CHAPEL HILL - The following are some notes from UNC's 23rd practice of the season:
*The Tar Heels are eight days away from opening against South Carolina in Charlotte and are two days into full Gamecocks preparation.
*Junior OL John Ferranto is improving but it's uncertain if he will be able to go next Thursday. He's walking better, even bending his knee slightly, and even dressed out Wednesday.
*Senior DT Justin Thomason is coming along. DL coach Tray Scott said after Wednesday's practice his injured shoulder is coming along and he should be good to go.
Regarding Thomason, who prided himself early in camp on being the leader of such a young group, he's been able to maintain the credibility to lead younger players learning a new scheme by how he's handled being out and worked to get back onto the field.
"Justin is battling every single day," Scott said. "He's had this shoulder - he really had to sit out all spring to make sure he rehabbed and got it right. He's right in the thick of things, he's definitely going to be able to hep us out.
As for that added credibility?
"I think it does," Scott said. "And his past, his consistency on working hard, grinding, I think it's easy to respect the guy."
*Defensive coordinator Gene Chizik has installed new defenses at new stops several times before. Perhaps his most challenging task is doing so where one of the nation's worst defenses resided the season before. Some coaches might prefer opening up against a cupcake, a team they should roll so the staff can see the new defense against a live and different opponent, but one they should handle possibly build some confidence facing. Not Chizik.He'd rather take on an SEC-type of foe that's had a recent run of success, such as South Carolina, next week's opening opponent for the Tar Heels.
"Absolutely, oh yeah, no doubt about it," Chizik said. "It's exciting for the kids, and it's about them it;s not about us, right? So, I think it's an exciting opening game for our players and for our fans and for anybody that's interested in college football. So I would much more prefer this type of environment."
*Final redshirt decisions have not been made yet. Fedora's philosophy is that a redshirt can be pulled off at any time, so with the exception of a few players that are obvious redshirts, it comes down to which freshmen haven't played a while into the season.
That said, interestingly, Juval Mollette was wearing a scout team jersey the last two days in practice. He came in early and some believed he would play. But with so much talent and depth at the position, and then guys that have been in the program waiting in the wings and that likely will get some reps this fall such as Jordan Fielleteau, Devin Perry, Josh Cabrera and even senior Damien Washington, who has gotten some reps with the 2s this month, UNC can afford to allow Mollette sit, watch and learn. Eventually, he will be a big part of things.
*The linebacker position is established and might be the strength of the defense. In a way it should be because it's the oldest group and the one that will yield to substitutes the least on defense. Jeff Schoettmer, undoubtedly the leader of the Heels' defense, is excited about the grouping of Shakeel Rashad, Joe Jackson and himself, especially considering at times Schoettmer felt like he was on an island in the middle of the defense in last year's 4-2-5.
"It feels great. Shak and I are really close off the field as well, and Joe's done a fantastic job," Schoettmer said Wednesday evening. "We're very comfortable with each other, we're always communicating, we're not afraid to correct one when one makes a mistake. We feel very comfortable with each other and we like playing with each other, and that's the main thing."
*The Tar Heels are eight days away from opening against South Carolina in Charlotte and are two days into full Gamecocks preparation.
*Junior OL John Ferranto is improving but it's uncertain if he will be able to go next Thursday. He's walking better, even bending his knee slightly, and even dressed out Wednesday.
*Senior DT Justin Thomason is coming along. DL coach Tray Scott said after Wednesday's practice his injured shoulder is coming along and he should be good to go.
Regarding Thomason, who prided himself early in camp on being the leader of such a young group, he's been able to maintain the credibility to lead younger players learning a new scheme by how he's handled being out and worked to get back onto the field.
"Justin is battling every single day," Scott said. "He's had this shoulder - he really had to sit out all spring to make sure he rehabbed and got it right. He's right in the thick of things, he's definitely going to be able to hep us out.
As for that added credibility?
"I think it does," Scott said. "And his past, his consistency on working hard, grinding, I think it's easy to respect the guy."
*Defensive coordinator Gene Chizik has installed new defenses at new stops several times before. Perhaps his most challenging task is doing so where one of the nation's worst defenses resided the season before. Some coaches might prefer opening up against a cupcake, a team they should roll so the staff can see the new defense against a live and different opponent, but one they should handle possibly build some confidence facing. Not Chizik.He'd rather take on an SEC-type of foe that's had a recent run of success, such as South Carolina, next week's opening opponent for the Tar Heels.
"Absolutely, oh yeah, no doubt about it," Chizik said. "It's exciting for the kids, and it's about them it;s not about us, right? So, I think it's an exciting opening game for our players and for our fans and for anybody that's interested in college football. So I would much more prefer this type of environment."
*Final redshirt decisions have not been made yet. Fedora's philosophy is that a redshirt can be pulled off at any time, so with the exception of a few players that are obvious redshirts, it comes down to which freshmen haven't played a while into the season.
That said, interestingly, Juval Mollette was wearing a scout team jersey the last two days in practice. He came in early and some believed he would play. But with so much talent and depth at the position, and then guys that have been in the program waiting in the wings and that likely will get some reps this fall such as Jordan Fielleteau, Devin Perry, Josh Cabrera and even senior Damien Washington, who has gotten some reps with the 2s this month, UNC can afford to allow Mollette sit, watch and learn. Eventually, he will be a big part of things.
*The linebacker position is established and might be the strength of the defense. In a way it should be because it's the oldest group and the one that will yield to substitutes the least on defense. Jeff Schoettmer, undoubtedly the leader of the Heels' defense, is excited about the grouping of Shakeel Rashad, Joe Jackson and himself, especially considering at times Schoettmer felt like he was on an island in the middle of the defense in last year's 4-2-5.
"It feels great. Shak and I are really close off the field as well, and Joe's done a fantastic job," Schoettmer said Wednesday evening. "We're very comfortable with each other, we're always communicating, we're not afraid to correct one when one makes a mistake. We feel very comfortable with each other and we like playing with each other, and that's the main thing."
