DEPTH CHART NOTES
DL ADAM BUTLER
- Delando Crooks, who hasn't played since (I believe) late September, is listed on the depth chart as second-team left guard. Of course, this has been the case before (last week, for sure) and he didn’t play on Saturday.
- No Nigel Bowden on the depth chart, again.
- Ryan White is on the depth chart. I had some questions about that after him exiting the Missouri game.
- “We’re right back in this, entering the home stretch. … This team has had to re-focus a little bit.”
- OM is a good football team. Extremely talented. He has a lot of respect for Freeze.
- They learned some lessons about not spotting an opponent points on Saturday. They played through adversity and it wasn’t good enough.
- They gained a knowledge that they have to play with a greater sense of urgency. Most every game has come down to a possession or two.
- Energetic practice today. “They got after it.”
- Shea Patterson reminds him of Manziel.
- OM WR corps is as good as anyone in America. It makes plays in tight coverage and on 50/50 balls.
- Asked about Patterson. He’s a talented young QB, which he showed vs. A&M. They did a good job of scheming A&M.
- Patterson is capable of having a big game. The lack of film makes it tougher to evaluate him since they have just one game, but, their offense hasn’t changed a lot with Patterson in there.
- What’s different between Patterson and Kelly? They’re different runners. Kelly’s bigger and stronger, a wider body who can run. Patterson is more elusive. “He’s a true dual-threat QB capable of breaking off big runs.” Reminds him of a smaller Marcus Mariota.
- Is their a correlation between them not blitzing and also not giving up QB runs? Said you have to be careful either way because too much of either can get you beat. Said he didn’t want to talk much about it for fear of giving away the game plan.
- Ralph Webb was healthier earlier in the year, but, thought he felt better heading into the Missouri game. Thought Dallas Rivers and Josh Crawford looked good taking reps in practice. They want a strong running game whether Ralph is 100 percent or not, and they feel Webb is getting better.
- On special teams issues with punting, is it discouraging that these are “new” problems in punting? He said you never want to see new problems, and they talked a bit about punting and kicking and decisions within those. Said on the whole they didn’t start well and had too many penalties. Said they waited for good things to happen.
- But, that’s why he was glad to see energy in practice. Said they had a tough practice today.
- On Shurmur being picked more recently: It’s a combination of things. One bounced off a helmet. (Intimated Pinkney was looking into the sun). The Sherfield pick was receiver running a bad route. Ultimately everyone has to do their job. Shurmur was doing what he was supposed to do and he’s playing well. He showed his ability in those games. He’s getting better.
- Was asked about Shurmur taking blame for picks that weren’t his fault. Mason said it’s Shurmur maturing and being a leader.
- They have a lot of offensive players who are capable.
- Asked about bowl game. They have an SEC opponent coming up. They must do their best to go 1-0 this week. Ole Miss is a great club. They’ve got their hands full.
- Are teams defending them differently now that they can throw the ball? Said he thinks teams are taking notice of their potential on the outside. But they worry more about getting better rather than what teams are doing.
- Feels like the offense can have a bust-out game. They’re making plays but not enough of them.
- On Shurmur turnovers: said he’d had some unlucky breaks, but said he passes the eye test. Said there’s nothing wrong with Shurmur and that he’s played well, that he’s getting more confident. He’s got a bright future.
DL ADAM BUTLER
- On facing Shea Patterson: He’s excited about playing him. He likes him, likes that he’s shifty. Their problems have come with not sticking to rush integrity but they’ve done better in that regard.
- On being shifted to DL: he said it was borne out of him standing up and protesting the results of a rib-eating contest. Bob Shoop saw his intensity and lobbied for him to join the defense. Said that was the genesis of him being a defensive lineman.
- Does he think about his career coming to an end? Said he doesn’t let it get him down. Said it’s about the team, which was the point of the switch to defense.
- Was Shoop on to something that he had a defensive mentality? He said he thinks he is. He said he was a little bit more athletic, which helped, and that he’s really passionate about football. Said he doesn’t take “no” for an answer and fights for his teammates.
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