Brandon
Taylor is a veteran who’s seldom out of place. He puts himself in a
position to make key plays. He’s a solid tackler and he understands how
to cover the pass. He’s very important to the secondary.”
On P.J. Lonergan’s status . . .
“I
don’t expect him to practice today. We will see where he is the next
few days. The good news is it doesn’t appear to be a very bad ankle
sprain.”
On the offensive line . . .
“When you can rush
the football, they cannot pin their ears back and come after you. That
helps the offensive line protect the passer. It also helps in
alignments because the defense can’t line up wide or else the ball
creases them. Our offensive line is improving and working hard. I like
how they have gelled, they continue to gel without respect to the next
guy who goes into the game.”
On the team’s focus . . .
“The
good news is we don’t have to focus on anybody but the next opponent.
That’s the good thing about this conference, all you have to do is show
the film and you see we’re facing a quality opponent. We know we need
to prepare to get victory. I hear the talk but I promise that talk
about anybody but the very next opponent doesn’t exist in our building.
We talk about the improvements we need to make in order to accomplish
our goals against the next opponent. We don’t pay attention to the fan
chat or media buzz within our building.”
On the quarterback play so far . . .
“I
want to give a lot of credit to Steve Kragthorpe and Billy Gonzales
because they’ve both done a strong job of guiding the passing game and
teaching it to the receiving corps as well as the quarterbacks. I think
we’re more efficient in the passing game. We understand what we’re
doing in making decisions with the ball in our hands. Our receivers are
talented in running the prescribed routes. We’ve got a lot of
playmakers and getting them the ball is exciting. If you match that
with a quality running game, it makes it easier.”
On being a member of the Baton Rouge community . . .
“I’ve
never been worried about my family speaking out publicly. They
understand the coaching profession and we are in it as a family. All
four of my children know the specifics of my job. My daughter Smacker,
who swims at Bolles in Florida told me both of her coaches went to
Florida so she especially wanted us to defeat Florida. I got a text
from her after the game and she said due to discriminating athletic
views, she now has to clean the bus after a road trip and she will be
required to do extra training so she said not to win by so much next
time. I told her get in shape.”
On the lessons learned from last season’s Tennessee game . . .
“I’m
a part of the team. Our coaching staff is part of the team. That’s a
collective group of skills brought to the table with an opportunity to
achieve victory as a team. In other words, we’re all in it together. If
a coach makes a mistake, he tells the team. If there needs to be a
correction in any aspect, we make the correction. Being in it with my
team is what our coaching staff has adopted and it’s what we’re about.
The line of communications between coaches and players is open when it
should be.”
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