TRANSCRIPT: Everything Lane Kiffin said Monday ahead of Arkansas game

OXFORD, Miss. — After beating Kentucky to move to 2-0, 1-0 (SEC), Ole Miss turns its attention to the upcoming game Saturday against Arkansas in Vaught-Hemingway.

On Monday, Lane Kiffin met with media and talked about the game against the Razorbacks.

Here’s everything he said:

Lane Kiffin’s Opening Statement

Alright, so really challenging week playing against Arkansas, preparing for them. Really good team with dynamic offense and really dynamic quarterback. You know, one of the top offenses statistically in the country in run and pass. So these guys present a lot of challenge. Coach Petrino has done a great job there. Even in our game last year that, they did as well as anybody offensively against us and moving the ball and different things. So, and on defense prior to last year, we had some tough games against them. So we’re gonna have to prepare really well and play our best game of the year. We got a lot to clean up from last week, especially turnovers and lack of getting turnovers. You’re not going to win many SEC games -2 in turnover margin. So we’ve got to definitely clean that up.

Question: Lane, how would your evaluate your run defense through two games so far?

Lane Kiffin: Well, I think, you know, a lot goes into those things. People get lost, I think sometimes, in statistics on certain things and you have to understand that people play different games different ways. You know, like on the other side, we were run heavy in the game and took the ball out of there playing Kentucky and and getting ahead. And so if you look at our passing, numbers aren’t that big. So I think sometimes on defense that can be misleading. We’ve done some really good things in the run game. Now we missed some tackles and also you know, we have backups in at the end of the first game where the long run goes, and then we give up some safe long rushing yards at the end of the first half in this game. So I think we’ve done a good job in the run game. We’ve lost contain a couple of times and some big plays have happened, but we’ve also schematically done certain things for the opponent we were playing.

Question: You mentioned it Lane, before. How Austin and this offense has something that even Jaxson didn’t have last year with Kewan, him number one in the SEC in rushing and things like that. When he has a game Austin where he turns the ball over, and then being able to rely on that group of guys to really stabilize things. How big of an advantage is that? And something that was sorely lacking, if you will.

Lane Kiffin: Yeah, for the most part, we have had that every year before last year, the ability to run the ball. And, so that was good to have it back, especially when you’re on the road in the SEC against a good defense. And, you know, I think in that game, we played that game maybe differently than we would have a year ago, you know, as we got the lead in running the ball more and less passes in those situations. But also, Austin also made some big plays prior to the fourth quarter. We only had one pass attempt, I think, in the fourth quarter. But you know, like the fourth and one, he’s thrown the two interceptions, but makes a big throw on fourth and one in our territory, down 10-0. So he did some good things and there’s two times just like the game before, you know. Now that’s two games in a row where one of his interceptions is a lot of pressure right here in his face as he releases the ball. That’ll affect any quarterback.

Question: You mentioned Taylen Green too, kind of touched on him. You’ve played him before. Y’all know him as a player. He’s always had that dual threat capability and he’s dangerous in both ways. But it seems like at least through the first few weeks of the season, he’s taking a step up to their number four, I think, in yards in the country. Just what have you seen from him in his growth?

Lane Kiffin: Yeah. Really dynamic. First off, he’s dynamic athlete from a height/weight/speed standpoint. You know, to be able to run like he can. And I don’t think he was fully healthy in our game a year ago, so he’s a problem. He’s a lot to deal with. And, I think kind of similar that way to the South Carolina quarterback, LaNorris. There’s two guys that are really hard to game plan for because they’re big and they can throw and run.

Question: Ben kind of asked the question I was going to ask. I’ll ask another Arkansas one. I’m curious with their defense, what do you see differently this year than maybe what you guys saw a year ago?

Lane Kiffin: There’s a lot of new players, which is kind of what everybody around the country has, you know, which is on a different topic on that. It’s like teams are able to really change from year to year. So the year before doesn’t mean very much. You know, you just have some teams, maybe they were down in a position area or a whole offense or defense. And then you’re like, well you play them again the next year they’re probably down again. But everybody just has the ability now with the portal and money to fix their problems. And I think you’re seeing that in the conference. And it’s why our bottom of our conference is, I think, different than everybody else. You know, the teams, because they’ve they fixed their problems. So these guys have a lot of new players that they’ve plugged into places where I think they probably wanted to get better and they look like it.

Question: TJ (Dottery) has now led the team in tackles both weeks to start the year. What’s the biggest step you’ve seen in his game on and off the field?

Lane Kiffin: I think just learning all the intricacies. We have a very complicated defense and once you really get to know the things like Trey Washington a year ago, you can play at a really high level and that’s what he’s doing now.

Question: Besides protecting the football, what else are you looking for out of Austin this week?

Lane Kiffin: That was his first road start — and we have high expectations for our players — But you know first road starts in any level including NFL, you know, guys sometimes struggle early. So I think coming back home would be good. And we want him to take care of the ball and not feel rushed when it’s not there. You know, there were times in that game where I felt like because they were getting beat on some good rushes early, he started to feel that even when it wasn’t there. So just calm him down.

