GoHeels Exclusive: Jake Lawler Q&A

By Pat James, GoHeels.com

After appearing in three games along the defensive line a season ago, redshirt sophomore Jake Lawler has been one of the players tasked with learning the outside linebacker/rush end position in Jay Bateman's defense.

Speaking with reporters after UNC's seventh training camp practice on Friday, Lawler discussed his new role and the defense's mindset entering this season, among other topics. The following is an excerpt from the interview.

Q: With a full week kind of under wraps, what are the biggest things you've been able to take away from these past seven days, at least on your side of the ball?

Jake Lawler: Defensively, we're fast. We're really fast. We still have the same players, but it's a different mentality. I think that's been kind of instituted by the new staff as well as kind of us amalgamating as a team, coming together and really figuring things out. So, we've been playing so fast, and it's awesome to see.

Q: What are the steps you kind of have to take to get yourself mentally ready and physically ready to play faster?

JL: Really, just understanding the defense. Coach (Mack) Brown had a quote of the day up today where it says, "Pressure only comes when you don't know what you're doing." And I think we've all kind of taken that to heart. If you know what to do, it kind of falls to the wayside and you can just play, which is great. The defensive staff is doing a great job coaching us and kind of teaching us what to do, and all we have to do is play, which is awesome.

Q: The defense had another good day today. Can you expand on that?

JL: I think we're just tired. We're just tired of the stigma behind our defense, where we can't play well, we can't defend the run, we can't do anything like that. And I think we've just had enough. I think just as we've come together as a team, we've come together as a defense and decided this is enough and we're done doing that and we're going to play how we know we can play – we're going to play fast, we're going to play hard and we're going to give everything we've got. And we have, and that's why we've been having successful days.

Q: How are you adjusting to your new position, playing more upright and not as much down on the line?

JL: It hasn't been that difficult, really. I think Coach Bateman and Coach (Scott) Boone have done a tremendous job with us, the rushes and the outside linebackers, and trying to get us ready to play. Dropping back (into coverage) is a little bit different, but we did a little bit of it in the spring. So, I'm kind of acclimated to it at this point.

Q: Do you enjoy it more?

JL: I like standing up more. I think you can see the field better and kind of change direction quicker. So, I think that's been good for me.

Q: What are some of the key differences between the previous defense and this one?

JL: I would say, defensively, I think it's just a different schematic look. I mean, we're standing up, and I think there's a lot of different interwoven converges in that, as well, and I think there's different things you kind of have to learn. But I think they explain it in such a way that makes it simpler for us to understand and I think they allow you to be more aggressive. I think those are some of the differences.

Q: How would you describe the difference between that outside linebacker position and the defensive end position?

JL: Well, the defensive end position with the old staff was a little bit more run-stop oriented, I would say, whereas with this we go in and out, we drop back in coverage, pass rush, different things like that.

Q: In terms of the defensive end position within this scheme, what's different between it and the outside linebacker position?

JL: Our defensive end position, they're the more run oriented and we're kind of the more pass rush and pass drop guys. More like a three-technique.

Q: With the perception that the defense hasn't been able to do these things the past few years, have they challenged your toughness specifically?

JL: Yeah, I think they started that in January. It's a different climate, it's a different team, it's a different group. And, like I said earlier, I think we've decided we've had enough – we've had enough of people not thinking we're good. And I think the new staff has done a great job helping us get to that level, and I think the defense has done a great job buying into what they're selling us.

Q: You have your first intrasquad scrimmage (Saturday). What do you hope to take away from a game-like situation?

JL: I want to see physicality on both sides of the ball – that's something we've brought every day in practice. Just kind of continuing on that. I think we have a really good team. We have a really good offense with really good offensive players and we have a really good defense with really good defensive players. And I want to see competition. That's what it's all about. It's about competition and seeing and separating who is going to be out there the 31st (of August against South Carolina) and who isn't. So, I'm excited to see it.

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