Up next in 10
TEs coach Caleb Pickrell, LB Derek McDonald, center Christo Kelly and RB Benjamin Hall #UNC
Sep 7, 2026
TEs coach Caleb Pickrell, LB Derek McDonald, center Christo Kelly and RB Benjamin Hall #UNC
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0:00
focus shifted from being more productive
0:02
as this year and your first year in
0:04
Georgia.
0:04
>> Sure. Um I mean I think a lot of that
0:06
when it comes to focus, you know, would
0:08
come down to the coordinator. You know,
0:09
Coach Patrino has had a lot of focus and
0:12
involvement in tight ends over his
0:13
career and uh you know, we went out and
0:16
got some great pieces to add to the
0:17
tight end room. Um you know, Galani
0:19
being one of those guys, just some key
0:21
pieces that can make plays. So when
0:22
given the opportunity, he he made the
0:24
play and came through and uh had a great
0:27
game.
0:28
>> Yeah.
0:30
What was the first thing you notice
0:31
about Joel's skill set?
0:36
>> Yeah, he's a he's a true threeown
0:37
player. Um, running pass game, you know,
0:41
being able to protect, he's really just
0:43
a three down featured guy, incredibly
0:45
athletic and [snorts] really versatile.
0:47
So, it was a guy that we really wanted
0:48
to target.
0:49
>> Yeah. Andrew
0:53
[clears throat]
0:53
attic
0:55
game started. You had a couple good
0:57
targets in there. How do you you know
0:59
kind of manage you guys?
1:03
>> Sure. Yeah, we've got a great group of
1:05
guys. Everybody comes to work, you know,
1:06
really focus on the guys we have on the
1:08
field, you know, that day and uh, you
1:11
know, make sure everybody's prepared
1:12
when they get their opportunity, whether
1:14
they're on the field or off, just making
1:15
sure they're still getting mental reps
1:17
and really prepared everybody like they
1:18
have an opportunity the very next down.
1:20
>> How much have you seen Carson?
1:24
>> Carson came in really early. you know,
1:26
he was an early graduate and uh he came
1:28
in and worked hard and we knew he'd have
1:29
an opportunity to play really within,
1:31
you know, not having him very long, he
1:33
uh really showed to stand out, I think,
1:36
versus a lot of freshman in the country.
1:37
So, he's a great player. [snorts]
1:41
>> And you kind of got question, but when
1:43
you have injuries, do you put more on a
1:45
guy like you try to bring other guys up
1:49
to speed?
1:50
>> Um, no. I think in our offense, you
1:52
know, there's such a focus on the tight
1:53
end position that everybody is prepared
1:55
to play at every time, you know,
1:57
whenever they get their opportunity,
1:58
their moment. So, I wouldn't say to put
2:00
more on somebody's back, just make sure
2:01
everybody's ready um given their
2:04
opportunity.
2:11
>> Is there anything different about you
2:15
offense or is there anything?
2:17
Um, I mean, I just think a lot of coach
2:19
Patrino's offense is centered around the
2:21
tight end position. It always has been.
2:23
Um, really excited to have an
2:24
opportunity to be the tight end's coach
2:26
for Coach Petrino. Um, so there's just a
2:29
lot of things dialed up for those guys
2:30
and it's it's exciting to be a part of.
2:33
>> Morning, Caleb. Um,
2:34
>> good morning.
2:35
>> What's it like internally for for the
2:37
staff go through a week like you guys
2:39
just had with stepping down and the
2:41
reports coming out about the internal
2:43
investigation?
2:44
>> Uh, it's I mean it's awesome. I love
2:46
working here. Love being a part of this
2:48
staff. Uh we're really focused on
2:49
winning ball games. You know, we came
2:51
out had the international trip last
2:53
week. Guys were really focused. Gave us
2:55
a lot of motivation. Uh going forward, a
2:57
lot of belief with the guys. You know,
2:59
you get this group of new players
3:00
together. Been together since December
3:03
and uh to come together, go
3:04
internationally, and win a ball game. Um
3:06
I mean, it's it's exciting to be a part
3:07
of and really really excited about
3:09
playing ETSU this week. Is all the
3:11
adversity from Lombardi stepping down
3:14
and the investigation, how is that
3:16
affecting you guys?
