On Saturday afternoon in Starkville, Mississippi State football had a late lead on Tennessee. However, Jeff Lebby’s Bulldog squad couldn’t hold on as the Vols escaped with a 41-34 victory in overtime. Afterward, Lebby met with the media for a press conference to field questions on the game.
He was asked about his defense, overtime the run game and more.
Here’s everything Lebby said.
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On pass protection
“Sacks and then there were other times where there was just pressure. It did, it effected Blake (Shapen). They did a really good job. We got to play better. We got to play smarter. Obviously, we lost (starting LT) Albert (Reese IV), which was, man, that was a killer. But that’s going to be a huge piece of this thing moving forward. We got guys that are good enough to do it. We got to be able to go do it and protect against the d-lines we’re about to face.”
On physicality in the game, health of the team
“Really, I don’t know. I know not having those guys obviously is a huge deal for us. We’ll be able to get them checked out through this evening, tomorrow and see where we’re at.”
On turnovers swinging the game on both sides
“We gave them 14 points. The game is completely different. We’re first-and-10 right at midfield after the fake punt, probably 13 and a half minutes left, something like that. Have an issue up front and we’re going to be first-and-10 at the plus-38-yard line and we’re up 24-20 and *snaps* it’s 27-24. That’s the difference in the ball game.”
On what he saw in overtime on offense
“Wanted to find ways to be able to go run the football on first and second down with a couple of different things that we had liked inside the plan. Didn’t get enough and then ended up third-and-three right there. Blake tries to go ahead and try to run in with his feet and ends up slipping and we end up fourth-and-four right there on the right hash and not able to go make the play.”
On running the ball well, UT’s adjustment
“We were big/little a little more than I wanted to be in the run game. When it was good, it was really, really good. When it wasn’t, we had a lot of zero, negative runs, which has not really been us. That was the issue with the run game. The run game was really great 90% of the time, but when it wasn’t good, it was bad.”
On not believing in moral victories, postgame locker room
“Crushed. Disappointed. Everybody inside our walls the entire week knew we were going to have the opportunity to go win this game. We weren’t able to make the plays. They did make the plays to win it. That is this league. I think our guys understand that. The message is, man, hold on to the hurt and understand these moments, this is what we’re fighting to stay away from. Every single day, every single week having the opportunity to just get a little bit better so that next Saturday when we go on the road and play at Kyle Field, it’s the best we’ve been all year long.”
On TE Seydou Traore’s blocking
“(Traore) has strained and played really hard. That’s something that he’s worked at a ton. He has, he’s done a really good job for us. We’re going to need him to continue to play well moving forward.”
On the defense as a whole
“I thought we had some incredible moments. Probably the most frustrating drive was obviously when we had the two penalties. Late hit and the roughing on the QB. They end up scoring a touchdown on that drive. We were in good situations. That was 30 yards. Outside of that drive and then the first play of overtime, defensively, I thought we played really, really well. We had great energy. Made a ton of plays, had the turnovers. Just frustarting that we spot these guys 14 points. It can’t happen against really good football teams.”
On if he considered running the ball more late
“We were four-down zone all the way. So having the ability to take a shot and be able to throw it down the field. We’re in seven-man protection on first-and-10. We’re in four-down zone. That is, that’s the best time to have the ability to go be the aggressor. Unfortunately, we have an issue at tackle and give up a huge sack and put us into a really bad situation.”
On how he thought QB Blake Shapen played
“I thought he played really, really tough. The interception was very unfortunate. Again, it’s me, but had an issue with a bust on that third down. And then, he’s really doing exactly what he’s coached to do on the fumble scoop score right there at the beginning of the fourth quarter. I thought he played incredibly tough. We weren’t able to get behind these guys because structurally what they were doing. We had a couple opportunities for some huge chunks, didn’t make those plays, and that’s part of this game, too.”
