September 29, 2015

Ken Sparks' Press Conference: Lenoir-Rhyne Week

The following is a written transcript from Ken Sparks' weekly press conference.

Ken Sparks Press Conference

Lenoir-Rhyne Week

9-29-15

SPARKS: Pretty typical L-R. Solid on defense and creates all sorts of problems on offense. They are really good up front and that's what makes them special. Probably, if they ran any kind of offense they would be dangerous because of their five offensive lineman. Well, six because they have another guy in for an injured guy. They are a very capable football team up front. When you throw in speed behind them-especially they have four running backs who can run. They have a big olé fullback who can run. Both slots can run and quarterback that can fly. I see no weaknesses. The wide outs enjoy blocking. They better because they have only thrown them 16 passes this year. They will always hurt you with a pass- they have us every year. Defensively, solid and have given up some pass yardage which is unusual for them, but they are a very capable football team with a good kicking game. They are the complete package.

Q1: How do you put together the complete package this weekend by getting offense, defense, and special teams all on the same page?

SPARKS: Well it would be great if we played a game where all three of them could function at the level they are capable of functioning at. We haven't had that yet. Of course we are a young football team that is still developing and still growing. We are still learning how to block and tackle. We had more missed tackles in the last ball game then we have had in all of Carson-Newman history, probably. We broke history in a lot of ways. We were on the field for over 100 defensive snaps, we had more points than we did offensive snaps. That's quite an unusual package. And we have up another kickoff return and we had a couple of good punt returns. We kicked off ten times and for nine of them, we did a great job. One of them, we looked like we had never done it before. We just have to keep improving and getting better. Tackling is going to be so important this week. We have to quit missing tackles because in an option game, the guy that's assigned to the job and to the phases of the option has got ot tackle or you'll have someone in space that needs to be tackled.

Q2: Does it help that you played two flex bone options teams prior to this game?

SPARKS: Well probably, but Lenoir-Rhyne is a whole different package. They have so many different counters and so many different looks off their option games. Again, they have a quarterback that's a sprinter on the track team. When he gets a crease he'll go. They have a lot of weapons—more weapons than anyone we have seen so far.

Q3: What makes their front so good?

SPARKS: Well, they are big and quick. They are relentless and try to intimidate people. They are experienced. They isn't much missing there. They're big, fast, experienced, and aggressive.

Q4: Evan Simms, their quarterback, a new slot back taking the role of Spears. Is he of that Spears mold as being fleet of food and can beat you to the edge?

SPARKS: I don't see much difference expect maybe Spears had four years of experience and knew that he could do it. Very talented football team. There's no place where they aren't talented.

Q5: Looks like some rain is in the forecast. Obviously with two teams that like to run the football it might not affect you as much as the teams that want to throw the football. Is there anything you can do to prepare for the rain?

SPARKS: Well, we will be outside today in the rain. Just like last week, there was a slight chance of rain over at Mars Hill. I stand there with a water spout spraying on the ball when we were snapping the ball on Friday. It's more psychological than it is anything but to line up the first time with a wet ball is maybe a change that doesn't need to happen. We will make sure that that won't happen this week.

Q6: You mentioned the psychological aspect. It's L-R's first home game of the year. The team that you haven't beaten in a while. How do you make sure your team is mentally focused to go on the road and not make too big of a situation about it?

SPARKS: Well, this team has never played Lenoir-Rhyne and we have so many new people. We aren't smart enough to realize that it's a psychological thing going on.

Q7: Jason Williams- a solid effort last weekend. What have you seen from his maturation as he's continued to grow on this team?

SPARKS: Really, really proud of Jason. He has grown in every phase. He's grown physically by really developing himself more and more. I think the biggest thing is that he's grown in confidence. He believe that he can. He don't have to make a stretch to think he can make a play. He's a good football player and I love the way that he is functioning as a leader and that leadership is because he has a heart that's turned to the Lord. That's the way you become a leader.

