BATON R0UGE — LSU head coach Les Miles spoke to the media on Monday to recap Saturday’s victory over Tennessee and preview the Oct. 9 contest at Florida. Watch the on-demand video free in the Geaux Zone.
The Tigers will face No. 14 Florida at 6:30 p.m. CT in Gainesville.
The SEC also announced on Monday that the Tigers’ Oct. 16 game in Tiger Stadium against McNeese State will start at 6 p.m. CT on Fox Sports Net.
Les Miles Press Luncheon
October 4, 2010
Opening Statement …
“Certainly I understand the responsibility of the way we managed the back end of the game is mine. I can tell you that the issue was trying to use and have utility in an extra down. We used way too much time in substitution. After the substitution call is made we are trying to facilitate getting them on the field so that play can be run. The good news is we get that play on the field and we are ready to run the play, the quarterback calls for the ball but no one can hear. The quarterback then goes to look at the clock and loses sight of the ball and there is the fumble. The good news again is that our opponents as they substitute they ran three guys onto the field, they moved three off and then two of those returned. We get an extra opportunity for the fourth down and we run the play for victory. That’s my responsibility. I can tell you it was the want to use the down and not give up that down and distance. The reality is a ‘clockage’ certainly should have been called and we understand that. It has been looked at and addressed very firmly and we will do that better.
“Now, we are 5-0 and in my opinion we have improved. We used two quarterbacks. I think we did some good things there, but the things we cannot do is turn the ball over and be penalized. If we eliminate those mistakes and use the positives of what was done there by both quarterbacks, I think the opportunity is there to improve that offense. I think our defense is playing extremely well. I think everyone can see that is a dominant defense. Stevan Ridley is the SEC Offensive Player of the Week on and is giving us not only good cuts, but he is also very powerful runner and running with ball security.
“We recognize that Florida is a very talented football team. We watched the Alabama game, and that was two very talented football teams competing. They were in the red-zone a number of times and did not score. The statistical differences are based on turnovers and not yards gained. We recognize that they are getting better on offense. John Brantley is a very talented quarterback and making some very good throws. Trey Burton at the wildcat and short yardage certainly is a very nice addition. Of course Jeff Demps has speed and the ability to run the ball. They are a very talented offensive group. Their defense gave up just 273 yards to Alabama and is allowing just 17 points and 291 yards per game on the season. We recognize that they have great speed. They lead the conference in interceptions and we understand that it is a great challenge to us.
“The thing that we want our team to do is go on the road and play just the way we play and eliminate the mistakes and turnovers. If we make plays, just make the plays that we are capable of making, we will be very happy with the outcome. We just want to win next win and just want to win this Saturday.”
Les Miles Press Luncheon
October 4, 2010
LSU HEAD COACH LES MILES
On who decides who is going to play quarterback in between offensive series…
“Before the series generally there is conversation that would involve me, and during the series generally that’s the play-caller. Certain situations speak to (Jordan) Jefferson, and certain plays speak to Jefferson as well as certain plays speak to Jarrett Lee.”
On repeating the clock management issues…
“I think it’s a completely different scenario. It’s a clock management issue without question, but it’s not the same. This specifically was trying to use a down, not give up a down, and that was a mistake. That was not the mistake that was made at Ole Miss. The mistake that was made here also dealt with clock management, but it was a completely different scenario and will be approached in a like fashion. The correction will be made very well.”
On why there is a disconnect between what happens on the sideline and if Jefferson should have been more assertive in that situation…
“It would have been very easy for us to signal to clock it and have him clock it. The issue was trying to facilitate the call on the field and get the personnel that you want in the game. That decision was made prior to the time understanding. The ‘clock it’ call certainly was the absolute best call at that time, and it would have gone in the order that it would have anyway. We would have used the play that we used, and that would have been the last play. We would only have gotten another one after we choose the run. The next play, we could have scripted another play, but we would have never gotten it off. We like the calls that we made, and we did want to move in and out with quarterbacks, so moving in and out with quarterbacks and changing personnel certainly added to the mistake and certainly the multiplicity of the things that had to all take place in a short amount of time.”
On if he will be quicker to make suggestions to Offensive Coordinator Gary Crowton if he is in another clock management situation like this one…
“I think ultimately it’s my responsibility, period. I don’t in any way need to say who is responsible. It’s my responsibility. The thing that easily would have been said was, ‘Let’s clock it,’ and it needed to be said well before. The issue becomes as soon as you’re without timeouts, you know the only way you can stop the clock is to clock it. That discussion should have taken place really before the down and distances. In other words, as soon as it becomes first-and-goal at the two (yard line). That needed to be said. I need to say that again.”
On if he feels there are too many different coaching philosophies ‘in the works’…
“The thing that you are trying to do as best you can is use the talent you have. Certainly you have a 100-yard rushing day for a quarterback. You have just under 130 yards for a tailback and 185-yard throwing day, you have to think there were some things accomplished. The issue is to eliminate the mistakes, stay with the things that are coached – the things that we are capable of doing – and build on them, not disassemble.”
