It is still early in the spring schedule for North Carolina, but already the Tar Heels are getting used to the more up-tempo first-year coach Larry Fedora's no-huddle, spread offense is installing to replace the pro-style attack the Heels have been running.
"Before, when we were doing the team period, I was dead tired," senior offensive tackle Brennan Williams said. "Now that we've been doing it, I can get a feel for it. I think."
He better not relax.
Before the spring game arrives on April 14, things are going to pick up even more.
"We're only about at half speed right now," Fedora said, before adding, "We're not near the speed we're going to go at."
If the Heels can get the hang of it, the results should be seen on the field in the fall.
Consider, the Heels had one of their more productive offensive seasons in 2011, combining for 5,112 yards rushing and passing. Southern Mississippi, where Fedora and his offensive coordinator, Blake Anderson, worked last year, had 6,459 yards in total offense, averaging over 461 yards a game.
NOTES, QUOTES
--North Carolina will not be eligible for a bowl game in 2012 as part of the penalties the NCAA levied against the school after its investigation into the program for issues concerning academics and benefits. First-year coach Larry Fedora also will be dealing with the loss of 15 scholarships over his first three years on the job.
--The Tar Heels' 2012 schedule will have a new look to it. For the first time since 1998, they will not be closing out the regular season against Duke but will finish against Maryland at Chapel Hill. The Heels will have seven home games with the only road non-conference road game at Louisville.
--Adapting to the new offense is just one facet of the spring. The other will be finding defensive replacements for the six starters lost from the unit, especially at linebacker and in the secondary.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
QB Bryn Renner -- Renner was first in the ACC in passing efficiency in 2011, his first season as a starter, but now will be asked to pick up the tempo in the no-huddle, spread offense.
WR Erik Highsmith -- Highsmith had a nice season with 51 catches for 726 yards in 2011. He has the opportunity to put up some really big numbers in North Carolina's new offense.
DT Sylvester Williams -- Williams earned a starting spot in camp last fall after transferring from junior college. He has all-conference and all-America potential.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
2012 OUTLOOK: North Carolina will have a new look on offense in 2012 with first-year coach Larry Fedora bringing over his no-huddle spread attack, and there will be several new faces on defense with the likes of DEs Quinton Coples and Donte Paige-Moss, DT Tydreke Powell, LB Zach Brown, CB Charles Brown all gone. Saddled with NCAA penalties as well, North Carolina faces a difficult task in 2012.
SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: QB Bryn Renner (68.3 percent completions for 3,086 yards) and RB Giovani Bernard (1,253 yards rushing) return, but they'll be in a new spread offense under Fedora, so the advantage of that experienced is negated somewhat. WRs Erik Highsmith and Jheranie Boyd must step up. Three starters return in the offensive line, a big plus.
SCOUT THE DEFENSE: With only five starters returning, the Heels have some work to do with this unit. DE Kareem Martin and DT Sylvester Williams had outstanding years in 2011, and that's a good place to start. LB Kevin Reddick also is a proven commodity. There are big holes everywhere else, especially in the secondary.
SCOUTING THE SPECIAL TEAMS: PK Casey Barth returns after missing last season because of a groin injury. He has made 51 of 63 field goal attempts in his career. Both Thomas Hibbard and C.J. Feagles return as punters, but both were inconsistent in 2011. T.J. Thorpe, who returned kickoffs as a freshman in 2011, could double-up on punt returns.
TOP NEWCOMERS
QB James Summers -- Summers, 6-2, 196, has a background running the kind of spread offense in high school that new coach Larry Fedora is installing at North Carolina.
DT J.J. Patterson -- At 6-4, 310, Patterson figures to carry on Carolina's recent tradition of strong defensive line play.
FB Nathan Staub -- Staub was Carolina's highest ranked signee in Scout.com's national rankings.
ROSTER REPORT
--FB Devon Ramsay, who was granted a sixth year of eligibility for medical reasons, is among those being held out of North Carolina's spring practice while he recovers from a knee injury.
--LB Darius Lipford is being held out of spring drills while recovering from a knee injury.
--LB Shakeel Rashad, a February signee and early enrollee. is missing spring practice after having exploratory knee surgery.
--QB Bryn Renner had surgery in the offseason to repair bone spurs in his left foot that he had played with all last fall, but he is back at spring practice to get a handle on the new offense.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"Three weeks on the couch with my iPad and the Southern
Miss offense. We're off to a good start, but have a long way to go." --
QB Bryn Renner, on studying for the spread attack of new coach Larry
Fedora.
