Ole Miss Rebels College Football Pregame Quote, 10/14/2019

Going back and looking at the tape, it was the same as what I thought Saturday after the game. Especially in the first half, a few plays could have changed the game. Defensively, looking at it, we did have a few misfits that were uncharacteristic of us. We’ve been really good there.

On this Saturday’s matchup with Texas A&M:

We’re looking forward to the challenge Saturday, night game at home against a great opponent in Texas A&M. I’m excited about a great atmosphere. We’ve really fed off that, the two SEC night games we’ve had here.

On the approach with the QB situation this week:

We have two really good competitors that have unique skill sets. That’s the difference, most people have guys that are similar. I was very impressed with how they fed off each other and how unselfish they were, pulling for each other on the sideline. That impressed the other guys on the sideline as well. I’ve been proud of them, not only in the way they’ve been competing against each other, but also pulling for each other.

On the message ahead of Saturday’s game against Texas A&M:

It’s the same ‚Äì let’s go find a way to win this game. Obviously you have a long term perspective about building a program and getting to where you want, but you have to have a short term focus in trying to find a way to win this week. Guys like Benito (Jones), Austrian (Robinson) and Alex Givens, you owe it to those guys. That’s what you try to do every week, and that’s the challenge in this conference is let’s go find a way to beat Texas A&M this week.

On getting other wide receivers involved in the offense:

We just need to take advantage of those deep balls and the hitches underneath. We hit a couple to (Dontario) Drummond and just taking some of those when they’re open. We need to make the plays down the field. We missed a couple deep balls that we can potentially make.

On rotating the QBs causing confusion for the defense:

They have to play them totally different, so I don’t know if confusion is the word, but it’s a whole different set of problems that a defense has to worry about.

On the possibility of rotating QBs moving forward:

Based on game plan, for sure. If we think it gives us the best chance to win the game, we’ll do it. I don’t think anything is out of the question. It will be based on game plan and what gives us the best chance to win.

On limiting big plays in the secondary:

I think there are always things you can correct, but we are getting better. I think there were some miscues in the run game that you haven’t been seeing. We are continuing to get better, especially with those freshmen. You see (A.J.) Finley, (Jay) Stanley, and (Deantre) Prince in there as freshmen. Those guys are continuing to get better for sure.

On replacing Tariqious Tisdale and Jacquez Jones sitting out the first half:

Guys have to step up. No different than an ankle injury or anything else. Next man up. Hopefully make it through the first half, and they’ll come back fresh for the second half. You got what you got. You don’t get to pull anyone else up. KD Hill has to step up inside. You may move Josiah (Coatney) or Benito (Jones). Those three defensive linemen are interchangeable, so I think we have some flexibility there.

On Texas A&M:

Defensively, that’s where I’ve spent most of my time watching, they are very good inside. They are physical and fast, very good at linebacker, and are long in the secondary. Offensively, they’ve got several good receivers, and then (Kellen) Mond is an experienced quarterback. He can hurt you with his legs, and he can throw it. So, it’s a huge challenge on both sides of the ball.

On rotating offensive linemen:

Right now, we are moving Ben Brown into center some and Jalen (Cunningham) into left guard. You can see some of that, and then Nick Broeker’s playing time is going up at left tackle as he continues to improve and get better.

On injuries:

Pretty healthy coming out. Sam (Williams) hurt his elbow, but he came back and played. Jay Stanley and Benito (Jones) both had minor injuries, but they came out fine yesterday Pretty healthy coming out with the exception of the two guys that are sitting the first half.

On Kellen Mond compared to Kelly Bryant:

Similar. He is good enough to run it, and they have designed quarterback runs. That’s the difference. It’s not just scrambling or zone read, they have some powers and some quarterback counters schemed up for him to run the football. Then, when you have a guy that can do that as well as throw it, it presents challenges.