GoHeels Exclusive: Tuesday Practice Notebook

By Pat James, GoHeels.com

After being pushed around on Monday during what Mack Brown called the most physical inside-run drill North Carolina has had since his arrival, the offense was challenged to respond ahead of the team's first padded practice on Tuesday.

And it did just that.

"The offense just got mad," Mack Brown told reporters after UNC's fifth training camp practice. "Coach (Stacy) Searels got after them and they killed the defense. The first three balls, they handed it off and just gashed (the defense).

"We've got to have a consistent attitude. We've got to play the same all the time. We are not talented enough or deep enough to play up and down. So, it was a great message that we've got to play hard every play to have a chance to get where we want to get."

If they eventually do, perhaps Tuesday will be viewed as a pivotal practice in the grand scheme of the season.

"We turned it up today," Antonio Williams said. "I think you can tell I'm a little excited still from practice. We had a good day today. It was a good practice for the team. I'm just excited because I just really want this place to be really good. I want this team to be really good. When days like today happen, you feel good about it and you get excited."

Here are five more notes from Tuesday's practice:

A (thankfully) brief delay

About 30 minutes into practice, Brown announced over the PA system that lighting had been detected in the area. That would've brought practice to an abrupt halt the last two years. But on Tuesday, the Tar Heels were able to continue drills in the indoor practice facility without much interruption.

"It's an amazing facility because we lost three minutes coming in," Brown said. "And it probably would've been 70 minutes (without the indoor facility), because where do you go? … So, this was really, really easy. In fact, when it cleared, we decided not to go back outside because it would be such a distraction to go back and reorganize outside. So we just stayed inside."

Charlie Heck estimated that similar storms suspended at least 10 total practices between the 2017 and 2018 seasons, when Carolina practiced at Kenan Stadium as the indoor facility was under construction. Tuesday offered a reminder of how useful the facility can be.

"In the past, we would have to go into the locker room, wait 30 minutes and then we'd be cold and have to go back out and stretch," Heck said. "So, that saves so much time, even of itself. But just coming back and being able to practice in this amazing facility is awesome."

'No separation' at quarterback

After UNC's first training camp practice on Friday, Brown said he and Phil Longo had made Cade Fortin, Sam Howell and Jace Ruder well aware that they're competing for the starting quarterback job, telling them "every pass is either getting you closer to moving up or down."

On Tuesday, Brown said he's been pleased with how all three quarterbacks are competing. But one hasn't built any separation.

"We look at all their stats and there's been absolutely no separation to this point," Brown said. "Probably the separation will come at scrimmage time because it's easier in a scrimmage, when you're moving the ball and scoring points, to see who has the best grasp of the team and the leadership. I would think we wouldn't know a lot more about our quarterbacks until our second scrimmage."

UNC holds its first intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday. The second is scheduled for Aug. 17.

Building depth

Heading into training camp, Brown had expressed concerns about the interior defensive line depth behind Aaron Crawford and Jason Strowbridge. But on Tuesday, he said the Tar Heels are starting to develop more depth there – and along the offensive line.

The arrival of Carolina's freshmen is a significant reason why.

"Some of the young defensive linemen are doing well and some of the young offensive linemen are doing well," Brown said. "So we're really, really pleased on both sides of the ball for those guys coming in. … That's making all those guys like Xach Gill and like Jahlil Taylor and like Brant Lawless(-Sherrill) wake up because they understand we're going to play the best players.

"We've told them we're playing the best eight players regardless of age. So it does not matter whether you're a senior or freshman, we're going to play you if you're playing well."

Brown referenced how players are still moving around in an effort to build depth. He said the coaches will continue to do that "because we're going to have to do it during the season some."

"A starting corner may be the backup nickel, so if the nickel goes down, if the next corner is better than the next nickel, you just have to move him over," Brown said. "It'll keep our schemes more simple, but we'll have to do that until we can get a defined group of 22 guys at least on each side of the ball who we feel like can put the puzzle together so we can have depth.

Surratt's steady progression

Speaking with reporters on Sunday about his transition from quarterback to linebacker, Chazz Surratt said he believes he's developed a lot in the last couple of months, thanks in large part to the summer workouts and the progress he's made in the film room. Brown agrees.

"Chazz is coming at a really fast pace," Brown said. "As another one of the guys mentioned today, he's 230 pounds and runs a 4.4 (40-yard dash). So, that's a great start, and he's worked really hard on the weights and he's sure not shy.

"The only thing he was struggling with in the spring was, when you haven't played the position – and especially with the offense we're running; there are so many miskeys – that sometimes his instincts weren't as good and he got caught outside and off balance. Every day, he's learning more and more. I'm really high on Chazz and think he may have a chance to be a good player."

Special visitors

NFL scouts representing the Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers and Tennessee Titans attended Tuesday's practice. That, Brown said, will be a common occurrence going forward.

"I hired Coach Darrell Moody, who spent a long time with us, but was an NFL scout for (17) years," Brown said. "I just told him, 'You do what's best for our players.' And he says it's best for our players to allow (the scouts) to come in and watch. So we're doing exactly what Clemson and Alabama are doing for their teams. And we want our players to understand that.

"Early in my career, we'd have to have people dress up like pro scouts to come to some of the schools I had because we had no players. … Right now, it's healthy for the guys, and we've told them, 'They're out here watching you.' And then we had Coach Moody stand up today before the team and tell them exactly what the scouts would be looking at and for. He said basically effort, passion for football, quickness, speed and conditioning. So, I think it's great; the more we have out here, the better."

Players Mentioned

Aaron Crawford

Xach Gill

Charlie Heck

Jace Ruder

Jason Strowbridge

Chazz Surratt

Jahlil Taylor

Antonio Williams

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