BATON ROUGE — Coming off a 28-24 victory over then-No. 9 Florida, LSU head coach Les Miles spoke to the media about the Tigers’ big win along with this weekend’s trip to Lexington to face No. 17 Kentucky. Watch the press conference on-demand in the Geaux Zone.
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COMMENTS FROM LSU COACH LES MILES AT HIS WEEKLY PRESS CONFERENCE
Opening statement…
“I would first like to congratulate (LSU soccer head coach) Brian Lee for being ranked for the first time with the soccer team. I can tell you that I had first hand knowledge of his coaching because my 4-year-old daughter Macy Grace took part in a soccer camp this summer and improved her skills 10-fold. I knew that there was some expert coaching there and enjoy the fact that they are having success.”
On the Florida game…
“I look at the game we just played and I am certainly thrilled with how our team performed. When you are behind by 10 (points) at three different times in the game, there are a lot of key performances. There is a time where every player has to make a decision on how he plays. I enjoyed it. I felt like our offense, when called upon, did the things that they needed to do to win. I am especially pleased with how Jacob Hester played in a number of phases. He does a great job for his team. He does everything we ask him to do.”
“On defense, I went back and looked at the defensive film and watched every snap, I know our defense can play better then how they played in that game. They were in great position to make tackles and the plan was excellent. Except for a mistake in coverage that gave up a touchdown on a long pass reception for the opponent and a couple of missed tackles that could have been one of the best defensive performances I have seen. It did not appear that way first hand. The way the second half unfolded and our defense made some minor adjustments in technique, not in calls or alignments, it became a swarming defense that forced turnovers in a timely fashion. That was a key to our victory.”
“Special teams did another strong job. We counted on them to field punts and to punt the ball. In my opinion the worst call I made in the game was the opening kickoff. I wanted to give them something they couldn’t handle and they took a short kick to have great field position to start the game. The nation’s best defense was in a dang near short field. I take the discredit for that.”
“I like the resolve of this football team. Teams that get into games like this and keep finding ways to win and dig deep, they have special seasons. I hope that characteristic continues.”
“Florida is one of the most talented teams I have seen. Tebow has gotten faster and is a tremendous competitor. I have great admiration for him. Those receivers are fast, Percy Harvin and Andre Caldwell. They have a tremendous young offensive line that has size and strength. They have quickness on their defense with a group of talented linebackers. We certainly understand that we played a very talented Florida team. But looking at it from our side, we have to play better. We feel like we can. We dropped balls and missed a couple of field goals. This football team can play better then we played.”
On his team being unanimously ranked No. 1…
“I am complimented by that but I don’t make much of it. Frankly, it is like being ahead at halftime. It is one of the scores that you don’t care about. It is at the end of the game and end of the season that you care about. Although we are in great position, that’s all. Lets not talk about this anymore. Let us just go on to our opponent. Our opponent gives us every reason to focus.”
On a quote DE Tyson Jackson had after the game…
“I am touched by one of our players’ quotes that was reported to me. I think if we keep this focus from week to week it might serve us best. Tyson Jackson was quoted as saying “At a certain point in the game, it’s more about playing with a heart the size of our bodies. Not necessarily what the score is.’ I think that is a great vision. That is a great feel. Who cares what the score or the situation of the game is. Just give everything you got.”
“The SEC Offensive Player of the Week was Jacob Hester. He was also our offensive and special teams player of the week. If he played any defense, he could have gotten all three.”
“We had a number of great defensive performances, but Craig Steltz will be that guy (defensive MVP.) He was the vision that ESPN Gameday had when they said it was a ?physical game.’ It’s about sincere contact and he had a number of those kind of hits, which have become a trademark of his.”
On facing Kentucky…
“Kentucky is a very talented team. Andre Woodson is a big-time player. He leads the SEC in passing yards. He is a young man that will play for years in the NFL. He is going to be a great challenge to our defense, he and Rafeal Little, who is averaging 113 yard a game. He is a very dangerous running back. They have a big playmaker at receiver with Keenan Burton. They also have a big and tall tight end (Jacob Tamme.) They have nice balance on offense. They are second in the conference with 470 yards a game. Scoring 42.7 points a game. They are ranked No. 17 and are a very dangerous team at home. They put 42 points on a very talented Arkansas defense. We understand the task at hand is to focus on Kentucky. I don’t think we will have a problem with that. We are a mature team and as long as they walk through our building (Football Operations Center), they will understand the things that we want them to do: focus on improvement, focus on our opponent, get the plan mastered and take it one at a time. That is certainly our goal.”
On if he talks to his team about the large number of upsets in college football this season…
“I think the reference is made periodically to what is happening in college football. When you lineup against Florida, that is not a game that anyone considers a possible upset. We knew that we were playing a quality opponent, that was not an issue with them. I think the same is true with Kentucky. A team that has played as well as they have and have some key victories against some quality opponents. I don’t think there will be anybody in our building (Football Operations Center) that will think we will be a overwhelming favorite. We are going to have to play well. We like the matchup. We certainly think that certain things that we do will give them problems, but we still have to play well.”
On if he has concerns about PK Colt David…
“Honestly I don’t. He has been so regular and so ready. We have great confidence in him. Certainly we want to kick him square in the butt routinely but he will be fine. He will get things ironed out and I don’t think it is a big issue. If I had the need to go for a field goal late in the game I certainly would have.”
On the play of C Brett Helms, particularly on fourth down plays…
“Brett Helms had a big game. You can look at a number of blocks he had. The offensive line didn’t allow any sacks and the quarterback was only hit a couple of times. We really controlled the ball late in the game on the ground. Anytime you do that, that line has to work in unison and play well.”
On if the amount of preparation each week allows him to have fun during the week…
“The fun that I have is when I walk into Tiger Stadium with a capacity crowd and listen to that place come loose. I also enjoy the play of a team that responds to the people that love them. I enjoy playing in big games. There is no greater way to celebrate hard work then with your play. I had a blast Saturday night. Saturday night was just a lot of fun.”
On the quarterback system he uses…
“It is a position where we have two quality quarterbacks. One (Matt Flynn), is a veteran that fully understands and can handle the offense. He can handle any number of situations, some of the exact same things that the younger quarterback (Ryan Perrilloux) can handle. First and foremost, our senior captain’s ability to say ?It’s good for Ryan to play, it’s good for the team.’ The fact that he sees that as a team function is the right attitude. As an offensive coordinator and head coach at other places I have had some athletic quarterbacks and I know what an advantage it is to have. Matt gives us that, you saw that on the 3rd and 16 he got 15 yards. That style of quarterback is an advantage. The ability to use the skills your team has is my job. We have some quarterbacks that can move with their feet. We have one quarterback that is getting healthy with a bad ankle, so it seemed to match well.”
On the status of Early Doucet…
“I look back and certainly wish that Early would have been with us. I also look forward to the time that Early returns. I feel that time is getting shorter before Early will take the field and play on a regular basis. I feel all the young receivers have had time and opportunities to make plays and have made plays. Demetrius Byrd, Terrance Toliver, Jared Mitchell and Chris Mitchell were fortunate to continue that success.”