University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Carolina Football Notebook
November 14, 2017 | Football, Featured Writers
By Pat James, GoHeels.com
CHAPEL HILL --- For weeks, Larry Fedora spoke of the effort his players on the North Carolina football team continued giving amid this adversity-filled season.
And with Thursday's 34-31 win over Pittsburgh at Heinz Field, they were finally rewarded.
"The win was more important for our team than anybody," said Fedora at his weekly press conference Monday. "Those are the guys that are putting in the work each and every day. Those are the ones that come with the positive attitude. They're the ones doing it, and that was who (the win) was for.
"And that is what was important, is for them to see that if they kept doing the things that they were doing that they could have success, and that's what happened."
Here are four other notes from Fedora's weekly press conference, leading up to Saturday's 3 p.m. home game against Western Carolina.
Ratliff-Williams' versatility
After becoming the fourth player in school history to return two kickoffs for touchdowns in a single season with a 98-yard touchdown on Thursday's opening kickoff, Anthony Ratliff-Williams was named ACC Specialist of the Week.
It marked the second such honors of the season for Ratliff-Williams, who was recruited as a quarterback out of Butler High School in Matthews, N.C.
"He's got great explosiveness and speed," said Fedora on what he saw in Ratliff-Williams as a returner. "Once we worked on developing him catching the football in those situations, you just knew he had all of the talent and all of the ability to do it. It was more about feeling better about securing the catch. Once he secured the catch, the rest of it's easy for him."
Fedora said the original plan was to use Ratliff-Williams as a quarterback. But because of Mitch Trubisky's progression, Ratliff-Williams was converted to receiver.
"We wanted to be able to utilize Anthony's talents," Fedora said. "So we moved him, and heck, he's too productive to move him back. I think he's got a great future there."
Elliott provides stability
In UNC's five games before facing Miami on Oct. 28, the offense averaged 11 points and 263.6 yards. The Tar Heels were outscored 172-55 in that stretch.
But since then, the offense has been more efficient under Nathan Elliott, averaging 26.5 points and 397 yards in the 24-19 loss to the Hurricanes and Thursday's win at Pittsburgh. On Monday, Fedora was asked if Elliott or improved execution by the entire unit was behind the offense's recent success.
"It's probably a combination of all of it," Fedora said. "Nathan has given us some stability there. If we don't turn it over in that Miami game, we're in a different situation, also. But it's been a combination. I think once you've got a little bit more stability there, I think the guys around do a better job, also."
Over the past two games, Elliott has completed 36-of-70 passes for 408 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions. He's also rushed for 89 yards on 30 carries. But whether Elliott continues starting this season or even next season remains undetermined.
"Right now, he's got to be the guy this week," Fedora said. "We really haven't started thinking about long-term stuff. He's got to do a great job in practice this week and be the guy who takes us into this game."
Brown bounces back
After Jordon Brown fumbled on UNC's final possession of the Miami game, Fedora said he called Brown that night and met with him.
"I told him then, 'You're going to be better for it. We'll learn from it,'" Fedora said. "The key is learning from your mistakes, and if you learn from them, then you've got a chance."
Brown received another chance against Pittsburgh. And he made the most of it.
With the Tar Heels clinging to a 34-31 lead, the offense took over with 2:54 left. Brown rushed for 38 yards on five carries and recorded a 24-yard reception to help UNC run the clock out.
"He wasn't giving that ball up," Fedora said. "There was no way. So, you hate that it happened, but I promise you he learned a lesson from it, and he'll be a better running back because of it. And I think you saw that in the game the other day (with) the way he ran and how effective he was."
Britt continues developing
Since Donnie Miles suffered an injury against Notre Dame on Oct. 7, J.K. Britt has started the past four games at strong safety. And with each one, he's steadily improved.
Britt established a career high for the second straight week when he finished with 11 total tackles at Virginia Tech. He then recorded his first career interception against Miami before forcing a key fumble near the goal line in the win over Pittsburgh.
"Since he's taken over, he's gotten better and better every week," Fedora said. "Now you can see he feels comfortable back there. He's comfortable in everything he's doing with his communication and all of the reads and all of those things. So now you're getting to see him be the guy he really can be."
