Transcript: Les Miles' Weekly Press Conference

Written by Michael Bonnette (LSU Athletics) | Monday, 31 August 2009 16:20 | LSU News

Les Miles Press Luncheon (VIDEO)
August 31, 2009

LSU HEAD COACH LES MILES

Opening statement...

"I'm glad to be in game week. I'm glad to be with you all to start the new season. I can tell you that our guys are looking forward to playing a game. We've been going against each other so regularly that the plays that are being made just aren't being celebrated as much as they would if you were playing an opponent, so we're very much looking forward to starting the season. We got into our preparation for the Washington game a couple of days prior to this week, and we feel like the preparation is well underway. We look forward to going to Seattle. This Washington team has great tradition. Don James ran a program that has been run in the past that is a storied program on the west coast that everyone has enjoyed for years. I can tell you that when I was at another school we played them in several Rose Bowls. I understand the abilities that Washington has to recruit and the style of athletes that we'll play. I also look forward to seeing our fans travel to Washington. I can't tell you how people have come up to me and said, ‘I'll see you there, coach.' It's a heart-felt feeling when you represent LSU and you travel and you see your LSU fans there. I look forward to seeing our guys dressed in gold. The good fortune of our opponent is that their color scheme is the same or very similar, so we would like you to stand out in gold.

"What we need to do is play like we play and play like LSU has played in the past and the style of play that we're accustomed to. Offensively, we want to play run and pass with balance, play efficiently, don't turn the ball over and go down the field. Defensively, we have to be fast to the ball, play with great enthusiasm, make big plays and get takeaways. On special teams, we need to execute, and that's the goal. That's what we need to accomplish to start the season, and that's what we need to accomplish from Week 1 on out.

"Washington did not have success last year, but that was last year. If you look at a team that returns eight starters on offense and defense, the truth is that they have talent, they had a great recruiting class, their quarterback (Jake Locker) is back healthy and the likelihood is that they will be a much improved Pac-10 team. We will have to play well and execute to do what we want to do on the west coast. When you return a veteran quarterback to a team, there are just so many things that you can do. (Head coach) Steve Sarkisian was a great offensive coordinator at USC. He coached two Heisman Trophy quarterbacks, and I'm certain he's thrilled to be at Washington with Jake Locker. He's the style of player that is very similar to the guys that he's coached. I know that Washington will be prepared. Nick Holt, the defensive coordinator, and coach Sarkisian will prepare that team extremely well. I know that it will be a great challenge to our football team and look forward to it.

"I've never been to Washington and played there, but I've followed that program. Anybody in college football has followed that program with real respect. We look forward to going and playing well."

On what unique challenges Washington QB Jake Locker presents as a runner...
"Any time you play a quarterback that has mobility, there are a number of ways that he can be used. He throws very well on the run. At USC, they used a very extensive naked bootleg package that gets the quarterback on the run and gives him options to throw the football and run. Certainly, that's one of the things they can do as well as call his number on runs, so it's something certainly that we have to prepare for."

On how much a change in philosophy from a new defensive coordinator can change a team...
"I don't know that the philosophy has changed. I think the enthusiasm, the attention to detail and the want to get to the ball (has changed). To me, I think our players had an existing culture and got used to playing dominant football on defense, and I think (Defensive coordinator) John Chavis instills that in them with how he coaches. What kind of difference? Hopefully extreme."

On prepping for potential rain this weekend as well as a late kickoff...
"We use wet ball pretty routinely, and the good news is that we have an outdoor turf now, and we're outside in heavy rain. As long as it's not lightning, we're outside, so we're getting wet ball opportunities. I know it's supposed to rain or may rain on game day there, but that would not be something we're not used to. We'll be prepared for that. With the travel, we've consulted with several of what we consider sleep experts, and I've traveled to the west coast several times myself. We feel like we have a very solid plan to get our guys rest and allow them to be in position to play four quarters of quality football."

On the progression of QB Jordan Jefferson...
"Jordan is still a young quarterback, but he's got tremendous skills and abilities, and he's coming of age in terms of how to operate the offense, make the checks and handle the communications. He's really improved. We look forward to playing him and watching him continue to improve this season."

On the two new starters on the offensive line...
"I think T-Bob Hebert-he and P.J. Lonergan-will both play. I think T-Bob will start. They both fit in real well, and they're guys who are very serious about their trade. They're going to get it right, and they're making all the right calls. We've not really missed a beat there. Our centers have really picked it up. Josh Dworaczyk is a big, tall athletic guard that has the ability to come off the football. Again, as a five-some with those two young guys, we're pretty talented. I don't know if they are the best offensive line that I've had, but if not, they're very close."