Q8: Offensively, you put up 62 points last week, but is there anything you do to insure they don't rest on the fact that they put up 62 and they still need to have the same chip on their shoulder that they did last week in practice to get prepared for another solid defense?

SPARKS: Well, we have watched video, so that's enough to keep us level headed. We didn't play great last week. We had some pretty major breakdowns. We played better, but we didn't play great. We have to start from the front back and continue to block like we need to block. We cannot get into the phase again where we think we can play eight against eleven. It has to be eleven against eleven and we had a better effort this week on that.

Q9: Last year, Andy Hibbett had one hack of a season and it looked like you wouldn't be able to replace him. Damien baker is putting up big numbers this year, you have a lot of depth at the position now. How confident are you on what the running back position has done despite not having a lot of snaps in years prior from those guys?

SPARKS: I just like their competitive spirit. I like the way they decide they are going to be wide open and that someone is going to have to be wide open to tackle them. Actually, more than one wide open to tackle them. They are still in progress. Damien has only played parts of two years. He is still growing. They were featured backs in the past where they didn't have to block and blocking is part of the game that we ask them to do. They are still trying to figure out what that means exactly. They are still working at it and you don't have to worry about them backing down from a challenge. They enjoy getting after it.

Q10: Lenoir-Rhyne has recorded eight interceptions so far this season. What do you do to prepare for an aggressive defense like that?

SPARKS: Well, not anything any differently than any week. We have been very fortunate of only having one turnover all year as far as offense is concerned. That was a snap from center that shouldn't have happened. So, we are really really proud of what the coaches have done to be conscious of turnovers. The thing I am more concerned about this weekend than turnovers is the penalties. Big penalties that we haven't gotten all year and then all of a sudden we go over there and get a lot. Some of them were new creations and you can interrupt that any way you want to. It was interesting. Really really interesting.

Q11: You lok at L-R's defense. Gone are the Botts brothers, gone is Blake Baker, O'Neil and Joe Anderson. How is it similar and how is it different than last year's defense that had a handful of All-Americans?

SPARKS: They have a redshirt freshman that has blocked kicks, intercepted passes, made a lot of tackles and they thing he is the man of the future and it looks like he is. The two linebackers have played a lot for Lenoir-Rhyne in the past. It's not like they are breaking in new people. They are breaking in people that's played a whole lot in the system that they have. So I don't see a major falloff from what we saw from them last year.

Q12: How do you prepare yourself psychological for what very well could be a hot crowd and a rowdy environment?

SPARKS: Well, crowds don't get to play. Its 11 guys against 11 guys and as long as we keep that mentality then we will be fine.

Q13: Anything that stands out to you about their defensive front four?

SPARKS: They are big and experienced. They are hard to block and seemingly they are playing a lot of snaps. It's not like you can wear them down or anything like that Lenoir-Rhyne is a great place to play. It is a great place to play. Great setting. It's kind of like a bunch of gladiators down in the pit. It's a great setting and I've always enjoyed going there. We just have to go act like we have been there before.

Q14: Justin Long has come out of nowhere—forced into the starting role because of injury. Had nine tackles and four tackles for loss—can you elaborate on the job that he has done after being tossed into the fire?

SPARKS: He is performing great and it's a great story. It's a great success story that a guy who has been here for four years and has paid his dues and been faithful throughout the process. He would tell you that he's not big enough, strong enough, or fast enough. He just shows up gives a day's work. Very excited for Justin and glad he's getting a chance to see the benefits of all his labor. Glad to see him making plays for us.

Q15: Jerry Miclise played every snap on defense last week. What's that say about his fortitude here in his junior season?

SPARKS: And kicking units. He's on at least two kicking units. It's great and I didn't see much of a back down at the end. It was still motors wide open as far as I could tell. It's time for him. He has ability. He has been gifted. He is more and more becoming the football player we thought he'd be when we signed him coming out of high school. Out of high school, we knew he was kind of a gifted talent that didn't have much experience that needed be polished. He is finally starting to show some polish.

-CN-