BATON ROUGE — LSU football coach Les Miles addressed the media on Monday for his weekly “Lunch with Les presented by Carrabba’s Italian Grill” press conference held at the Athletics Administration Building.
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Les Miles Press Luncheon
September 14, 2009
LSU HEAD COACH LES MILES
Opening statement…
“Good afternoon. I can tell you that we are to celebrate this deal that we just signed with Cox Communications and CST. It’s a nice partnership. It’s something that is certainly important to this athletic department, and I thank you guys very much.
“I also want to say that it’s nice to be back at home. I don’t know if you all know this, but that turf field that we played on was as fast a track as I’ve ever had at Tiger Stadium. Ronnie Haliburton and his crew and Todd Jeansonne did just a great job. We’ve come to expect excellence, and that was a great field. I look forward to playing on that the rest of the year. I can also tell you that this weekend was a big weekend because Charlie McClendon’s teams’ returned for the reunion. Shaquille O’Neal was honored on the field. The national championship baseball team was also honored on the field and the basketball team from a year ago as well. We enjoyed that. That was great fun for us to enjoy that stadium being a festive, collective environment that is at times more than just a game. We also enjoyed Matthew McConaughey down there on the field. The only problem is he had the wrong colored shirt on. He was wearing that burnt orange, and I can tell you that I asked my wife. I said, ?OK, listen. This is the way it is. I know I’m a little older than I used to be.’ She said, ?I’d pick you again with no prejudice.’ My daughter was sickened that she didn’t get the chance to meet him, so I guess there’s a difference in perspective there.
“I thought the defense did a heck of a job on the weekend. I felt like that interior is playing stronger and better than they’ve played. I think the veterans in Rahim Alem, Charles Alexander, Al Woods and Drake Nevis really came to play. It looked like a defensive line that I’m used to seeing here. I can tell you that Charles Alexander is lighter and more athletic than he’s been. He’s using his hands better and is just becoming tough to block inside. I really enjoy that. I like the fact that some of our young guys are getting better. Chancey Aghayere is going to be a really good player. I think Lavar Edwards will be a very fine player as well. It’s nice to see some of those guys come on the field. One of the things we have to make sure they understand is that they are allowed to play. So many times they’re so concerned about their assignments and their alignments, and it dulls a natural instinct. The point that is being made there is that you are a very fine player, and you can turn it loose at times. Again, it was nice to see Lavar Edwards get a sack and cause a fumble. Hopefully, he’ll get used to doing it.
“The guy who had a really big night for us and is really playing with a lot of passion in his final year is Rahim Alem. He was named the MVP for our defensive football team, and he also was named the SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week. He’s coming to bear. He’s going to be very difficult to line up against week after week. I felt like our secondary played better. We have to get more consistent play at the linebacker spot, and I’m certain that we will. Harry Coleman played well, but those guys that step in there must play a dominant style. If that happens, we’ll do better than we did last weekend, but 210 yards certainly is a dominant defensive performance.
“Offensively, I think Jordan Jefferson had another good game throwing the football. Again, it’s very obvious that he manages the game very well. If it’s not there, he throws it away. If it’s not there, he scrambles to the line of scrimmage. He understands that there are some responsibilities at the quarterback position besides just throwing it, and he does a very good job there. I felt like R.J. Jackson, in reviewing that film, obviously had a career night but also blocked well and is just really coming into his own. I look forward to getting him more opportunities in games like that. Keiland Williams ran extremely well with the touches that he got. He was named the Offensive MVP with two rushing touchdowns and running the way that he’s capable. Again, I hope that continues. I’m saddened that it appears that Richard Murphy may be lost for the season. Certainly, he’s a very talented guy, and I hope that there is some news that would stop that and allow him to return earlier, but we don’t expect it. He’ll be ready for the spring, and we’ll look forward to that.
“On special teams, I felt like we were really pretty sharp all day with the exception of a terrible snap and one that we have to get corrected. That can’t happen in big games or in any games, so we’ll address that as the week continues. I think Josh Jasper is not only kicking it off and handling our field goals and extra points, he’s just in a very comfortable, competitive position, and he looks forward to going onto the field. He made a tackle on the kick off. He really is a very competitive man, and he was our MVP on special teams. We really think that Derek Helton punted the ball like he’s capable, and we expect that to continue. With those two guys kind of lined up and doing the things that they are doing, we feel like special teams is really looking forward and ready to sail in this year.
“ULL is a very talented football team. I like their quarterback (Chris Masson). I like their tailback (Undrea Sails), the junior college guy who runs well. The quarterback has a strong arm and is a very accurate passer. I think that they are better than they were certainly a year ago and a very talented team. They are averaging over 400 yards of total offense and 160 yards are rushing with 230 passing. Certainly, that defense is going to have to step up and play well. I think on the defensive side they have a very good scheme. They play a lot of players, but their one linebacker, Antwyn Zanders, in my opinion, is a real physical linebacker who will hit you. He’s a really strong defender. He leads the team in tackles.