On what LSU needs to do to put Jefferson is situations to succeed...
"I think our team needs to combine all of those things. We have to be able to run the football, so we're not asking him to execute in long-yardage situations. I think the opportunity for our defense to get the ball back to us certainly gives any offense the opportunity to score. What we need to do is take care of our business, execute, take care of the ball and move the ball efficiently, both run and pass."

On the defensive line...
"We'll start with Pep Levingston. To me, he's paid his dues and is looking forward to playing a lot of football. He's always had athleticism, ability and strength, so we're looking forward to seeing him play. I think with Rahim Alem at the other end, there's a guy who has plenty of natural talent but looking at his first full year as a starter. I think his preparation in camp has been good, and I think as a senior, he's a guy that looks forward to making this a very special senior season. The guys inside-Al Woods, Drake Nevis and Charles Alexander-will rotate and play really well for us inside. I think that group will come to play. I'm confident that they will play very well."

On FB Richard Dugas...
"Richard Dugas is a guy who is really committed to this football team. He changed his body and lost some weight. He had a knee surgery this summer and really has done a great job coming back really quickly. He gives us a physicality at 270 pounds at fullback. He can go in there and block for most tailbacks and give us some tough sledding. When it's a key situation and we need physical play, we can call his number. He's much improved."

On LB Kevin Sheppard's versatility...
"Kelvin Sheppard is a big, strong athletic man. He can play outside and has always gotten a lot of reps at the Mike linebacker (spot). He's just a guy that gives us a lot of depth at two positions. He's a veteran now, and he's a guy that understands what we ask of him and how to get the defense called. He's a key member inside there."

On how he plans to use QB Russell Shepard this weekend...
"We'll play him at quarterback. We'll play him at wide receiver and possibly running back. What he does with his feet certainly make him special. He has great ball skills. He can catch it. He can throw it. We give him a limited menu with throws, but he'll have the opportunity to do those things. We have not scripted the game plan just yet. I don't know exactly which situations he'll be in, but I can tell you that we look forward to getting him some snaps."

On if Trindon Holliday will be the team's starting punt returner...
"Yes, Trindon Holliday and Chad Jones will be those guys back there for punts as they were last year. He'll get an opportunity."

On the importance of getting off to a great start against Washington...
"We can only expect and predict their best play. I can only tell you that we're preparing to do what we do and not worry about exactly who our opponent is at this time. We have to play well, do the things that we can do and hope that it matches up and we can come away with the style of game that we went there to play. I recognize that they are a very talented team and are looking to put it together, but there are some goals that this team has, and I look forward to going to Washington and playing."

On if it's tough scouting a team like Washington...
"We suspect what they are going to play. There isn't a book on them (coaching staff). They have not called a play at Washington and what is USC's personality and the type of talent they had would lend to the play calls that were offense, defense and special teams from there. I'm not certain that is what they are going to do. When you line up in the first one and you don't really know what to expect, you have to have a pretty broad-based game plan so that you can handle the things you might see."

On spending the night in Washington following the game...
"Many times you get on a plane at 1 a.m. in the morning, and you arrive back at 2 a.m. or 3 a.m., and it's not quite that bad, but when you lose an entire night's sleep on a plane, we felt like it would be more important for the rest of the week and next week's preparation that they get a good, solid night's sleep before they get on that plane. We'll bring them back after the game and bed them down in Seattle."

On how many people the team can take to Seattle...
"85."

On DB Brandon Taylor...
"I think Brandon Taylor is planning to play, and right now, we're planning to have him at practice today."

On if the defense desires to prove people wrong after last year's performance...
"The only thing I can tell you is that I think they will look forward to playing and play well, and how they match up with that, I'm not sure."

On if he expects anyone to miss the game because of an injury...
"There is nobody at this time that has injury enough that we would expect they would be ruled out of the game."

On what Strength and Conditioning coach Tommy Moffitt means to the program...
"Tommy is, in my opinion, the finest weight and strength coach in the country. He's a guy that not only provides great resource in terms of nutrition, weight strength, speed and development, but coaches the entire team and has a great philosophical perspective on how a team should be prepared. We're thrilled that coach Moffitt is a part of this program and look forward to him being here for years to come."

