University of North Carolina Athletics
A Q&A With Coach Jeff Connors: Part I
July 30, 2003 | Football
By: Joe Bray
TarHeelBlue: How has the team's effort been this summer?
Coach Connors: "We have had a really good summer. We are trying to establish a mentality with this group. It's our third year of going through the offseason with this team.
"We're trying to establish a fourth-quarter mentality where they have an awareness of specific objectives toward the end of the game, where they see that their conditioning level can be a weapon and contribute to their being in the game no matter who we are playing.
"That's very important to me and my staff. What I want these guys to do is understand that the investment they've made this summer will give them a chance to win a football game in the fourth quarter. Once they see that it works for them it will become habitual, and then it becomes a tradition.
"This doesn't happen overnight. It's something that players have to see for themselves. They have to understand that their physical attributes can't be fully maximized without being in great shape. Plus, if you're not in great shape, you're going to make mental errors towards the end of the game. With the number of repetitions these guys get mentally toward an opponent, both on the practice field and in extensive film sessions, there's little excuse for mental errors during the course of a game as well as these guys are coached."
TarHeelBlue: How do you feel about our fourth-quarter effort last year given that there were a few games where we were basically out of the game by the final quarter?
Coach Connors: "I did a survey after the season. The number one favorable response I got concerning how the players felt physically through the course of a game was that they felt they were in great cardio-vascular shape. They didn't feel that cardio-vascular conditioning was a problem. They felt that that was the most prepared attribute they had.
"We had a defense that was not only young but, in certain areas, not very physical because they hadn't had a chance to be in the weight room very long. Last year's freshman class was one that needed to be developed, and they have come a long way now.
"We've made some strides last winter and this summer with some of the guys that really had a lot of stress on them to perform last year as young athletes."
TarHeelBlue: Would you comment on the conditioning level of the defense? Let's start with the line.
Coach Connors: "Along the line, Chase Page is at 295. Kendall High, who's been moved to defensive end, is over 270 and has pushed 280 at times. Both of those young men have made progress.
"Jonas Seawright is very strong, as is Donti Coats.
"If the front four guys were Hedgecock, Davis, Coats and Page, their average bench press would be 450 pounds, and I think that's pretty respectable. Tommy Davis is very strong right now and weights 265. Hedgecock is about 265.
"I feel good about the progress Jocques Dumas has made in the offseason. He's about 275 and has very respectable strength for his body type. He can bench 420 pounds with very long arms.
"Issac Mooring has had a great summer. He's over 280 pounds and looks better and stronger than at any point since I've been here. I'm expecting some great things from Issac.
"I'm pleased with the progress Jermicus Banks has made. He's over 270 pounds, he shows strength and he's got good athleticism."
TarHeelBlue: What about the linebackers?
Coach Connors: "Doug Justice has fought to get back to where he was before he had his appendix removed at the beginning of the summer. He's worked extremely hard, and I think he's about where he was at the end of the winter.
"Jeff Longhany has had an excellent summer, he's gotten a lot stronger. Clarence Gaddy had a very good winter, he got to the point where he could power clean 353 pounds, which is very respectable for him. He's also got his body weight up. Clay Roberson has come a long way, he's got excellent physical attributes across the board.
"Melik Brown has had a very good summer, he's very impressive. Melik is already a good football player, so the strength and conditioning aspect will do nothing but make him better. After the spring he had, combined with the gains he's made this summer, we're looking for big things from him.
"Victor Worsley is 245 pounds and he is strong. I can't wait to see what he can do this year. He's healthy, his shoulder feels good, his lifts are very respectable. He looks the part, he's going to be a physical player who can help us."
TarHeelBlue: Let's look at the secondary.
Coach Connors: "As for the defensive backs, Dexter Reid and Michael Waddell both really committed to getting stronger and bigger this summer. Dexter is close to 205 now and is very strong, he looks great. Michael's at 186, which is heavier than he has been. I'm really proud of the commitment those two guys made this summer.
"We've got a long of young guys at defensive back who should come on and be impact players this year. There's a great deal of physically talented people at this position."
TarHeelBlue: You sound pretty optimistic to be coming off a 3-9 season.
Coach Connors: "I'm actually very optimistic toward the season, because I like what I see. I like the chemistry, I like the leadership. I think the leadership has improved. Dexter Reid and Jeb Terry in particular have done an excellent job with leadership.
"Also, we put some of the guys in special groups in accordance with special needs. For example, Dexter Reid, Mike Waddell, Brian Rackley and a few others needed to put on lean mass, so we had a special program for them. Rashaad Tindall is up to 202, Rackley is up to 252.
"Those guys will have to work very hard to maintain their weight during camp. They're going to have to continue to lift hard and continue to eat well.
"Darian Durant has done a good job this summer organizing some of the passing drills that have to be done outside of what we do. It's totally on a voluntary basis and is organized by the players. He's done a good job in making those things important to the team.
"I've frankly got a lot more positive things to say than we could fit in this interview. We have tried to challenge these guys at every turn to make them fully accountable, disciplined, tough and in the best physical condition possible.
"I don't know what other people think of this team. All I know is what we've seen this summer, and I know that I feel good about these guys. There are some people on this team that could surprise people with regard to what they can do in light of the expectations I've read concerning those individuals."
