Live Updates: SEC Coaches’ Teleconference, Week 8

Follow along with Saturday Down South during the weekly SEC coaches’ media teleconference. This week’s teleconference will also feature a segment with Steve Shaw, the SEC’s Coordinator of Officials.

STEVE SHAW

• Shaw gave quick update on targeting rule, said it’s continued to work so far. Of seven targeting calls this year, six have been confirmed. Sad targeting numbers have gone down from last year, which is a positive trend.
• Shaw said he knows targeting calls are unpopular among fans, but noted few fans think about players who are hurt on targeting plays. Said parent of a player who was targeted in a game wrote him letter thanking him for enforcing the rule to protect players.
• The head of the SEC’s refs said sideline control has been a priority. Noted SEC has handed out seven warnings, six penalties for sideline infractions. Shaw said he likes where that focus is trending as well.
• On 8-man officiating crew: “The more I see it, the more I’m convinced that it’s the right way to officiate the game.”
• Shaw was asked about communication of calls with coaches. He said coaches will make petitions of questionable calls, said SEC office evaluates plays in question from television broadcast and coaches’ sideline tapes to see plays at all angles. Shaw said he provides voice over on video of play in question when responding to coaches’ petitions, said that process is normally completed “by end of day Tuesday.”
• Shaw said he has gotten good feedback from coaches on process, said coaches have been pleased with explanations even if they disagree with the decision.
• The head of officials said coaches send in calls every week. He was asked about plays Gus Malzahn’s petitions from last week’s loss, said the process was “routine.”
• When asked about getting dry footballs onto the field in rainy weather games, Shaw said there is no specific policy regarding wet footballs. Said normal policy is for ball to be changed out only when play ends “outside the numbers.” He did note in wet weather referees will switch the ball as often as every play, but said it ultimately comes down to the judgement of the crew of officials. Shaw also said in the modern era of tempo offenses sometimes coaches don’t want footballs changed because it slows down pace of play. Cited specific example regarding Chip Kelly when he was serving as head coach at Oregon.
• When asked about clock mismanagement at end of Arkansas-Alabama game, Shaw said clock should have been stopped following the false start by Alabama’s offensive lineman because foul was committed by team with the lead late in fourth quarter, per national “3-4-3” rule. Said the clock error cost Arkansas 15 seconds at the end of he game. Shaw deferred to official statement by the SEC, said league office had promising contact with both coaches.
• On pass interference called against Auburn’s Sammie Coates: “When we do our film evaluation we’re looking at the judgment components … Let me tell you, there’s some tight plays. … There’s some that you’d hate to be that official.”

GUS MALZAHN

• Malzahn said his team will focus on itself and improving in all three facets of the game for the second half of the year during its bye week this week.
• When asked if there’s a benefit to having an open date following a bye, Malzahn said the value of this bye week is where it falls on the schedule (at the midpoint of the schedule). Said it is also a good opportunity for his team to get healthy for the second half of the season.
• On Corey Grant and his usage in the offense, Malzahn said coaching staff has aimed to get freshman Roc Thomas more touches, and said depth of backfield will alter plans for each player on game by game basis. Noted Grant has run more between the tackles than in years past.
• Malzahn on selection committee poll: “I hadn’t really got that far to think about that.” Said Auburn needs to take care of its own business, said the poll won’t matter until late in the year.
• The head coach said its compliance office is “constantly educating our players” when it comes to recent troubles with pay for autographs throughout college football.