3:17
>> Uh, no. I mean, our focus is just week
3:19
to week on winning the next ball game
3:20
and the players do a great job with that
3:22
as well. So, that's where we're at,
3:24
>> sir.
3:26
>> Anything else for coach?
3:29
>> All right. Thanks.
3:30
>> Thank you.
3:32
>> Off of the uh island just kind of
3:35
where's the team at, you know, having
3:36
started off the year with the win and
3:38
you know, commanded sweepers.
3:41
Yeah, I mean I think we're just we're
3:43
ready [snorts] for another week, ready
3:44
for another opponent. Um obviously and
3:46
you know glad to see some of that work
3:47
in the offseason paying off, but uh we
3:49
still have a lot of work to do and a lot
3:50
of things we can get better at. So I
3:52
think looking to improve on our game one
3:54
performance and take it to the next
3:55
level this week.
3:56
>> As a followup to that, uh when news like
3:59
the last week kind of comes out, how are
4:01
you guys as a team kind of rallying
4:03
together or how are you guys kind of
4:04
taking that as a team so it's not a
4:06
distraction?
4:08
Yeah, I mean I we're just focused on
4:10
beating ETSU this week. So, we're taking
4:12
it day by day. Uh getting better every
4:14
day, trying to get to know our opponent
4:16
and uh going out and playing football.
4:18
You know, we go and play football and
4:19
work out every day. That's what we do.
4:21
So, it doesn't change anything.
4:24
>> Um I saw the New York Times report a few
4:28
weeks ago.
4:30
You guys already have some practice. Is
4:32
that something you feel like makes a
4:34
difference in kind of where you stand on
4:36
those touch?
4:39
>> Yeah, I don't I don't think I saw that
4:40
article, but uh the guardian caps are
4:42
definitely helpful. You know, we wear
4:43
those every time we practice. Uh just
4:45
takes a little bit of the load off when
4:48
you hit headto head. Um but no, they're
4:50
definitely helpful and definitely safe
4:51
and you've seen more guys start wearing
4:53
those during games now. Um which I think
4:55
is something that will continue to
4:56
become more popular. Michael Derek, you
5:00
and Xavier Lewis both spoke out ACC
5:02
player of the week honors after the TCU
5:04
game. Uh Xavier was a guy who didn't
5:06
have a whole lot of big- time offers
5:08
before he came to Carolina. What was
5:10
your first impression of him when you
5:11
first saw him play and what do you think
5:13
of his performance against DC?
5:15
>> Yeah, I mean I think for anyone that
5:17
knows him, it's not as much of a
5:19
surprise as people on the outside. Um,
5:22
you know, we had the pleasure of going
5:23
over to Ireland in May together, a few
5:25
of us for the promotional trip and I got
5:26
to know him really well. Um, he
5:28
literally brought his speed ladder and
5:30
hurdles over there so we could work out.
5:32
So, uh, you know, just knowing X and how
5:34
hard he works, it's awesome to see it it
5:36
comes to light like that. Um, but it's
5:38
really no surprise cuz that's just the
5:39
type of guy he is. Okay.
5:42
>> Hey Derek, uh, as a new guy this season,
5:44
you know, before you were here last
5:46
season there was a lot of issues with
5:48
the culture. Um, but this year, what are
5:50
your impressions as one of the newer
5:51
guys here?
5:53
>> Yeah, I mean, I think if you look at the
5:55
guys we brought in, um, the guys that
5:57
are on the roster from last year, we
5:59
have a lot of guys that just really want
6:00
to work and want to get better and want
6:01
to win games. Um, I I think we have a
6:04
really strong culture and we've we've
6:06
done a lot of work this offseason.
6:07
Obviously, helping getting everyone in
6:09
January definitely helps too, just
6:11
having more continuity, but I think we
6:12
put in a lot of work and, you know, the
6:14
way you grow closer as a team is by
6:16
putting in that work and suffering
6:17
together. And uh we definitely did
6:18
plenty of that in the offseason. So it
6:20
made us a lot closer
6:24
guys back from the weather play because
6:28
you guys play so well this season.
