MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama football head coach Steve Campbell, offensive coordinator Kenny Edenfield, defensive coordinator Greg Stewart, along offensive lineman Hadon Merchant, running back Tywun Walters, defensive end Chason Milner and safety Sterrling Fisher met with the media Monday to preview Saturday's game at Arkansas State and recap the Troy game.

Head coach Steve Campbell
Opening statement:
"We're looking forward to playing a very good Arkansas State football team.  Obviously the Troy game didn't work out the way we wanted it to, but there were some positive things to take out of it.  We moved the ball well at times offensively against a good Troy defense, defensively in the second half we kept them off the scoreboard other than the one time we threw the pick and they returned it all the way down inside the 15-yard line.  Obviously, we have to play better defense early and play better offense late.  We scored 17 points in the first half, in the second half we were able to move the football but we did not finish drives; we got the ball near the red zone a couple of times and didn't get points.  
"Arkansas State is a very good football team, but they are coming off of a heartbreaking loss to Louisiana.  This is a [Sun Belt Conference] West Division game, it's a big game for us not only because it's a divisional game but it's our next game.  We've heard this is do or die, but every week is do or die.  That's the way we approach it.  We need to make improvements from last week, and if we do that we'll have a chance to be successful in the game.  The things we need to do are protect the football, win the battle of explosive plays and win the kicking game, those are the things we'll be working on this week."

On playing on the road:
"I don't think it's psychological.  We opened up with Oklahoma State on the road, who played pretty well at home against the No. 6 team in the country Saturday.  I thought we played halfway well against Memphis on the road, we scored 35 points and should've got another one.  We've lost six games, and five of those six are to teams that are 7-1 or 6-2.  The one who is not was at Memphis — where we had a chance to go ahead in the fourth quarter — who was up 14 [points] against Central Florida, who still hasn't lost in two years.  We've not going to flinch or back up, we're going to do what we do on the road.  What we've done on the road has been good for us for a lot of years.  That doesn't mean we don't evaluate anything, we constantly evaluate and will continue to do so.  Our plan on the road will be to not turn the football over, kick the ball and cover kicks really well, and eliminate explosive plays; if we can do those things we'll have a chance to win whether it's against the No. 6 team in the nation or a team that is not as proficient as some of the ones we've played.  Some of the things that have happened on the road have been self-inflicted, it doesn't matter if you're on the road, at home or in the parking lot at Target, and if you do some of those things they are going to hurt you.  We have to continue to correct those things."

On Arkansas State:
"Justice Hansen has been a great player now for three years.  The thing I didn't realize until a couple of days ago when I was looking at the stats is that he's rushed for a lot of yards this year, he's actually run the ball for more yards than Warren Wand, who I think is a great player.  I know he is very proficient throwing the football.  Their wide receiver Kirk Merritt is a playmaker, I watched him at the Mississippi junior-college level, I know he is big-time weapon.  They have a very explosive football team offensively, they are in the top two or three [in the Sun Belt] in total offense and scoring offense.  Defensively they are very, very athletic and very well-coached; their defensive coordinator, Joe Cauthen, was at Valdosta [State] back in the day and had a great run at Texas A&M-Commerce.  He has been around a long time running the same defense and has done a great job at a lot of different stops.  He has a lot of talent defensively, they are at the top of the league in sacks and tackles for loss."

On how the team took advantage of the extra days to prepare for Arkansas State:
"This is a time of year everybody has a shoulder or an ankle injury, the extra day or two will help those guys to heal.  We gave the guys Friday and Saturday off, which was the first time they've had two days in a row since sometime back in July.  When they came back last night we were able to have a good practice; normally Sunday is the day after a game and you just watch film and go in the weight room.  Then we took our young guys out and scrimmaged, which is something we've been able to do every week this year with our redshirt guys so that we can pay them some individual attention.  That's how you develop depth, you don't do it in a day, one month or six weeks, you do that by working your young guys and stacking [experience] semester upon semester.  That way when a guy goes out on the third or fourth play or a guy sprains an ankle, you don't skip a beat because you have other guys who have been around and getting work.  So we used the semi off week in a couple of different ways."

Offensive Coordinator Kenny Edenfield
On Arkansas State:
"The good thing is we know exactly what we're going to see; he's been there for a little while and plays pretty much the same defense he has played for a while. They have a couple of inside guys who have really good size, and good edge guys as far as rushing the passer. Their corners are pretty good, and I think they feel like they're pretty good because they play a lot of man coverage with their corners and let their safeties try to help out with the run. I think there are some things we can do to get our guys some chances to make plays down the field. We've got to do that quicker, and we have to do a better job on third down of giving our guys opportunities to make some plays for us. I was excited to get back out on the field last night, and you could tell the guys were ready to get back out there. We have good energy, now we just need to have a good week of practice. Usually, if you practice well then you play a lot better."

