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TRANSCRIPT OF LSU COACH LES MILES PRESS LUNCHEON BEFORE STATE
Opening statement…
“I
felt like we made improvement on Saturday. We came out of there in
pretty good shape. We had good balance on offense. I felt like the
defense played with intensity start to finish. We assured our style of
football. I thought special teams did a nice job. They got a lot of
things thrown at them that we didn’t necessarily prepare for. It
certainly allowed us to move forward from there and feel very good at
we’re at. We came out of the game healthy with no injury and feel that
we’re in good shape at this time of the week considering it is a short
week. I told our guys that there are three pieces. One, as a conference
game this is a very key contest. Two, we’re putting in a game plan in
less time. Three we have to improve. I think our guys understood that.
They went to practice on Sunday with great enthusiasm. I think they’re
enjoying preparation. I think they’re enjoying the short schedule to be
honest with you. The pressure is on the program and the coaches to get
the plan to them. It is on the players to understand it all in two less
days. There are some pull to and some cooperative effort that I am
enjoying.
Mississippi State is a fine football team. Dan
Mullen has done a terrific job there. They are currently ranked 25th in
the country. They come off a difficult contest with Auburn. You know
they are going to play hard and that they have a great scheme. Their
offense leads the conference in rushing at 321 yards. They’re scoring
46 point per game and have a league best 588 yards in total offense.
Vick Ballard is a very talented back and is very capable. He is
averaging about 150 yards a game. Chris Relf is an all-around
quarterback who has improved in his ability to throw the football and
rush it. We understand that this is a very good Mississippi State team.
We understand that Thursday night will be a couple of days early. But
it is one in which there will be great enthusiasm. We will enjoy
opening conference play. We expect it to be a very competitive game.”
On Mississippi State’s offense under Coach Mullen…
“Any
time you get into year two or three in a program, it is one of those
things that is inherent where teaching stays with your players. I think
they’re executing much better.”
On Jarrett Lee’s ankle and Zach Mettenberger…
“There
is not going to be any injury that will stop any of our players from
playing, and certainly not Lee. We expect full practices from him. I
would really anticipate playing Lee from start to finish. The
opportunity to get Mettenberger in is something that we are giving
consideration to considering how he performed. I don’t think there is a
plan to give him a specific series.”
On the running back rotation…
“I
like the best back for the series and for the plays. I think a hot
hand; a hand that is reminiscent of ball security and a guy that is
fresh are the best options. Those things kind of go into a play. It is
very comfortable for us to look at Spencer Ware and see the things he
has done. I think when Michael Ford comes in fresh there is just a
little bit more juice and a little different energy level. I think that
is good. I think it is good for Alfred Blue and some of the other guys.
We like to finish with the fresh back.”
On Mississippi State’s spread offense compared to Oregon’s…
“You’re
going to see a multiple scheme running attack. I really felt like the
Oregon attack, which was very capable, did not necessarily use scheme
to its advantage. In this instance there is quality scheme. I think our
guys are going to have to take the line of scrimmage. The nature of
that offense is a physical brand. I think our guys will enjoy that
piece.”
On running the football…
“We really don’t feel
that we need to run the ball a majority of the time. We would like to
be balanced, period. There are times in a game where you must have the
ability to rush the football. Especially when you get down on the field
near the goal line, short yardage and any neutral down that you might
chose. We’re confident that we can throw it and run it. That is really
what we want to accomplish.”
On Ryan Baker…
“There will be no restrictions on Baker.”
On the linebacking core…
“I
thought Luke Muncie, Tahj Jones and Lamin Barrow all played really
well. The good news is that it really increased our depth. We will not
hesitate to put them in the game again.”
On playing a home Thursday game…
“I
think the right Thursday night game here would be great. I’ve
envisioned it for some time to be honest. The issues become that our
fan base can be there. What would need to happen on this campus is
really not have school on both Thursday and Friday. That would be a
very difficult piece for the academic schedule. I personally would
enjoy it on our schedule, but I don’t think this school can give up two
teaching days. When you bring all of the people that come into town for
the game, you park and you use the facilities that currently house our
student parking, the only way for them to get through the day would not
to have school so the students do not have to park on campus. We really
envisioned this some time ago, but that was really the hurdle.”
On specific preparations for the short week…
“We’re
trying to do what was Tuesday’s work for Sunday, Wednesday’s work for
Monday and so on. The point in is by game plan, that specific checklist
in different areas of the field that need study and preparation. We had
all of our young coaches breaking down the film, and had the film put
in there so that when we turned our attention to Mississippi State
early on Sunday, we would be prepared to game plan and go from there.
