CNS Monday press conference
Opening statement
"No new comments really from this last game. We obviously didn't maybe play consistently at the level that we'd hoped to or wanted to. I think at this point, the focus needs to be on learning from that experience in terms of how we can get better and also to move forward and look forward to the challenge that we have ahead of us, which is really the legacy of the season relative to what we can accomplish and what we can do and the meaning of this game that we play against our rivalry in this state in the Iron Bowl certainly is a lot to look forward to a lot to prepare for, a lot to get ready for.
"That's where our focus needs to be. I think this is one of the greatest rivalry games in the country. I know it means a lot to a lot of people in this state as well as nationally and the competitors in the game probably enjoy this kind of competition, this kind of rivalry as much as any game that they play.
"It's Senior Day on Saturday for us. We have 23 seniors who have done a fantastic job here. 48-5 record is pretty admirable. We're looking forward to being able to honor them in their last home game at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
"Auburn is an outstanding team. Gus has done a really, really good job there since he's been there, but especially this year and how this team has developed and improved throughout the season. They've made adjustments throughout the year relative to issues that they've had on their team, whether it be injuries or whatever. They've been able to score a lot of points, run the ball very effectively. They've been able to make explosive plays in the passing game. Their defense has been probably as good as any defense that we've played against all year long. They're very good up front. They've got good pass rushers. They create negative plays. They play good in the back end. They're very well coached. Kevin's done a really good job with them. I think Carl Lawson and Montravius Adams are especially a handful up front.
"I think they do what they do on offense, regardless of who plays quarterback, and they've been able to do that pretty effectively all year long relative to how they've been able to run the ball on people and make explosive plays in the passing game. They've got probably one of the best placekickers in the country in Daniel Carlson. It's just a very, very good team."
What have you seen from each of the 3 quarterbacks Auburn has played this year?
"They're all a little bit different, but all very effective in terms of their style and how they play. Sean White probably was the most effective guy throwing the ball consistently to go with their running game but also pulled the ball on some quarterback runs and made plays and was very efficient and effective. The other two guys are very athletic and very capable of running at any time, scrambling at any time, making plays with their feet at any time. Running the quarterback runs that they have in their offense, as well as making plays passing. I don't see a whole lot of difference in the guys. I don't like to compare people but we all think that we all respect each and every one and their abilities to make plays at their position."
Injury update on Cam Robinson and Korren Kirven?
"I think those guys are better than expected. I don't know that they'll be able to practice today but hopefully we'll have everybody back to practice tomorrow."
Auburn running the ball a ton, and having success doing it...
"They do run the ball but they run it because they're very good at running it and they're very effective running it. They also have threats outside and because they run it, I think it makes it very difficult to defend some of the shot passes that they take relative to their play-action game and their ability to make explosive plays in the passing game. One of the keys really is how do you stop the run but not do it at the expense of giving up explosive plays in the back end?"
What's the overall health of guys like Bo and Damien and how are they progressing?
"Damien's fine. There's nothing wrong with him. He played in the last game. Bo should be back this week. Bo could have played in the last game. We made a decision. I talked to Bo before the game. He practiced, he wanted to play. I said 'We're going to use you in the game if we need you,' which to me meant that if one of the other guys got hurt and we needed another runner in the game, we would have played him. He should be fine this week and able to practice a little bit more and maybe get himself a little more game-ready."
How would you assess the state of the offensive line at this point in the season?
"I think the offensive line, I said Thursday night on my radio show, if I had to say what was the most improved part of our team, that was it. But I don't think that we played especially well in this past game and I certainly think that we'll have to play a lot better in this game against the quality of people that we're playing against to be effective."
It's been a month since an opponent has scored a touchdown against your defense. What's enabling them to keep people out?
"I think the guys have played well together. They have a good competitive spirit. They've prepared pretty well. I think they have a lot of pride. But this is going to be the most challenging group that we've faced, probably, in terms of the multiples of things that they do and how we need to adjust and how people need to be responsible and doing their job. That'll be a real key to it. It doesn’t really matter what we've done in the last three weeks. It matters what we do the next week and that's really what we're focused on here."
With the mystery they have at quarterback and running back, does that change what you might get on Saturday?
"We really have to prepare for what they do. They do a good job of utilizing the personnel that they have. We're preparing as if those guys will play because we respect all the players that they have at that position. All those guys have been productive for them all year long. I think they're all good players and they're going to be a challenge for us to be able to defend against us."
What's ArDarius Stewart's status for Saturday?
"He's fine if he does what he's supposed to do. He'll be fine this game."
Auburn has a couple good edge rushers. Could you talk about their strength on the defensive line?
"I think this is probably the best front that we've played against. I tried to allude to that in my opening comments. This may be the best defense we've played against all year. This is one of Auburn's better defenses -- not to make comparisons -- that we've played against since we've been here. I think it starts with the up front guys because they're very dominant up front. They're really in all areas on their team and they play very well. They don't make a lot of mistakes and they're coached very well. They have a lot of ability and it's going to be a real challenge for us to control their front people."
You've reiterated a couple times that there's a lot to learn from the Chattanooga game. Is it a good thing to have that strong teaching moment?
"I can't really assess that. I think that you've got to kind of play the cards that you're dealt. We said we'd like to create momentum in the game and confidence but I think if you're a good competitor and you're not pleased with the way you played, you should respond and react to that. So how to balance all that and know what's better or worse, I really don't know. I know that as a coach we want to do everything we can to help our players play better. None of them want to go out there and not play well, and it's our responsibility to try to get them to play well. If they don't, it's our responsibility to help them do that. If they didn't, it's our responsibility that they didn't. I'm certainly not pointing a finger at any players. I think that we just didn't play our best, to the standard that we'd like to play to. We need to get that corrected."
Ben Jones
TideSports.com Editor