Neal Brown Press Conference - Georgia Southern Game

Opening Statement…

We had a quality win over Texas State on Saturday. I'm happy with how are guys started the game. I thought the start was crucial. We took control of the game early. We had a good week of preparation and enjoyed Thanksgiving week on campus with our guys. We were the only ones here, and I thought that helped us grow and rebound from the loss against Arkansas State. The quick start allowed us to play a lot of guys in the second half which was good experience for several guys that will play crucial roles for us next year.

Special teams negatives, I was disappointed in our kickoff unit. Our kickoff coverage has been in the top 10 in the country for the last two seasons and we have to get better there. We didn't cover with purpose and I was as disappointed with that unit as I have been all year. We had a bad hold on an extra point where he (Ryan Kay) missed the kick because of the hold. The positives, I thought our punt team did a good job against a block team that has blocked three on the year. We did solid in the return game all day.

Defensively, the negatives are I thought we lost our focus on one drive in each half. We need to make more competitive plays on the ball in the air. They went up and grabbed a couple of jump balls on us in the second half. That doesn't need to happen. The positives, I thought we were in complete control the entire game. We stopped the run, 2.8 per rush. We created two turnovers and they really struggled on third down. We had good gap control the entire time.

Offensively, the negatives, I wasn't pleased with our rushing offense. I didn't think our offensive line or our running backs played very fundamentally sound. We had too many drops. We probably left 100 to 125 yards in passing out there just because of drops. Our backups need to play better. They played the whole second half and we need to be more consistent there. They got an opportunity and didn't really do much with it. The score was 37-0 when Brandon and a lot of those guys went out, and we really didn't move the ball well after that. Positives are we had 13 points off turnovers. We had zero turnovers offensively and really controlled the game. We had 25 first downs.

Good win for us. That gets us to 9-2 and 6-1 in the league. With a little help from (UL)-Lafayette, we get the opportunity to play for a conference championship against Georgia Southern. We have a lot to play for. At this point in the season when you have a lot to play for it means you played some good football throughout the season, and we have. I'm proud of our guys to put us in this position. We know what is a stake. If we win, we get a piece of the Sun Belt Conference championship, which would be a huge step in year two.

We have a lot of respect for Georgia Southern's program. They have a winning tradition. They have had Troy's number. In 2014 in a nationally televised game, they beat us 42-10. In 2015, we were the Sun Belt game of the week and they beat us 45-10. It was a game that sticks in my memory a lot. They had a 14-minute drive that took up all of the third quarter. As I look at their two-deep, a lot of their players return. This game is a measuring stick to find out where we are at. They beat us 87-20 over the past two years, so this game will be a measuring stick to see how far we have come in a short time. We are excited to play on national TV. Last time we were on an ESPN channel; it did not go so well. We did not represent our program in the right way, so we are looking forward to the opportunity to follow up with that.

Georgia Southern has one of the best rushing offenses in the country. They are more multiple this year as far as throwing the ball. I think the offense runs through Favian Upshaw and Kevin Ellison, the two quarterbacks they play. I think they are both healthy for one of the few times this season. They have three or four running backs that are as good as anyone in our league. They have three receivers all with 25 or more catches that are capable. Their offensive line is very good in the run game.

Defensively, they have one of the top units in the country. They gave us a lot of fits last year. They are huge at defensive tackle. Darrius Sapp is an NFL prospect. I like the way Ironhead Gallon plays. I think he was Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week last time we played them. Their secondary is well coached. Jeremy Rowell, a former Troy Trojan does a good job in their secondary.

Special teams, the special team's coordinator is up for the Broyles Award. They have one of the top kickers in the country. We have our hands full and we are looking forward to it. It is an opportunity to compete for a conference championship and finish the season with 10 wins for the first time in Division I (FBS) history."

On nationally televised games and the exposure of the team…
"It is good if you play well. The South Alabama game was good for us, but the Arkansas State game wasn't. We have to do something about it. That is the challenge to our football team. We did not put a good product out on the field last time on television, so this is the opportunity to redeem ourselves. We will have an opportunity in a bowl game as well."

On last game of Redemption Road…
"We have a lot to prove. Those scores (from the last two years) are pretty convincing. Regardless of what their record is, they have had a lot of injuries. I look at that two-deep and a whole lot of those guys are returning. We didn't block Sapp or Ellison at all last year. It looks like the same cast of characters to me, and I think we have a lot to prove because we have been dominated two years in a row."

On confidence of getting back into a conference championship situation…
"It is disappointing when you control your own destiny and then you don't play well. I felt like (UL)-Lafayette would have a chance because they had been playing well down the stretch. We are thankful for the opportunity to get back into that discussion, that is what you play for. We won't spend much time talking about it to our kids, honestly. To me, it is about the next game and finishing and outing a better product on the field."

On bouncing back after a loss…
"I think the quick start really helped us. The defense came out and dominated that game early on. Everett Withers will have a really good football team a year or two down the road because they are playing some really young guys. They played hard, especially defensively. We went out and took care of business like we should have. You don't get a loss like we had against Arkansas State out of your system until you play another game. So that game has been played and it is out of our system. Now we have to get back to playing with our edge. We need to play like we did against App State and Clemson, where we played at a high level for four quarters. That's what it will take in Statesboro."

On difference in game plan…
"I wouldn't really say they are an option team right now. They run the quarterback a lot, but not as many option looks as they had a year ago. I think you have to account for the quarterback regardless of which one plays and have answers for the option game."

On bowl game preference…
"At this point, we are just happy to be going to one. It has been since 2010 since this program has been to a bowl game, so we are excited about where we end up. I know we are going to travel well. The Trojan faithful is going to go out and buy some hotel rooms and spend some money wherever we go. We have full faith in our fan base. (Karl Benson) has done a good job getting a lot of bowl tie ins for our league."

Troy University Athletics

Neal Brown Press Conference - Georgia Southern Game

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