Troy Football Press Conference - Dec. 1 - Troy University Athletics

Head Coach Chip Lindsey

Opening Statement
"We are coming off of the trip to App State, and honestly, we just didn't play well. We had some good spurts where we played well on offense, but other than those few drives, we were hit and miss most of the night. Consistency is our problem. Obviously, when you have different people in the lineup because of various reasons, it is going to happen. We have to get better at executing at quarterback, offensive line and with our running backs. The last three weeks have been pretty rough on our team from a COVID standpoint but that is the hand we have been dealt, and we wanted to play (this season)."

On the defense
"It was probably the worst game we played all year even though one of the touchdowns was the pick six. We had a few bright spots but just too many missed tackles and missed assignments and that is what stood out to me. We knew that App State had a really good offense, and we would have to play well to have a chance to win, but we didn't."

On the rest of the season
"We have three games left. Like I told our team, we still have a fourth of our season left to play here in December. This is an opportunity for us to take another step forward. How we finish these last three games will determine if we get to go to a bowl game and will build momentum for next season. We have a lot of guys coming back, and we have a pretty young football team. There is a lot of opportunity for us to grow these last three games, and it starts with the Battle for the Belt."

On South Alabama
"They are a much-improved team. They might be playing some of their best football here lately. I see a team that is still playing extremely hard and has improved from the first of the year to now. This is a rivalry game; our players and coaches know that. We are very excited. Going on the road to their place will be a challenge. We need to refocus after not playing so well this weekend and get ready for a rivalry game."

On South Alabama's offense
"It all starts with their quarterback Desmond Trotter. He is a dual-threat guy, and South Alabama does a great job of using his skill set. They do a good job of protecting him to let him throw it deep but also using him in the run game. When you look at their team, their receiving core is very dynamic. Jalen Tolbert, their top guy, is one of the best receivers in the country. He is top 10 in receiving yards and touchdowns. We will have to have a plan for him. Kawaan Baker is another guy that is a dangerous receiver. They might have one of the better receiving units in the league when you look at them top to bottom."

On South Alabama's defense
"Their defense has been playing extremely hard. The defensive line is a group of good big guys that do a great job of playing their scheme and making it tough on the offensive line. Riley Cole is a guy who leads their defense. He is a very talented player. He looks like he is very comfortable back at the linebacker position after he played on the ball more last season. I am very impressed with both of their safeties as well. I see a defense that is continuously getting better and will be a challenge for us. No matter who we are playing, if we don't execute better offensively then it is going to be tough. We have to do a better job at executing, but we get a lot of guys back this week that we have been missing."

On South Alabama special teams
"They are a very talented group. Kawaan Baker returns for them, and we will need a plan for him. Their kicker leads our conference and is one of the best in the country. All the way around, they are very solid. They do a great job on special teams and will be very sound."

On Jalen Tolbert
"His ball skills stand out to me. He is a very talented guy in terms of his skill set, but his ball skills are great. He has a knack for making plays on contested catches. He is a very explosive guy that also played well last year but has taken another step in his game. He makes play after play and is one of the better receivers we have seen this year."

On Carlton Martial
"(Carlton) has such a great story coming up here from Mobile as a walk-on, earns a scholarship and becomes an All-American. He is the type of guy that you want your program to be built on. He is a quality person who loves football, loves to practice and is very instinctive. He brings a lot to our team and is a leader. He is a blue-collar guy that comes to work every day and is competitive. He is exactly what we look for as a Troy Kinda Guy."

On Jamontez Woods
"With us missing a couple guys last week, his role expanded a lot. He is a very talented guy who has improved a lot. We knew when he got here that he could run the football, but there is so much more to being a running back. You have to be able to pass protect, run routes and understand what scheme we are in. He has done a nice job of continuing to grow. He had to be the focus and starter on Saturday to fill in for big losses. His role will continue to grow as we continue to play two running backs. I think he needs to continue to grow as a pass blocker and understanding the game, and once he does that, the sky is limit."

On health of the team
"I feel better about it after the last three weeks being rough. If you looked at it today, we should be in much better shape. We will get some guys back at the end of the week, which is another factor. Recovering and getting back is tough. We will get some guys back towards the end of the week. We don't really know how much everyone will be able to help, but we are in a much better place compared to the last three weeks."

On the future of the running back room
"Kimani and Jamontez are exactly the kind of guys that we want here. They are very good with the ball in their hands. Kimani is a very mature guy for his age, and he played in a very similar system in high school. He understands more than maybe some of the other guys, but I think Jamontez and Kimani both will do great things here over time. I can't say enough about their progress and growth. It will help us in the future."

On the energy needed for Saturday
"I think we are somewhat used to the no fans. We have played in front of limited crowds all season. We need to focus on us executing and playing better mostly. If you can't get excited to play South Alabama in a rivalry game, then we don't have the right guys. It should take care of itself. We just need to focus on what we can do better."

On playing three quarterbacks
"I felt like we needed to try something different because we weren't getting what I wanted from that position. The score dictated some of that too. It gave us the opportunity to give Parker McNeil and Kyle Toole a series to see what they could do in a live game situation. It was a good learning experience for both of them. We anticipate Gunnar being ready to go on Saturday and hopefully playing better."

On the toughness of the season
"It has been tough and even the best teams in the country would tell you that. We tried to set the tone early because we knew this was going to be a season like no other. We knew we were going to have to handle the ups and downs of the season. That is great to say, but when you are in the middle of it, it is tough for these guys. I am really proud of how they have handled the adversity throughout the year. We haven't played as well here lately, and we need to get better no matter who is on the field. No one is going to feel sorry for us, so we have to go to work. There is no question that this season has affected everyone in the country mentally, but at the end of the day, the alternative was not playing. We appreciate every game we have been able to play. We have played nine games while other programs have only played four or five. I attribute that to our staff and administration who have worked hard to make sure we play as many games as possible."

On next step for the quarterbacks
"We have to have better decision making. It has not been where I want or expect it to be. We have to start making better decisions and protecting the ball. It is not about the guy doing the job, but who is doing the job consistently. We need someone who can lead the team down the field. I said during fall camp our quarterback would be whoever could lead our team down the field, and we are searching for that right now. Gunnar has been hurt this season, so he is probably not 100 percent healthy, but no one is this time of the year. Jacob stepped in and did some good things. Between all of them, we just need better play at quarterback. I'm looking for the most consistent guy who will run our offense like we want it done. We have three weeks to improve.

Troy University Athletics

Troy Football Press Conference - Dec. 1

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