6:31
[sighs and gasps]
6:31
>> I mean yeah a little bit of both. I mean
6:32
I think it would have been tough to come
6:34
back from Ireland and play a game last
6:35
week. Um it was long travel and kind of
6:38
readjusting to the time zones. Um but
6:41
you know it will be interesting to see
6:42
how this the early bye-week in the
6:44
season uh goes with us having so many
6:46
games to end the season. But we'll be
6:48
ready to go. Our strength staff will
6:49
have us in in good shape and ready to
6:50
go.
6:51
>> Mike, what did you notice about the run
6:54
defense back? Kind of some of the
6:57
adjustments you made and how you clean
6:58
up.
7:00
>> Yeah. Um, you know, overall I thought we
7:02
did pretty well, but uh there were some
7:03
plays that we wish we had back. Um, some
7:06
adjustments we can make. Um, but
7:08
obviously that's just part of the game.
7:09
You have to learn how to adjust in the
7:10
game. I think our coaches did a good job
7:12
putting us in the right position um to
7:14
to finish the game strong. And I just
7:17
thought the biggest thing is rallying to
7:18
the ball. We all were flying to the ball
7:20
and I think when everyone's flying to
7:21
the ball, it's a lot harder for them to
7:23
to have any big plays or miss tackles
7:25
don't really become missed tackles
7:26
because there's another guy right there.
7:28
>> Spencer, obviously it's a pretty
7:31
linebacker this year. What did you see
7:32
from the guys specifically?
7:36
>> Yeah. Um I thought they both did a great
7:38
job. You know, it's fun being out there
7:40
and playing with them. Uh they both play
7:42
super hard. They both communicate well.
7:44
Um, so it'll be fun just, you know, for
7:46
them to get more experience and uh for
7:48
us to just continue to grow, but I think
7:50
they did a good job.
7:51
>> And how important is it to have that
7:53
depth in the room without having to play
7:54
every single snap?
7:55
>> Yeah, it's definitely important. I mean,
7:57
the more guys we can play, I think the
7:58
better we'll be. Um, I'm pretty
8:00
confident in the guys we have in our
8:01
room and the depth that we have. Um, and
8:03
it'll help us down the line. You know,
8:04
even just developing young guys, it'll
8:06
help this program down the line, too.
8:10
>> What do you think the identity of those
8:11
defenses? You guys find out DC just
8:14
making tackle all over the back. How
8:16
would you assess I guess the identity
8:19
defense?
8:20
>> Yeah, I mean I I would say hungry,
8:22
relentless. Um you know, maybe we don't
8:25
have the most talent in the nation, but
8:26
I think you see a bunch of guys when you
8:28
have 11 hats getting to the ball every
8:29
play. It's pretty hard for the the
8:30
offense to put together successful
8:32
drives. Um so we have a bunch of guys
8:34
that that work super hard to get to the
8:36
ball and they're happy for each other
8:37
when they make plays, you know, and I
8:39
love seeing my teammates make plays,
8:40
love seeing Xavier make plays in TFLs.
8:42
So, it's a lot of fun.
8:44
>> You're coming together really well.
8:46
Obviously, everywhere is kind of
8:48
surprising that strength.
8:52
>> I wouldn't say it's surprising, you
8:53
know? I mean, it's something that we
8:54
work towards, something we put a lot of
8:56
work in. Um, so it's not super
8:58
surprising, but I think there's still a
9:00
lot of areas we can improve in and ways
9:02
we can get better from game one, which
9:03
will be fun.
9:09
game kind of helps
9:11
you kind of game changer. How how
9:14
important did you defense kind of win
9:17
that first game? You had a couple down.
9:21
>> Yeah. Uh definitely important. Gave us
9:24
some confidence for sure. Um but I think
9:26
we know what we can do. We know we
9:28
expect. I mean honestly I think we wish
9:30
we started the game better and kept them
9:32
from scoring any points. Um, but you
9:34
know the fourth down stops were huge and
9:36
uh I mean I love being in games like
9:38
that. You know it was rainy, they had to
9:39
run the ball a lot. That's a defensive
9:41
football game. So for us to go out and
9:43
perform like that and you know keep
9:44
points off the board is big time.