MARK RICHT

• Richt said Arkansas is a physical team. “They play the game the way it ought to be played, in my opinion.”
• On autograph scandal: “You’re allowed to sign autographs. You can’t get paid.” Said Georgia has policies in place for that kind of situation, but said he’s not going to stop players from signing items for fans. Noted its the compensation that is root of issue. He never mentioned Gurley by name when answering autograph question.
• When asked about Nick Chubb’s durability after heavy workload, Richt said Chubb “looks great.” Said the freshmen got great work in during optional treatment session on Sunday. Noted Chubb looked sharp in Monday’s practice, said he showed no wear and tear.
• Richt said he’s been impressed with Arkansas and how it has played against SEC teams, especially Texas A&M and Alabama. “They’re on the verge of doing some big things and we’re just tying to keep it from being at our expense.”
• On upcoming release of College Football Playoff selection committee’s first top 25 ranking, Richt said he’ll be interested to see where everyone stacks up in the eyes of the committee members.

DAN MULLEN

• Mullen said his team will focus on fundamentals this week during its second and final bye week of the season.
• On win streak dating back to last season’s win over Arkansas in Little Rock: “Was a tough game … Made some plays to send the game into overtime. I thought out guys got a lot of confidence out of that in finding ways to win. … It kind of got the whole thing going.”

MARK STOOPS

• Stoops said his team got off to too slow of a start last week, and said team will work on that this week.
• The head coach called road trip to LSU “a great challenge” but said team is looking forward to the challenge. Said team will have to “play significantly better” against LSU, but noted his Wildcats have had great week of preparation so far.
• Stoops was asked about his brothers (Bob and Mike) and their successes against LSU, and said the teams are different every year. Said his team will prepare this week as it does every year.
• On LSU’s defense: “They are hard-nosed and tough and physical. … That’s what you’d expect when you play them.”
• When asked about Kentucky’s new on-campus practice facilities, Stoops said “I could not be more pleased with how that turned out.” Noted his team will get plenty of use out of it, added it will help team in player development.
• On suspending J.D. Harmon for first half against LSU, Stoops said he “felt like it was the right thing to do” after consulting with league office about vicious helmet-to-helmet hit.
• On drawing a Thursday night game in 2015: “I’m very happy and looking forward to having a home Thursday night game. … I think it will be a great stage for us.” Said Thursday night exposure could be beneficial to Kentucky’s national perception, noted it will play dividends in recruiting as well. Stoops also said having the game at home makes his job much easier than if the game was on the road.
• When asked about Leonard Fournette and his 140-yard performance last week: “Very impressed. You could just see him gaining more and more confidence with every run. He is extremely talented.” Complimented Fournette’s versatility as powerful runner who can make cuts and run around defenders as well. Said LSU loves running downhill, said Tigers’ linemen love run-blocking.
• Stoops said LSU plays similar to an old-school Big 10 style, but noted the team has a tremendous amount of speed, including at the quarterback position.

KEVIN SUMLIN

• Sumlin said his team is looking forward to getting back to the field to play another game after two straight losses. Texas A&M faces Alabama this weekend in Tuscaloosa.
• When asked what his offense has done to bother Alabama in years past, Sumlin said “I honestly couldn’t tell you.” Noted his offense has stuck to its gameplan, which has forced Alabama to adjust in the past showdowns between the two teams.
• On red zone success with Kenny Hill at quarterback compared to Johnny Manziel, Sumlin said Manziel preferred to play in a spread, but Aggies use more tight ends with Hill under center. Differences in style led to differences in personnel. Sumlin has been pleased with his team’s red zone offense this year.
• Sumlin said his team is always analyzing itself in all areas, whether team is winning or losing. Said his coaches have examined scheme, personnel, other circumstances to see what went wrong in recent losses.
• The head coach said this year’s team has committed too many turnovers. “That’s something we can fix and that we have to fix.”

