University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
GoHeels Exclusive: Midweek Notebook
September 4, 2019 | Football, Featured Writers
By Pat James, GoHeels.com
Coming off their season-opening win over South Carolina, multiple players on the North Carolina football team met with reporters on Tuesday evening to discuss their takeaways from the victory and Saturday's home opener against Miami.
Here are five notes from what they had to say:
'A special moment'
Leading up to the South Carolina game, Aaron Crawford had been candid about the struggles he went through last season, when injuries limited him to just snaps.
So, after the game, the graduate defensive lineman was pretty emotional.
"I was really just overwhelmed," he said. "The guys were joking at me a little bit because I'm not really one of the high emotion guys, I'm straight-faced. I was straight-faced the entire way through the game and then it really just caught up to me.
"It's the last ride. This time last year, I couldn't really walk. I (wore) a brace from ankle to thigh, having crutches to get around campus, getting carted around. It was a special moment for me knowing that we not only closed out as a team but we closed it out on defense, going out there and getting three or four straight stops when we were up."
Crawford played a significant role in that, tallying six tackles, including a sack and another for a loss. His 85.7 defensive grade was the seventh best among Power 5 interior defensive linemen (min. 20 snaps) in Week 1, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF).
Surratt settles down
Mack Brown and Jay Bateman both said Monday that Chazz Surratt improved as Saturday's game, the redshirt junior's first at linebacker, went on. He ultimately posted a team-high 12 tackles, contributed to two sacks, broke up a pass and recorded a quarterback hurry. His 77.8 defensive grade was tied for the 15th best among Power 5 linebackers (min. 20 snaps), according to PFF.
Surratt was asked Tuesday if there was a particular moment in the game when he started feeling comfortable.
"I just think, just settling down," he said. "I was really excited to play. As the game went on and as the game goes on, you settle yourself down mentally and you're able to do what the coaches taught us the past couple of weeks."
What Surratt did Saturday is what his teammates have seen him consistently do in practice.
"I wouldn't say he surprised me because I kind of saw it coming," Myles Dorn said. "He's fast, he can hit, he can run. If he knows what gap to hit, he's going to make a play."
Heck's transition
The Tar Heels' starting right tackle the past two seasons, Charlie Heck earned ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors in his first career start at left tackle. He finished with six knockdowns, allowed zero sacks and had zero missed assignments against the Gamecocks.
Heck was asked if playing left tackle now helps show NFL scouts his versatility.
"I was lucky when I first got here, actually," Heck said. "I was doing a lot of cross-training; almost every other practice I was switching off with William Sweet before we both started to play and I started to lock in at right tackle.
"But just having a full spring to be comfortable at left tackle, I really don't feel much of a difference, but I do think showing you're able to play both positions can be helpful later on."
Howell breaks down debut
The ACC Rookie of the Week, Sam Howell became the first UNC true freshman quarterback to ever start a season opener. He completed 15 of 24 passes for 245 yards and two touchdowns and orchestrated two 90-plus-yard drives in the fourth quarter of Saturday's win.
With his first game out of the way, Howell said he feels more comfortable heading into the Miami game.
"You don't really know what to expect going into your first game because you've never really taken a college hit," he said. "Now going into Game 2, I kind of know a little bit more about what college football is like, so that's probably the biggest part."
Among the lessons Howell said he learned was that he needs to make smarter decisions as a runner. Both Brown and Longo said Monday that Howell took a few unnecessary hits against South Carolina. Howell agreed.
"It definitely is an adjustment," he said. "I never slid one time in high school because in high school I could break plenty of tackles. But it's obviously different at this level. That's something we just have to work on in practice."
Howell said he and Longo watched film of the hits he took and discussed how he could have best avoided them. They also watched film of other quarterbacks sliding and protecting themselves.
'People can't wait'
On Tuesday, Carolina announced the Miami game, scheduled for 8 p.m., is sold out. The Tar Heels are expecting an electric atmosphere.
"It should be great," Crawford said. "I was talking to somebody who mentioned it's probably going to be the best atmosphere we've had here in a while. … We saw last year that fans would show up for a night game when we played (Virginia Tech). That was when we were struggling, so I expect it to be full force this weekend and I can't wait to see it."
"Everyone is very excited," Heck said. "They're excited to play on this new field, under the lights. People can't wait."
