Eagles hold first scrimmage of spring football
Feb. 21, 2009
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - The Carson-Newman football team concluded the first week of spring practice Saturday morning with a spirited intersquad scrimmage at Burke-Tarr Stadium.
After the hour-and-a-half workout, head coach Ken Sparks said he was pleased with were his team was, but quickly pointed out there is much work left to be done.
"It's been a good week," said Sparks, whose squad finished the 2008 season with a 7-4 record after being ranked as high as No. 3 in the nation at one point.
"There have been some highs and lows, but I think there was a direction that has been set that is encouraging. We are setting a foundation right now for next season. It gives us something to build on."
The scrimmage was divided into various yardage situations, with four different depth chart rotations taking turns.
Each unit began at their own 35-yard line in the early parts of the scrimmage, though none were able to move any farther than the opposite 32.
The offenses then began to work from the opponent's 25-yard line. After the first team fumbled on their first play from scrimmage, the second team came through with the first score of the scrimmage on a 38-yard field goal by Carlos Lopez.
Sparks had the team go briefly go through goal line situations at the two-yard line before moving to the 50-yard line to start drives. The first team offense finally found the end zone on their next-to-last series of the day.
Despite the lack of scoring and big offensive plays in the scrimmage, Sparks said his offenses did some good things.
"I thought we had some bright spots," Sparks said. "The defense is usually ahead of the offense at this time of the year, but I was disappointed with some of our veterans who didn't execute like they were suppose to."
"Both offensively and defensively, we had some missed assignments, missed tackles, just a lot of things that we need to work on. People have to know what to do, and keep developing the skills to do it."
