Live updates: SEC coaches teleconference, Week 5

Follow along with Saturday Down South during the SEC coaches weekly teleconference.

Gus Malzahn, Auburn

• Malzahn wasn’t pleased with the tempo against Kansas State, says a different conference’s officials made the game’s pace a little different. They did not get the ball ready for play as quickly as SEC officials, so it was a little slower than they were used to.
• Nick Marshall has been solid overall for Auburn, will continue to improve. Marshall’s knocked down passes were both by one Kansas State lineman. Auburn’s offensive line were “a little bit closer than normal.” Team got more aggressive with protections later in the game. There wasn’t any thought put toward putting Jeremy Johnson in the game late. Malzahn is pleased with Marshall’s decision making in the zone-read.
• If team stays healthy up front, Malzahn is confident that they will continue to improve.

Mark Richt, Georgia

• Richt says team has to dig a little deeper emotionally after injuries. Georgia lost several players against Tennessee a year ago in a game that went down to the wire in overtime.
• Hutson Mason has been “very solid” and has gotten team into the right protections and running plays.
• Richt chuckles when asked about Jeremy Pruitt’s performance. Says everyone is still learning what the coaches want, and he believes they’re getting better fundamentally.
• Richt says Tennessee is well coached and play with energy and enthusiasm. They’re a group that enjoys playing football. Justin Worley has improved at quarterback, moves well for a big man.
• Tennessee’s defense is more athletic and faster. “They’re trim, athletic and fast, and they’re playing that way.”
• Keith Marshall is “very doubtful,” while Nick Chubb should be back from thumb surgery.
• On noon kickoffs (Georgia plays Tennessee at noon on Saturday): “I like them, especially if you win. Then you get to enjoy the rest of the day.”

Dan Mullen, Mississippi State

• Team has stayed mostly healthy, despite a few season-ending injuries.
• Mullen is glad to have the team’s first SEC win under its belt.
• Jamerson Love is a bit different than Mullen’s other NFL cornerbacks as more of a speed player, but Mullen thinks he has next-level talent.
• Pats on the back around campus will feel good for older players, but younger players still need to stay focus. Mullen is asking his older leaders to continue to be demanding of them.

Mark Stoops, Kentucky

• It’s fair to judge team any way you choose to, Stoops says, including conference record. He has a good idea of where his team is improving and where they still need work.
• Patrick Towles has made good progress and is developing well, Stoops says. Leadership is big from Towles. Drew Barker, freshman QB, will redshirt barring any injuries.
• Matt Elam is improving and getting into better shape as the season progresses.

Kevin Sumlin, Texas A&M

• Sumlin is able to duplicate preparation with same kickoff time this week, liked the experience his younger players gained in blowout win on the road against Southern Methodist.
• Texas A&M’s offense shouldn’t be lumped into a category with the rest of the country’s spread offenses, Sumlin says. “What we do is probably a little different.”
• Sumlin has great respect for Bret Bielema’s Arkansas team, says they have the biggest offensive line in the country and some of the best running backs. Sumlin says his team will find out if they’re ready to play physical football.
• Brandon Allen has been very efficient for Arkansas, extremely accurate and able to hit the deep ball. Knows Razorbacks don’t throw much, but are able to hit big plays down the field despite being a run-heavy team.
• Sumlin prepares his team to face all types of offenses despite his team playing a certain style, as there are plenty of more traditional offenses in the SEC.

Hugh Freeze, Mississippi

• Freeze is excited to have his team back in game week after the bye week.
• Memphis has raised their talent level in the last few years. Freeze praised their defense, saying they tackle very well, and says that their quarterback play has been very steady.
• Looking at team’s offenses around the country, Freeze sees the game changing. He looks for dominant players up front in recruiting, as well as players in the back of the defense who can run.

Gary Pinkel, Missouri

• Pinkel compliments Steve Spurrier and what he’s done at South Carolina.
• Missing Markus Golden was not an excuse against Indiana. Team needs to  get back to working hard at the fundamentals.
• “You’ve got to be able to finish” is the lesson Pinkel and his team learned from last year’s loss to South Carolina.

Bret Bielema, Arkansas

• Bielema respects the command on the field that Kenny Hill has this early in his career, impressed with how the offense has continued on from Johnny Manziel.
• Bielema has heard from former players that this team is looking like his old Wisconsin teams, but he thinks they are still a recruiting class away.
• An SEC win would justify all the things that Bielema’s coaching staff asks of his players. SEC wins don’t come easy.
• Bielema says team has raised GPA from consistently under 2.4 up to 2.7, and the team has more Academic All-SEC players than ever before.
• All injured players have been participants in practice this week, all will be “in full effect.”
• It means a lot for the players from Texas to play well when they’re close to home, and Bielema expects them to play well against Texas A&M.

