Troy University Athletics
Troy Football Press Conference Video & Transcript -- Mississippi State Game
9/10/2012 3:59:00 PM | Football
Larry Blakeney Press Conference Transcript
“Not a lot of good news about the game Saturday. I think there were certainly things we can draw from, we didn't win the game and that's the number one negative. We had a situation where we had about a 14-point swing on a turnover. We were driving and the same thing happened to us down there last year on an interception. It's something we've got to totally avoid. Things do happen, but that particular game was decided by 13 points and that was a 14-point swing if we could have taken it in instead of them taking it the over way.”
“You got to credit your opponent. They were well-coached, they were physical, they had a good plan and they were able to win. It's something we will have to deal with as the season goes along. That was the first opener that was lost at Troy since 1986. So that's a record down the tube. We'll try to build another record, but the record we need to build is one of winning games no matter where they are and championships. ”
“I was not disappointed in our effort, we certainly weren't perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but we had great effort. We had a great effort defensively; we had a great effort offensive and then special teams. We can build on that.”
“This week with Mississippi State coming to town, I watched a good portion of their game and they a really good team. Of course, beating Auburn and Jackson State and they're off to a 2-0 start. They're salty on defense and their pretty prolific offensively with a quarterback that is coming into its own in Tyler Russell, and a bevy of receivers and players. But, the thing that I noticed right off the bat was how well they were coached up front on offense, the size, the mobility, the balance that they use when they come off the ball. They're a very good team, we'll be hard pressed to compete, and try to get ready to get us a good plan. I think that it will be a game where we'll have to score some points. The quarterback, Tyler Russell, has a cannon for an arm – tight ends, receivers, across the board are very skilled.”
On improvements from Week One to Week Two
“One thing we did improve was tackling a bit. We didn't have as many missed tackles against ULL as we had against UAB. I think we're still, even though we got some guys that have turned around a long time, we've got a sprinkling of guys that are learning, trying to get in the right place. There are a lot of areas we can improve at. I thought we covered pretty well in the secondary. We'll certainly be tested this week because they certainly throw it around pretty well. But, I think to continue to learn the scheme and fundamentally learn the assignment, that will carry us a long way, if you know what to do.”
On making the running game better
“We have to able to get Shawn Southward the ball so he can makes plays.”
On excitement of playing an SEC team at Veterans Memorial Stadium
“Well, I have to get over the funeral song before I can get into some excitement. I've never dealt with losses any differently. I'm pretty low until maybe after we get to do something on Sunday. After I get to y'all, I'm at least tolerable to be around. Losing a college football game is tough on participants; it's tough on the coaches and I'm sure it's tough on our people that really care about us. The excitement about this game is starting to build and you know we've already started looking at them and you know we better be excited about it. But, I think are kids are going to see what they see and they're going to get excited about playing. There maybe a little bit of fear mixed in, but fear has always been a great motivator.”
On players that grew up in Mississippi playing against a school from their home state
“We've got a lot of kids from Mississippi on our team and of course Mississippi State recruits everywhere we recruit. I think always in the back of their mind they always want to prove something and I can't think of a better way to do it than to beat an SEC team. I think it will be exciting to play this team.”
On the Mississippi State secondary
“Those guys are really good players. I'd like to think we can throw it against anybody. As far as trying to matchup one-on-one against a guy that's going to be in the NFL, that's not totally going to be what we're going to do. We'll have four or five scalding down the field somewhere. I think you've got to run real precise routes and not tip your cuts. I think we'll be able to deal with them. Hopefully that won't be able to just shut us down, if they do we'll be in trouble.”
On quarterback Corey Robinson's play against Louisiana-Lafayette
“He took some shots. I thought he handled things really well. We had a chance to get some big ones and we didn't. I thought Corey was pretty much on and into the game. He's got a lot of work to do, he's got to identify pre-snap reads and post-snap reads. He's done a pretty high-caliber job for us all along and through the first two games.”
On Troy's 21-9 win over Mississippi State in 2001
“It's hard to forget about that game because there are pictures hanging all over the halls. It was a great day. I think they are a much better SEC program than they were then. We're a different team trying to find ourselves, but the impact of that win has resonated with our people through the years. It was great day for Troy. It will be harder now because I think both programs are different, but I'm looking forward to it.”
