Postgame Quotes: Arkansas at Mississippi State

Mississippi State Head Coach Mike Leach | Mississippi State Student-Athletes
Arkansas Head Coach Sam Pittman | Arkansas Student-Athletes

Mississippi State Head Coach Mike Leach

What did the Arkansas' defense do to take the offense out of rhythm tonight…
ML: "A lot of different looks. It really didn't feel like it was Arkansas as much as [us]. I want to give them all the credit in the world, and they deserve the credit. I thought they played harder than we did, and I also thought they played one play after the next a little better than we did. I think some of our inconsistency was revealed, but Arkansas gets credit for the win for sure. A lot of our wounds were self-inflicted. One after the next, we had self-inflicted wounds. That starts with coaches and me as well. There's a lot of things. You preach all week about the urgency and all that stuff, but I didn't feel like we had quite the edge this week that we did last week. That's got to be maintained. We have to be full throttle and can't make judgements about games and opponents. I felt like we did some of that. I felt like, as coaches, we tried but we didn't reach it. We didn't get the message across. I thought that Arkansas came here with a determination to take this game away from us, and they did."

Are you surprised with the turnovers that took place tonight, and how do you address that moving forward…
ML: "Well, I was surprised. I didn't think we read the field very well. Most of our problems out there, whether offense, defense or special teams, our eyes weren't in the right place. That's just simple technique. We're not experienced enough or talented enough to get by without doing things specifically right. We have to get that out of the way."

What did you see from K.J. Costello tonight and what improvements do you want to be made with him…
ML: "I thought that his whole focus and ready to get out there and play the next [play] was pretty good. I don't think that he was as sharp with his reads this time around. A lot of this, but not just K.J., all sides of the ball, really, we tried to make too much happen in particular with offense. We just tried to make too much happen. Rather than do the basic, fundamental job, we tried to do too much."

Can you update on Kylin Hill's condition and how do you feel like your running backs did in his place…
ML: "I can't update his condition. I thought that the young backs did admirable as far as not having played very much. I don't have a perfect knowledge of how much they've played in the past, but I know it's not very much. I did think it was pretty good being pressed into service there. It's something to build on. It's kind of like you would like to draw from a little more experience in that situation than we were able to. I thought they did some admirable things for sure."

Arkansas dropped almost eight players into coverage every time. Is that something you expected and how do you prepare for something like that next time…
ML: "They had done that on film. We thought there was a very good chance they would do that. You just have to keep the ball in play and steadily keep it in play. I thought we went downfield too much and tried to make too much happen. [We] threw one into double coverage, and we jumped up and got it. I'm not sure that didn't affect our mindset to where we are going to do too much of that. The underneath stuff was there all day, and we didn't capitalize on that."

Did you like the play calls on the two missed fourth-and-short plays or is there something else you would have rather called…
ML: "Yes, I wished I had kicked it both times in hindsight. We had some success running it against them. It wasn't terribly imposing. We knew they were going to try and pinch. I felt like we could move them, but on those last two, I was wrong. I thought our offensive line could move their defensive line. If we are going to continue going for it on fourth down, our offensive line better be able to move them. Otherwise, we are going to kick every time. Again, in hindsight, I wish we had kicked it both times. I do expect to get to a point when there is more confidence playing on fourth down."

What were your impressions of your defense tonight…
ML: "I thought they played pretty well. Other than giving up some of the explosive [plays] and some miscommunication. We could have adjusted to their tempo better. The defense did tighten up and play quite well. I didn't think defensively we played nearly as well as we can. We played well enough to win. They had some key stops and some key turnovers. They had a level of timing. When to take the ball away from them. When to stop them on fourth down. So situationally, I thought that was admirable by the defense. We can play better on defense. The defense played better than any other side of the ball today."

What did you feel like the challenge was for K.J. Costello tonight…
ML: "He needs to get his eyes in the right place. That was the biggest thing. We have to unclutter his mind a little bit."