Coming off their season-opening win over South Carolina, multiple players on the North Carolina football team met with reporters on Tuesday evening to discuss their takeaways from the victory and Saturday's home opener against Miami.
Here are five notes from what they had to say:
'A special moment'
Leading up to the South Carolina game, Aaron Crawford had been candid about the struggles he went through last season, when injuries limited him to just snaps.
So, after the game, the graduate defensive lineman was pretty emotional.
"I was really just overwhelmed," he said. "The guys were joking at me a little bit because I'm not really one of the high emotion guys, I'm straight-faced. I was straight-faced the entire way through the game and then it really just caught up to me.
"It's the last ride. This time last year, I couldn't really walk. I (wore) a brace from ankle to thigh, having crutches to get around campus, getting carted around. It was a special moment for me knowing that we not only closed out as a team but we closed it out on defense, going out there and getting three or four straight stops when we were up."
Crawford played a significant role in that, tallying six tackles, including a sack and another for a loss. His 85.7 defensive grade was the seventh best among Power 5 interior defensive linemen (min. 20 snaps) in Week 1, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF).
Surratt settles down
Mack Brown and Jay Bateman both said Monday that Chazz Surratt improved as Saturday's game, the redshirt junior's first at linebacker, went on. He ultimately posted a team-high 12 tackles, contributed to two sacks, broke up a pass and recorded a quarterback hurry. His 77.8 defensive grade was tied for the 15th best among Power 5 linebackers (min. 20 snaps), according to PFF.
Surratt was asked Tuesday if there was a particular moment in the game when he started feeling comfortable.
"I just think, just settling down," he said. "I was really excited to play. As the game went on and as the game goes on, you settle yourself down mentally and you're able to do what the coaches taught us the past couple of weeks."
What Surratt did Saturday is what his teammates have seen him consistently do in practice.
"I wouldn't say he surprised me because I kind of saw it coming," Myles Dorn said. "He's fast, he can hit, he can run. If he knows what gap to hit, he's going to make a play."
Heck's transition
The Tar Heels' starting right tackle the past two seasons, Charlie Heck earned ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors in his first career start at left tackle. He finished with six knockdowns, allowed zero sacks and had zero missed assignments against the Gamecocks.
Heck was asked if playing left tackle now helps show NFL scouts his versatility.
"I was lucky when I first got here, actually," Heck said. "I was doing a lot of cross-training; almost every other practice I was switching off with William Sweet before we both started to play and I started to lock in at right tackle.
"But just having a full spring to be comfortable at left tackle, I really don't feel much of a difference, but I do think showing you're able to play both positions can be helpful later on."
Howell breaks down debut
The ACC Rookie of the Week, Sam Howell became the first UNC true freshman quarterback to ever start a season opener. He completed 15 of 24 passes for 245 yards and two touchdowns and orchestrated two 90-plus-yard drives in the fourth quarter of Saturday's win.
With his first game out of the way, Howell said he feels more comfortable heading into the Miami game.
"You don't really know what to expect going into your first game because you've never really taken a college hit," he said. "Now going into Game 2, I kind of know a little bit more about what college football is like, so that's probably the biggest part."
Among the lessons Howell said he learned was that he needs to make smarter decisions as a runner. Both Brown and Longo said Monday that Howell took a few unnecessary hits against South Carolina. Howell agreed.
"It definitely is an adjustment," he said. "I never slid one time in high school because in high school I could break plenty of tackles. But it's obviously different at this level. That's something we just have to work on in practice."
Howell said he and Longo watched film of the hits he took and discussed how he could have best avoided them. They also watched film of other quarterbacks sliding and protecting themselves.
'People can't wait'
On Tuesday, Carolina announced the Miami game, scheduled for 8 p.m., is sold out. The Tar Heels are expecting an electric atmosphere.
"It should be great," Crawford said. "I was talking to somebody who mentioned it's probably going to be the best atmosphere we've had here in a while. … We saw last year that fans would show up for a night game when we played (Virginia Tech). That was when we were struggling, so I expect it to be full force this weekend and I can't wait to see it."
"Everyone is very excited," Heck said. "They're excited to play on this new field, under the lights. People can't wait."
Players Mentioned
Defensive Line
/ Football
Defensive Back
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Offensive Line
/ Football
Linebacker
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Offensive Tackle
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