University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: UNC Athletic Communications
GoHeels Exclusive: Midweek Notebook
September 11, 2019 | Football, Featured Writers
By Pat James, GoHeels.com
Sitting at 2-0 after Saturday's comeback win against Miami, the members of the North Carolina football team have started sensing more excitement about the program.
"There's definitely a better buzz around campus surrounding the football team," Sam Howell told reporters on Tuesday. "That's what happens when you win, so we need to keep that going. … It's definitely a cool feeling. This school needs to be proud of their football team, and we're going to make them proud."
The Tar Heels will have a chance to continue doing that Friday, when they face off against Wake Forest in a non-conference game in Winston-Salem. Before then, multiple players met with reporters on Tuesday evening.Â
Here are five notes from what they had to say:
Anderson ready for expanded role
UNC announced Monday that Nick Polino is out indefinitely due to a lower-body injury that he sustained during the first half of Saturday's game. The team hopes the redshirt senior, who started the first two games at center, can return before the season ends. But it also has confidence in his replacement, Brian Anderson.
While Polino dealt with some cramping issues, Anderson played the last 25 offensive snaps in the season-opening win over South Carolina. He then played the final 52 offensive snaps against Miami. He said his experience against the Gamecocks prepared him for Saturday.
It'll also come in handy when he makes his first career start on Friday.
"There are a lot of emotions," Anderson said. "I'd say it's not too overwhelming just because the experience I've had in the last two games has really kind of helped me cool down. Just as any game, when you first run on the field, I'm sure there will probably be a little bit of nerves or whatnot. But at the end of the day, I'm sure it'll be very similar to everything we've practiced."
Howell thinks that'll also be the case in regard to receiving snaps from Anderson.
"Brian is a really good player," Howell said. "He brings a lot of energy to the field. He brings it every single day. And he's a really hard worker. I've gotten a lot of reps just throughout fall camp and things like that with Brian and I'm confident with him there."
Of the 66 Power 5 centers who have played at least 70 snaps this season, Anderson is one of 10 who hasn't allowed a sack, quarterback hit, quarterback hurry or quarterback pressure and also hasn't committed a penalty, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF).
Howell's habits
Howell has earned praise for his work ethic, including in the film room. On Tuesday, the true freshman broke down how much time he spends watching film.
"After I go through it with Coach (Phil) Longo, I definitely go back and look at it on my own," Howell said. "I like to mainly look at the mistakes I made just so I can learn from them so that they don't happen again. There's a lot of preparation that I put in as far as film work just to prepare myself for Saturdays."
Between his sessions with Longo and the time he spends by himself, Howell estimated he watches film about five hours each day. He said he splits that time between the Kenan Football Center and his dorm room. He also keeps thorough notes.
"I have it set up in my notebook by game," he said. "I have my notes going in what I need to look for and then I put in there the notes after the game on my mistakes, so I have it organized."
Going deep
According to PFF, Howell is 9 of 14 for 275 yards and three touchdowns on passing attempts targeted 20 yards or more downfield. His nine completions on such passes were tied for the most among all college football quarterbacks through Week 2.
Dyami Brown has caught two of those passes, including a 62-yard touchdown against the Hurricanes. The sophomore receiver explained Tuesday what makes Howell so good at throwing the deep ball.
"He's been pretty accurate," Brown said. "Timing has been real (good) going through practice, so in the game it comes easy. … We work on deep balls before and after practice. I'd say about five minutes before and 20 after."
Williams gaining confidence
Longo said Monday that Javonte Williams realized during the South Carolina game that "he belongs out there and he's just as fast and just as strong as everybody out there." Williams was asked Tuesday if there was a specific moment in that game when he started believing that.
"Just with the new staff coming in," he said, "from Day 1, Coach Longo was always talking to me and trying to keep my confidence up (and telling me) that I was a really good player, because I feel like that was something I struggled with last year was not being confident in my abilities.Â
"Coach Longo and the other staff members let me know I belong and that I can really play at this level, which has helped me a lot. And it's translated on the field."
Williams has rushed for 178 yards across two games. Elijah Hood (194 yards in 2015) and Ronnie McGill (190 yards in 2004) are the only other Carolina players to reach that mark through the first two games of a season since 1998.
Among the 141 running backs throughout college football with 20 designed rushing attempts or more, Williams ranks ninth in elusive rating (PFF's measure of a running back's ability to break tackles both on rushing and receiving plays). Ten of the 11 missed tackles that he's forced have been on runs.
Morrison's return
Trey Morrison played just seven snaps against South Carolina before exiting the game with an upper-body injury. He was questionable leading up to the Miami game, but ultimately played and posted a 71.9 grade, the second-best on the defense and the highest among the starters, according to PFF. While playing 71 snaps, Morrison allowed three catches for 36 yards on six targets.
Last season, Morrison appeared in all 11 games, starting 10, at nickelback. He spoke Tuesday about playing cornerback this season.
"There hasn't been much of a challenge," he said. "You're still guarding a receiver. At nickel, there's just a little more space that you have to cover and you have a little more help from the safety. At corner, you're a little more on your own."
Even with Patrice Rene out for the season due to an ACL injury (right knee), Morrison said he's still getting reps at nickel. He'll play wherever he's needed.
"I just leave it up to (Jay) Bateman," he said, "and just go out there and play."