Mississippi State Student-Athletes

#3 K.J. Costello, QB

Can you talk us through what Arkansas did to confuse or change things offensively...
KC: "They can all play coverage and rush three (defenders) a lot. They play drop-bait, which is fine. (We can) play catch in front, run the ball, and run it well. (We can) be super efficient. I think there were a couple drives, one in particular, it was a 16-play drive and the defense played us well all the way down the field. That's what you have to do when you are in that situation. I think throughout the game we strung together five or six drives that way. Obviously, we did not do that (well). I will be watching the tape tonight to see what I need to do to help this team win."

After Kylin Hill went down early how do you feel freshmen like Jo'quavious Marks, Dillon Johnson and Jaden Walley did to step up...
KC: "I know he went down early. I'd say both those backs (Marks and Johnson) got at least 40 to 50 reps a piece. That's incredible tape to learn from. They'll be watching that, if not tonight then early tomorrow morning. I will be watching that as well. I'm going to focus on my job and what I can do. Just thinking back on my career, the first, second, third and fourth games where you take starter type reps. That's where you make your biggest improvement. So from Walley to Woody, who played quite a bit last week but then Kylin took over, obviously Dillon as well, there's a lot on the tape to learn from. I'm eager to go check it out and see what's up."

Obviously, Arkansas caused some problems tonight. Now that you saw the zone coverage, you know you're going to see a lot more the rest of the schedule since people know that you guys struggle with that. How do you combat that and prepare to be successful against it…
KC: "We'll combat it. I don't know what the numbers looked like tonight in terms of our efficiency. Outside of their zone coverage, there was two or three fourth downs when we're on the other side of the 30 [yard line]. If we get in there and score 21 points, then it's a totally different ball game. There was so much momentum to be had that we didn't see, so regardless of the coverage and what they were doing, I can think back—there were three fourth downs, two of them were from third and two, third and short. One of them, I scrambled out of the pocket. I can't believe I didn't end up getting [the first down]. I saw the stick out of the corner of my eye, but I thought I got it, but apparently, I didn't. I couldn't care less if teams want to play that coverage. We completed the ball all over the field. At the end of the day, we got to execute in crucial situations. When it's third and short, fourth and three [or] when its fourth and one. I have to take care of the football, bottom line. It's that simple. I got to take care of the football, take what the defense gives me and move the ball one play at a time."

I know its not the night or the result you wanted, but what was it like being in Davis Wade [Stadium] for the first time with the cowbells [and] new home field…
KC: "It was a great atmosphere. [It was] a beautiful night for football. Unfortunately, we couldn't give this team, this locker room, this organization what we wanted. But in terms of the atmosphere, it was unbelievable, pre-game and stuff like that. But at the end of the day, we're here to play football, we're here to win football games. Atmosphere is a plus, but I'm not too concerned about that, we're going to find a way to win some games."

#40 Erroll Thompson, LB

What do you feel like you guys did well on the defensive front…
ET: "I feel like we did an okay job against the run, but not good enough since we didn't win. So, I think we did an okay job, but just not good enough."

How frustrating is it to walk out with a loss when collectively as a defensive group, you guys played pretty well…
ET: "It's really frustrating. Any time you take a loss at home, it's frustrating. We just have to get back to work. Hats off to Arkansas. They came in and did what they had to do. Mostly, we just have to get back to work. Credit to them though."

What did you guys change after their long touchdown drive…
ET: "I'm not really sure. Maybe the energy … but ultimately, the fourth quarter didn't really matter since we lost. They scored off of that drive. We gave them that touchdown. We just weren't good enough."

With all the young guys on the defensive side, what do you have to say about that group? What is the next step for this group…
ET: "We have a lot of younger guys. We also have older guys like me and Kobe [Jones] that are going to play for each other and fight until the end. Even though we did lose, this is a learning experience with a young group. I also feel like we have a good group of guys who will go to battle for each other anytime."

#1 Martin Emerson, DB

Coming off the field, it felt like you played a good enough game defensively. How do you feel like the defense played tonight…
ME: "I feel like the defense played good enough to win, but there's a lot of work to do. I feel like we left plays out there that we should have made and could have changed the game."