9:47
>> Anything else?
9:48
>> Yeah. Um you sort of touched upon it
9:50
with like missed tackles obviously TCU's
9:53
run game the outside run game typically
9:54
in that first half was you know sort of
9:57
firing on all cylinders. Um, what have
9:59
you guys seen on tape from ETSU with
10:02
their offense that you guys are keeping
10:04
a, you know, a stronger eye out for this
10:07
week?
10:07
>> Yeah, I mean, it's it's an explosive
10:09
offense. If you look at the film, you
10:10
look at their first two games, you know,
10:12
they're putting up 40 points uh a game
10:14
and they go super fast. So, we'll just
10:16
have to, you know, be in good condition,
10:18
get back, get lined up, and get our
10:19
communications and play ball. But, uh,
10:21
it's going to be a good challenge for us
10:23
because it's it's an explosive offense
10:25
for sure. And last one for Bren
10:28
City3
10:32
outside Saturday
10:36
back.
10:38
>> Yeah, it'll be a lot of fun. Uh I think
10:40
to have the crowd on my my side this
10:41
time around in Keenan Stadium will be a
10:43
lot of fun, too. Um but no, definitely
10:45
looking forward to it.
10:47
>> Perfect. Good stuff. Thanks so much,
10:48
dude. How good was it to get back on the
10:49
field?
10:52
>> Yeah, it was awesome. I mean, it was
10:53
really kind of the first time that I'd
10:54
felt, you know, good out there since,
10:57
you know, basically 2024, end of the
10:59
year. So, I mean, it was so cool, right?
11:01
You know, you put in so much work day in
11:03
and day out, especially with, you know,
11:04
what we get, you know, put through here,
11:06
you know, the workload and, um, you
11:08
know, to be able to go out, you train
11:10
for the whole season, right? But you're
11:11
really training for that first game. So,
11:13
you know, be able to go out there and,
11:14
you know, especially coming away with
11:16
the win, it was, you know, it was
11:17
awesome. It really was.
11:19
>> Tom,
11:20
>> you played a lot of ball. Let's talk
11:22
about Bill Evans both in the huddle on
11:24
the field. Who you see in him? Um did he
11:27
surprise you any over the last several
11:29
months? Is he different? Is it the same
11:31
guy?
11:33
>> Yeah, I think the consistency that he
11:34
has right day in and day out, you know,
11:36
especially to you can you you really
11:39
feel his maturity and it's easy to see
11:41
why he's been able to play a lot of
11:43
football, right? You know, the the
11:45
confidence in the huddle again,
11:46
everybody on the same page, the
11:47
leadership that he has. It's huge for
11:49
it's huge for our team, right? right?
11:51
It's huge for any team and um you know
11:53
it's been cool being able to see what he
11:55
does and you know another thing is just
11:56
preparation is um you know it's really
11:59
impressive and you know he sets the tone
12:00
for the rest of the offense and you know
12:02
he's fun to black for he's fun to uh you
12:04
know he's fun to play with and you know
12:06
look forward to you know keeping that
12:07
thing going
12:10
you guys every day what are the
12:12
positives for both industry are there
12:15
negatives in terms of uh fatigue and you
12:18
know
12:20
in
12:21
Mhm. Yeah. I mean, we get put through a
12:23
lot here at, you know, during practice.
12:25
You know, I'd say that most of our
12:27
practices are probably harder than what
12:29
we were doing, you know, doing out
12:30
there. Moses does such a good job of
12:32
preparing us. The work that we go
12:34
through, it's um, you know, we're
12:36
preparing for the game. And, you know,
12:38
the the motto is every coach really
12:40
says, right, you know, practice is going
12:41
to be harder than the game. But, you
12:43
know, for us, it's it's the reality. You
12:46
know, we've had, you know, a lot longer
12:47
days. we've had longer drives that you
12:49
know what we're doing out there. So, you
12:51
know, it was um you know, it was really
12:53
fun to be able to go out there with the
12:54
guys and you know, we got such a tight
12:56
bond really in that whole room and it
12:58
really kind of starts at the top with um
13:00
you know, coach friend and you know,
13:01
coach Cory Gainner. So, you know,
13:03
they've done a great job with you know,
13:04
with that and um you know, just speaks
13:06
to the preparation um you know, with
13:09
them and then you know, same thing in
13:10
the you know, strength conditioning in
13:11
the weight room. Pat more Christo. Um,
13:15
what were your impressions, you know,
13:17
getting to know Michael Lombardi,
13:18
working with him, negotiating with him?