“It’s important that we make improvement. I felt like we made improvement over last week. I felt like our team, in several areas made improvement and will continue to do so. We have to continue to improve because the team that we play this weekend is a very dangerous one that we have to play well, and as you know, we’ll play some very quality football teams as we go forward. Each weekend we have to play for victory, and there has to be improvement across the board. I like the position that we’re in. We have work to do but are in position to have a great fall.”
On what improvements Louisiana-Lafayette has made since LSU played them in 2006…
“The only thing that comes to mind is that they are probably a better offensive team than the team we just played. Defensively, they play very physical. It’s a very capable defense, and I believe that they are playing with a real confidence. Obviously, coming off the Kansas State victory, that was a big win for that program, and I know Kansas State is a very quality football team, so we see the improvement really in all three phases.”
On if ULL is better than Vanderbilt…
“I think that they are a better offensive team than the team that we just played.”
On how the depth chart changes with Richard Murphy‘s injury…
“I think the three guys that will carry the ball a lot for us as we go forward will be Keiland Williams, Charles Scott and Trindon Holliday and not in that order. I think there is an ability that Charles Scott has that wants me and this team needs to play a little at fullback. I think that will happen really for the rest of the season.”
On if the offensive line is getting a consistent push…
“I think they are blocking it well. I don’t know that we’re really putting them in position at this point to really pile up the yards. I think we’re getting there. Again, it’s improvement that needs to take place across the board, and I think that’s coming.”
On R.J. Jackson‘s game…
“He’s just become so reliable to do exactly the right thing, and he sees himself making the plays that we need him to make. He made a big play in that game. He went up for a ball that was contested, made a great catch and put us in position to make that late field goal at the end of the half. I guess what I’m saying is that we expect him to make those plays again and again, and he becomes a guy like Brandon LaFell and Terrance Toliver, a guy that we really count on to make plays.”
On the team improving from Week 1 to Week 2…
“I think that there is probably a strong improvement in special teams and in a number of spots. I want it to be a regular improvement on offense and defense that’s visible week after week. I think the best teams make that improvement and play their best football at the end, and certainly, that’s the goal.”
On if LSU may get up more for this game than the past two because of state ties…
“Absolutely. I think there is a want to play well in this state and any time you line up against a team that is from here and has players that went to school with our players and really know each other back and forth and really have a real respect for. I think it’s important that our team plays well. I think our guys feel that, absolutely.”
On if he thinks ULL’s offensive scheme is better than Vanderbilt’s or the players are better…
“I just think their quarterback is a really good thrower. I think that they have ability to maybe do a few more things offensively than Vanderbilt did. Any time that you get beyond a team with victory, it’s much easier to discount their abilities because frankly, you won that, and Lord, I’m thankful that we did. It just appears that the next opponent is pretty talented.”
On DE Rahim Alem…
“I think he is playing with a veteran feel to him and a passion that he’s always had that allows him to understand more fully what’s expected of him. Instead of just coming off the football, he’s recognizing back-field sets and much more what the opponent is doing and how it will affect his technique. I think that they need to concern themselves with him. He comes to the line of scrimmage pretty strong. I think he’s seen some attention there, but I don’t know that it’s undue attention because frankly, there are some other players out there that they have to concern themselves with as well.”
On QB Russell Shepard getting more opportunities with Murphy’s injury…
“I think what Russell Shepard did in the game, certainly with his vision, let you know that he’s very talented and can do some of those things. He needs to also mature a little bit and make sure he takes care of that ball. I think it’s certainly a goal of ours to get him on the field and get him more touches as we go forward in the season.”
On RB Charles Scott‘s willingness to play the fullback position…
“He’s a team guy. He has always been. I enjoy it. One thing about Charles is that he’s a guy that doesn’t lack for confidence and wants to be on the field. He also pursues special teams on a pretty regular basis, so he’s just a guy who wants to play.”
On if the offensive identity of a team changes from year to year…
“I like the opportunity to run the football when I want to run it, and I like the opportunity to throw it efficiently and make big plays. I think that beyond that, personnel groups can vary. I think this year we are probably a little bit more one-back than we’ve been, but we’ll always possess those characteristics?the ability to run the football, have balance and take care of the football. But, again, you want to be able to have enough flexibility that you can call the man’s number that you want to carry the ball in your best personnel group.”
On more spread offensive sets against Vanderbilt…
“It was more of what we felt was an advantage for us to spread Vanderbilt’s defense a little thinner and get out on some of those seams and make some plays with our skill guys.”
