University of North Carolina Athletics
Walston: Catch Your Breath
March 22, 2012 | Football, Featured Writers, Turner Walston
March 22, 2012
Tar Heel senior right tackle Brennan Williams recognizes that the task in ahead won't be easy. For a veteran starting offensive line (three seniors, a junior and a sophomore), a shift in philosophies can be difficult. There are new plays, new techniques and new practice plans. The first step, however, is simply catching their breath.
"I'm really getting the wind for it," Williams said following Wednesday's practice, the Tar Heels' fourth under new head coach Larry Fedora. "Before, when we were doing the team period, I was dead tired. Now that we've been doing it, I can get a feel for it, I think. Before, it seemed kind of hopeless. Now, I'm like, `OK, I'll get there eventually."
Much has been made about Fedora's installation of a no-huddle, spread offense to replace to pro-style that Carolina ran for the past five seasons. The field will open up. Get a drink, you'll miss a touchdown. The ball will be spread around to many different skill players. But what about the, um, non-skill players? What does the offense ask of them? "We've got to be in great shape," Williams said. "We've got a lot of guys who have lost a lot of weight in the past week."
Senior guard Jonathan Cooper said that he only thought he was in good shape, until the first practice under Fedora. "It was awful," Cooper said. "Especially, when we had reruns and would have to do the play over again. You run, and they tell you to come right back and you have to do it again. It was kind of bad so I will have to get in a little bit more shape, but I'm excited for it."
In his three seasons at Carolina, Cooper has transformed his body. "It's been redistributed a few times," he said of his weight. But to block for the Tar Heel offense, that transformation must continue.
The no-huddle nature of the Tar Heel game plan is mirrored in practice, which is a nonstop affair. By and large, teaching happens off the field. "You don't have time to fall on the ground. You've got to get going," Williams said of practice. "We make our mistakes, get yelled at about them on the field, but for the most part, the learning comes in the film room, watching yourself and getting coached up."
These first few sessions have been about learning how to practice, what is expected, and how conditioned the players must be. "We've got to go, and it's tough for us, because we're used to moseying around and getting our technique right," Williams said. "Now, it's about going and going and getting it right."
Wednesday's practice was the first in full pads, and the Tar Heels took a break from installation to refine what they've learned so far. Williams welcomed the change, because, as he said, "We've been thrown into the frying pan."
Just keep going. That's what the Tar Heels must do to install and effectively run the no-huddle offense. "Wow," Williams said he thought when he heard that Carolina would go that route. "But then again, I think we're a really athletic offensive line in comparison to the teams we've seen running it, so I think we'll get a knack for it."
It's just four practices in, but the Tar Heels are beginning to see their potential under Fedora, offensive coordinator Blake Anderson and offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic. Before the spring practice period began, the players studied tape of Southern Miss, where many of their coaches came from. The Tar Heels gained 5,112 yards of total offense in 2011, their most since 1993, and the second-most all-time (5,256 in 1993). Southern Miss put up 6,459 yards of total offense in 2011. That's 1,203 yards more than the Tar Heels have ever gained in an entire season. Granted, the Golden Eagles played 14 games a year ago, but their average of 461.4 yards per game is better than any Carolina team, ever.
ut, as Williams said, "Our old tape doesn't do us much good anymore." How did he like what he saw in the Golden Eagles? "I'm sure it's a highlight tape, but they were successful," he said. "Honestly, I'm just looking forward to seeing what we can do with our talent, and our guys."
That, and catching his breath.
Turner Walston is the managing editor of Tar Heel Monthly. Turner's weekly Tar Heel football podcast, The Walkthrough, is available on iTunes.
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