University of North Carolina Athletics
Wednesday Practice Sets Ominous Tone For Week
September 13, 2004 | Football
Sept. 13, 2004
Last Wednesday's practice had John Bunting worried.
The Tar Heels began the day's work in their indoor practice facility as the last vestiges of Hurricane Frances moved through the mid-Atlantic. They had a spirited nine-on-seven drill and then moved outside when the sun popped through the clouds.
From there the proceedings became unfocused and undisciplined.
"I was not happy with Wednesday," Bunting said in the aftermath of the Tar Heels' loss at Virginia. "That can't happen. In order for us to have a chance, we've got to practice well, every single day. We don't have the kind of experienced players who can afford to not practice well. Some teams, some players might get away with that. We cannot."
Wednesday's efforts led Bunting to tell the media Saturday that he "was not surprised" that the defense played poorly. Carolina allowed Virginia touchdowns on its first seven possessions of the game.
"Overall practice hasn't been as intense as we need it to be since camp broke," Bunting said. "We as a staff need to reassess the standards to which the players are held. We need to pick up the tempo in practice. It's not all the time. It might just be one day -- like last Wednesday."
Navy Field will certainly be a lively place this week as the Tar Heels prepare for Georgia Tech.
Bunting said there could be a substitution or two on the kickoff cover unit, which allowed two big returns Saturday. Mostly, though, he and his defensive coaches will continue to work with a unit learning to play together. In some cases, the Tar Heels are getting their first tastes of college football. Freshmen Kyndraus Guy and Khalif Mitchell started on the line, and Fred Sparkman was in his second game of leading the defense at middle linebacker.
"It was a matter of poor execution," Bunting said Sunday after studying tape from Virginia. "We were not very physical. We became kind of disjointed, out of synch. Lots of times when things are going badly, people try to do other people's jobs. You have to take care of your responsibility and not do someone else's. We as coaches have got to get that straightened out."
Guy started at one end and Mitchell at one tackle. Bunting was asked about their performances Saturday and their roles as the season progresses.
"They have talent," he said. "They are the kinds of players we want in this program. We have to be patient with them. Kyndraus will be a very fine player. He's really quick and explosive. Virginia did not have their way with him as much as I thought. He probably played the best of all the defensive linemen.
"Khalif has a long ways to go. He's a tremendous talent. We've got to coach him better and he's got to play better. I still think he belongs in there. He's going to be a real fine player. But he's a young player. We'll keep working with him. He'll get better."
Bunting credited Tommy Richardson with "doing his job" at outside linebacker but overall said, "I'm not very happy with the linebackers. We've got to coach them better. I think we have enough talent there. Mahlon Carey started his first game, Larry Edwards played a lot. It was good to get Larry some work. We've got to keep working with those guys."
