University of North Carolina Athletics
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GoHeels Exclusive: Midweek Notebook
September 25, 2019 | Football, Featured Writers
By Pat James, GoHeels.com
Four games into his North Carolina career, Sam Howell will face his stiffest challenge yet when top-ranked Clemson visits Kenan Stadium on Saturday.
Some players might find such a matchup intimidating. But Howell, as well as his teammates, are looking forward to it and the opportunity of recording the first win in program history over an AP No. 1-ranked team.
"I'm definitely excited for the challenge," Howell told reporters on Tuesday. "Just playing Clemson, they're the No. 1 team in the country and with challenge comes opportunity. So, I'm excited for the opportunity we have to play the No. 1 team in the country this weekend."
Before taking on the Tigers, multiple players met with reporters on Tuesday evening. Here are five notes from what they had to say:
'No regrets' for Dorn
Coming out of Vance High School in Charlotte, Myles Dorn said he was recruited by Clemson. In fact, if he hadn't decided to follow in the footsteps of his father, Torin, and become a Tar Heel, he would've likely joined the Tigers.
Dorn said he chose Carolina because he wanted to help build something. At times, he doubted that decision. But he stands by it four years later.
"Looking back on it, none," said Dorn when asked if he has any regrets. "Going through it, probably the first two years it was like, 'Yeah, I should have made a different decision.' But looking back, I have no regrets.
"I wouldn't rather be no other place simply because I think the growing pains are what have made me who I am today. It brought me to this point, it got me to where I am mentally and also physically. And you can't learn no other way than that; failure is the best way to learn. I think that improved my game the most."
'Bend but don't break'
Mack Brown said Monday that the defense has to perform better in sudden-change situations, when the defense takes the field with its back to the wall after the offense commits a turnover. Wake Forest had a two-play, 20-yard touchdown drive after a fumble and Appalachian State had a four-play, 26-yard touchdown drive after an interception.
Dorn said it's best for the defense to view such situations as an opportunity.
"Not worrying about what happens on the offensive side of the ball is big," he said. "They turn the ball over, great, it gives us another opportunity. That's the mindset you have to have is that you have another opportunity to showcase what your defense is about. What better way to do it than with your back against the wall? Bend but don't break, I think that's a great term.
"You're at the 20, back against the wall, just don't break, force a field goal and don't let them score. And just keeping a positive mindset. Not smacking your teeth or giving a big sigh when you have to get back on the field."
Fumble-mentals
Brown and Jay Bateman both noted on Monday that UNC hasn't recovered a fumble this season. Jeremiah Gemmel was asked Tuesday about when he starts thinking of trying to force a fumble during a play.
"For backers, it's not always the perfect time to go after a ball," he said. "Like when you're meeting a running back one-on-one in a hole, you're not really thinking about swiping at the ball; you're thinking about making that tackle. But if there's a play leaking out on the sideline or a defender's looking at another player and trying to stiff arm or something, absolutely I'm trying to look and see if I can get the ball out."
"If they're wrapped up," he added, "or say they're running down the left sideline and I'm coming from the right and they have a safety they're trying to make a move on right in front of them and they're holding the ball out, I'm going to try to punch at it. That's what our coaches have been harping on since fall camp and the spring."
A young O-line
With Charlie Heck and Nick Polino sidelined due to injuries, Jordan Tucker was the Tar Heels' most experienced starting offensive lineman against App State, despite entering the game with only four career starts. Polino remains out indefinitely, and Heck is questionable for Saturday. Even if Heck can't play, Tucker said his role won't drastically change.
"My role is just to keep being the player that I am, really," Tucker said. "Just keep going out there and keep motivating people, doing my job and encouraging everybody else to do theirs, as well, and we just push."
Because of how inexperienced the offensive line is, Phil Longo said Monday that the staff has somewhat simplified things. Tucker provided more insight into that.
"In practice, we run everything we can since Day 1 in the spring," he said. "Every game it's something different. So there's a new scheme (where) it could be this play one week or this play it's out. It's really just based on who we're playing."
Lessons learned
After attempting 83 passes without an interception, Howell threw the first of his career in the second quarter of the App State game. He tossed another late in the third quarter. When asked about those passes on Tuesday, the true freshman detailed what he saw.
"I kind of forced a screen (the first time)," he said. "I thought I could get the ball over the D-lineman and he made a good play on it. And the second one, I tried to throw a post route and the backside linebacker ended up coming and picking it off. Just two plays I'm going to learn from."