On how much pressure is fair to put on Jefferson to get everything right...
"Any time you put a young quarterback on the field, you want to ask him to do the things that he can do, and for a guy who is very talented for us, we can ask him to do a lot. The thing that you don't want to do is overburden him and not let him play free and not clutter his mind with things he shouldn't be looking at. We're certainly going to come in with some checks and some things that we're going to do, but there's not going to be a preponderance of checks. It's going to be something that he'll be able to handle very comfortably, in my opinion. We would expect him to play well. We would expect him to be improved over what was probably three game-like situations that we had during two-a-days and how well he improved really from one to three. We had a 40-play mock game on Saturday, and during that time he had to deal with a number of looks, stems and motions and checks and did an extremely confident job. We expect he'll play better from there."

On safety Craig Loston...
"Craig Loston has come in and shown great speed and ability to hit and has a very good, natural understanding of football. Frankly, we might get him some snaps on special teams this Saturday. He's just a fast, hard-hitting athletic man. The opportunity to use him might come this Saturday."

On the Michigan allegations...
"We mark it all down. We're not going to get into a change of the schedule. The only thing that we would do is that we basically put up what is the overview and reduce it from there. We're going to be compliant at all times. It's not something in my opinion that is easy, but certainly if you pay attention and do the right things, you'll be fine."

On if Miles anticipates anyone digging up his comments on the Pac-10 from a few years ago...
"The only thing that I can tell you is that we are playing Washington. We look forward to playing them, and I certainly understand the experience that the Pac-10 has had, what a great conference it's been and the success that it's had, so we would expect no less from Washington."

On RB Stevan Ridley...
"He's going to be right in the position to get some snaps. I don't know if he'll get snaps right away in this game, but he's improving. He's coming off knee surgery, and he's getting stronger. He'll play in special teams. I guarantee it, and we'd love to give him the opportunity to carry the ball."

On the progression of wide receivers Reuben Randle and Chris Mitchell...
"Reuben Randle is constantly getting better. He's young. He has to understand what we're going to expect from him, but he has real ability. He has real speed and great ball skills, so he's coming. It's a steady process. It's not something that you can just go out there and accomplish in a short amount of time. It takes work. He's applying a real focus, and we expect him to play snaps in this game. Chris Mitchell is a seasoned veteran, and in the position where Randle is, his eyes are a little bit wider and wanting to figure it out where as a guy like Chris Mitchell understands the route, understands the catch and is really enjoying the fruits of being a veteran, how to play and what we expect from him. We expect that Chris will have a great senior campaign."

On RB Charles Scott...
"Charles has lost weight. He's faster than he's been, more athletic and he's one of the strongest men on this team. When he plays and he makes plays, it just makes that defensive center just stronger. It makes a tremendous difference for the defense. He's also a leader. He's a wonderful person who does the right things, and our team has great respect for him. We can't wait to see him have the year that he wants to have."

On six freshmen listed on the depth chart at the moment...
"I think there are certain places where freshmen were really expected to step in and play and have an opportunity to play. I think defensive end is certainly one of those spots. I think some of those guys can step in and play on the interior of the defensive line, but year after year, each freshman class is different. Even though they're very talented, some guys aren't as ready to make that step from high school to college in a short amount a time. Whether it's six or two or 10 (freshmen), I don't know that it really speaks to the strength of the freshman class so much as maybe the need of the team."

On the depth chart...
"That's kind of what we expected. You would expect (TE) Richard Dickson to maintain his position. You would expect Charles Scott to be that guy. Jordan Jefferson coming in and having the experience that he had coming off the bowl and improved. Certainly, it played out the way we may well have expected it to with he and Jarrett Lee. The veterans played well and are deserving of their positions up front."

On if he has plans to get Jarrett Lee in the game...
"There are not any plans right now to play a quarterback other than Jordan Jefferson. Only specific situations would call for other play."

On finally getting started with the season...
"Our football team has been hungry right on through. They've played and prepared extremely well. This game week will be a practice that is fast-paced and one that everyone is looking very ambitiously toward Saturday. Once you get to a season where you just didn't hit on all the cylinders, there's a real want to make strides and make improvement, and I think our football team has done that here. We'll see. We play a very quality team in Washington. I give them great credit, and this will be a great challenge for us. With the backdrop of the season where we didn't quite get it accomplished, a great offseason where the guys worked hard, and to me, it makes this Washington trip even more important."

On how much he would like to sub in this game...
"I just want you to know. I really expect a very competitive game. This game will end sometime before 1 a.m. in the morning. I suspect that it'll be sometime after that when I'll think about substituting. I think right now we are going to play our best team. We're going to play four quarters, and we're going to see as capably as we can bring it and start with the first play and the last play. If it ever gets to any other situation, I'll consider that then."