13:20
>> Yeah, you know, again, you know, he's
13:22
upstairs most of the time, but you know,
13:24
interactions with him have been mostly
13:26
positive. Um, you know, again, you know,
13:29
one thing that's great about, you know,
13:30
this place, right? It's the um, you
13:33
know, it's a family, right? It was cool
13:34
getting to go over there to Ireland,
13:36
which was great. And, you know, being
13:38
able to come back, you know, you really
13:39
felt like you're, you know, kind of
13:40
closer together. had the chance to go
13:42
out there in May with a couple guys. Um,
13:45
and even coming back from that, you felt
13:47
closer together, right? The bond across
13:49
position groups, it was it was really
13:52
cool. Um, you know, and I think too
13:54
being able to have that, you know, by
13:56
the next week, right? The thing that,
13:58
you know, gets in football a lot, right?
13:59
The greatest um, you know, change,
14:02
greatest improvement for a team is from
14:03
week one to week two. And, you know, for
14:05
us, we kind of had two weeks. So, being
14:07
able to attack the by-week was um, you
14:09
know, was big for us. It was probably
14:11
some of the harder practices that we
14:13
had, but um you know really we're just
14:15
focused on getting better each and every
14:16
day and um you know it's been you know
14:19
it's been fun getting to do that with
14:20
these guys and you know we're looking
14:22
forward to you know keeping it going.
14:23
>> How did like the news that comes out
14:25
last week of you resigning and then the
14:27
reports about the internal questions
14:29
being asked? How how does that affect
14:31
any of that over
14:32
>> Yeah, we weren't really we don't really
14:34
focus on anything like that, right? you
14:36
know, we're here to kind of, you know,
14:37
play football and, um, you know, the
14:39
bond in the locker room is, you know, so
14:41
strong and, you know, it's not really
14:43
anything that we're kind of focused on,
14:44
worried about, and, you know, in any
14:46
sense of imagination, right? So, we're
14:48
just excited to, you know, go out there,
14:50
keep getting better, right? You know,
14:51
for us, it's, you know, it's all about
14:52
the process, right? You know, coach will
14:54
say it a ton. You know, we all say it
14:56
because it's true, right? We're just
14:57
focused on getting getting better each
14:58
and every day. And, you know, we're
15:00
excited to kind of keep it, you know,
15:01
keep it going this week.
15:03
Chris,
15:05
uh, kind of similar to the fact that
15:07
just more so asking when last year
15:10
happened, now this year off the field,
15:12
who are leadership with you that kind of
15:16
helps, uh, you know, rally the troops
15:18
kind of within the locker room. So, uh,
15:20
that you guys focus on.
15:23
>> Yeah, [clears throat] you know, I will
15:24
touch on the leadership of the team,
15:26
right? You know, it's tremendous, right?
15:27
There's so many guys across the board,
15:29
across positions, really across, you
15:31
know, age groups, right? that, you know,
15:33
are leaders, right? And that's, you
15:35
know, just keeping guys, you know,
15:36
focused and, you know, really everyone's
15:38
kind of bought in to, you know, what
15:40
we're doing here. You know, you can kind
15:42
of see the results, the progress that
15:44
are, you know, starting to show. But
15:46
again, for us, it's just everyone's just
15:48
focused on getting better each and every
15:50
day, right? You know, our, you know, our
15:52
focus this weekend is, you know, are we
15:54
going to be running bouts on Sunday? So,
15:56
that was really kind of what dominated
15:58
our minds was, you know, how much we
16:00
were going to have to run. Um but again,
16:02
you know, we got such a great group.
16:03
We're such a close team and um you know,
16:05
we're really looking forward to, you
16:07
know, building on in practice this week.
