University of North Carolina Athletics
'Trenches Tuesday' Practice Notes
August 11, 2009 | Football
Aug. 11, 2009
Today was the first day in pads for the preseason #20 Tar Heels. “It's definitely more 'football' now,” right guard Alan Pelc said after practice. “It's guys driving each other back and instead of watching and being cautious. . . it's a lot more physical and it's more of a game-type situation.”
Offensive line coach Sam Pittman worked with his group today, encouraging them to get a 'good fit.' So what's a good fit? “We teach lifting and driving guys,” right tackle Mike Ingersoll said after practice. “We don't teach the push, so in order to get that lift on someone, you have to get your pads below theirs and get leverage on them. That backside shoulder pays a huge role, because you dip it down and it allows you to drive it up.”
“You bench 500 pounds!” Pittman told Cam Holland. “Go 'whoom!,' he said, moving his arms and upper body in an upward motion. “Bring them hips!”
Here's how the first team offensive line looks, at least today. Kyle Jolly at left tackle, Jonathan Cooper at left guard, Lowell Dyer at center, Alan Pelc at right guard and Mike Ingersoll at right tackle. Second team is Carl Gaskins, Greg Elleby, Cam Holland, Travis Bond and David Collins, respectively. Bond and Collins are true freshmen, while Elleby comes over from defensive end this season.
“Last year, we had the depth, but the guys in the two- and three-deep were real young,” Ingersoll said. “The starting five, with the exception of Cooper, all has game experience. . . .Travis Bond is going to be an incredible player. He's catching on really quick, he's got the technique down, and he's playing really well, especially for a kid straight out of high school. David Collins, Brennan Williams are going to be great players. It's tough, because we're overloading them, but they're keeping their heads up.”
Ingersoll said it was unusual, if not remarkable, for true freshmen to be counted on to contribute on the offensive line. “That's a big deal, because playing the offensive line is a very cerebral position. There's a lot of thinking involved. There's a lot of diagnosing defenses. . . For a guy like Travis Bond, who can come in and pick up on this stuff so quick is amazing. Not only is it a mental transition from high school, but physically the guys up here are nothing like the guys in high school, and he's holding his own and looking better every day.”
•During warm-up drills, running backs carried footballs wrapped in slick spandex-like covers, presumably to test their ability to hold onto a slippery pigskin.
•A.J. Blue, who had worked out at quarterback early in training camp, took reps with the tailbacks today. •Kevin Bryant missed practice again today.
•Donavan Tate was present at practice but not in pads.
• Michael Murphy visited practice today. “We don't need spectators to start coaching,” Davis teased the former deep snapper.
•A work crew in Kenan Stadium placed dozens of survey flag markers on the field today. They were used to aim the new lights installed above the Pope Box on the north side.
Turner Walston is managing editor of Tar Heel Monthly. Follow the THM staff on Twitter.
