MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama football head coach Steve Campbell, offensive coordinator Kenny Edenfield, defensive coordinator Greg Stewart, along with defensive lineman Jeffery Whatley and wide receiver Jalon Tolbert met with the media Monday to recap the ULM game and preview Thursday night's game against Georgia Southern.
Below are some highlights:
Head coach Steve Campbell
- On Georgia Southern:
"Georgia Southern has an outstanding football team. What they do offensively with that triple option makes it imperative that we have a great week of practice, especially on a short week. Defensively they have a lot of very good athletes and a lot of speed, they do a good job of pressuring the quarterback and they have been very successful against the run this year. Louisiana-Lafayette was able to move the football, they did some things on the ground and then hit some play-action passes to do a good job of controlling their option game. That's what is going to be key for us this week, controlling the football and trying to keep Shai Werts on the sideline; he is a very dangerous quarterback, he was a little banged up earlier in the year but they got him back this past week. It is going to be crucial for us to stop all three phases of the triple option."
- On having a short week to prepare for the next game:
"We're anxious to get back out on the practice field and to play a home game. Any time you're coming off of a defeat, you are anxious to get back out there as quickly as you possibly can to get that bad taste out of your mouth. There were some things that happened in this past week's game that we can build off of. The first drive was as good a drive as we've had this season, we took it down and converted some big plays; I thought we protected the quarterback well, ran the ball physically and Cephus did a good job in the option game. Defensively on the first drive we got off the field, one of the things we had emphasized from the week before was being able to get off the field on third down. The second drive we took the ball down the field and had the turnover in the red zone, of course that is something you can't do against a good football team. There were some definite things to build off of last week and some things that we can definitely look at and see we need to improve on in order to beat a good football team, and Georgia Southern is definitely a good football team. We had really good meetings last night, our players saw the things that we can control."
- On Cephus Johnson:
"I think he is growing each week and gaining more confidence as he goes. I read something the other day that makes sense — you can't give a guy confidence, you can give a chance to earn it. He did some good things this past week. I thought he ran the triple option really well, and there was a third down and we ran a quarterback draw, he pulled it down and had a very physical run to get us the first down. On the last scoring drive, we were in the red zone and he ran a quarterback draw and made the safety miss and took it in for a touchdown. With each time that Cephus steps out there I think he is gaining a little more confidence. Obviously we are not where we want to be offensively as a unit yet, and as we get better up front I think that will give him more opportunities to help grow in his confidence. He is progressing and getting better each week, we just need to keep chopping wood."
- On battling adversity:
"One of the reasons I like football is because it's a microcosm of life, it really is. You are going to go through adversity and have things not go right, but you just have to keep going. When you do go through it, you keep going and learn from it both in football and in life. You get back to work and keep improving; you control the things you can control. The things we can control are getting better each day, make sure when we report each day, whether it's practice or at meetings, it's important that we improve each and every day. We've got great young men in our program who have great character. We're a young football team right now. We just need to keep getting better and eventually we're going to break through that threshold, and we're close. We just need to focus on doing the things that will put ourselves in position to be successful. We're making some improvements each and every week. We need to make a good little bit of improvement before Thursday, because we've got a very good Georgia Southern team to play and we're going to be ready for them."
Offensive coordinator Kenny Edenfield
- On the offense at ULM:
"I think we did some good things that we improved on from the week before; we were able to run the ball, and that is what we focused on. We thought we could be a little bit bigger than they (ULM) were inside. One of the things we have to continue to do is just finish in the red zone. We had to settle for a field goal, and had an interception in the end zone which was 11 points; that was about what the game was. And the thing offensively is we can control those things. Our guys see how close we really are, and that's what is fun about coaching them; they come back each week, see it and go to work to get better at it. These guys are unselfish all the time and are trying to get better every day, we just have to do the little things better. What does that mean? Throwing the ball a little bit sooner sometimes, being in our spot a little better, running our routes a little sharper and staying on our blocks a little longer. I think our guys are working for that, and if we continue to do that then we'll have a good week."
- On quarterback Cephus Johnson gaining confidence:
"Cephus was really making some good decisions last week. I thought he did a good job. He is definitely growing, and played his best game, by far, on Saturday. He graded out way better than he has, and I was proud of him. I think if he can continue to grow like that, then we are going to get where we need to be."
Defensive coordinator Greg Stewart
- On game plan/preparation for Georgia Southern's triple-option offense on a short week of practice:
"When you play a triple-option offense, it comes down to discipline and you have to play assignment football. Somebody has to have the fullback, somebody has to have the quarterback and somebody has to have the pitch, and you have to have those covered every play regardless of where the ball's at. When we go up against [their] Georgia Southern's] plays throughout the week, we just need to make sure that we stay assignment and discipline sound.
"They have great players on their team. I believe one of their No. 12s [Wesley Kennedy III] is coming back this week; he's a guy who can fly. They've used him both in the backfield and out at receiver. Their quarterback [Shai Werts] is a great player who can run, so we'll have to do a good job of playing disciplined football and playing fast. We're going to try to make it simple so that we can lineup and play fast."
- On how receivers are getting open in space:
"You have certain calls and you have to be in certain places. When you play a zone coverage, you have to be in a certain spot. If you're not in that certain spot then your opponent's going to take advantage of you I the spot that you're not in. We have to do a better job of getting some more depth in some of our stuff. We've got to do a better job of getting our communications down, and that's all coaching. You just have to keep working it and getting it across [to your players]. You have to make sure that you do it a 1,000 times in practice and keep doing it. The things that we messed up on [against ULM] is easily fixable if we'll do it a 1,000 times. You just can't do it once and expect them to be able to do it. You have to keep repping it. We're close on defense. You keep repping it long enough that something good's bound to happen. The tough part is to keep working hard during adversity. Our guys are bought in though and working hard. I know something good is going to happen."
Defensive lineman Jeffery Whatley
- Opening statement:
"The expectations are to show up. Obviously with it being a short week, we've got a quick turnaround. (We have to) get everything as far as preparation for Georgia Southern and the things that they do schematically teed up. Get our bodies healthy, but also try to have a really good week of practice on short notice."
- On defending Georgia Southern's option:
"Obviously when you face an option team, you have to be disciplined. With them getting on the perimeter, they have a lot of guys that are really quick. I feel like we have to get it stopped before it gets going because they have some athletes on their team that can make things happen for them out in space. We have to get them on the ground."
- On getting back on the field
"After any game, I always want to play again because I feel like there's not enough time in the game to do the things I want to do. We have to forget about last week and try to roll with the punches and the new challenges that Georgia Southern presents with not only their offense but their defense too. That will make us a better team than we were last week."
Wide receiver Jalon Tolbert
- Opening statement:
"I believe our expectations are having a good week of practice and building off of last week, not harping on it, but building off of it, and coming out here each and every day to get better, and focus on the next team, instead of what happening last week or the week before – always improving."
- On getting back on the field:
Tolbert: We're very anxious because we all know in the fieldhouse what we can do and what we can accomplish. We're waiting for it to just burst open; it's going to rain and pour, but it'll eventually shine. We all work hard for this and we're just waiting for it to pay off. It's a short week, so we know we have to come out here ready to practice today and tomorrow, then start preparing for Wednesday, then Thursday, go out there and compete."
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