CHAPEL HILL – UNC coach Larry Fedora met with the media following Monday morning’s practice to discuss his team’s growth through eight practices in fall camp.
Here is what the coach had to say:
Q: How did Sunday’s scrimmage go?
Fedora: It was your typical first-day scrimmage. There were some great things that happened on both sides of the ball, and there were some catastrophic things that happened on both sides of the ball, including special teams. Some really good things happened and then some really bad things. The great thing about it is all the catastrophic or the bad things that happened are all correctable and we've got to get people in place to make some plays for all of those situations. The good thing is it's the first scrimmage and we've got another practice tomorrow and that's the great thing about it, so it's good.
Q: Special teams, you guys were very good covering punts and kickoffs, was it a particular area that was an issue?
Fedora: We went three units with every group. There were some good things with the 1s, sometimes there was a breakdown with the 2s, 3, individual things. We're trying tom get as many guys as many reps and looks as possible, one, to train depth for the special teams but also to find out who wants those positions. So, we're trying to give as many guys that possibility.
Q: Did anyone stand out in the scrimmage?
Fedora: Nah, not really. Nobody I want to point out.
Q: What were some of the other issues?
Fedora: We had two balls on the ground, we didn't create any interceptions, we gave up some big plays, offensively we didn't convert some things, it's your typical things. The way we worked the scrimmage those guys were out there six plays and they were off, we did a special teams unit and then the next unit was out there six plays and they were off and then a special teams unit. So, it was a very situational scrimmage.
Q: Were you discouraged yesterday?
Fedora: Oh no, not at all. Not at all, I wasn't discouraged at all. The effort was tremendous, there was some hitting going on out there, it was great. Attitudes were really good, it's your typical first scrimmage.
Q: Has this been a more physical training camp than what you traditionally have?
Fedora: Yeah, we’ve kind of intentionally made it that way, yeah.
Q: Why?
Fedora: Why? Just felt like that’s important for this football team. We need to be more physical.
Q: What have you seen out of the offensive line so far?
Fedora: Well, you’ve got the most experienced group on the field. Bentley Spain has stepped up at that left tackle position and is doing a really nice job. I’ll tell you, Hatton, for a guy who’s a true freshman and him being out there as the quarterback of the offensive line in a lot of situations, he’s doing a nice job. That group is a lot farther along right now than they were last year, and they should be.
Q: For Bentley, is it a matter of being healthy or just learning it?
Fedora: Probably a combination of getting healthy and a combination of really learning it and understanding it and the speed of the game.
Q: Is Marquise (Williams) a little more relaxed this year with this being his team?
Fedora: I don’t know that he’s relaxed, I don’t really let him relax. It’s not about being on the field and being relaxed, it’s being intense and poised at the same time, and that’s what we have to have out of that position. So, that’s where he’s at. He’s comfortable in that style of play where he’s very intense and at the same time poised in anything that happens.
Q: Confidence?
Fedora: His confidence level is really high.
Q: How do you feel about the improvement overall for the wide receivers as a group?
Fedora: I think it’s good. Some of the guys are getting limited reps, so that’s giving a lot of the young guys a lot more reps and they’re getting the opportunity to show what they can do right now.
Q: Which position group on defense do you feel the best about right now?
Fedora: I would say the guys that have probably impressed the most would be the D-line. The D-line as a group have probably impressed the most over the first (8) days of practice.
Q: So you have some good depth there?
Fedora: I didn’t say that. I said they’ve impressed the most. Now, what was the next question?
Q: Do you feel like there’s good depth there?
Fedora: I think we’re starting to establish some depth in some positions up front, yes.
Q: The general thought is that with the returning experience the offensive line will be a lot better, is that a fair assumption or expectation?
Fedora: That’s my expectation. That’s my expectation that we’re going to be a better football team, that we’re going to be able to run the ball more efficiently and more effectively, yes.
Q: What do you think was mostly the problem last year, health, inexperience, and …
Fedora: (That’s a great) combination. Inexperience was a big part of it, (we) had one returning starter, so you had four guys up there with eyes as big as saucers every time. Then we had some injuries so we didn’t have the continuity that you like to have, then we put a true freshman in there. So, it was what it was, and hopefully everyone of them has gotten better from that situation last year. Every rep they got, they’ll need that for this season.
Q: How far are you with the installation process?
Fedora: We’re 95-97 percent done with installation.
Q: How has Quinshad Davis looked in the first week of practice?
Fedora: I’ll tell you, it’s nice to have him back 100 percent healthy. That smile is on his face, he’s enjoying practice, he loves being out there. When it gets taken away from you, you learn that you’ve taken it for granted in a lot of situations. Now, every rep he’s excited about it.
Q: Who is one of the wide receivers that has taken on a leadership role?
Fedora: Kendrick Singleton, he’s a guy that takes on a lot of that. Quinshad Davis, Mack Hollins, all of those guys that have experience, they’re very vocal and they have no problem being vocal and leading.
Q: Any update on Jared Cohen’s status?
Fedora: No, none.
Q: Do you expect him being back out here?