Four games into his North Carolina career, Sam Howell will face his stiffest challenge yet when top-ranked Clemson visits Kenan Stadium on Saturday.
Some players might find such a matchup intimidating. But Howell, as well as his teammates, are looking forward to it and the opportunity of recording the first win in program history over an AP No. 1-ranked team.
"I'm definitely excited for the challenge," Howell told reporters on Tuesday. "Just playing Clemson, they're the No. 1 team in the country and with challenge comes opportunity. So, I'm excited for the opportunity we have to play the No. 1 team in the country this weekend."
Before taking on the Tigers, multiple players met with reporters on Tuesday evening. Here are five notes from what they had to say:
'No regrets' for Dorn
Coming out of Vance High School in Charlotte, Myles Dorn said he was recruited by Clemson. In fact, if he hadn't decided to follow in the footsteps of his father, Torin, and become a Tar Heel, he would've likely joined the Tigers.
Dorn said he chose Carolina because he wanted to help build something. At times, he doubted that decision. But he stands by it four years later.
"Looking back on it, none," said Dorn when asked if he has any regrets. "Going through it, probably the first two years it was like, 'Yeah, I should have made a different decision.' But looking back, I have no regrets.
"I wouldn't rather be no other place simply because I think the growing pains are what have made me who I am today. It brought me to this point, it got me to where I am mentally and also physically. And you can't learn no other way than that; failure is the best way to learn. I think that improved my game the most."
'Bend but don't break'
Mack Brown said Monday that the defense has to perform better in sudden-change situations, when the defense takes the field with its back to the wall after the offense commits a turnover. Wake Forest had a two-play, 20-yard touchdown drive after a fumble and Appalachian State had a four-play, 26-yard touchdown drive after an interception.
Dorn said it's best for the defense to view such situations as an opportunity.
"Not worrying about what happens on the offensive side of the ball is big," he said. "They turn the ball over, great, it gives us another opportunity. That's the mindset you have to have is that you have another opportunity to showcase what your defense is about. What better way to do it than with your back against the wall? Bend but don't break, I think that's a great term.
"You're at the 20, back against the wall, just don't break, force a field goal and don't let them score. And just keeping a positive mindset. Not smacking your teeth or giving a big sigh when you have to get back on the field."
Fumble-mentals
Brown and Jay Bateman both noted on Monday that UNC hasn't recovered a fumble this season. Jeremiah Gemmel was asked Tuesday about when he starts thinking of trying to force a fumble during a play.
"For backers, it's not always the perfect time to go after a ball," he said. "Like when you're meeting a running back one-on-one in a hole, you're not really thinking about swiping at the ball; you're thinking about making that tackle. But if there's a play leaking out on the sideline or a defender's looking at another player and trying to stiff arm or something, absolutely I'm trying to look and see if I can get the ball out."
"If they're wrapped up," he added, "or say they're running down the left sideline and I'm coming from the right and they have a safety they're trying to make a move on right in front of them and they're holding the ball out, I'm going to try to punch at it. That's what our coaches have been harping on since fall camp and the spring."
A young O-line
With Charlie Heck and Nick Polino sidelined due to injuries, Jordan Tucker was the Tar Heels' most experienced starting offensive lineman against App State, despite entering the game with only four career starts. Polino remains out indefinitely, and Heck is questionable for Saturday. Even if Heck can't play, Tucker said his role won't drastically change.
"My role is just to keep being the player that I am, really," Tucker said. "Just keep going out there and keep motivating people, doing my job and encouraging everybody else to do theirs, as well, and we just push."
Because of how inexperienced the offensive line is, Phil Longo said Monday that the staff has somewhat simplified things. Tucker provided more insight into that.
"In practice, we run everything we can since Day 1 in the spring," he said. "Every game it's something different. So there's a new scheme (where) it could be this play one week or this play it's out. It's really just based on who we're playing."
Lessons learned
After attempting 83 passes without an interception, Howell threw the first of his career in the second quarter of the App State game. He tossed another late in the third quarter. When asked about those passes on Tuesday, the true freshman detailed what he saw.
"I kind of forced a screen (the first time)," he said. "I thought I could get the ball over the D-lineman and he made a good play on it. And the second one, I tried to throw a post route and the backside linebacker ended up coming and picking it off. Just two plays I'm going to learn from."
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