HUGH FREEZE

• Freeze called Tennessee “extremely talented.” Said he’s been impressed with job Butch Jones has done, called Vols “scary” on tape because they are young and hungry.
• On Senquez Golson’s play: “The first thing I probably need to point out is how much he’s changed as a person.” Said Golson has always been a talented kid, but noted when Freeze first arrived he was unsure of Golson’s desire to success. Noted Golson has dedicated himself to the team and bought into Ole Miss’ core values, which has helped his play “take off” on the field. “I’m thrilled he’s getting the results on the field,” Freeze said.
• When asked about avoiding a “letdown game,” Freeze said: “You depend on the leadership of your team … If they really value our standing right now they’ll certainly come out and play.”
• Freeze credited maturity as reason for Bo Wallace’s improved play. Said Wallace knows he doesn’t have to make a big play on every snap.
• Freeze said he expected his team to be this good up front on defense, said he’s been pleasantly surprised by secondary after preseason injury troubles, including season-ending injury to Tee Shepard.
• The head coach said he texted Slive Tuesday to congratulate him on great tenure. Freeze noted Slive made him feel approachable, said he was a visionary as the head of the conference. “The proof is in the pudding … he’ll be missed by us all. I’m indebted to him,” Freeze said.
• Freeze said his team is less concerned with tempo this year compared to years past, said tempo led to too many negative plays in the past. He also noted this year’s team is built around defense, which makes less of a need for quick possessions on offense.
• On Tennessee: “They’ve recruited extremely well.”  Said Tennessee is playing a freshman-heavy lineup like Ole Miss did early in Freeze’s tenure. Called Volunteers’ freshmen “scary.” “Not only have they recruited well but they’re playing with a great deal of hunger and passion,” Freeze said.
• When asked about prep talent in Tennessee, Freeze said he can’t remember the state having this much high school talent. Freeze is a former high school coach in the Memphis area of the state.

GARY PINKEL

• Pinkel said his team will “focus on the next game as fast as we can” following 34-0 loss to Georgia last week. Tigers will face Florida in the Swamp on .
• Pinkel on Slive’s announced retirement in July: “Remarkably impressed by (Slive).” Said in 24 years as head coach Slive is one of best commissioners he’s ever served. He noted Slive set a high standard for next commissioner, and wishes him the best in cancer treatments.
• On his responsibility as coach in dealing with social issues players face off the field: “We have a bigger responsibility now.” Said he’s had to change his approach in recent years, including educational meetings on social issues his players face.
• When asked about Marcus Murphy, Pinkel said he didn’t even realize Murphy was closing in on Jeremy Maclin and Brad Smith’s all-purpose yardage marks in Mizzou record book. Said Murphy is “a remarkable kid” who is capable of playing tailback and wideout, and said Murphy has been durable despite size because he doesn’t allow himself to take big hits often. “We’ll miss him when he’s gone … he’s a great kid,” Pinkel said.
• Pinkel was asked about Thursday games, and said they are fun to compete in once every few years, but also pose challenges in short turnaround from Saturday to Thursday. Said he loves the national spotlight on Thursday nights, but wouldn’t want a Thursday game every year.

BRET BIELEMA

• On cross-division game against Georgia: “We’re excited. … Didn’t miss a beat (after loss of Gurley). Thought their defense played very, very well.” Jones said he’s lost track of how many ranked opponents Arkansas has faced this season.
• Bielema enjoyed last week’s game and the recognition of the 1964 Arkansas national championship team. Said it was a fun atmosphere to play in Little Rock, and noted he has great respect for history of the Arkansas program.
• Bielema said Brooks Ellis is recovering fast, called his timetable for a return “encouraging.”
• The head coach praised Georgia defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt on scheming his defense to fit his personnel. Said team has great discipline.
• When asked about the emotional state of his team, Bielema said his players are frustrated, and notes that’s a result of how much the players care. He also noted the team has seen how much it has improved and how close it is to winning in the SEC. The head coach explained his players have had success before in their careers, and said he tells them to keep working through the process to reach that same success again.
• Bielema wouldn’t say where his team is in rebuilding process since his arrival at Arkansas, but noted his team is “in line” with where he thought it could be this season. The head coach also said his team has left some points on the board in recent games, and said the players are hungry to return to action against Georgia to make up for those missed opportunities.
• When asked about his emotions at postgame press conference following loss to Alabama, Bielema said most postgame press conferences are a blur but explained it hurt him to not be able to cure the pain his players felt after the loss.
• On SEC West’s success (undefeated outside the West): “We have a lot of pride in being in the SEC but being in the SEC West that’s a special deal.” Said his team takes pride in representing West, but noted Georgia has been a strong program for a long time and winning Saturday won’t be easy.

