University of North Carolina Athletics
GoHeels Exclusive: Midweek Notebook
September 18, 2019 | Football, Featured Writers
By Pat James, GoHeels.com
North Carolina's 24-18 loss against Wake Forest on Friday wasn't easier for the players to deal with than any other they've suffered over the last few years.
But they didn't dwell on it nearly as long as some others, Myles Wolfolk said.
"I would say maybe last year sometimes we talked about it a little too much," the redshirt junior safety told reporters on Tuesday. "It's just something you've got to move on from. It's over with. It's the new week. This year, I think we let go of it pretty fast. And it's time to work on Appalachian State."
Before taking on the Mountaineers on Saturday at Kenan Stadium, multiple players met with reporters on Tuesday evening. Here are five notes from what they had to say:
Crawford's hot start
A year removed from playing seven snaps due to injuries, Aaron Crawford has looked like the player who the previous coaching staff raved about throughout the 2018 offseason in the Tar Heels' first three games.
According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), the graduate nose tackle boasts a team-best 80.6 defensive grade and an 87.3 run-defense grade, the third best among the 153 Power 5 interior defensive lineman who have played more than 30 snaps in a run-defense role. He's also tallied two sacks after posting four in his first 29 career games.
"I'm really just trying to get off the ball a little more and be able to push the pocket," Crawford said. "That's where a lot of sacks come as a nose, right up the middle. … That first one (against South Carolina) was definitely special. But now it's just a part of me doing my job, just like everything else. I expect them to keep coming."
Limiting sacks
On the other side of the ball, UNC's offensive line is looking to cut down on the number of sacks it's allowed. After surrendering three against South Carolina, it gave up four against Miami and six against Wake Forest, good for a total of 13.
"I would say we've just got to play with more effort with the sack totals," Ed Montilus said. "If we look back on the tape, it'll be probably us loafing or something. We've just got to come out every day and play."
Brown's patience pays off
After enrolling early and establishing himself as a starter at outside receiver, Dyami Brown's freshman season didn't go as planned. He finished with 17 receptions for 173 yards and caught more than two passes only once, posting three receptions against East Carolina. He also snagged just one touchdown.
This season, the sophomore has hauled in 11 passes for 233 yards and three touchdowns – the most by a Carolina pass-catcher through his team's first three games since Eric Ebron had three in 2012. According to PFF, Brown has received 18 targets, 14 fewer than he had all last season.
"Last year, I was a little down because the ball probably wasn't coming my way as much as I thought it was supposed to," Brown said. "But I just became patient and let my time come. Now, it's just, 'OK, I have to make plays.' And I can trust the other person on the other side to do the same."
Carter's passion
Brown said Michael Carter constantly brings energy to the Tar Heels' locker room. When asked about that, Carter said that's "probably my favorite thing in my whole life that I do well."
"When I see people who are down, I do my best to pick them up," the junior said. "They aren't always going to be picked up immediately. … It's more like I'm doing what I can and what I know how to do to help others."
He's also careful about picking his spots.
"Sometimes, people need space," Carter said. "I'm fully aware of that, as well. But if I can't get to somebody, someone else can. So, I make sure I reach out to other people to see how we can help this individual."
Howell's App State connections
At Sun Valley High School in Monroe, N.C., Sam Howell spent three seasons playing alongside lifelong friend Luke Burnette, a tight end and defensive end for the Spartans. Burnette redshirted as a freshman offensive lineman at Appalachian State last season. He's since medically retired.
But Burnette is still a part of the Mountaineers' program. That, Howell said, adds some extra excitement to Saturday's game.
"My best friend goes to App State," Howell said. "He actually had to medically retire this year because he had some stuff wrong, but he actually works for the strength staff so he'll be on the opposite sideline so that will be pretty cool. And, my brother, he's a student at App State. Both of my parents actually went to App State and my sister."
North Carolina's 24-18 loss against Wake Forest on Friday wasn't easier for the players to deal with than any other they've suffered over the last few years.
But they didn't dwell on it nearly as long as some others, Myles Wolfolk said.
"I would say maybe last year sometimes we talked about it a little too much," the redshirt junior safety told reporters on Tuesday. "It's just something you've got to move on from. It's over with. It's the new week. This year, I think we let go of it pretty fast. And it's time to work on Appalachian State."
Before taking on the Mountaineers on Saturday at Kenan Stadium, multiple players met with reporters on Tuesday evening. Here are five notes from what they had to say:
Crawford's hot start
A year removed from playing seven snaps due to injuries, Aaron Crawford has looked like the player who the previous coaching staff raved about throughout the 2018 offseason in the Tar Heels' first three games.
According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), the graduate nose tackle boasts a team-best 80.6 defensive grade and an 87.3 run-defense grade, the third best among the 153 Power 5 interior defensive lineman who have played more than 30 snaps in a run-defense role. He's also tallied two sacks after posting four in his first 29 career games.
"I'm really just trying to get off the ball a little more and be able to push the pocket," Crawford said. "That's where a lot of sacks come as a nose, right up the middle. … That first one (against South Carolina) was definitely special. But now it's just a part of me doing my job, just like everything else. I expect them to keep coming."
Limiting sacks
On the other side of the ball, UNC's offensive line is looking to cut down on the number of sacks it's allowed. After surrendering three against South Carolina, it gave up four against Miami and six against Wake Forest, good for a total of 13.
"I would say we've just got to play with more effort with the sack totals," Ed Montilus said. "If we look back on the tape, it'll be probably us loafing or something. We've just got to come out every day and play."
Brown's patience pays off
After enrolling early and establishing himself as a starter at outside receiver, Dyami Brown's freshman season didn't go as planned. He finished with 17 receptions for 173 yards and caught more than two passes only once, posting three receptions against East Carolina. He also snagged just one touchdown.
This season, the sophomore has hauled in 11 passes for 233 yards and three touchdowns – the most by a Carolina pass-catcher through his team's first three games since Eric Ebron had three in 2012. According to PFF, Brown has received 18 targets, 14 fewer than he had all last season.
"Last year, I was a little down because the ball probably wasn't coming my way as much as I thought it was supposed to," Brown said. "But I just became patient and let my time come. Now, it's just, 'OK, I have to make plays.' And I can trust the other person on the other side to do the same."
Carter's passion
Brown said Michael Carter constantly brings energy to the Tar Heels' locker room. When asked about that, Carter said that's "probably my favorite thing in my whole life that I do well."
"When I see people who are down, I do my best to pick them up," the junior said. "They aren't always going to be picked up immediately. … It's more like I'm doing what I can and what I know how to do to help others."
He's also careful about picking his spots.
"Sometimes, people need space," Carter said. "I'm fully aware of that, as well. But if I can't get to somebody, someone else can. So, I make sure I reach out to other people to see how we can help this individual."
Howell's App State connections
At Sun Valley High School in Monroe, N.C., Sam Howell spent three seasons playing alongside lifelong friend Luke Burnette, a tight end and defensive end for the Spartans. Burnette redshirted as a freshman offensive lineman at Appalachian State last season. He's since medically retired.
But Burnette is still a part of the Mountaineers' program. That, Howell said, adds some extra excitement to Saturday's game.
"My best friend goes to App State," Howell said. "He actually had to medically retire this year because he had some stuff wrong, but he actually works for the strength staff so he'll be on the opposite sideline so that will be pretty cool. And, my brother, he's a student at App State. Both of my parents actually went to App State and my sister."
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