Everything else Lane Kiffin said during SEC Teleconference ahead of Vanderbilt
The seal is off of conference play for Lane Kiffin and No. 9 Ole Miss, which got things off on the right foot last weekend by defeating then-No. 7 Kentucky.
The Southeastern Conference gauntlet rolls on for Ole Miss as it now packs its bags for only the second time this season, hitting the road for Nashville and Vanderbilt in the first SEC away game.
Prior to the Rebels (5-0, 1-0 SEC) and Commodores (3-2, 0-1) kicking things off at 3 p.m. CT on Saturday on SEC Network, head coach Lane Kiffin had to meet with the media one last time.
During his weekly appearance on the SEC Coaches Teleconference on Wednesday, Kiffin talked about playing only the second road game of the season, an improving Vanderbilt team and also the rising surge that is true freshman Quinshon Judkins.
Here is everything else Kiffin said during the call:
OPENING STATEMENT
Lane Kiffin: “We got a road test coming up. We have not been on the road very much this year. This will be our second time we have to handle all that goes with that. Avoiding a hangover from a very physical, emotional game and not listening to outside noise. Team is focusing on practicing very well and playing very well against a much-improved team.”
WHAT IMPRESSES YOU ABOUT VANDERBILT FRESHMAN QUARTERBACK AJ SWANN?
Lane Kiffin: “In a way, like (Judkins). For a guy to be that young and played so well and take care of the ball well. Not make mistakes, especially at that position, is very impressive.”
WHAT IMPRESSES YOU ABOUT MICAH PETTUS?
Lane Kiffin: “How physical he played. He’s such a nice kid off the field. Just a really sweet personality, so to see how he turns it on in a game and went after people was really cool.”
WHAT HAS THE PROCESS BEEN IN LIKE IN TERMS OF DEVELOPING THIS DEFENSE AND ITS AGGRESSIVENESS AND HAS IT COME ALONG QUICKER THAN EXPECTED?
Lane Kiffin: “Well on one side, no. The last half of last season they played extremely well and played really well in the bowl game on defense. That wasn’t a surprise but all the new peices and losing so much, I don’t want to say a surprise, not a given that they would play this well. Coming together this early, I’ve always thought it could be a really special team and maybe it take awhile. Then maybe they’d be good by the middle to end of the year when they’ve played together for a while.
“You have players who just got here in the summer starting. So, that’s unique. Kind of like an NBA free agency-type team that hopefully continues to improve.”