BUTCH JONES

• Jones on matchup with Ole Miss: “Obviously a great, great challenge.” Said team is well-coached, plays with great mentality, has great experience, tough defense that forces turnovers and limits scoring. Said Rebels’ quarterback Bo Wallace is gritty leader of the offense.
• Called Ole Miss defense dominant, especially up front. Said success stems from winning at line of scrimmage, backed up by tremendus secondary. Said defense is complete at all levels, and now has confidence that makes them dangerous.
• Jones said he knows points will be tough to come by on Saturday. “When you go into a game like this every point is critical.” Said field position will also be critical to team’s success.
• On back to back games against Ole Miss and Alabama, Jones said his young team has a lot it can learn from these games. “It’s what you make from those learning experiences.” Said team can’t just get older in the coming years, must grow and improve following games against highly ranked teams.
• Jones said his program’s focus is on winning the recruiting battle in state of Tennessee, but also on finding players that fit UT’s model.
• The head coach said team must improve at line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, called SEC a “line of scrimmage league.” Said improvements up front must begin with good recruiting at those positions.
• On tailbacks Marlin Lane and Jalen Hurd: “Jalen is progressing exceptionally well. … Marlin is a little slower than Jalen right now in terms of getting back, but he did practice.” Jones said he expects Hurd to play, hopes Lane will be available as well.

NICK SABAN

• Saban on Texas A&M: “Obviously an outstanding team. Very, very explosive offensive team … has a lot of big play players. Defensively I think they’re much improved. … This is one of the best teams we’ve played all year long.”
• When asked about Rolando McClain, said he never questioned McClain’s desire to play but noted sometimes elements in life off the field can take precedence. Said McClain has always been a guy Saban has respected.
• On fielding punts inside 20 yard line, said it’s something his team works on all the time, noted those kinds of punts aren’t always catchable balls. Said his players, including Christion Jones, have learned from mistakes, did not note a drop in confidence.
• On recent autograph scandals involving Jameis Winston and Todd Gurley: “We are very vigilant with our process on how we council players … Our compliance people do the best possible job that we can.” Said benefits are always a concern, but said his program does best job it can in its own process to prevent suspensions.
• Saban said defense must play very disciplined to slow down Texas A&M. Noted importance of disrupting quarterback, forcing turnovers, limiting big plays. Says his team has struggled in all three of those areas in last two games again A&M.
• When asked about maintaining strong offensive line year after year, Saban said process begins in recruiting and continues in player development once linemen arrive on campus. Saban also noted players grow up playing in spread offenses at younger age now than ever before, making powerful linemen tougher to find.

DEREK MASON

• Mason said his team “is hard at work” as it begins its first bye week of the season. Called his team “fairly healthy.”
• On getting Ralph Webb more carries: “We have to continue to feed Ralph, he gets better as the game goes on. … Ralph is a workhorse.” Said his team has to stick to its gameplan and continue to feed Webb all game.
• Mason said Webb remains team’s No. 1 back, but praised depth of his backfield. Said Commodores’ tailbacks present different skill sets, said run game must continue to be foundation of the offense.
• Mason said his team needs to do a better job of staying ahead of the chains in the second half of the season. Noted his quarterbacks need to help team earn the yards it wants when it needs them, said team needs to support its quarterbacks going forward.
• On adjustments in first year in SEC: “Just looking at our personnel versus everyone else’s personnel … we’re close. Some of it is just being a player or two away from being the football team we want to be.” Said second half of season will be about maximizing team’s best players in all three facets of the game. Mason called SEC competitive, credited the conference’s parity in both divisions.
• “College football is a junior, senior sport,” Mason said. Added SEC’s best programs have found key guys and use them well, hopes Vandy can do the same going forward.
• Mason said his offense must be better in how it attacks teams. Noted his offense is not creating advantageous matchups for star players.