Sitting at 2-0 after Saturday's comeback win against Miami, the members of the North Carolina football team have started sensing more excitement about the program.
"There's definitely a better buzz around campus surrounding the football team," Sam Howell told reporters on Tuesday. "That's what happens when you win, so we need to keep that going. … It's definitely a cool feeling. This school needs to be proud of their football team, and we're going to make them proud."
The Tar Heels will have a chance to continue doing that Friday, when they face off against Wake Forest in a non-conference game in Winston-Salem. Before then, multiple players met with reporters on Tuesday evening.Â
Here are five notes from what they had to say:
Anderson ready for expanded role
UNC announced Monday that Nick Polino is out indefinitely due to a lower-body injury that he sustained during the first half of Saturday's game. The team hopes the redshirt senior, who started the first two games at center, can return before the season ends. But it also has confidence in his replacement, Brian Anderson.
While Polino dealt with some cramping issues, Anderson played the last 25 offensive snaps in the season-opening win over South Carolina. He then played the final 52 offensive snaps against Miami. He said his experience against the Gamecocks prepared him for Saturday.
It'll also come in handy when he makes his first career start on Friday.
"There are a lot of emotions," Anderson said. "I'd say it's not too overwhelming just because the experience I've had in the last two games has really kind of helped me cool down. Just as any game, when you first run on the field, I'm sure there will probably be a little bit of nerves or whatnot. But at the end of the day, I'm sure it'll be very similar to everything we've practiced."
Howell thinks that'll also be the case in regard to receiving snaps from Anderson.
"Brian is a really good player," Howell said. "He brings a lot of energy to the field. He brings it every single day. And he's a really hard worker. I've gotten a lot of reps just throughout fall camp and things like that with Brian and I'm confident with him there."
Of the 66 Power 5 centers who have played at least 70 snaps this season, Anderson is one of 10 who hasn't allowed a sack, quarterback hit, quarterback hurry or quarterback pressure and also hasn't committed a penalty, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF).
Howell's habits
Howell has earned praise for his work ethic, including in the film room. On Tuesday, the true freshman broke down how much time he spends watching film.
"After I go through it with Coach (Phil) Longo, I definitely go back and look at it on my own," Howell said. "I like to mainly look at the mistakes I made just so I can learn from them so that they don't happen again. There's a lot of preparation that I put in as far as film work just to prepare myself for Saturdays."
Between his sessions with Longo and the time he spends by himself, Howell estimated he watches film about five hours each day. He said he splits that time between the Kenan Football Center and his dorm room. He also keeps thorough notes.
"I have it set up in my notebook by game," he said. "I have my notes going in what I need to look for and then I put in there the notes after the game on my mistakes, so I have it organized."
Going deep
According to PFF, Howell is 9 of 14 for 275 yards and three touchdowns on passing attempts targeted 20 yards or more downfield. His nine completions on such passes were tied for the most among all college football quarterbacks through Week 2.
Dyami Brown has caught two of those passes, including a 62-yard touchdown against the Hurricanes. The sophomore receiver explained Tuesday what makes Howell so good at throwing the deep ball.
"He's been pretty accurate," Brown said. "Timing has been real (good) going through practice, so in the game it comes easy. … We work on deep balls before and after practice. I'd say about five minutes before and 20 after."
Williams gaining confidence
Longo said Monday that Javonte Williams realized during the South Carolina game that "he belongs out there and he's just as fast and just as strong as everybody out there." Williams was asked Tuesday if there was a specific moment in that game when he started believing that.
"Just with the new staff coming in," he said, "from Day 1, Coach Longo was always talking to me and trying to keep my confidence up (and telling me) that I was a really good player, because I feel like that was something I struggled with last year was not being confident in my abilities.Â
"Coach Longo and the other staff members let me know I belong and that I can really play at this level, which has helped me a lot. And it's translated on the field."
Williams has rushed for 178 yards across two games. Elijah Hood (194 yards in 2015) and Ronnie McGill (190 yards in 2004) are the only other Carolina players to reach that mark through the first two games of a season since 1998.
Among the 141 running backs throughout college football with 20 designed rushing attempts or more, Williams ranks ninth in elusive rating (PFF's measure of a running back's ability to break tackles both on rushing and receiving plays). Ten of the 11 missed tackles that he's forced have been on runs.
Morrison's return
Trey Morrison played just seven snaps against South Carolina before exiting the game with an upper-body injury. He was questionable leading up to the Miami game, but ultimately played and posted a 71.9 grade, the second-best on the defense and the highest among the starters, according to PFF. While playing 71 snaps, Morrison allowed three catches for 36 yards on six targets.
Last season, Morrison appeared in all 11 games, starting 10, at nickelback. He spoke Tuesday about playing cornerback this season.
"There hasn't been much of a challenge," he said. "You're still guarding a receiver. At nickel, there's just a little more space that you have to cover and you have a little more help from the safety. At corner, you're a little more on your own."
Even with Patrice Rene out for the season due to an ACL injury (right knee), Morrison said he's still getting reps at nickel. He'll play wherever he's needed.
"I just leave it up to (Jay) Bateman," he said, "and just go out there and play."
Players Mentioned
Offensive Line
/ Football
Wide Receiver
/ Football
Defensive Back
/ Football
Offensive Line
/ Football
Defensive Back
/ Football
Running Back
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