How are you helping these young guys…
ME: "We know they're young, but we need them. I just talk to them as if they aren't a freshman anymore. I tell them we need them to step up. I just want to be an example for them. That's how I go about it day-by-day. Just bring them along and be a good example. I want to be somebody that they can look up to, because I've been in their shoes. I want them to know it's going to be pain, but you've got to keep going."

What was the mood of the defense going through the second half…
ME: "I feel like our sense of urgency went up. I wish we would've came out on top. We just had to flip the switch and try to get the job done. We're going to get back in the lab and go from there."

What do you say to the young guys on the other side of the ball…
ME: "I've seen a lot of heart from those guys. Those boys came out and did what they had to do. Next man mentality, when one man goes down, the next one has to get up. It doesn't matter what grade or how old you are. Everybody on this team has to make plays and do what you have to do to get your number called."

#23 Dillon Johnson, RB

When you see Kylin [Hill] go down the way he did, what's going through your mind right there knowing that you're going to be called upon to have a big day…
DJ: "I've prepared myself for this day. It's like next man up. We played as a team, and we played great and I just did my job."

You talk about being prepared for that moment. How did you feel like you were prepared for that? Is your play time a lot different when you're asked to take those kinds of reps…
DJ: "I felt great out there. I play against one of the best defenses in the country every day at practice, and they get me ready for times like this when I'm needed out there. It was great to be out there and help the team out."

You had a couple of fourth down conversions. What did that feel like to, first of all, be given those reps in the moment and get that first touchdown as well? What does it feel like to be called upon and be that guy at that moment…
DJ: "It felt great. I'm just doing my job if I'm called upon. I'm just trying to do what I'm supposed to do. My first touchdown, it's unbelievable. I can't even explain the feeling, but [the game] didn't end how I wanted it. We still lost, so at the end of the day, I just need to go back, watch film and see what I need to do better and just continue working."

Arkansas Head Coach Sam Pittman

Opening Statement
SP: "We played really hard. The number of guys on the plane, that's how many we need. We might have needed them all. We may have played them all. We had a few injuries, but I'm really happy for the state of Arkansas, the kids and the coaching staff. We hired some really good coaches. We inherited some great kids and some great football players. I'm really proud of the state of Arkansas tonight."

Does it feel like you got a monkey off you back? I know you to get your first win...
SP: "The mood in the locker room was probably everything you could imagine. The kids have gone for a long time without having the opportunity to win against a team. That's a ranked football team. I think they were No. 15 or No. 16, somewhere in there. For us to come here, at their place and win, that was a tremendous effort by the guys and they were ecstatic. [Director of Athletics] Hunter Yuracheck gave me the game ball, so that will be with me forever. I don't know if the guys feel like the pressure is off their back. I think they just looked at it as a new season, and they want to win a game. Certainly, they were tired of losing SEC games."

Talk about the guys that stepped up tonight in place of teammates that went down. You had Trelon Smith, Hudson Clark, Eric Gregory and so many guys who probably wouldn't see the field that much but tonight they played a huge number of snaps tonight...
SP: "Man, they played a huge number of reps. Again, with this COVID-19, you had to play a lot of different kids during different times. We went into camp knowing we were going to two-spot everything, so our fours are going to get the same amount of reps as our ones. We felt like it might happen because of the virus, but we didn't necessarily think it would happen because of injuries. But I can't deny it, the kids were ready. Again, they did a great job preparing, and the coaching staff did a great job of preparing too."

Talk a little about your defense gameplan for this game, the turnovers and the fourth down stops...
SP: "We watched a couple of games from last year on Coach [Leach] and his offense. Some teams that played him had some success doing what we tried to do. So, it was easy to find. [Defensive Coordinator] Barry [Odom] said this is what we're going to do and be patient. All week, the kids believed we could rally around the ball and make tackles. For the most part tonight, that is exactly what we did. A little bit of a copycat lead or a copycat world. We learned something from the teams that had success against him in the past."