On safeties Brandon Taylor and Karnell Hatcher…
“I like both of those young players. Brandon Taylor is going to be, in my opinion, a tremendous player over time. I think he’s still learning, but one thing he does is he personally interprets his position with a great deal of contact. He loves to play the game. He’ll tackle it, and he has great ball skills, so I think that we’ll look forward to him being on the field a lot. I think Karnell Hatcher is also a guy that is again, a physical player and again, learning the position but again, should have a very strong career.”
On Trindon Holliday‘s work as a punt returner…
“I think we are much improved in that position. He mishandled one punt, and the reason he did was that he lined up a little bit too shallow. He had to back pedal and made it a much more difficult punt. He needs to understand that we need to give these guys a chance to punt it. We have at times employed two returners, and all he has to do is field that deep punt. That’s the one we want him to field, so I think he’ll be fine there. What he’s done in his ball skills over the time that we’ve had him is markedly improve. He’s just a guy that, in my opinion, can make some plays for us. The return he had late in the fourth quarter certainly was a big play for us.”
On if scheduling tough opponents followed by what appears to be an inferior opponent is good for college football…
“I don’t know. Every time that I line up against a team that does not have a name that warrants a national viewing audience, I always find out that they’re pretty good, have talent and can play. It’s probably very representative of college football that a team (Oklahoma State) can line up against Georgia one week and play a very good Houston team the next and find themselves in a dog fight.”
On the pass blocking and giving Jordan Jefferson more opportunities to stretch the field passing…
“We called some deep balls. We didn’t necessarily hit them. That’s always a part of the process. We want to throw the ball down the field certainly at times. I think our pass protection overall has really been pretty good. We do a lot of things with our pass protection and try to get the matchups that we want up front. I think that we are doing a good job with that. I think that our guys are pretty capable that way.”
On if this team is hungry for a dominant performance…
“We talk that way. That’s what the focus is and where we are heading. It’s a position that this team must understand that is that’s all we’re really about here. We want to have a great year. We want to have the opportunity to play for a championship, and with that in mind, it must continue to develop. It must play dominant football. Dominant football is what LSU has been about and will be about as we go forward.”
On Offensive coordinator Gary Crowton‘s influence on Jordan Jefferson‘s maturity…
“I think coach Crowton is a great mentor and tutor of quarterbacks. He certainly has all the experience and the abilities that he can draw upon. I think it helps Jordan Jefferson tremendously. I think when you turn to a guy who has great experience and knows just how to bring a guy along, I think that is a tremendous advantage, and I think you see with each week that Jordan Jefferson is getting better.”
On LB Jacob Cutrera and on Miles’ music taste…
“I’m really thrilled with Jacob Cutrera. I think he’s a guy that really deserves a great year. He’s been injured. I think he’s going to play more, and I think the opportunity for him to have a great fall is here. He means a lot to our defense. Our defense enjoys him. They understand what veteran means at linebacker, and we look forward to him getting on the field. I listen to music when I have to. I enjoy it fully on Saturday. Saturday, when this band plays, I enjoy every song that they play, any of them, just pick it. What happens to me is this. I like all music. I really do. I like country western and hip-hop; you name it. I enjoy all kind of music. The problem that I have is that when I get in the car, I want to think about something else, so I turn the music down, and you know what, I resent the fact that I have to do that to think. My father used to do that, and I used to think in the backseat of the car at home and say, ?Dad, why don’t you listen to the music?’ He said, ?Son, I want to think.’ Boy, I only hope that I don’t ever get that old where I ride in a car and don’t listen to music, but occasionally, I do that. Any music that is played and played well, I kind of enjoy.”
On if he’s interested to see what happens in the USC-Washington game…
“I noticed that Washington had a big game last Saturday, and I think they are a good football team. I hear rumblings from the West Coast that this Washington team is maybe a little bit better than anybody thought. Only in passing interest I’ll get the paper on Sunday and find out what the scores are. That’ll be it. I did follow the USC-Ohio State score and thought that was a tremendous college football game. Both teams improved and one with a young quarterback. It was two big-time teams slugging it out and last drive wins.”
On the defensive end position opposite of Rahim Alem…
“I think Pep (Lazarius Levingston) is ahead of schedule. I think it would maybe be a little hurried to suggest that he might be ready for this Saturday, but I think by Mississippi State, he’ll be ready. I think that position is coming along. I really do. I think that spot behind Pep is being developed. I like Chancey Aghayere. I like Lavar Edwards. I like all those guys, and I think we’ll have good defensive ends as we go forward.”
On Brandon LaFell‘s game…
“Again, he’s a veteran guy who has real athletic ability. It wouldn’t be unusual for us to try to get a playmaker like him the ball. It appeared to me he carried the ball pretty well, and I’d like to get him some more touches on the perimeter.”