Aug. 8, 2009
By Turner Walston
Saturday was the second and final day of helmets-only practice for the Tar Heels. While they won't suit up in full pads until Tuesday (with half-pad practices Sunday and Monday), the time in helmets-only can be extremely valuable.
"These two practices are probably the most important," E.J. Wilson said. "In these two practices, we learn how to practice. We learn how to stay off the ground; we learn how to not make contact." Wilson said part of the learning process is to protect Carolina's signal-callers. Quarterbacks won't be hit in practice, so defenders must learn to practice rushing without tackling them.
Wilson said the defensive line can use these practices to learn on the nuances of the position, like how to use their hands. "Because there's not as much contact, we can't lead with our helmet, so we have to really have the correct hand placement," he says. Hands are extremely important for defensive linemen trying to disengage blockers. "You can't make plays if you don't get off blocks, and you've got to use your hands as a defensive lineman."
On the other side of the ball, Zack Pianalto said now is the time for the offense to install plays. "It's a great time to get our offense in," he said. "You don't have to worry about getting the crap knocked out of you or having to out-physical the guy across from you. You can just look at assignments, go through the motions and get a feel for it."
Pianalto said while young players are learning the team's playbook for the first time, it's a good opportunity for upperclassmen to review. "As we've installed stuff, even some of the veterans are still learning stuff as we go. It's a good time just to get the offense in and see how things are going to look before we have to throw pads on."
So the opening practices haven't necessarily been about beating the guy in front of you. That will come. For now, the Tar Heels are concentrating on being at their best individually, while buying into the team concept. They're high-fiving during warmups, pulling for each other during drills, and tutoring each other on the playbook as the season approaches.
"If we go out there, and
Dwight Jones has 70-something catches this year, and I have five, but we're in the ACC title game, I don't care," Pianalto said. "I hope that's the goal of everybody on this team, and I think it is."
Turner Walston is the managing editor of Tar Heel Monthly. Get real-time UNC sports updates from the THM staff on Twitter
