University of North Carolina Athletics
Wednesday's Practice Notes
August 18, 2004 | Football
Aug. 18, 2004
By Adam Lucas Wednesday's practice was dominated by the aftershocks from losing Chase Page for the season on Tuesday night. His absence was felt immediately, as he is usually the player who initiates the "roll call" at the beginning of every practice, a Tar Heel tradition in which every position group is able to sound off. In his absence, fellow senior Jacque Lewis assumed the duty. That's not the only place Page was missed. In defensive line drills, Khalif Mitchell moved from end to tackle---where he played in prep school---and defensive line coach Brad Lawing said the Heels would use a "defensive end by committee" approach to fill Mitchell's spot. That immediately increases the importance of sophomores Brian Rackley and Alden Blizzard, plus junior Tommy Davis (who is nursing a minor injury) and redshirt freshman Kyndraus Guy. Shelton Bynum and Kentwan Balmer, who are also both nursing minor injuries---they all seem minor in relation to Page's---and not practicing, are in the mix to provide interior depth behind Jonas Seawright, Isaiah Thomas, and Mitchell. Wednesday's Practice Notes: The Tar Heels went in half pads Wednesday morning on an overcast Chapel Hill day...Darian Durant singled out Jarwarski Pollock as the team's best route-runner. "Just look at how many catches he had last year," Durant said...Brad Lawing's last seven days have been a perfect example of the up-and-down nature of life as a football coach. Last week, he was ecstatic after finalizing the transfer of Barrington Edwards and the enrollment of Joey Bozich. This week, he suddenly has a 300-pound problem with Page's absence. Lawing plans to give Hilee Taylor some situational third-down work as a "designated pass rusher," and Mitchell practiced at tackle Wednesday morning for the first time. "That's his natural position," Lawing said. "Anytime you're a freshman it's tough on you learning any position. But Khalif being a second-semester freshman and having had the semester at Hargrave, he's a little bit different. He'll step up and be fine."... The Heels' walking wounded resembled the Tour de France at the beginning of practice, as a steady line of players donned the red shirts signifying an injury and took turns on the stationary bikes situated on the edge of the practice field. Larry Edwards, who was in green (limited drills) yesterday, was back to full speed today...There has been some confusion about how a seemingly innocuous injury to Page's pinky finger can keep him out for the year while Arthur Smith practices every day with a broken hand. Without cracking open the medical textbook, suffice it to say that Carolina's doctors want Page to play as much as anyone. However, his injury is to key tendons rather than bones, and his hand will be immobilized in a virtually clinched position for up to 12 weeks. Adam Lucas is the publisher of Tar Heel Monthly and can be reached at alucas@tarheelmonthly.com. To subscribe to Tar Heel Monthly, click here.
