On Southern Miss after watching the North Texas game …
“Yes, I watched it on Saturday and again yesterday (Sunday) along with a culmination of the rest of their games just to see their tendencies. Going into the North Texas game, USM (Southern Miss) going into North Texas, I thought USM was very talented. I still think they are. They just have such quality depth. They play up to 10 defensive linemen, and they rotate them in and some are third-down specialists. They’ve got a lot of returning guys, as well, but they keep them fresh. They rotate them in there well. Some more run-oriented, some more pass-specific as rushers designated, but I think their defense, their intent is to create chaos. We call it prowl, as if the four of us were defensive linemen — they just kind of walk around, they don’t get in a stance all the time. At times they do, but at other times they stand up and kind of walk around. Now, here’s the key. They all end up where they belong, so it’s organized chaos. They prowl around and they kind of time it up, and then they disseminate or depart to their spot as the ball’s being snapped, which can be tough on an offensive lineman or the quarterback as they’re trying to working to or blocking. They’re a three-down base defense, an odd front. They’ll try to be very perplexed and confusing to an offense. At times, they’re very, very difficult to block. We just have to do a very good job of communicating, identifying who’s who. As long as we’re on the same page, I think we’ll be okay. Offensively, they have one of the better running backs in Ito Smith. He’s one of the better backs in our conference for sure. I think they rush the ball extremely well with him. Their quarterback does a good job of getting it out of his hand. Most of their stuff is quick game. It happens quick. He gets it out of his hand so it doesn’t allow you to get pressure on him. It’s screen game, quick game, things of that nature. They have two receivers that are six-foot-plus that they’ll go down the field and take vertical shots with, and those guys are game breakers for them. They’re big-play ability receivers for them. We’ll have to do a good job of contesting the 50-50 deep ball, and then on the stuff underneath we really have to do a good job of tackling in space. Special teams, they have two really good returners, kickoff return and punt return, as well, that we’ll have to do a good job of scheming against to slow them down. (Their) Defense is exotic and active. Offense is run-oriented base with the ability to take shots downfield.”
On North Texas’ success against Southern Miss …
“I just thought North Texas played well. They caught them at the right time maybe. You have to give credit to North Texas. They played a really good game against them and pulled away at the back end of it. But USM is as quality of a team as we will face. They’re good in all three phases.”
On the success of Southern Miss’ program through the years …
“Jay (Hopson) was there when they were at their best. Jay Hopson does a great job. He’s a defensive-minded coach, so he’s cut his teeth on that side of the ball. He’s very familiar with back in the day when Coach (Jeff) Bower and they had the ‘Nasty Bunch’ with Patrick Surtain and all those great players, even Todd Pinkston and all. Jay is familiar with that program and I know it’s a big deal for him to have the opportunity to be the head coach there going into his second year. He’ll get it going in the right direction. He does a really good job. He’s a good football coach.”
On if the bye week was beneficial to the team …
“Yeah, well any time you are facing an opponent as quality as this one, the more opportunity you have for preparation I think puts you in position to advantage your team. We tried to be smart and do a lot of things from a mental capacity from film study but yet get out on the field, and we did that three days last week. Sunday was a Tuesday-type practice format for us, so we were able to get a really good practice in yesterday, a spirited practice. I was proud of the way our guys responded coming off a long weekend of a bye. Everybody was on time and eager in their chairs waiting to get into the game plan, then went out and had a very productive practice.”
On if there is any danger of the players getting off their routine or being lackadaisical …
“I think that all of those things can be a concern. As you continually try to create a culture, an atmosphere, a way of life, a style, a temperament of who we are and what we do in responsibility to one another, that’s forever and ongoing. It never stops. We’re growing up and we’re becoming a mature football team as time goes on. That was never more evident than this weekend or on Sunday when they came back to practice and had a very productive practice and focused on this opponent; and eager. We went out in helmet and shoulder pads. It wasn’t a walk-through. It was a real practice.”
On the conference opener …
“We’re zero and zero. Our goals are intact. Our goals are our focal point because that goal is to win the West and get to the conference championship game.”