Question: You brought in some Arkansas flavor in the portal this year with those three transfers, does that matter at all on Saturday?

Lane Kiffin: No, no, I don’t think so. I think Georgia State had 2 or 3 of our players. So, I think that’s a little overrated.

Question: And then the the trailer came out last week for the ESPN documentary you’re in. From your perspective, what was it like filming that and what do you hope to get out of that?

Lane Kiffin: That was not my idea. So, you know, they approached me and I kind of really didn’t realize there was so much involved in it. But it was just strange seeing the trailer because it’s, like, kind of your life and you’ve now removed, so far removed from a lot of it over the years and the different jobs and stuff. So just kind of kind of interesting to see, kind of makes it all real.

Question: And I guess real quick, because I took us off topic, report came out just before this that you guys scheduled Pitt for a home and home, needed to get a power opponent in. But what do you make of that matchup if you’ve had any thoughts about that?

Lane Kiffin: Is that confirmed report? I mean, I don’t want to say that if it is, I’m guessing it is.

Media: Not confirmed.

Lane Kiffin: Then, no, I don’t know.

Question: I guess can you confirm that or no not yet?

Lane Kiffin: I mean, I was told that was going to happen. I didn’t know it was like finalized, finalized. So, but that would be a great matchup, you know, very historic team. And, you know, they’ve done a really good job.

Question: Do you feel like you guys need to get Cayden Lee involved a little bit more? I think he only has three catches so far this year.

Lane Kiffin: Yeah, I mean sometimes that’s not play calls. You know like there’s twice he’s been down the middle. And Austin’s been hit both times trying to get him the ball you know for big explosive plays. And we missed him on a third down…and we took the air out of the ball. So there’s not a lot of, you know, receptions for anybody last week. And even in that first game, those guys were out early. So I wouldn’t think too much into that. He’s a great player and he’s going to make a lot of plays for us this year.

Question: Lane, any kind of early thoughts on just having one portal window in January?

Lane Kiffin: Yeah…I think I’ve said this before, there’s two views. I usually give you the view for the best of college football. It’s not necessarily always the best for Ole Miss. Because really the best for college football would be one transfer period and real contracts. You know, I don’t know…Nobody should think it’s good that you go to play a player and it’s his fifth school. I mean, that’s just…What are you going to five schools for and in five years? So, everybody should have the ability to transfer. And I understand why people think it’s good, but there’s so much bad to it that at that age, you have the ability to leave all the time when things don’t go your way and you don’t push through anything because they’re not giving me the ball enough. They’re not, I don’t like how they talk to me. You know, that’s not going to help you in real life. And that’s too much of what’s going on now. And it’s not the kids’ fault, it’s the setup. So, kind of a rant there. But to your question, yeah, one’s probably better, you know, just to limit that. So again, once you’re there and you’re in spring ball, you’re not going,’ well, man, I didn’t like how they used me on that Saturday scrimmage, I’m leaving.’

Question: What have you seen from Luke Hasz and his recovery process? And do you have any update on that?

Lane Kiffin: Yeah, I think he’ll play this week. He’s been working really hard. And, we’ll know more the next couple days.

Question: Coach on follow up on that. Is there more of that (transferring) than chasing the money, you think as far as the portal goes?

Lane Kiffin: Well, it’s a combination, and that’s okay. People do that in all professions, you know, go for bigger salaries. I’m more on the part that you just continue to set up for young people that you can just keep leaving at times, no penalty to it, and just because you don’t like how things are going, and that certainly doesn’t help their transfer of academic units. And nobody even thinks about it anymore. We’ve gotten to a place where recruits come here and one of the questions that parents use to always ask was talk to me about academics. What’s the plan for them to graduate? I don’t ever get that question anymore. You know, it’s what’s he going to get paid? Is that really good. So when those kids don’t graduate and they got a little more money and then it’s all gone and they don’t have a degree, did we really help them with the system?

Question: Yes. I’ll just ask about Jaylon Braxton because he was questionable all week and then was downgraded, kind of where is he? And I’m not asking for particulars, but kind of his potential for this week.

Lane Kiffin: Yeah. He was doing well and then had a setback. So I think that’ll (questionable status) be the same this week that, you know, we’ll see how much he can do.

Question: Princewill has kind of been an analytics darling these couple weeks. But have you seen with your own eyes on film. Have you seen him show up like that. Like the analytics thing?

Lane Kiffin: Yeah. I don’t know what those analytics think. I do know what I see, which is a really good rusher that impacts the game and makes plays on fourth down, beats the left tackle so the guy can’t get the ball off on time. So he’s been a great addition. Obviously, looks a lot like his brother out there, you know, and you know he’s a defensive player of the game.

Question: TJ Banks, can you bring us up to date.

Lane Kiffin: Yeah. He’s been bothered injury wise, warmed up and played some, but he just wasn’t 100%. So that’s why he was limited.