16:09
>> Frankie, obviously the weather
16:11
conditions in Bel weren't necessarily
16:13
favorable. How do you feel about the way
16:15
the team was able to respond and kind of
16:17
push through, work the offense in those
16:19
conditions?
16:20
>> Yeah, I mean, I personally love the
16:21
weather. You know, 60° is always always
16:24
going to be fun as opposed to, you know,
16:25
it was like 100 here last week. So, um,
16:29
but yeah, you know, guys don't, you
16:30
know, focus on anything like that. You
16:32
know, coach, coach Bellich will, you
16:34
know, come in during drills sometimes
16:36
and just pour a, um, you know, pour a
16:38
water bottle on the ball just to kind of
16:40
keep it, you know, keep you on your
16:41
toes, right? And, you know, make it, I
16:44
guess, a little bit harder than what the
16:45
conditions would be in the game. But,
16:47
you know, it's kind of a non-factor. You
16:49
know, we're going to go out there, we're
16:50
going to play football, we're playing in
16:51
the same conditions as everybody else.
16:53
Um, so it was great. If we can get 60
16:55
degrees every day, I'm gonna be a happy
16:56
guy.
16:58
>> Michael,
16:59
even though there is some contin
17:08
>> Yeah, I mean, obviously it's just
17:09
there's some timing stuff on double
17:10
teams, right? You know, a lot of it's
17:12
developing trust, knowing that, you
17:14
know, you can say basically see
17:16
something happen, say a call, and
17:18
everyone's going to know what to do. um
17:20
you know so being able to develop that
17:22
throughout the spring and you know again
17:23
throughout camp it's been um you know
17:25
it's been a blessing and the guys worked
17:27
so hard I mean everyone in the whole
17:28
entire room and again I already talked
17:30
about you know coach friend and you know
17:31
coach Cory Gainner they do an
17:33
unbelievable job of you know coaching
17:36
developing um and you really gain buyin
17:38
from everyone in the room so in terms of
17:40
the chemistry right it's you know it
17:42
starts starts off the field and it you
17:44
know really shows on the field
17:47
>> the outside world you guys develop when
17:50
you win that changes expectations. Are
17:53
you guys aware of that and that time
17:56
something like that? Higher
17:58
expectations.
17:59
>> Yeah. You know, again, like we're we're
18:01
not focused on anything like that. You
18:03
know, we just block out the outside
18:04
noise. We're just focused on getting
18:06
better each and every day. That's been
18:07
our focus from day one. And you know,
18:12
we're going to continue focus on, right?
18:14
you know, it's really just, you know,
18:15
about the people in this building,
18:16
people, you know, on that field that are
18:18
going to, you know, help go out there
18:20
and, you know, play good football. And,
18:22
you know, what we focus on is just
18:23
getting better each and every day.
18:25
>> One or two more.
18:26
>> Yeah. But what game didn't really
18:28
produce maybe as much as you coach would
18:32
what were the areas that you thought the
18:34
coaches need to improve?
18:38
Yeah, you know, TCU schematically posed,
18:41
you know, a little bit of nuance in
18:42
terms of their, you know, run fits. Um,
18:45
so a lot of that was just being able to,
18:48
you know, kind of fit it properly. But,
18:50
you know, when we got, you know, man on
18:51
a man, you know, we were, you know, we
18:53
were playing physical. We were playing
18:55
the brand of football that we wanted.
18:56
And, you know, you kind of saw it, you
18:58
know, towards the end of the game being
18:59
able to wear out um, you know, wear out
19:01
TCU, play good football, and, you know,
19:03
end the ball, end the game with the ball
19:05
in your hands, right? That's going to be
19:06
the most important thing. and you know
19:08
when it mattered the most that's what we
19:09
were able to do. So we're happy you know
19:11
with that but you know again it's you
19:13
know it's all about fundamentals. It's
19:14
all about you know going to getting a
19:16
guy on a guy right doing the right
19:18
thing. So, you know, just continuing to
19:19
emphasize little things, you know, off
19:21
practice is going to, you know, pay big
19:22
dividends for us.
