University of North Carolina Athletics
Webster Takes Over Special-Teams Duties
April 14, 2003 | Football
April 14, 2003
John Bunting is making a unique move in college football this season in appointing a special-teams coordinator who has no other position coaching responsibilities. James Webster, formerly defensive ends coach, is now the Tar Heels' special-teams coordinator.
Carolina has had a special-teams coordinator the last five seasons, but Ken Rucker (under head coach Carl Torbush) and then Dave Huxtable and Jim Fleming also had position responsibilities. Bunting has given new hire Brad Lawing the defensive ends and tackles to allow Webster complete freedom to coordinate special teams.
"Going back 30 years, James Webster played with passion and a tremendous amount of emotion," Bunting says of his former Tar Heel teammate from the 1969-71 era. "To me, that's what special teams are all about. I want him to instill that spirit in our players. I want one guy looking at every unit in the kicking game all the time. I want one guy evaluating our freshmen when they come in, every single thing they do, to figure out where they can help us in the kicking game. I think it will make a difference."
Bunting has been frustrated with the Tar Heels' performance in the kicking game over two years, despite plenty of practice-field emphasis. His NFL background spawned this move, as all NFL teams have dedicated special-teams coordinators with no other responsibilities. The difference between pros and colleges, though, is that pro teams can have unlimited coaching staffs (most have up to 15 assistants), while colleges are limited to nine assistants. It's a gutsy move to devote one of those exclusively to the kicking game.
"It's been a challenge," says Webster. "It's something new. It's a lot of work. If it will help our program, I'll all for it. The main thing I want to accomplish is to change the mentality on our team. I don't think our players have felt special teams were equally important to offense and defense. But they are-they can be more important. The greatest exchange of yards in football comes on punting downs."
Webster points to linebacker Leon Scroggins and safety D.J. Walker as being two players whose attitude and voraciousness on kicking downs exemplifies the emotion and passion he and Bunting are looking for. "They've given the most hustle and effort this spring," Webster says. "They're the direction we want to go."
Webster says none of four punters among John Lafferty, Topher Roberts, Paul Roberts and David Wooldridge have emerged as a clear-cut favorite for next fall.
"It's been punting by committee, no one has separated himself from the pack," he says.