Fedora: I don’t know. I don’t know what to tell you yet because I really don’t know.
Here is what the coach had to say:
Q: How did Sunday’s scrimmage go?
Fedora: It was your typical first-day scrimmage. There were some great things that happened on both sides of the ball, and there were some catastrophic things that happened on both sides of the ball, including special teams. Some really good things happened and then some really bad things. The great thing about it is all the catastrophic or the bad things that happened are all correctable and we've got to get people in place to make some plays for all of those situations. The good thing is it's the first scrimmage and we've got another practice tomorrow and that's the great thing about it, so it's good.
Q: Special teams, you guys were very good covering punts and kickoffs, was it a particular area that was an issue?
Fedora: We went three units with every group. There were some good things with the 1s, sometimes there was a breakdown with the 2s, 3, individual things. We're trying tom get as many guys as many reps and looks as possible, one, to train depth for the special teams but also to find out who wants those positions. So, we're trying to give as many guys that possibility.
Q: Did anyone stand out in the scrimmage?
Fedora: Nah, not really. Nobody I want to point out.
Q: What were some of the other issues?
Fedora: We had two balls on the ground, we didn't create any interceptions, we gave up some big plays, offensively we didn't convert some things, it's your typical things. The way we worked the scrimmage those guys were out there six plays and they were off, we did a special teams unit and then the next unit was out there six plays and they were off and then a special teams unit. So, it was a very situational scrimmage.
Q: Were you discouraged yesterday?
Fedora: Oh no, not at all. Not at all, I wasn't discouraged at all. The effort was tremendous, there was some hitting going on out there, it was great. Attitudes were really good, it's your typical first scrimmage.
Q: Has this been a more physical training camp than what you traditionally have?
Fedora: Yeah, we’ve kind of intentionally made it that way, yeah.
Q: Why?
Fedora: Why? Just felt like that’s important for this football team. We need to be more physical.
Q: What have you seen out of the offensive line so far?
Fedora: Well, you’ve got the most experienced group on the field. Bentley Spain has stepped up at that left tackle position and is doing a really nice job. I’ll tell you, Hatton, for a guy who’s a true freshman and him being out there as the quarterback of the offensive line in a lot of situations, he’s doing a nice job. That group is a lot farther along right now than they were last year, and they should be.
Q: For Bentley, is it a matter of being healthy or just learning it?
Fedora: Probably a combination of getting healthy and a combination of really learning it and understanding it and the speed of the game.
Q: Is Marquise (Williams) a little more relaxed this year with this being his team?
Fedora: I don’t know that he’s relaxed, I don’t really let him relax. It’s not about being on the field and being relaxed, it’s being intense and poised at the same time, and that’s what we have to have out of that position. So, that’s where he’s at. He’s comfortable in that style of play where he’s very intense and at the same time poised in anything that happens.
Q: Confidence?
Fedora: His confidence level is really high.
Q: How do you feel about the improvement overall for the wide receivers as a group?
Fedora: I think it’s good. Some of the guys are getting limited reps, so that’s giving a lot of the young guys a lot more reps and they’re getting the opportunity to show what they can do right now.
Q: Which position group on defense do you feel the best about right now?
Fedora: I would say the guys that have probably impressed the most would be the D-line. The D-line as a group have probably impressed the most over the first (8) days of practice.
Q: So you have some good depth there?
Fedora: I didn’t say that. I said they’ve impressed the most. Now, what was the next question?
Q: Do you feel like there’s good depth there?
Fedora: I think we’re starting to establish some depth in some positions up front, yes.
Q: The general thought is that with the returning experience the offensive line will be a lot better, is that a fair assumption or expectation?
Fedora: That’s my expectation. That’s my expectation that we’re going to be a better football team, that we’re going to be able to run the ball more efficiently and more effectively, yes.
Q: What do you think was mostly the problem last year, health, inexperience, and …
Fedora: (That’s a great) combination. Inexperience was a big part of it, (we) had one returning starter, so you had four guys up there with eyes as big as saucers every time. Then we had some injuries so we didn’t have the continuity that you like to have, then we put a true freshman in there. So, it was what it was, and hopefully everyone of them has gotten better from that situation last year. Every rep they got, they’ll need that for this season.
Q: How far are you with the installation process?
Fedora: We’re 95-97 percent done with installation.
Q: How has Quinshad Davis looked in the first week of practice?
Fedora: I’ll tell you, it’s nice to have him back 100 percent healthy. That smile is on his face, he’s enjoying practice, he loves being out there. When it gets taken away from you, you learn that you’ve taken it for granted in a lot of situations. Now, every rep he’s excited about it.
Q: Who is one of the wide receivers that has taken on a leadership role?
Fedora: Kendrick Singleton, he’s a guy that takes on a lot of that. Quinshad Davis, Mack Hollins, all of those guys that have experience, they’re very vocal and they have no problem being vocal and leading.
Q: Any update on Jared Cohen’s status?
Fedora: No, none.
Q: Do you expect him being back out here?
Fedora: I don’t know. I don’t know what to tell you yet because I really don’t know.