19:24
>> Last time you talked about
19:28
the crystal ball
19:32
that kind of second part of that
19:34
question
19:39
last year, what kind of
19:43
>> Yeah, I mean, it's pretty it's pretty
19:45
surreal, right? And you're obviously
19:46
getting hurt. I mean, it sucks. I've
19:48
talked about it before, right? But
19:51
again, being able to, you know, play
19:53
this year, being able to come back,
19:54
right? It was I mean, that feeling when
19:57
they jumped off sides, you know, slapped
19:59
the guy in the head, that was I mean, it
20:01
was among the one of the best feelings
20:02
I've ever felt, right? And it's not just
20:05
because of me, right? It's because of
20:07
everything that this team does, every
20:09
team, everything that, you know, we do
20:11
day in and day out, right? It's not just
20:13
the players. It's not just the coaches.
20:15
It's not just the like it is it is
20:17
everybody, right? Everybody's in it.
20:19
Everybody is giving everything they can,
20:22
you know, for a common goal. And you
20:24
know, there's just such great people in
20:25
this building. It's such a blessing to
20:26
be around, you know, everyone here. Um
20:30
and you know being able to you obviously
20:32
come out you know week one with the win
20:34
is really cool and it was you know I
20:37
mean it was pretty exhilarating but um
20:40
you know again you know you turn the
20:42
page and you know you're just focused on
20:44
you know what we got ahead of us and you
20:46
know we're just uh you know we're on to
20:47
ETSU.
20:49
>> Good stuff. Thanks so much Christo.
20:50
We'll be right back running back.
20:52
>> Next step for the running game to kind
20:53
of take that next step forward.
20:55
obviously left some maybe some yards out
20:57
on the field against TCU, but how do you
20:59
kind of explode the running game against
21:01
AT&T?
21:03
>> Yeah, I mean, I think um just continuing
21:05
to grow as a team. Um no, I think we're
21:08
going to be all right in the run game.
21:09
I'm not worried about it. I think we
21:10
showed we can run the ball we needed to.
21:11
Uh Juju closing out the game with the
21:13
run and the four-minute drill. Um so,
21:16
you know, we sputtered in week one, but
21:18
you know, it's stuff you're going to see
21:19
in week one. I mean, if you look around
21:20
the country, no one put up an absurd
21:22
amount of yards on the ground in week
21:23
one. So, um, I think we're we're on
21:26
pace. You know, we're going to have a
21:27
good year. Um, we're just getting better
21:29
each and every week. And so, I'm I'm
21:31
feeling really good about the run game,
21:32
and I think it'll only get better.
21:35
>> Ben, did you guys like chart out the
21:38
running back rotation for the TCU game?
21:40
Like, you know, Miguel will be in here,
21:42
Juju will be in here, if we need to run,
21:44
close the game out. Was that something
21:45
that you discussed beforehand or was it
21:47
just Bill and Bobby sort of going with
21:49
whatever felt right? Um, I think they
21:52
were just playing off field. Um,
21:56
I don't know. I don't think there was
21:57
nothing really predetermined, I guess,
21:59
for that rotation, but I think we just
22:01
kind of played off feel, um, I think it
22:03
kind of shows that we have guys in the
22:05
room who can get the job done whenever
22:06
their numbers call. And so, um, you
22:09
know, I'm just happy Juji was ready to
22:11
go and to close out the game and Miguel
22:12
made some big plays. And, um, we got
22:15
guys in the room who can make plays for
22:16
the team and that's what matters most.
22:19
Chris.
22:20
>> Hey Benjamin. From a player's
22:21
perspective, when things are happening
22:23
off the field, how tough is it to feel
22:26
the different calls, texts, emails from
22:28
people want to know what's happening?
22:30
And is it frustrating that things like
22:32
last week kind of overshadow?
22:35
>> Um, I'm going be honest with you. I
22:38
mean, no one or anyone in this building
22:40
is losing any sleep over that. I mean,
22:42
we're we're happy to wake up the next
22:43
day and get to work. Um, I couldn't be
22:45
more happy to be part of this team and
22:47
be with these guys. And um we're so
22:49
focused on everything internal and
22:52
getting better on the field and getting
22:53
better in the meeting room that we could
22:55
care less about what we see in the
22:57
headlines or what's on the news. Like
22:59
it's not going to affect this team. Um
23:01
we're just continue to get ready for
23:02
this next game coming up. So
23:06
>> behind five new guys on the offensive
23:08
line, is that kind of something that
23:09
takes time? I know you guys go through
23:11
spring ball and fall and whatnot. Is it
23:14
something that takes that second kind of
23:16
deep?