On the process of a play call coming from the press box to the sideline to the quarterback…
“First, there is the personnel that you want in the game, and after that, it’s the play. The first call made is personnel because if you don’t get the personnel to the field, you may not have time, and then, the call is made and signaled to the quarterback.”
On if there was any thought as to putting Jarrett Lee in at quarterback in the final plays…
“We kind of like the calls that we had with Jordan in the game, and the opportunities for us to have advantages really rested on him at that end of the field. No, at that point in time we liked the calls that we had, and we really did understand some of the advantages that we had in that situation.”
On the performances of the tight ends this season…
“First of all, we use a number of tight ends, and I think they are making a great contribution. Mitch Joseph, with Deangelo Peterson out for the start of the season, came through and made a series of plays, both run and pass, that allowed us to move the football like we did. Now with Deangelo back, he’s a little bit more in the mix with the throw, but we certainly miss Mitch. I don’t know that we will not have him for the Florida game. I think that maybe we will, but certainly the entire room is benefitted by the experiences that are being demonstrated on the field.”
On making sure that they are not predictable offensively with two quarterbacks playing separate roles…
“The good news is both guys can throw it, and certainly we’ll have the run and the pass on the field at the same time. I don’t know that predictability is necessarily the issue. I think there will be a series of plays that a team must get ready for when you put the other quarterback on the field. I think that will pose a competitive advantage for us in both instances.”
On his plan for the quarterbacks against Florida and on how he feels the negative comments about him this past weekend affect his ability to effectively manage the program…
“We have a week to determine who starts and who doesn’t. I think that both will play certainly in a like situation and in a like way that they were played in the last game. I can’t really comment on what speculation is on the perimeter. It’s not me. I don’t operate that way. The only thing I can tell you is I criticize and critique everything that goes on in those games from player to coach, including myself. The only thing I can tell you is we are working on the corrections, and they are ones that can be corrected.”
On simplifying the offense…
“It’s really based on when you get to game week and you look at the opportunity and advantages with our opponents. Maybe there are pieces that you don’t get to when you have enough of another personnel group, but it’s based on game week but not asking them to do too much.”
On this year’s team moving forward toward the back end of the season…
“That really is the issue. What we want to do is take one game at a time. I think that going on the road to Florida will be a great challenge to our team. I think our guys will recognize that Florida is a very talented football team, but we’re very capable. We’ll like the matchup certainly. There has always been an enjoyment to play great teams. I think Florida is very much a quality football team, and our team will look forward to it, but these things have to be approached a game at a time. This game is certainly a pivotal one as are all SEC games. Certainly the opportunity to hold serve and to win is what we are looking to do. I think our team is a special group of young men, and I think that they want more for this team than just to finish with a good record.”
On the play that injured DE Sam Montgomery…
“I don’t know that I could recommend that a flag be thrown, to be honest with you, off of the vision of the film. It was definitely a setup. I think the opportunity to be injured was certainly there, but I don’t know how you can throw a flag on a tackle who had intent to contact but didn’t. That’s how it looked like from our film.
On DE Ken Adams’ injury status…
“I think Ken Adams is very probable for this game, and I think we still don’t know on Sam. I think we’ll get an MRI on him today.”
On RB Stevan Ridley, who is leading the conference in rushing…
“I think Stevan Ridley is having a very strong year based on how he approaches this season. I think he has come in to do something special, knowing that it was going to be his time. His practices, attention to detail, the way he runs, and he’s made real improvement in the way he runs the plays that we ask him to run and how he’s helping this football team. I think that he can have one of those years that is pretty special around here.”
On if he called the final play completely by himself…
“It appeared to us to be an advantage. Now the advantage was played out because it was Stevan Ridley that carried it. There was a block made at the line of scrimmage where a guy was driven into the end zone, but that defender came off the block and really met Stevan just before the goal line, and Stevan Ridley made a great run of one yard for the score. Yes, I did call that play. At the end of the game, struggling to get the headphones back on and not necessarily being in contact with the press box allowed me to make the call.”
On how the team is responding after hearing the negative comments nationally…
“I think the truth of the matter is I don’t know how it’s affecting the team. That’s a real answer. I don’t know. I can tell you that it’s important that our team correct these. That’s my job. It’s also my job to correct the management of the clock without question. Our football team has to eliminate these mistakes and play like we are capable. If you look at the offensive production, the way the defense is playing and the potential on special teams, we have a chance to win a lot of games. That’s what we want to do. That’s really been the push. I think they are hearing me. I don’t know that the approach is any different.”
