THI TV: Chizik Pre-Bowl Q&A | Report Emphasis on 3 Frosh That Will Play
CHAPEL HILL – North Carolina defensive coordinator Gene Chizik met with the media following practice Monday to discuss aspects of his unit as the Tar Heels continue preparing for the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.
UNC faces West Virginia on December 27 in Charlotte, and among the challenges in that game is dealing with the Mountaineers’ rushing attack, which is ranked third in the nation. Chizik spoke some about that.
He also talked a lot about a trio of young players that will see their first extended action in the game. All are true freshmen and are Amare Campbell at linebacker, Tre Miller at cornerback, and Kaleb Cost at the star position.
“That’s three young guys that are all freshmen that you’re going to see a good bit of,” Chizik said. “They’ve had good work and we expect them to play well. It will be interesting.”
In addition, Chizik spoke about not having Cedric Gray around, how Power Echols’ role has changed, Myles Murphy entering the NFL Draft yet still playing in the bowl game, and about his own future at UNC, which we covered in this piece.
*Campbell has played 70 snaps this season grading out well at 75.4. The bulk of his action came against Campbell (28 snaps), Syracuse (14), and NC State (11). Echols said Campbell is moving into the spot he occupied all season, and that he’s ready to get on the field and go at it right now.
“Amare Campbell, who is a guy that we probably should have played more during the year. He’s going to get his opportunities.”
Echols said last week Campbell was ready at that moment to handle the load he will get in the bowl game. Chizik agrees.
“Very. I feel very confident in him. He’s really kind of beyond his years when it comes to understanding concepts and defenses. He’s one of those guys that if he makes a mistake once, he can correct it quick and probably never make it again…
“It’s not rope member, ‘Oh, I’m supposed to be here?’ He knows why he’s supposed to be there. The linebacker position absolutely requires instincts, you have to have great instincts to play that position. When he first came in the spring, and really didn’t know where he was fitting and what he was doing, he was always around the football making plays… because he’s got great instincts.”
*Cost played 27 snaps on defense in three games, plus he was in for 102 plays on special teams.
“Kaleb Cost is a guy you’re going to see more of than you’ve seen all year. It’s a great opportunity for him. He gets three weeks to get ready.”
Cost’s name came up in August a couple of times, so Chizik was asked to elaborate on what Cost brings to the field.
“He’s a very instinctive player. He was a great baseball player in high school, so right away you’re looking at a guy back there who’s got great instincts, he’s got great hands, great hand-eye coordination, so if he’s around the football, he’s usually going to come down with it, just from his baseball and all the baseball he’s played.”
Chizik noted the interception Cost made to win the state championship game last year, suggesting anyone who hasn’t seen it to look it up.
“Those are the instincts we’re talking about. I think he’s one of those guys back there, that once he learns everything, and the instincts catch up with his knowledge, I think you’re going to see a really productive guy.”
*Miller played 24 snaps in two games (at Pitt, home versus Campbell) while getting 10 plays on special teams.
“You’ll see Tre Miller. We planned on playing Tre Miller more earlier in the year, and then he had some health issues with some injuries, and they kind of set him back every time it seemed like he was going to move forward; he’d take a step back. So, we expect to see him and expect to play him a good bit right at the corner spot.”