Les Miles says he couldn’t be more proud of his team following Saturday’s win over nationally-ranked Mississippi State despite what he calls an “imperfect” offensive game plan.

Leonard Fournette earned SEC offensive player of the week honors after a career-best 159-yard, three-touchdown outing. Looking to avenge last season’s blowout loss, the Tigers host 18th-ranked Auburn on Saturday.

Here are some of the highlights from Miles’ weekly press conference on Monday:

Opening statement:

“Looking forward to the Auburn week. A 2:30 kickoff in Tiger Stadium, gold game, game on CBS. I would expect that that crowd will be fired up and looking forward to celebrating and being with that team that plays football for these Tigers for the afternoon. Make plenty of noise. Should be deafening in Death Valley.

“Nice win, nice road trip. Top 25 team, SEC opponent, Western Division. Certainly it only counts one, but it’s a big one. Our guys respond.

“It’s interesting, though. We had a nine-play game that was our first playing experience, not necessarily a game, and we did not just get by. First-game mistakes. So we had a series of penalties that were costly. If you go back and add in the plays that were taken away based on a holding — quality calls. I’m not in any way suggesting that the calls were not quality, but it cost us 204 yards, big plays that were taken back, and 17 points. Those kind of things you cannot do. We were fortunate to be on the road and play like that and still achieve victory.”

On Ed Orgeron’s impact up front:

“Well, I think first of all, the two veterans, Lewis Neal and Bower are both guys who have really improved. It’s kind of that time where a backup now steps up to the first team and he’s looking to — he takes coaching better, he gets it all, and I think Ed was just perfect for him. Adds a natural enthusiasm to his style of coaching. I think it’s made a tremendous difference. They read and react and I think they can come off the ball and attack you extremely well. And then Arden Key’s going to get nothing but better. His wingspan is huge and he’s fast and he’s a true freshman. Looking out there, you know, he’s going to enjoy playing in his career, I can tell you that.”

On Rickey Jefferson’s play as Jalen Mills’ replacement:

“Rickey played well in that game. He worked hard to get some things accomplished in the game plan, and so many times as the coach you look at those things that they had mistakes in in the week and you go to find out whether or not they got it accomplished in the game, and Rickey Jefferson did. He had a very, very good game and he’s ballistic, he adds great speed to the ball, and when he gets there, he’ll hit you.”

Only three receivers played at Miss. St. Why?

“I think there’s a need to get a quality of play that you have to play to. I think the guys that did not play in this game will have an opportunity to play in others. I don’t think there’s any question that those guys will step onto the field here pretty quick.”

On Brandon Harris’ play:

“I thought he was pretty accurate. I still think there’s a reception in there for Malachi Dupre with the one that may have bounced on the ground, but I think that’s a deserved reception. If you look at his day, he was very, very accurate, and the things that we asked him to do when it comes to the running game, he did exactly what we asked him to do. So, again, I would expect him to get his feet on the ground, get comfortable and go to practice, and again not have it figured out until he got until Thursday some, and then maybe reaffirmed it on Friday and then say, okay, let’s execute it now on Saturday.”

On conservative game plan:

“I would say that we labeled the game plan Saturday as imperfect. Certainly, things that we like to get accomplished that we called that we didn’t get accomplished. But if you think about 200 yards that were taken away by penalties and a 17-points — in other words, the opportunity that we certainly were down there in a very tight position to kick a field goal. In other words, I think if we had 200 more yards on our offense and a position of 17 more points, nobody would be arguing about the offense at all, okay? So the key to it is not change the offense; let’s make sure we execute what we call and not hold or have an infraction.”

On Auburn’s narrow win:

“It makes no difference to me whatsoever. I recognize that they played a very good football team and it has not to do with, you know, what the score was or how it ended, in my opinion. It has to do more with it’s a very talented Auburn team and really working hard to be something special, so we respect them.”