CHAPEL HILL --- For weeks, Larry Fedora spoke of the effort his players on the North Carolina football team continued giving amid this adversity-filled season.
And with Thursday's 34-31 win over Pittsburgh at Heinz Field, they were finally rewarded.
"The win was more important for our team than anybody," said Fedora at his weekly press conference Monday. "Those are the guys that are putting in the work each and every day. Those are the ones that come with the positive attitude. They're the ones doing it, and that was who (the win) was for.
"And that is what was important, is for them to see that if they kept doing the things that they were doing that they could have success, and that's what happened."
Here are four other notes from Fedora's weekly press conference, leading up to Saturday's 3 p.m. home game against Western Carolina.
Ratliff-Williams' versatility
After becoming the fourth player in school history to return two kickoffs for touchdowns in a single season with a 98-yard touchdown on Thursday's opening kickoff, Anthony Ratliff-Williams was named ACC Specialist of the Week.
It marked the second such honors of the season for Ratliff-Williams, who was recruited as a quarterback out of Butler High School in Matthews, N.C.
"He's got great explosiveness and speed," said Fedora on what he saw in Ratliff-Williams as a returner. "Once we worked on developing him catching the football in those situations, you just knew he had all of the talent and all of the ability to do it. It was more about feeling better about securing the catch. Once he secured the catch, the rest of it's easy for him."
Fedora said the original plan was to use Ratliff-Williams as a quarterback. But because of Mitch Trubisky's progression, Ratliff-Williams was converted to receiver.
"We wanted to be able to utilize Anthony's talents," Fedora said. "So we moved him, and heck, he's too productive to move him back. I think he's got a great future there."
Elliott provides stability
In UNC's five games before facing Miami on Oct. 28, the offense averaged 11 points and 263.6 yards. The Tar Heels were outscored 172-55 in that stretch.
But since then, the offense has been more efficient under Nathan Elliott, averaging 26.5 points and 397 yards in the 24-19 loss to the Hurricanes and Thursday's win at Pittsburgh. On Monday, Fedora was asked if Elliott or improved execution by the entire unit was behind the offense's recent success.
"It's probably a combination of all of it," Fedora said. "Nathan has given us some stability there. If we don't turn it over in that Miami game, we're in a different situation, also. But it's been a combination. I think once you've got a little bit more stability there, I think the guys around do a better job, also."
Over the past two games, Elliott has completed 36-of-70 passes for 408 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions. He's also rushed for 89 yards on 30 carries. But whether Elliott continues starting this season or even next season remains undetermined.
"Right now, he's got to be the guy this week," Fedora said. "We really haven't started thinking about long-term stuff. He's got to do a great job in practice this week and be the guy who takes us into this game."
Brown bounces back
After Jordon Brown fumbled on UNC's final possession of the Miami game, Fedora said he called Brown that night and met with him.
"I told him then, 'You're going to be better for it. We'll learn from it,'" Fedora said. "The key is learning from your mistakes, and if you learn from them, then you've got a chance."
Brown received another chance against Pittsburgh. And he made the most of it.
With the Tar Heels clinging to a 34-31 lead, the offense took over with 2:54 left. Brown rushed for 38 yards on five carries and recorded a 24-yard reception to help UNC run the clock out.
"He wasn't giving that ball up," Fedora said. "There was no way. So, you hate that it happened, but I promise you he learned a lesson from it, and he'll be a better running back because of it. And I think you saw that in the game the other day (with) the way he ran and how effective he was."
Britt continues developing
Since Donnie Miles suffered an injury against Notre Dame on Oct. 7, J.K. Britt has started the past four games at strong safety. And with each one, he's steadily improved.
Britt established a career high for the second straight week when he finished with 11 total tackles at Virginia Tech. He then recorded his first career interception against Miami before forcing a key fumble near the goal line in the win over Pittsburgh.
"Since he's taken over, he's gotten better and better every week," Fedora said. "Now you can see he feels comfortable back there. He's comfortable in everything he's doing with his communication and all of the reads and all of those things. So now you're getting to see him be the guy he really can be."
Players Mentioned
Safety
/ Football
Tailback
/ Football
Quarterback
/ Football
Safety
/ Football
Wide Receiver
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