23:19
>> Um, I guess we'll continue to see that,
23:21
but you know, I feel confident about the
23:23
guys in front of me. I think, um, we're
23:25
just continuing to learn the offense and
23:27
learn the plays together. And, you know,
23:29
I don't think there's any doubt that
23:30
we're going to continue to go out and
23:32
put good stuff on tape in the run game.
23:34
Um, like I said, we had some sputters,
23:36
but I think it's just continuing to
23:38
learn the offense and kind of coach
23:40
continuing to figure out what our
23:41
strengths will be in the run game. And I
23:43
think as long as we continue to just
23:45
attack it each and every week, it's
23:46
going to get better. So
23:54
>> last year
23:57
last year was like
24:02
>> Yeah, it was awesome. I mean, he's
24:04
always been a guy that you can count on
24:05
to lead the team and he wasn't able to
24:07
do that on the field last year. So just
24:09
having him back out there the
24:10
quarterback at the O line getting them
24:12
in the right spots playing with you know
24:13
energy and tenacity finishing his blocks
24:16
and um you know even like the little
24:18
stuff like end of the game or getting
24:20
them to jump off sides he knows if they
24:22
jump off sides he's got to touch them to
24:23
get the flag like that little stuff is
24:25
the stuff that you know you can teach
24:27
and and hope a guy learns but he's going
24:29
to do it each and every time. So, um,
24:31
you know, I can't sit here and tell you
24:33
how much it means for him to be back out
24:34
there with us as an offense. Um, you
24:37
know, both physically and mentally.
24:40
>> Chris was just sitting here telling us
24:41
about some of the things that coaching
24:43
staff does to help guys prepare for sort
24:44
of slick conditions bottle of the ball.
24:47
Do you think those that stuff in
24:48
practice really help translate to maybe
24:51
a little bit better ball security
24:53
against TCU?
24:54
>> Yeah, 100%. I mean, coach is always one
24:56
step ahead with those kind of things.
24:58
Um, in terms of putting us in adverse
25:00
situations to make the games easier, um,
25:02
I think that's something I can really
25:03
commend him for. Like, the game will
25:05
always be a little bit easier than
25:06
practice because practice is always
25:08
going to be so uh, specific and
25:11
demanding in specific situations. So,
25:13
there was nothing that came up in that
25:15
game that we hadn't prepared for,
25:16
whether that's playing defense backed
25:18
up, um, defending the red zone, uh,
25:21
running the ball in slick conditions.
25:23
Um, so know we we do so much specific uh
25:27
condition work and and um time
25:29
management work and stuff like that that
25:31
you know when it gets to the game we
25:32
kind of know what our menu for that's
25:33
going to be and how we're going to
25:34
execute. So um I think our coaches have
25:36
done a really good job prep bearing
25:38
situations like that.
25:40
>> Anything else for Ben?
25:43
Did you watch your own table yesterday?
25:48
>> Uh I wish him the best this year, you
25:51
know. Um,
25:53
I don't know. I don't want to put
25:54
anything out there that's going to make
25:55
me seem like a bad player or person. So,
25:57
I just wish him the best this year. Um,
25:59
but I'm really focused on, you know,
26:01
this team. You know, a lot of people are
26:02
asking me, "How's your team doing? How's
26:04
your team doing?" My team's one and0,
26:05
you know, and I'm blessed to be a part
26:06
of this team. My team's doing really
26:08
well. So, as long as I'm here, we're
26:10
going to worry about this team and it's
26:12
going to be go Carolina blue, go heels,
26:14
you know, on a different shade of blue
26:15
nowadays. So, I'm just blessed to be
26:17
here.
26:18
>> Good stuff. Thank you.
26:22
>> I've never been a part of it, but where
26:24
I am right now, the skies are light blue
26:26
and I'm happy to be here.
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