On getting Jarrett Lee and Jordan Jefferson some kind of dialogue with established NFL quarterbacks to offer a mentoring perspective…
“We’ve turned to a guy who is local. We don’t know if that connection has been made. Maybe in fact Drew Brees is the kind of guy who would be perfect for these quarterbacks. I think they are handling it better than we are giving them credit for. I think we need to just let them get on the field and play. Again, we have to correct some things. We have to improve, but I like both guys, and I think they give us advantages.”
On if he looks back in retrospect and wonders how he let the situation at the end of the Tennessee game get to that point…
“(We had) 437 yards, four turnovers, penalties, those are the issues. We are talented enough to score. We just have to shore up the things that we need to shore up. My role is to get it fixed. That’s my responsibility.”
On if he is satisfied with the way the schedule is setup…
“It’s hard for me to criticize schedules that are made. After I have the schedule and the opponents on it, I really kind of look forward to playing it. I think the schedule we’ve played up to this point has really prepared us for this game. We had two on the road. We played some quality opponents. I think that we’ll go into this game with some advantages with our experiences. After the schedule is made, I’ve never really been too picky. I kind of enjoy it.”
On if the coaching staff gave the quarterbacks any extra confidence and motivation…
“Every quarterback and any quarterback that goes on the field certainly is going to have the confidence of the coaching staff that sends them on there. We are counting on them to make those plays. I think our guys understand the things that they do well and we are going to try and give them the opportunity to do those, and they should have confidence.”
On why T-Bob Hebert was playing center on the last play…
“T-Bob was playing and really subbing in at guard. I think P.J. (Lonergan) got dinged on his non-snapping hand and T-Bob went in. We are very fortunate that he comes in and plays that position and plays it comfortably.
On if P.J. Lonergan could have snapped the ball …
“He could have snapped it; his play would have just been difficult with the issue he had.”
On if Florida’s offense is still finding things out or if Alabama’s defense is just that good…
“I think Alabama’s defense is just a very talented defense. I think Florida’s offense is getting better, and I think John Brantley is playing better and Burton is a piece to that offense. I think they ran into a good defense, and that is what stopped them.”
On if he has more confidence in the running game this year than last year…
“I think our running game is better than it has been. I think there is a confidence with our offensive line and backs with our team that we can pile the line of scrimmage and get the necessary yardage that we need. I think I am more confident in our ability to run the football now than a year ago.”
On why he was so happy after such an ugly win …
“The issue is I enjoy victory. Certainly our football team fought their hearts out and got it. For me not to enjoy the victory and not celebrate with my team would have been a mistake. The fan base, I hope that like me they root for our team. I hope their support extends to the players on the field, and I will be very happy if that continues.”
On how to fix the clock management and penalty issues …
“That is more of a staff meeting correction with clock management. The penalties are those that should be addressed in technique and how you play the game. I think we are working hard to do that and, our guys are working hard to avoid those. The issues of the clock and letting the time expire there is some responsibly then to those guys on the field working hard to get it done but then not getting it done. I guess it is the want to simplify and make it more comfortable for our guys to go on the field and play to be part of the push of the correction.”
On what coach Gary Crowton told him about the last play call …
“‘Way to go coach.’ The key is to win, and certainly we are not happy how we did it. Our football team understands and the coaching staff understands, but how wonderful it was that we took a ball in 19 plays and put it in the end zone. How wonderful it was that our players fought like hell to get the victory. I can’t underscore that enough. I have to enjoy that there is a lot of fight in that team.”
On not playing Tim Tebow this season…
“No, it’s not a relief not to be facing Tebow. I liked playing against him. He’s a great player. I like playing the best and I like going up against the best. I enjoyed the years I played against him. He’s a great guy. I talked to him after all the games we went against each other.”
QB Jarrett Lee
On the two quarterback system compared to being the backup…
“You have to focus more because you never know when you are getting into the game. You’ve got to make the most of it, whether you are in there two plays, three plays or however. You have to make the most out of every opportunity.”
On his improvement at LSU…
“I’ve been in the system a long time now. Since two years ago I’ve just become a more mature player. Getting the opportunity last week really helped boost my confidence. I appreciate the opportunity. Getting that deep pass to (Rueben) Randle was another boost of confidence.”
On the two quarterback system…
“We know as a team that if we put Jordan (Jefferson) in, that he has the option to both pass and run the ball. With Jarrett (Lee) in, it’s more of we know that Stevan (Ridley) is going to run the ball, or Jarrett is going to pass it. It is just something that we are going to have to get used to in practice. We all feel comfortable with both quarterbacks playing the game.”
On his long catch in the Tennessee game…
“It was something we took advantage of. The defense was playing man on that play, and Jarrett (Lee) spotted that. I then worked my route, got open and made the play for my team.”
On not facing Tim Tebow this season…
“I wish I had another shot at Tim Tebow. He is a great quarterback who brought a lot to that Florida offense. We’re preparing for another quarterback in (John) Brantley who can throw the ball around the yard pretty well. He’s a great quarterback too. Hopefully we can force some pressure and make him make bad decisions.”