VIDEO: Mike Turner Press Conference
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - Ahead of Carson-Newman's contest against Lenoir-Rhyne, coach Mike Turner spoke with the media.
Opening statement
"Well, Lenoir-Rhyne is playing at a great level right now. Six in a row and I think it goes back to, what, 16-straight conference wins or regular season wins. So they're playing at a phenomenal pace. They're being very productive on offense and they're being very productive on defense as well. You've got eight starters back (from last season), one backup so that's nine and then two guys, so it's a veteran team on defense and they're being very productive as a unit, making things happen, turnovers as a unit – that type of deal. On offense, they're running the football like they always do and picking their place and when they throw the football it's usually for big chunks and big plays. So, you've got to be assignment football, keep your eyes up all the time, be who you're supposed to be when the ball is snapped. You can't get out of place against Lenoir-Rhyne."
On how special the game is given the success of both teams this year
"I think it's a great complement to both teams. There's not a whole lot of teams this time of the year that are having a game of this magnitude. Told our kids, gosh, what it is basically it's the next most important game on our schedule, because it's the next game. It'll be a great atmosphere over there, I know that. I know that they'll be ready to play, I think our kids are going to be ready to play and should be a fantastic football game."
On the team's ability to take one game at a time thus far
"I'm very, very proud of them. We've told them that we've restarted the 2019 season and you better focus. The way we are as a football team you better focus one day at a time, that's not coach talk, that means practice and have a great practice every day, be focused about assignments and being where you're supposed to be and then when you come to Saturday you go into that game and you're prepared, you're confident what you're doing and should be able to turn loose."
On how Lenoir-Rhyne has become an elite defense this year
"They're doing the same scheme, basically. I think you've got kids that are a year older, that's shown, they've got eight starters back and one backup – really that's nine starters – back that are experienced. I think when you've got some certain people around the like we've talked about, people that make other people better, I think that makes you a great defense."
On what makes their rushing attack so potent
"They do like we do. They're going to do what their offense – they're going to be who they are, just like we hope we're going to be who we are. But I think they try to get you out-flanked by some shifts and some things like that. A receiver that had two big runs last week off the jet sweep or whatever action, reverse jet sweep, I think they're sound in what they do. They have confidence in what they do and how they're going to attack. And that's what you want out of an offense, line up and believe in what you're doing and go after it.
On how important time of possession will be
"I think the big thing that comes in this weekend is taking care of the football, I think that has a lot to do with it. Field possession, absolutely, when you've got a great returner like they have as a punt returner, I think both these teams coming in are playing well on special teams. We talked this morning as a staff, it's going to take a game where all three parts of our game have to play together well and they have to complement each other.
On what makes Lenoir-Rhyne returner and secondary member Kyle Dugger special
"Gosh, that's a grown man back there, a free safety running downhill and getting after you and he's been a great player…for many years for them been a starter. So, there's a guy that's grown up experience wise and they're kept him where he gets to freewheel most of the time and he is a factor, you need to account for him."
On how important it will be for the pass to aid the run for Lenoir-Rhyne
"Yes, aid the run support but it's like anything else, don't let your eyes get tricked because they'll find the spot where they want to throw the football off a play-action, somebody's void in an area or somebody that's cheating with their eyes and you have to be on top of your game."
On how to tell the team that this isn't a do or die situation
"Our kids, gosh, they've been around here two and three years together. They know what this game is about. They've played hard to get to this position and I certainly hope for anybody that one game is not a make or break year. I don't think that's what it's about. I think every football team we play wants to be undefeated, there's no question about that. This football game is big, yes it is, but there's four games after that. I think you evaluate weekly how much better you're improving, are you making improvement, where do you need to improve at the most and you keep that part in perspective but you're not going to go about saying, 'oh, man it's just about ball game,' and it is in reality, but it's not."
On what lessons C-N takes away from there last road game against Wingate
"The way we played and the way we've made certain areas critical to our performance, about doing your assignment, making sure you do your job. Trust that the people beside you, behind you and in front of you are going to get their job done. I think making sure we're conscious of first down again, making sure of that and being productive. It's been a growing opportunity for our kids and they've grown well. I think they're playing together well right now. I think they're playing with excitement, they're playing with sharing with each other and so we've made progress in the past three weeks, there's no doubt about it. But, you sit down and look at that video and we got a lot of progress to make, so it's not a one-game deal. We're midway in the season, we've got five games to play and hopefully by the end of that season we're going to be where we want to be as a football team, as men individually and continue to grow."
On what cornerback Desmond Fairell has meant to the program
"Des has grown tremendously. We've talked about that before, as a young man, definitely grown as a football player. He is a guy that you expect to make plays. He's a guy that can lead out there and get people in the right position so we've got a lot of trust in Des Fairell."
