LSU’s Miles talks post-game after loss to Auburn
AUBURN, Ala.
Head Coach Les Miles
Opening statement…
“First of all, I would like to congratulate Auburn. I thought they played their butts off. I felt like we had a nice drive at the end of the game going. We got down there at the end with an opportunity to win the game, and we felt like we had the play called that we needed. With the penalty being thrown, if that was an illegal shift then the play was done and then there would’ve been a 10-second run off, and that would be that. We hurried to the line and we got lined up and illegal shifted. We didn’t know we illegal shifted, but we threw the ball caught it in the end-zone and caught it. We felt like we did everything we could and our kids did everything that they could do to win the game. I don’t know if I have ever come as close to winning a game as compared to finishing second as I did tonight. We realize that they were going to give us no signal as to when the clock would start on the final play. They raised their hand, let it down and we didn’t get the play off at the end. If we don’t turn the ball over and we drive the football and do the things we are supposed to, then it is a different football game.”
On if Leonard Fournette is playing hurt…
“I am not knowingly playing him at a disadvantage to him in any way. After the last game there was no swelling in his ankle. He had a full week of practice and there was not anything I could see. He may have got nicked up today, which is very probable or possible. I hope that it is nothing serious. He was in the game on the final play of the game.”
On why they didn’t snap the ball immediately on the final play of the game….
“We knew there would be no indication of when the clock would start. We knew the referee wasn’t going to blow a whistle or tell our kids to get ready. He was going to raise his hand and drop it, then the clock would start. We were trying to get this set up very quickly and we were pretty close.”
On his defense giving up yardage but no touchdowns…
“I think our defense was on the field too long. We made some early drives, but couldn’t score many points on offense. If we could do that, then our defense would be fine. Our defense has a quality of shifting gears on who we play. I like how we play.
On Danny Etling’s progress…
“I know that we completed a drive that gave us an opportunity to win the game. I thought he played tough, hard-nosed football the way he scrambled and extended plays. I think we as a team can play better.”
On Etling having a cut on his head…
“He didn’t lose any sharpness or knowledge. Our guys immediately took him over there and went through concussion symptoms with him. They were talking about getting him some stitches and that is it.”
More thoughts on the last play of the game….
“I wanted to make sure that that had actually happened. I did not see the flag. I was told that the flag was thrown. I wondered if his foot was in bounds. When they came back and said they were going to see if the play clock had started or not, I figured that if there was a penalty then that was the end of the game. With us staring at the clock, I knew it would be difficult. They say that you cannot start a play in less than two seconds.”
On why they threw the ball short of the end zone a couple times at the end of the game…
“You take the completions you can get. If we got closer, then we were making an intermediate throw for a touchdown. I was thinking, let’s get down there and make first downs and give us chance to win the game.”
On what was going on with LSU headsets…
“We had some static that led to difficulty hearing with our headsets.”
On them being 2-2 right now and not being where they want to be right now…
“Well, certainly, but Auburn is a good football team. We need to get healthy. Take it one game at a time and work hard. I look forward to playing in Tiger Stadium next week.”