On the running game against Troy:
"We got some guys in open space, but we weren't able to finish the last runs; I think we're going to get better at that as we go. Our offensive line did a good job of fitting up on people, but we still missed a couple of cuts and I think the running backs would tell you that after watching the film. They were a little disappointed, because there were a couple of other runs that they left out there. I think we did a much better job in the run game. We were able to get the ball out on the edge some, but we can continue to get better."

Defensive Coordinator Greg Stewart
On what he expects to face from Arkansas State on Saturday:
"They are a good team and they have a good quarterback who is very efficient. [Justice Hansen] makes plays with his legs and he can throw the ball. Their back No. 6 [Warren Wand] has been around a while and he's really electric. No. 34 [Marcel Murray] who is a freshman has done some good things for them and we will have to do a good job against him. Their receiver No. 13 [Kirk Merritt] who is from East Mississippi CC is their go-to guy for a lot of stuff, especially out on the perimeter. Arkansas State is a good football team and we're fired up about playing them. We're looking to get back to work this week and get better as a team."

On the main thing the defense needs to do better:
"We've got to start better and not give up explosive plays and get behind where you are trying to play catch up the whole time; that's not fair to the offense. That's one of the things we have to get better at. I say this every week. We have to play our technique better and tackle better. That's stuff that we're working on. There has been some improvement [in those areas] so we are going to keep working on that."

On getting to the quarterback:
"As it is every week, it's important to get to him. As with any good quarterback, when [Hansen] has time to sit back there and read things and look defenders off, he's effective. He's played a lot of football and is the guy that makes them go. The thing [Arkansas State] is doing with him now that's a little different is that they are running him more. They try to keep you off balance there with that element. We definitely need to get after him and put him in a long-yardage situation where we can get after him. Hopefully we'll do that"

Offensive lineman Hadon Merchant
On what the offense needs to do against Arkansas State:
"We need to establish a running game from the start. I believe that's a big key to our success to establish the play-action pass to get people in the box to throw it over the top. I feel like that's a main factor in some of the reasons why we've been struggling on offense this year. We need to do all of the little things in practice this week and we should be fine."

On their mentality heading down the stretch of the season:
"It's good. We know our backs are against the wall right now, but we're warriors and we're ready to battle. We'll do anything to stay alive. We know what's in front of us. The past is the past so we know we have to keep on chopping wood."

On what it's like to see an expanded role after redshirting last season:
"It's been going good. Just getting experience and playing time is key since I didn't play much my senior year of high school, only playing in one game. To come in now as a redshirt freshman and go in without skipping a beat has been great. Coming to work every day in the spring and in the fall and last year as well redshirting, putting in the hours is going as planned."

Running back Tywun Walters
On what the offense needs to do against Arkansas State:
"On offense, we have to come out and start fast. We have to do all of the little things right at practice. We have to go to class, get our study hall hours in and we have to lock in and play our game."

On getting the run game going against Troy:
"Everything was working in that game and in past games. We just have to execute when our number gets called. We just have to trust the coaching scheme too. If the coaching scheme that week is to hit the front side, we have to be patient, wait till the hole opens and execute."

On what he wants in his last few collegiate games:
"I just want to go out there and win at all costs. I want to contribute to the team anyway I can, find my role and execute when my number gets called, but most importantly I just want to win at the end of the day."

Defensive end Chason Milner
On bouncing back from the Troy game and playing Arkansas State:
"I think trying to bounce back is a big thing, especially going into this game. It's do or die for us now. We've got to win every game from here on out, especially to get to a bowl game and try to get into the conference championship. We've got to play hard."

On the difficulties of playing on the road:
"It's definitely nothing physical like traveling. I think it's a consistency problem. We struggle with some consistency at times, but that's always a thing to work on. Hopefully we can bounce back this week and get a road win; that would be great."

On facing Arkansas State's quarterback:
"He's got a long stride, so if he breaks tackles or gets out in open space he can pull away. He's a very good, very solid quarterback."

On depth at the defensive end position and physicality with some players out with injuries:
"I think it's great to get guys back as soon as we can. We have been plagued with injuries at that position. As you get later in the season, you start to get more and more into football shape. It's not so hot anymore, so we can stay out there a little bit longer now. As long as they build us up to that, we can withstand it. It is great to have depth coming back and to have guys stepping up to take on new roles in our defense."

Safety Sterrling Fisher
On bouncing back from the Troy game and playing Arkansas State:
"I feel like we just need to start fast and strong. If we continue to start fast and finish strong, we can definitely come out with a win. It's a matter of setting the tone and pace."

On facing Arkansas State's quarterback:
"He can run pretty well. We've just got to do a good job tackling. He's a big guy and he makes good throws and good decisions. He's a good football player, so we've just got to stop him and shut him down."

On his increased role in the defense and what he's doing to contribute more:
"First, I have to give all credit to God. Without him, I couldn't do all this or make these plays. I really wanted to step up for my teammates. Last year wasn't the best year for me, and I felt like I owed them my all and to be the best player I could be. I wanted to show that and play for them. I play for God and I play for my teammates, so I wanted to showcase that."

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