De'Vion Warren had a big night, probably the biggest of his career. How critical is he in a passing game...
SP: "He did a great job. We could have run the clock off, but we got a personal foul. We will learn from that. De'Vion [Warren] has had good practices. It's like anything else, you pretty much play like you practice. The kids have bought into that. It's not shocking or surprising to see him do well. It just fun to watch. He works hard at practice, and he's a really great kid."

Are you more excited on the inside than you are showing? Secondly, how big were the turnovers in this game...
SP: "Well, when you look at the fourth down where we stopped them late in the game, that was forcing a turnover. Of course, they stopped us on fourth and goal too. Honestly, I'm just really humble. I'm just really proud of the team. I mean what I say. I'm just one guy. Am I proud that we beat Mississippi State? You're dang right."

Talk about Feleipe Franks performance tonight...
SP: "He was tough. He made some key first downs and ran the football well. Protection, for the most part, was pretty solid. Those kids had seven sacks the week before. Anyway, I thought our kids held up pretty good for him. He's tough. We had the one fumble, we have to do a better job there. He is a good leader and a good quarterback. He'll only get better in the system, I believe."

How big is it for what you are trying to do with this program to end the losing streak...
SP: "It's huge for our team. I think it's huge for the season. Obviously, I think recruits will look and say 'Hey, I kind of want to go to Arkansas now.' We are giving them a reason to come on. Hopefully, it will help us with the kids in-state. It seems like winning tonight was a pretty big deal. It kind of feels that way. Again, I'm just really proud."

Arkansas Student-Athletes

#10 Bumper Pool, LB

Can you talk about the defensive game plan, and what this means to the guys in the program to get this win...
BP: "Yeah, we were so prepared. Everybody going into it knew we were going to do what we did tonight. People outside of the facility obviously didn't, but we had such a great plan. Coach [Barry] Odom did an unbelievable job and Coach [Sam] Carter. Those guys were preaching to us and gave us a lot of tips. It was just so big for us to get this win. We were here two years ago, and we got beat really bad. Mr. Yurachek [Arkansas Director of Athletics Hunter Yurachek] said it would never happen again. For it to happen here tonight is just awesome."

You finished with 20 tackles. How did you feel like you personally played? When is the last time you hit that many tackles in a game...
BP: "That's awesome. We knew going into the game plan that we were going to have to make a lot of tackles to win because we were letting them throw all of the underneath routes. So, we just had to make tackles and run the ball. I think as a unit, we did a phenomenal job getting to the ball fast and making plays. The fact that I could help to get through our first win is awesome."

Have you all ever been as prepared as you say you were for this game today? Second, to see so many of your teammates go down with injury and the team to never flinch, how big was that today...
BP: "Yeah, it was the most prepared game I've ever played in. When we have guys get hurt, obviously, it's not good at all. Our team has gone through so much and we're a pretty gritty football team. We've gone through so much with COVID-19 and all of that, so I think there is nothing that we can't get past. We've got to keep working. At the end of the day, this is what we got."

#13 Felipe Franks, QB

So many close calls there towards the end, how were those last few minutes trying to close this thing out...
FF: "The defense does a great job week in and week out. Last week, they had a wonderful game. This week, they had a good game again. I think that's what football is about. It's a team sport. Defense has our back and offense has their back whenever it's needed. We pulled through and had a great team win."

De'Vion Warren probably had the game of his career tonight. Can you talk about your connection with him, and how critical he was in the passing game...
FF: "He does a great job in practice. Being able to communicate with those guys is important and being able just to talk through some of the stuff in game – those receivers, across the board, do a great job of just communicating with me and what they're seeing. I can tell them what I'm seeing. That collaborative effort is wonderful.

"I can go out there and the next drive, we do something productive together. De'Vion does a great job communicating with me, just like the other receivers. I was able to give him the ball. He does a great job after the catch, catching the ball, getting down the field and making people miss. He's an outstanding player and an even better person. So, it was wonderful for him. I'm happy for him."

Mississippi State University Athletics

Postgame Quotes: Arkansas at Mississippi State

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