University of North Carolina Athletics

Five With Fedora: Week One
September 5, 2018 | Football
By Jeff Greenberg, GoHeels.com
Five with Fedora recaps our weekly conversation with Coach Fedora and returns for its fourth season. This is the first installment of 2018.
After reviewing the game what stood out most in terms of the trouble the offense had in first half?
"There wasn't one thing that stood out because it was multiple breakdowns from different areas on different plays. On offense it takes one missed assignment to screw up a play. Then all of the sudden you're preventing yourself from getting first downs. When you don't move the chains it's hard to build any momentum. We just couldn't get into a rhythm at all. We had guys making mistakes they don't usually make. Making mistakes we didn't see in 25 days of fall camp. And it was tough Sunday when we watched the film with the guys. It's not fun watching yourself make simple mistakes in front of your teammates that cost the team success on that play. But I'll say this; our guys didn't shy away from owning their mistakes and being accountable to their teammates to correct it. They know that if they just do their job, the play can be successful."
One trouble area you mentioned after the game was the failure to get the running backs to the second level. What were the main issues with accomplishing that?
"Our guys up front didn't execute the way they're capable of executing. Sometimes it was a missed assignment. Sometimes it was a communication breakdown. In either case, it prevented the running backs from being able to make a play. I expected more from this group and after the game they acknowledged their disappointment and the fact that they expect more from themselves as well. And you saw the difference once the offense was able to build some momentum later in the game. We were moving the football because the line picked up their level of play and started putting hats on the right guys. So in this situation you have what you need to show them the good and the bad and what has to change moving forward. Your offense will only go as far as your line takes it."
The defense turned in one of the best single-game performances in the last several years. Does this unit have the potential to be your best defense at UNC?
"I haven't had time to go and compare to previous games but I'd imagine this was one of our best performances in a game since we've been here. It was a total team effort too. It started up front. When you get control of the line with four guys it allows you to do so much more with the back seven. The line really stepped up and delivered four sacks and plenty of TFLs. That allowed the linebackers to really fly around and make plays. That linebacker unit as a whole had a great game, as did the secondary. Great coverage helped the line get some of those sacks and pressures too. Look, the defense played well from start to finish, with the exception of one drive. The effort level was outstanding and guys were where they needed to be to make a play. They put us in a position to win a football game. They have a chance to do that all season. And if they do, then yes, they have the potential to be one of the best defenses we've had here."
What player surprised you most in this game?
"A lot of new guys got significant time in this game. One of them was Trey Morrison. I could see it during the game and then when we went back and looked at the film, he really played a great game. His play wasn't necessarily a surprise, but it was impressive to see it in his first action as a freshman. To play like that in his first college game says something about his focus and his talent. I think a guy like Dominique Ross had a great game too and it seemed like he was everywhere he needed to be when we needed to make a play. Whether is coming up to stop the run or getting back in coverage to break up a pass, he was all over the field. He will be big for us moving forward if he continues to play like that every week."
What thoughts dominated your flight home?
"What was I thinking about on the way home? I was disappointed. I felt bad for the guys. We've worked hard every day since January and this was not the result we worked for this offseason. It was hard to take. But once we landed it was time to go to work. It was time to see our mistakes and identify what caused things to fall apart when they did. The good news was that what we saw was correctable. What our guys saw on film they understood. And they were accountable to each other and ready to make up for those letdowns. This one hurt and it needs to hurt. But then it's time to focus on those corrections and turn your attention on the next game. You play a long season and your memory has to be short, win or lose, because the next game is already here. I watched the guys after the game and when we landed. I paid attention to their body language and how they were interacting with each other and the coaches. And after meeting with them Sunday I know they have the right mindset we need to focus on winning the next one."
Five with Fedora recaps our weekly conversation with Coach Fedora and returns for its fourth season. This is the first installment of 2018.
After reviewing the game what stood out most in terms of the trouble the offense had in first half?
"There wasn't one thing that stood out because it was multiple breakdowns from different areas on different plays. On offense it takes one missed assignment to screw up a play. Then all of the sudden you're preventing yourself from getting first downs. When you don't move the chains it's hard to build any momentum. We just couldn't get into a rhythm at all. We had guys making mistakes they don't usually make. Making mistakes we didn't see in 25 days of fall camp. And it was tough Sunday when we watched the film with the guys. It's not fun watching yourself make simple mistakes in front of your teammates that cost the team success on that play. But I'll say this; our guys didn't shy away from owning their mistakes and being accountable to their teammates to correct it. They know that if they just do their job, the play can be successful."
One trouble area you mentioned after the game was the failure to get the running backs to the second level. What were the main issues with accomplishing that?
"Our guys up front didn't execute the way they're capable of executing. Sometimes it was a missed assignment. Sometimes it was a communication breakdown. In either case, it prevented the running backs from being able to make a play. I expected more from this group and after the game they acknowledged their disappointment and the fact that they expect more from themselves as well. And you saw the difference once the offense was able to build some momentum later in the game. We were moving the football because the line picked up their level of play and started putting hats on the right guys. So in this situation you have what you need to show them the good and the bad and what has to change moving forward. Your offense will only go as far as your line takes it."
The defense turned in one of the best single-game performances in the last several years. Does this unit have the potential to be your best defense at UNC?
"I haven't had time to go and compare to previous games but I'd imagine this was one of our best performances in a game since we've been here. It was a total team effort too. It started up front. When you get control of the line with four guys it allows you to do so much more with the back seven. The line really stepped up and delivered four sacks and plenty of TFLs. That allowed the linebackers to really fly around and make plays. That linebacker unit as a whole had a great game, as did the secondary. Great coverage helped the line get some of those sacks and pressures too. Look, the defense played well from start to finish, with the exception of one drive. The effort level was outstanding and guys were where they needed to be to make a play. They put us in a position to win a football game. They have a chance to do that all season. And if they do, then yes, they have the potential to be one of the best defenses we've had here."
What player surprised you most in this game?
"A lot of new guys got significant time in this game. One of them was Trey Morrison. I could see it during the game and then when we went back and looked at the film, he really played a great game. His play wasn't necessarily a surprise, but it was impressive to see it in his first action as a freshman. To play like that in his first college game says something about his focus and his talent. I think a guy like Dominique Ross had a great game too and it seemed like he was everywhere he needed to be when we needed to make a play. Whether is coming up to stop the run or getting back in coverage to break up a pass, he was all over the field. He will be big for us moving forward if he continues to play like that every week."
What thoughts dominated your flight home?
"What was I thinking about on the way home? I was disappointed. I felt bad for the guys. We've worked hard every day since January and this was not the result we worked for this offseason. It was hard to take. But once we landed it was time to go to work. It was time to see our mistakes and identify what caused things to fall apart when they did. The good news was that what we saw was correctable. What our guys saw on film they understood. And they were accountable to each other and ready to make up for those letdowns. This one hurt and it needs to hurt. But then it's time to focus on those corrections and turn your attention on the next game. You play a long season and your memory has to be short, win or lose, because the next game is already here. I watched the guys after the game and when we landed. I paid attention to their body language and how they were interacting with each other and the coaches. And after meeting with them Sunday I know they have the right mindset we need to focus on winning the next one."
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