Faced with the difficult task of adapting his coaching methods around the coronavirus pandemic during what would have been spring practice, UNC Football defensive coordinator Jay Bateman is reaching back into his past to help get the Tar Heels ready for the future.
When speaking with the media via Zoom earlier this week, Bateman recalled the five years he spent working at Army as he addressed the current challenges the Tar Heels are facing.
Players at West Point have military responsibilities that take them far beyond the football field at times, leaving the coaches to scramble at a moment’s notice to get their plans in order. For Bateman, that experience has served him well during the pandemic–as he has to once again come up with creative measures to help his players stay productive during their time away from the field.
In an effort to simulate what was planned for spring practice, Bateman has converted his practice plans into 12 unique Zoom meetings. The defense takes part in two of these meetings—which last between 45 minutes and an hour—each week to try and make up for the six weeks of on-field training that was lost.
“The enemy gets a vote, I’ve said all the time,” Bateman said. “So, you better be able to adapt and overcome, and that’s what we’re trying to do. I’m pretty confident with our kids with what they’ve been doing.
“We’ve been installing new stuff and it’s not the ideal situation because we haven’t been able to practice it,” he added. “But, whenever we get back, we’re going to be able hit the ground running with what we want to be doing with the defense.”
Another silver lining for Bateman and the defense is the amount of experience returning to the lineup. A second year with the same system and many talented players coming back should work wonders for a group that already has seen great improvement with Bateman leading the way.
Perhaps the most important returning piece is First Team All-ACC linebacker Chazz Surratt, who exploded onto the scene in 2019 after spending his first two years in Chapel Hill as a quarterback. Surratt said he’s been able to physically work out with some of his teammates during the quarantine, but understands that some things are out of his control with the current situation.
“I know a lot of the guys were really excited to get out there and perform and play well for the spring,” Surratt said. “So, we’re missing some reps. At this time, I’m just trying to focus on what I can control. Just trying to get bigger, faster, stronger and take advantage of this time. Take care of my body. Stay on the film. And continue to do the drills that my coach has been telling me to do, to be a better player come the fall.”
While the reps that typically happen during the spring go a long way in helping the coaching staff determine which players will be ready to step up in the fall, they won’t have that luxury this season.
The same can be said for every other team in America, however, which has led to Bateman comparing it to his playing days at the Division III level—when players showed up to campus the day before training camp in August and that was it.
Knowing the work he’s putting in with the team now, Bateman is confident the Tar Heels will be as ready as anyone when it’s finally time to put on the pads and play for real.
“We spent two hours [Monday] morning as a defensive staff trying to find a way to make the film better for when we’re doing Zoom for the players,” Bateman said. “I don’t know if everybody’s doing that, and so I think when it comes back around and we are back together, hopefully the work we’ve put in will pay dividends, and I feel like it will.”
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