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Talk about the importance of this week’s game…
This is an important
game for us. Mainly for this team, they want to finish strong. We want to
send these seniors out with a win. We don’t have must win games; but from
a program standpoint, this is a game that means much to us because of the
seniors, because of the momentum going into the off-season, the difference
between 6-5 and 7-4. Those are the main reasons. Going into the off-season
with a win helps with recruiting and with the general morale of the team.
Talk about Mars Hill…
They have a set of
running backs that are really good. George Washington is one of the best,
if not the best back in the conference. Chapelle Rose subbed for him a
little earlier in the season…those two are a really good combination. They
started a new quarterback last game and ran a great deal of option.
They have progressed
into trying to get all those backs some work and they have some receivers
who can get it deep. They will throw it up there every now and then to
keep you honest. They can move the ball offensively.
Defensively, they
lead the league in pass defense (147 yards per game). They are very fast
in the secondary; they make many plays. They have excellent cornerbacks.
The (Mars Hill) interior seven is very similar to ours. They can make
things happen and move around a great deal. They aren’t spectacular on
special teams, but they are good at what they do. I think their punt
coverage team is giving up half a yard per return. They are well-coached
in so many different areas. The running backs are what you think about
when you think of Mars Hill.
How will you stop the run game?
Stopping the run
game is getting back to basics and winning the one-on-one battles. We have
lost some one-on-one battles the past few games. There are points in every
game when you need a guy to flat out beat
somebody. It is going to take guys winning individual battles while
working in the scheme we have going. Our defense is predicated on the
defensive-line keeping people occupied so our linebackers can make plays.
I feel like our defensive ends have played pretty well.
We need to eliminate
careless mistakes and penalties and turnovers. It’s frustrating…not only
for me, but for our players. We need to eliminate those things…I don’t
know if we win them, but the past few games would certainly be different
games. Teams can’t afford to have those (type of) mistakes and win games
against good teams.
Talk about working people into the mix…
There are certain
guys who we have played more the past few weeks to try and get them worked
in there for next week. For a guy like Marcel Huggins, he will probably
play a few more snaps Saturday because we want to prepare him some more
for next year. We think he can be a big time player. Kameron Kranz has
played a little more the past few weeks; that’s because he was hurt
earlier. We feel much more comfortable with where he is.
There are a few
linemen we have been working in all year and we want to continue to get
them some (reps). Defensively, we have a couple younger guys we are going
to try to work in (Saturday). Marcel is really the guy we want to see get
more playing time in crucial situations (against Mars Hill).
Talk to us about recruiting…
Recruiting-wise, we
graduate all the starters on the defensive line and a number of the
backups, so that will be crucial for us. We need to have a good class of
defensive lineman, whether they are junior college guys or high school
guys. Between this year’s freshmen and the guys we bring in, that will be
our defensive line. We have several good freshman, but we will probably
have to go out and get some junior college guys to fill in.
In the secondary, we
had to replace the whole secondary last year and then we hit a rash of
injuries. We were fortunate to pick up two NCAA Division I transfers, but
now they are gone. We are at the point where we need to go out and have
another good solid class of secondary guys. We would need to add a junior
college corner or two.
Defensive line and
secondary are our two most crucial areas. Everywhere else, we feel like we
can pick and choose. We aren’t in a position where we need anyone to come
in and play right now on offense. We will focus mostly on defense in
recruiting this year. |
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