Robert Gillespie
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
GoHeels Exclusive: Spring Practice Notebook
March 23, 2018 | Football, Featured Writers
By Pat James, GoHeels.com
For the second time since the start of spring practice, North Carolina football coach Larry Fedora and a few players spoke with reporters Thursday.
Here are four notes from the availability:
Ratliff-Williams eyeing improvements
Perhaps the biggest bright spot for the Tar Heels last season, Anthony Ratliff-Williams led the team in receptions (35), receiving yards (630) and receiving touchdowns (6) after transitioning from quarterback to receiver in 2016.Â
In the aftermath of Ratliff-Williams' breakout season, Fedora said he and Ratliff-Williams "have had many talks" about how he can improve.
"He's only going to get even better," Fedora said. "There's so many things he can work on, from how to use the leverage of the (defensive back), how to get open, how to make competitive catches – that's one of the things he specializes in. Now it's learning the finer nuances of the position."
Ratliff-Williams, who earned first-team All-ACC honors as a return specialist, said he also needs to improve as a returner. But there's one specific trait he's trying to develop.
"I think probably the biggest thing would be consistency," Ratliff-Williams said, "just being able to make those plays over and over and over again to the point where it's not as shocking, you kind of just expect it."
Carney's goal
The defensive line figures to be the strength of the defense this fall, and that will especially be the case if Malik Carney continues his steady development at defensive end.
As a junior last season, Carney finished with career highs in total tackles (57) and tackles for loss (12). He also recorded two forced fumbles and 5.5 sacks, matching his totals from his redshirt sophomore season.
"Malik is always there and around the quarterback," Fedora said. "We need him to get home more often. I've challenged him; I want him in double digits in sacks. That's not easy to do, but if we can get him close to that area, then I'll feel like he's made some great improvements."
Kareem Martin, who posted 11.5 sacks during the 2013 campaign, is the only UNC player who has reached double-digit sacks in the last seven seasons.
Quarterback competition
Fedora reiterated Thursday that no decision has been made on a starting quarterback. But when asked, he noted one specific difference about Chazz Surratt, who showed promise as a redshirt freshman last season.
"He's got more confidence," Fedora said. "His body demeanor, his presence, all of that's improved, and it's going to continue to improve."
In addition to Nathan Elliott, Manny Miles and Surratt, Fedora said freshmen Cade Fortin and Jace Ruder have seen reps at quarterback.
"You see them do some really good things and then you see them do some really boneheaded things, which is understandable for right now," said Fedora of Fortin and Ruder. "Based on what I've seen from guys in the past, they're right where they need to be. They may not think they're going to make mistakes, but they're going to make a lot of mistakes."
Gillespie's hiring
A day removed from announcing the hiring of Robert Gillespie as an assistant coach, Fedora spoke Thursday of how the addition came about.
"I've known (Gillespie) since back when I was coaching at Florida and he had just finished playing at Florida," Fedora said. "The guys who were in that room – Earnest Graham, Ran Carthon and Willie Green, guys like that who were there at the time – spoke very highly of one of their peers. So I knew who he was at that time, and then I got to meet him a few years later.
"He's from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, just a coincidence there. I actually had some input in helping him when he got hired at Oklahoma State. So he's a guy who I've always kept my eye on and was fortunate to be able to get him this year.
For the second time since the start of spring practice, North Carolina football coach Larry Fedora and a few players spoke with reporters Thursday.
Here are four notes from the availability:
Ratliff-Williams eyeing improvements
Perhaps the biggest bright spot for the Tar Heels last season, Anthony Ratliff-Williams led the team in receptions (35), receiving yards (630) and receiving touchdowns (6) after transitioning from quarterback to receiver in 2016.Â
In the aftermath of Ratliff-Williams' breakout season, Fedora said he and Ratliff-Williams "have had many talks" about how he can improve.
"He's only going to get even better," Fedora said. "There's so many things he can work on, from how to use the leverage of the (defensive back), how to get open, how to make competitive catches – that's one of the things he specializes in. Now it's learning the finer nuances of the position."
Ratliff-Williams, who earned first-team All-ACC honors as a return specialist, said he also needs to improve as a returner. But there's one specific trait he's trying to develop.
"I think probably the biggest thing would be consistency," Ratliff-Williams said, "just being able to make those plays over and over and over again to the point where it's not as shocking, you kind of just expect it."
Carney's goal
The defensive line figures to be the strength of the defense this fall, and that will especially be the case if Malik Carney continues his steady development at defensive end.
As a junior last season, Carney finished with career highs in total tackles (57) and tackles for loss (12). He also recorded two forced fumbles and 5.5 sacks, matching his totals from his redshirt sophomore season.
"Malik is always there and around the quarterback," Fedora said. "We need him to get home more often. I've challenged him; I want him in double digits in sacks. That's not easy to do, but if we can get him close to that area, then I'll feel like he's made some great improvements."
Kareem Martin, who posted 11.5 sacks during the 2013 campaign, is the only UNC player who has reached double-digit sacks in the last seven seasons.
Quarterback competition
Fedora reiterated Thursday that no decision has been made on a starting quarterback. But when asked, he noted one specific difference about Chazz Surratt, who showed promise as a redshirt freshman last season.
"He's got more confidence," Fedora said. "His body demeanor, his presence, all of that's improved, and it's going to continue to improve."
In addition to Nathan Elliott, Manny Miles and Surratt, Fedora said freshmen Cade Fortin and Jace Ruder have seen reps at quarterback.
"You see them do some really good things and then you see them do some really boneheaded things, which is understandable for right now," said Fedora of Fortin and Ruder. "Based on what I've seen from guys in the past, they're right where they need to be. They may not think they're going to make mistakes, but they're going to make a lot of mistakes."
Gillespie's hiring
A day removed from announcing the hiring of Robert Gillespie as an assistant coach, Fedora spoke Thursday of how the addition came about.
"I've known (Gillespie) since back when I was coaching at Florida and he had just finished playing at Florida," Fedora said. "The guys who were in that room – Earnest Graham, Ran Carthon and Willie Green, guys like that who were there at the time – spoke very highly of one of their peers. So I knew who he was at that time, and then I got to meet him a few years later.
"He's from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, just a coincidence there. I actually had some input in helping him when he got hired at Oklahoma State. So he's a guy who I've always kept my eye on and was fortunate to be able to get him this year.
Players Mentioned
Defensive End
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Quarterback
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Quarterback
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Wide Receiver
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Quarterback
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