Considering this day, we’re about a full day ahead. We need to gain
another day. We’re going to need to gain another full day in the next
two. We didn’t think about flying up Thursday morning. We’ll be in
position to do everything we need to do here Wednesday day. We’re going
to be ready to roll. We might continue to prepare, but the game plan
will be done. The only thing we really need here will be our film
facilities.”
On the high scoring games within the conference this week…
“It will be interesting to see how the quality defenses in this league match some of the best defenses in this league.”
On Michael Brockers and the defensive tackles…
“I
think Michael Brockers is playing better and better. The play that he
made is one of those plays that you will remember for quite some time.
It was not an ordinary play. He laid out and made a great ball skill
play on an interception. We asked him if we could get him into goal
line and throw him a ball or two. He declined that opportunity. I think
our defensive line have really come to play. Bennie Logan, Josh Downs
and Anthony Johnson are among a number of guys that can step in and
make big plays. It is nice to have a rotation that can keep fresh.”
On the new players going on the road…
“We’re
going to throw some regular crowd noise in preparation tonight and they
days coming. As long as we can communicate comfortably and that is the
key, we’re going to be fine. After our opener on the road, even though
it wasn’t necessarily a hostile environment, it gave us all the
opportunity of distraction. There was a great importance placed on
focusing in that environment. Certainly there will be a transfer of
that information.”
On Tyrann Mathieu…
“Tyrann
anticipates making the play. What play is that? It really is that play
that maybe only a guy that thinks he can blitz and be blocked, will
chase the ball, catch the ball and strip the ball. It has to be a guy
who looks at every piece of the play as an opportunity to enhance his
opportunity to make another play. He is a guy that sees each
opportunity as incredible and tries to throw his body around it. I see
it in a number of guys at times. It happens with some regularity with
all of our guys. I think it is a pointed focus that Tyrann Mathieu has.
I think there are some other guys that are similar in that way, but it
is just a little bit more obvious with him.”
On Chris Relf…
“He
is throwing the ball better. He is the field general that you want. He
is a physical runner and handles the ball well. He does all of those
things that you need to have happen at the quarterback spot.”
On Miles’s teams being 6-0 again Mississippi State…
“I
think the reason is because we give great respect to our opponents. We
prepare very sincerely. When you look at them on film, the coach
doesn’t have to do any convincing. Everyone see that they are a very
talented and capable team. We’re going to have to play well to win.”
On Odell Beckham..
“In
my opinion, it is a lot to do with the family he comes from. His mom
and dad are both athletes. He lives in a family where there a gold
medal winners, NCAA Champions and talented people who have the vision
of doing something special. A guy like that comes into a college
program, anticipates making those adjustments and does what his family
has always done.”
On Russell Shepard…
“I think Russell
will certainly have his niche. There are enough touches in a game to
have both him and Beckham see the ball plenty.”
On team leadership…
“I
am going to tell you an interesting thing. We have leadership in the
senior class, the junior class, the sophomore class and even in the
freshman class. Anthony Johnson is a guy who is a freshman that is
playing a lot of football and will play a lot of football. He gives us
an additional piece. Certainly Tyrann Mathieu, through his play and
words, give him in a position of leadership. Guys like Barkevious Mingo
who are making plays and playing young don’t necessarily have to talk
about it. It is a fundamental. The core of our team has real strong
leadership. I am not going to preclude young guys from having an impact
and developing a following on our team. There are a number of guys who
say, ‘I want to play like that guy.’ That guy might well be in several
different numbers and might have a young class that he represents.”
On Deangelo Peterson…
“He
is in his final campaign. He is bigger, stronger and faster than he has
been. It is his time. He really is making the best of it. He goes to
work and works hard every day. He is a great teammate.”
On the Tiger Stadium field…
“The
last two years, and last game being very representative, is a the
finest turf that we have had at Tiger Stadium in my time. It is a fast
track. It handles the wear and tear very well. The amazing thing is
that it was just put down after the Bayou Country Superfest. It
adheres, is thick, is matted and has a great foundation. With only six
home games, I expect the turf to not show a lot of wear and tear during
the season.”
On Ryan Baker…
“We’re going to play him as we see fit and how the practice week goes. Just like we always have.”
On the linebackers…
“Again,
we have demonstrated that we have depth at linebacker and the ability
to play a number of guys. The more veteran and experience a guy has
will serve them in this game at well. You’re going to have to play a
number of guys anyway. It is going to be fundamental for the day.”
On an update on Jordan Jefferson and Josh Johns…
“Everything that I have here is very unofficial and not specific. There is no legitimate update at this point.”
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