TRANSCRIPT: Everything Lane Kiffin said Monday, August 18

OXFORD, Miss. — Ole Miss football opened its fourth and final week of fall camp Monday, and after practice head coach Lane Kiffin met with media to take questions on the Rebels’ progress.

Here’s everything Coach Kiffin had to say:

Lane Kiffin’s Opening Statement

Lane: Alright. Really good practice today, out in some good temperature and following really hard practice or scrimmage Saturday, which was good to see. You know, I’m sure like a lot of people this time of year, there’s a lot of injuries and guys having to go with different groups and things. So that’s frustrating at times, but also good for those guys to get an opportunity and hopefully make the most of them. So got a lot of work to do with under two weeks to go and very pleased at some things, but some of the things we got a long ways to go.

Question: You said in the first scrimmage that Austin made a few critical mistakes. In the second game, any improvements from there?

Lane: Yeah, he played a lot better. Had a good day. Took care of the ball a lot better, right. The whole offense did. I think there was one turnover on the 118th play, so much better in that area.

Question: What’s your thoughts on how the offensive line’s doing? I know maybe there’s some guys different spots but how’ve they fared coming out of the second scrimmage.

Lane: Yeah, that spot is struggling with a lot of injuries. I don’t think they’re really long-term injuries. And so we are struggling number wise there. And so guys are having to play different spots. They’re doing a good job. But it’s not ideal by any means.

Question: It came out this weekend that Donte Moncrief is joining your staff. Can you just talk about bringing him in?

Lane: Yeah I think that’s great. I love giving opportunities to former players, usually the ones that played for you, but in this case, one that one of the premier players in the history of the school. So, um, that’s really good. Knows a lot of people. Good to have him have him around and join what I believe is a really good recruiting staff.

Question: Defensively, Lane, you know, it’s been pretty dominant a couple of weeks for them. Just what have you seen as the secondary settles in and just like overall just that group and how how they’ve come along and come together for two weeks out.

Lane: Yeah, I think that the secondary is starting to get a little healthy. You know, we just said the line’s, you know definitely behind that. Hopefully you know, the line will be like that. So it’s really good to have so many guys out there and they’re doing a good job. I think the front continues to play really well. The first unit and a lot of work to do after that, and we got to get on the same page because you can imagine with secondary guys out and coming back, you know, there’s some communication to work on in assignments.

Question: Did you have any defensive takeaways from the the scrimmage with with how well they played last time?

Lane: Yeah, we did a different format. I mean not different, but we changed it up. And so sometimes in the first half there it was ones versus twos. So they went with it against the two offense and were really dominant. In the second half, they go against the one. So, didn’t force many turnovers, but other than that, they did a really good job.

Question: Lane there’s usually an acclimation period where true freshmen coming in. How have Caleb Cunningham and Winston Watkins uh, gone, so forth?

Lane: Yeah. Winston’s been able to stay healthy. So his has been a lot easier, his transition. Caleb got banged up a little bit. Now he’s back. He had a family situation where he missed a couple days, too, so that’s put him a little bit behind, but he’s working really hard. He’s going to be really good.

Question: With Georgia State coming up when y’all kind of turn towards preparation for them. I mean, is it still kind of a fall camp mindset for now or when is that kind of switch up?

Lane: Yeah, we’re still in fall camp. We have some periods of Georgia State. We don’t start school yet, and I feel like normally we have this week right here. And so that keeps us more in a camp mode longer than it has.

Question: With the O-line being so shuffled like you talked about. At what point do you kind of want to determine your starting five for week one up front?

Lane: I mean, I’d like to know that today, but the injuries really haven’t helped that. I think we’re on our way to figuring that out. We were getting closer with crews coming back, but then once the guy’s getting hurt, that’s set us back now.

Question: Lane, you said after your first scrimmage that you guys had made some mistakes on offense. And what you’ve kind of told us today is that maybe they corrected a few of those in the second scrimmage. How would you evaluate how your offense has grown through fall camp so far?

Lane: I think the first skilled unit has done really well. I think we’re developing depth behind that. I think the line, like I said, with injuries has been a work in progress. And, you know, you got guys that haven’t played here a lot. You got some guys coming in that played other places, but they still got to play together.