“Yes, I watched it on Saturday and again yesterday (Sunday) along with a culmination of the rest of their games just to see their tendencies. Going into the North Texas game, USM (Southern Miss) going into North Texas, I thought USM was very talented. I still think they are. They just have such quality depth. They play up to 10 defensive linemen, and they rotate them in and some are third-down specialists. They’ve got a lot of returning guys, as well, but they keep them fresh. They rotate them in there well. Some more run-oriented, some more pass-specific as rushers designated, but I think their defense, their intent is to create chaos. We call it prowl, as if the four of us were defensive linemen — they just kind of walk around, they don’t get in a stance all the time. At times they do, but at other times they stand up and kind of walk around. Now, here’s the key. They all end up where they belong, so it’s organized chaos. They prowl around and they kind of time it up, and then they disseminate or depart to their spot as the ball’s being snapped, which can be tough on an offensive lineman or the quarterback as they’re trying to working to or blocking. They’re a three-down base defense, an odd front. They’ll try to be very perplexed and confusing to an offense. At times, they’re very, very difficult to block. We just have to do a very good job of communicating, identifying who’s who. As long as we’re on the same page, I think we’ll be okay. Offensively, they have one of the better running backs in Ito Smith. He’s one of the better backs in our conference for sure. I think they rush the ball extremely well with him. Their quarterback does a good job of getting it out of his hand. Most of their stuff is quick game. It happens quick. He gets it out of his hand so it doesn’t allow you to get pressure on him. It’s screen game, quick game, things of that nature. They have two receivers that are six-foot-plus that they’ll go down the field and take vertical shots with, and those guys are game breakers for them. They’re big-play ability receivers for them. We’ll have to do a good job of contesting the 50-50 deep ball, and then on the stuff underneath we really have to do a good job of tackling in space. Special teams, they have two really good returners, kickoff return and punt return, as well, that we’ll have to do a good job of scheming against to slow them down. (Their) Defense is exotic and active. Offense is run-oriented base with the ability to take shots downfield.”
On North Texas’ success against Southern Miss …
“I just thought North Texas played well. They caught them at the right time maybe. You have to give credit to North Texas. They played a really good game against them and pulled away at the back end of it. But USM is as quality of a team as we will face. They’re good in all three phases.”
On the success of Southern Miss’ program through the years …
“Jay (Hopson) was there when they were at their best. Jay Hopson does a great job. He’s a defensive-minded coach, so he’s cut his teeth on that side of the ball. He’s very familiar with back in the day when Coach (Jeff) Bower and they had the ‘Nasty Bunch’ with Patrick Surtain and all those great players, even Todd Pinkston and all. Jay is familiar with that program and I know it’s a big deal for him to have the opportunity to be the head coach there going into his second year. He’ll get it going in the right direction. He does a really good job. He’s a good football coach.”
On if the bye week was beneficial to the team …
“Yeah, well any time you are facing an opponent as quality as this one, the more opportunity you have for preparation I think puts you in position to advantage your team. We tried to be smart and do a lot of things from a mental capacity from film study but yet get out on the field, and we did that three days last week. Sunday was a Tuesday-type practice format for us, so we were able to get a really good practice in yesterday, a spirited practice. I was proud of the way our guys responded coming off a long weekend of a bye. Everybody was on time and eager in their chairs waiting to get into the game plan, then went out and had a very productive practice.”
On if there is any danger of the players getting off their routine or being lackadaisical …
“I think that all of those things can be a concern. As you continually try to create a culture, an atmosphere, a way of life, a style, a temperament of who we are and what we do in responsibility to one another, that’s forever and ongoing. It never stops. We’re growing up and we’re becoming a mature football team as time goes on. That was never more evident than this weekend or on Sunday when they came back to practice and had a very productive practice and focused on this opponent; and eager. We went out in helmet and shoulder pads. It wasn’t a walk-through. It was a real practice.”
On the conference opener …
“We’re zero and zero. Our goals are intact. Our goals are our focal point because that goal is to win the West and get to the conference championship game.”
