Saturday Night Lights

August 31, 2009 | Football

By: UNC Athletic Communications

Aug. 31, 2009

By Lauren Brownlow

As the new Kenan Stadium lights come on Saturday night, the entire Carolina football team will begin its new season under lights so bright that E.J. Wilson said last weekend's evening mock game seemed like it was a noon game.

The lights are said to be 50 percent brighter than the previous set, not to mention they are very unlikely to short out again as they did against Connecticut, causing a 22-minute delay. The players, young and old, proven and unproven, will either thrive in the glow or freeze up, deer-in-headlights style.

But for all the surprises and disappointments in training camp and the spring, everyone gets a clean slate in this actual game against a real opponent.

Though Carolina went on to have an 8-5 season after a shaky opener last year, in many ways it summed up the season - flashes of brilliance in all three phases of the game coupled with glaring mistakes.

Games were won by 5-10 plays, like a Brandon Tate return or a Cam Thomas run-stuff on fourth down. There were also games lost on similar plays, like a blown coverage leading to an easy touchdown against NC State or a penalty setting up Virginia Tech's game-winning score.

"There were a couple of games - not even whole games, but quarters or the way we started off certain games - where it would have made a difference in the season," T.J. Yates said.

Consistency is a buzzword of the defense, but they are sick of the word "potential". "Last year, a lot of people said we have the potential to be this, the potential to be that," Wilson said. "Now, that time is over. A lot of the guys that were younger now are old guys and are better and are seeing some significant playing time. So now it's time for us to step it up and make our potential shine on the field."

The younger version of this defense was not always ready for that responsibility. Wilson said that the unit has gotten much better about going hard every play, not letting a missed assignment or a bad tackle the play before affect them.

The spotlight is just as bright on T.J. Yates. Going into his junior year, the quarterback now has wide receivers that he must work closely with and he has had to worry not only about himself, but also about them and the entire offense.

"I've definitely got to be more of a leader," Yates said. "I've got to be one of the guys that know everything that's going on at all times so I can help all the younger guys out that might be confused. Sometimes, in practice even when you're kind of feeling down, you've got to pick up your other teammates, even if you're pumping yourself up as well."

Yates has been working hard to teach and encourage the young wide receivers. It is a group dripping with talent but still lacking a firm grasp of the offense. Even guys Davis called "known commodities" in Greg Little, Dwight Jones and Johnny White still barely have any snaps at the position in a live game situation. But the unknown factor is the freshmen.

"I would say those three guys probably you feel the most comfortable about knowing what you're going to get when they go in the game," Davis said. "The rest of them, your guess is as good as mine.

"They've been practicing and at times, they've done some good things. At times, they look bewildered, deer in the headlights. (Offensive coordinator) John Shoop starts rattling off sentences for formations and shifts and adjustments and motions and then all of a sudden, the defense doesn't line up right and all of a sudden, they're standing there not sure."

Brandon Tate burst on the scene with his incredible game last season. Shaun Draughn proved he belonged in the Carolina backfield with a 30-yard run. Now, there are at least ten players on each side of the ball looking to show what they can do, whether it's a spot in the nickel package or a gunner on the punt team.

"Role players, guys that are going to play in nickel and dime packages, guys that are going to play in short-yardage in goal line, guys that are going to play on special teams - this is going to be their first opportunity to play for some of them," Davis said. "This will be an opportunity for us to find out, how did they actually perform when the lights come on?"

NOTES:

*Zach Brown is listed ahead of freshman Kevin Reddick on the depth chart at the third linebacker spot, but Davis said that position is "too close to call" and both will get to play quite a bit.

*Punter Grant Schallock is still fighting off freshman C.J. Feagles for his job, and Davis said that both will likely get some work in Saturday's game.

*Last year's starting punt returner Kendric Burney will be splitting punt return duties with Da'Norris Searcy, but A.J. Blue could get some opportunities there as well.

*Davis raved about Blue's maturity. "I think the year that he went and spent at Hargrave was dramatically impactful in his life - his time management, his attention to detail, his focus, his effort, his toughness."