WILL MUSCHAMP

• Muschamp said his team is excited to get back on the field, noted Leon Orr and Latroy Pittman should practice today.
• The Gators head coach also thanked Slive for his leadership as SEC commissioner.
• Muschamp on defending spread offense: “When people spread you out they make you declare,” said spread gives defense less of a chance to disguise looks, forces defense to make tackles in space.
• On value of Andre Debose amid struggles on offense: “There’s no question he’s an electric guy with the ball in his hands.” Called Debose a threat to score every time he touches the ball.
• Muschamp said he thinks Missouri quarterback Maty Mauk is a talented quarterback, said he needs to get more help around him in Tigers’ offense. Florida takes on Missouri in an SEC East battle on Saturday.
• When asked about Dante Fowler, Muschamp praised his motor and energy as a player. Muschamp said Fowler is better this year, and noted it is because Fowler is better conditioned this season. “He’s got the baby fat off of him that he had his first two seasons.”
• When asked about defensive coaches calling games from the coaches’ box, Muschamp said it depends on the coach and the coaching staff. Explained benefits of coaching on the field and coaching in the box. Muschamp noted he spent one year (at West Georgia) coaching from the box.
• Muschamp said Keanu Neal was a box safety in high school, but said he has learned to play in coverage since arriving at Florida. Praised his improved communication and his ball-skills. Called Neal a harsh self-evaluator, holds himself to a high standard which has led to rapid imoroement.
• On Jeff Driskel and Treon Harris rotation: “We’re going to see who has the hot hand. … We’ll make that decision as we go through the game.”

STEVE SPURRIER

• “Seems like our team had more injuries in the open date than it did in the season,” Spurrier said to open his portion of teleconference. Noted none of team’s injuries are significant to this point.
• Said team is looking forward to homecoming game against Furman. “Hopefully we’re ready to play our best game of the year,” Spurrier said.
• On Na’Ty Rogers moving to defensive line: “That experiment didn’t last very long. He’s back on offense.”
• On psyche of team after 3-3 start, Spurrier said team still expects to play well every week, still believe it’s a great team. Praised his team’s senior leadership, but noted his team must handle itself better in close games.
• When asked if winning SEC East is still attainable, Spurrier chuckled and said “We’re just tryng to beat Furman this week.”
• On Lorenzo Ward making move to coaches’ box: “That was his idea, and it’s fine with me … We’ll see if that helps us.”
• Spurrier said his team is sticking with positive approach entering second half of the season.
• The Head Ball Coach called Bryson Allen-Williams “doubtful” this week due to concussion-like symptoms.

LES MILES

• Began press conference with praise of SEC commissioner Mike Slive, who announced yesterday he will retire on July 31, 2015. “I think it’s wonderful for him, but we’ll miss him,” Miles said.
• Miles said his team recognizes Kentucky will be a tough opponent as a contender in the SEC East.
• When asked about challenges of maintaining strong offensive line every year, Miles said “To have an elite offensive line year after year takes a lot.” Miles said the task has been made even tougher amid recent trend of linemen leaving early for the NFL.
• Miles on Kentucky quarterback Patrick Towles: “He’s a very fine field general … very, very capable quarterback.”
• The LSU head coach said push toward more speed and athleticism in SEC has altered his approach in recruiting, especially in secondary. Miles added his team has had great corners to match up with spread offenses in recent years. Kentucky will bring Air Raid offense to LSU on Saturday.

Ethan Levine

A former newspaper reporter who has roamed the southeastern United States for years covering football and eating way too many barbecue ribs, if there is such a thing.