On the performance of Chandler Worthy against Louisiana-Lafayette
“I love the kid. He's a fierce competitor. He's got a lot of attributes that we need skill wise. He had the turnover; sure he wishes he had it back. He's a very important part of our offensive structure. I'm looking forward for him to grow and mature. I really like him and I'm sure he'll be better because of a bad experience. ”
“Not a lot of good news about the game Saturday. I think there were certainly things we can draw from, we didn't win the game and that's the number one negative. We had a situation where we had about a 14-point swing on a turnover. We were driving and the same thing happened to us down there last year on an interception. It's something we've got to totally avoid. Things do happen, but that particular game was decided by 13 points and that was a 14-point swing if we could have taken it in instead of them taking it the over way.”
“You got to credit your opponent. They were well-coached, they were physical, they had a good plan and they were able to win. It's something we will have to deal with as the season goes along. That was the first opener that was lost at Troy since 1986. So that's a record down the tube. We'll try to build another record, but the record we need to build is one of winning games no matter where they are and championships. ”
“I was not disappointed in our effort, we certainly weren't perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but we had great effort. We had a great effort defensively; we had a great effort offensive and then special teams. We can build on that.”
“This week with Mississippi State coming to town, I watched a good portion of their game and they a really good team. Of course, beating Auburn and Jackson State and they're off to a 2-0 start. They're salty on defense and their pretty prolific offensively with a quarterback that is coming into its own in Tyler Russell, and a bevy of receivers and players. But, the thing that I noticed right off the bat was how well they were coached up front on offense, the size, the mobility, the balance that they use when they come off the ball. They're a very good team, we'll be hard pressed to compete, and try to get ready to get us a good plan. I think that it will be a game where we'll have to score some points. The quarterback, Tyler Russell, has a cannon for an arm – tight ends, receivers, across the board are very skilled.”
On improvements from Week One to Week Two
“One thing we did improve was tackling a bit. We didn't have as many missed tackles against ULL as we had against UAB. I think we're still, even though we got some guys that have turned around a long time, we've got a sprinkling of guys that are learning, trying to get in the right place. There are a lot of areas we can improve at. I thought we covered pretty well in the secondary. We'll certainly be tested this week because they certainly throw it around pretty well. But, I think to continue to learn the scheme and fundamentally learn the assignment, that will carry us a long way, if you know what to do.”
On making the running game better
“We have to able to get Shawn Southward the ball so he can makes plays.”
On excitement of playing an SEC team at Veterans Memorial Stadium
“Well, I have to get over the funeral song before I can get into some excitement. I've never dealt with losses any differently. I'm pretty low until maybe after we get to do something on Sunday. After I get to y'all, I'm at least tolerable to be around. Losing a college football game is tough on participants; it's tough on the coaches and I'm sure it's tough on our people that really care about us. The excitement about this game is starting to build and you know we've already started looking at them and you know we better be excited about it. But, I think are kids are going to see what they see and they're going to get excited about playing. There maybe a little bit of fear mixed in, but fear has always been a great motivator.”
On players that grew up in Mississippi playing against a school from their home state
“We've got a lot of kids from Mississippi on our team and of course Mississippi State recruits everywhere we recruit. I think always in the back of their mind they always want to prove something and I can't think of a better way to do it than to beat an SEC team. I think it will be exciting to play this team.”
On the Mississippi State secondary
“Those guys are really good players. I'd like to think we can throw it against anybody. As far as trying to matchup one-on-one against a guy that's going to be in the NFL, that's not totally going to be what we're going to do. We'll have four or five scalding down the field somewhere. I think you've got to run real precise routes and not tip your cuts. I think we'll be able to deal with them. Hopefully that won't be able to just shut us down, if they do we'll be in trouble.”
On quarterback Corey Robinson's play against Louisiana-Lafayette
“He took some shots. I thought he handled things really well. We had a chance to get some big ones and we didn't. I thought Corey was pretty much on and into the game. He's got a lot of work to do, he's got to identify pre-snap reads and post-snap reads. He's done a pretty high-caliber job for us all along and through the first two games.”
On Troy's 21-9 win over Mississippi State in 2001
“It's hard to forget about that game because there are pictures hanging all over the halls. It was a great day. I think they are a much better SEC program than they were then. We're a different team trying to find ourselves, but the impact of that win has resonated with our people through the years. It was great day for Troy. It will be harder now because I think both programs are different, but I'm looking forward to it.”
On the performance of Chandler Worthy against Louisiana-Lafayette
“I love the kid. He's a fierce competitor. He's got a lot of attributes that we need skill wise. He had the turnover; sure he wishes he had it back. He's a very important part of our offensive structure. I'm looking forward for him to grow and mature. I really like him and I'm sure he'll be better because of a bad experience. ”
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