Butch Jones, Tennessee

• Jalen Hurd is progressing every week, Jones thinks he’s gaining confidence and his teammates are gaining confidence in him. Coaching staff is challenging him to be a complete running back and think he is a good pass protector.
• Recruiting in-state players is critical, and Hurd is a big step in that direction. “You win at home, first and foremost.”
• Todd Gurley is a “great, great, and I say GREAT football player,” one of the best in the country. Jones is very concerned with the entire stable of Georgia running backs, and UGA staff does a good job using all of them.
• Jones says Georgia is extremely active defensively and go a great job disrupting offenses.
• SEC is “by far the best football conference” and there are no off-weeks. Coaches can’t understand it until they’ve played in it.
• Offensive line is growing every day, but there is no substitute for live game repetitions. They’ll learn about life in the SEC against Georgia.
• Jones tries to prepare his team to play against all types of offenses, Georgia presents a challenge because they run right at you and don’t spread you out.

Nick Saban, Alabama

• Saban says his team is a “work in progress” on defense. Reggie Ragland has helped bring some stability to the defense.
• The power shift between the East and West divisions is a cyclical thing, and this is just one of those years for the West. He does think the East has plenty of good teams, although he doesn’t name any.
• Derrick Henry is a constantly improving player. Saban thinks he’s developed an understanding and confidence, and as long as he can stay healthy and practice he will be effective.
• On Amari Cooper: it’s hard to compare guys, very difficult to compare him to other players throughout Saban’s career. Says receiver doesn’t get frustrated, keeps working and competing.
• Lane Kiffin has been “fantastic” and players respond well to him. “He’s done a really good job for us.”
• Blake Sims has played better every game, Saban says. Will continue to work on game management aspects. It doesn’t surprise Saban that he’s playing so well.

Derek Mason, Vanderbilt

• Team is a little banged up after loss to South Carolina. Looking for balance on both sides heading into the next game against Kentucky. Says team is running the ball effectively, and he likes what he’s seen from freshman quarterback Wade Freebeck.
• “There are no ‘gimmes’ in conference play. The SEC is a different breed in terms of athleticism.” Judgment on the season will be left to players and staff at the end of the season, doesn’t want to judge based on conference wins.
• Mason says his team missed opportunities in the South Carolina game. They knew some of the things South Carolina wanted to do.

Will Muschamp, Florida

• Leon Orr had a scope on his meniscus, he will be questionable for Tennessee. Mark Herndon tore his ACL on a kickoff return. D.J. Humphries should be back at practice, Mike Taylor would be questionable for Tennessee if it was this week.
• Muschamp thinks Lane Kiffin has done a great job at Alabama unlocking the talent on the offense, especially at the quarterback position. Says that Alabama has done a great job scheming to get Amari Cooper into good situations.
• “We stunk on defense” against Alabama, Muschamp says.
• The team was very disappointed and frustrated after the Alabama loss, but did find some positives he took away. Thought the blocking was good. Jeff Driskel “knows he needs to play better, and he will.”

Steve Spurrier, South Carolina

• Spurrier says his team is very healthy for this point in the year.
• Knows that having ESPN College Game Day coming to town makes this an ever bigger game for his team in Columbia, it will be a big game for both Missiouri and South Carolina.
• Missouri’s defense is as fast as they were a year ago. He hasn’t watched much offense yet, but knows they’re potent there. Calls the defense fast and quick. “They don’t have any fat guys.”
• Spurrier isn’t concerned with the East or the SEC, just wants his team to look like a competent football team. Cites the 2 kickoff return TDs as evidence that his team is struggling. Will worry about the SEC if his team in position. Calls the special teams embarrassing.
• Spurrier doesn’t think that Dylan Thompson played all that poorly against Missouri last season, but says the team needs to play better around him at times.
• There’s been improvement from the defense, but there’s still a ways to go. Spurrier is working with all three phases.
• South Carolina wasn’t as fired up as Vanderbilt was on Saturday, Spurrier says, which falls on the coaches. Pharaoh Cooper was one who played well, “his best game as a Gamecock.”

Les Miles, LSU

• LSU will spend the week working on one-on-one technique.
• Miles liked the lift Brandon Harris gave the team when he came into the game late against Mississippi State. He says that the freshman is improving daily. Harris will get some playing time with the first stringers this week. Harris will get more playing time, but Miles makes it sound as if Anthony Jennings will still start.
• After suffering a shoulder injury late against Mississippi State, Jennings is healthy and practicing. Miles still needs to see improvement from him.
• Miles cited a lack of executing against Mississippi State.

Brett Weisband

A former freelance journalist from Philadelphia, Brett has made the trek down to SEC country to cover the greatest conference in college football.