Game Week Interviews: D’Antre Robinson, Jake Johnson, Will Friend

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Preparations for Clemson are rolling along, as North Carolina looks to turn the page from its disappointing non-conference portion of the schedule, and open ACC league play on a winning note. Defensive lineman D’Antre Robinson, tight end Jake Johnson and offensive line coach Will Friend met with the reporters ahead of the Tar Heels’ practice session on Thursday afternoon.

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Watch the complete interviews below and scroll down to read some noteworthy excerpts from their comments.

D’Antre Robinson

“I wouldn’t say pressure, but I do feel like we still got all our food on the table, knowing that we haven’t played not one ACC game yet. Going to the ACC schedule, it just like we still got a lot of food on the table, so I wouldn’t say it’s pressure. I feel like it’s more excitement than pressure.”

“I wouldn’t say disappointing (about the loss at UCF). I mean, it’s probably good for us. We probably needed that loss to learn from our mistakes that we made. Of course, I didn’t want to lose in front of my family and everything like that, but I wouldn’t say it’s disappointing. You know, we learn from our mistakes, probably good for us.”

Jake Johnson

“I don’t think necessarily we’re at where we need to be, but I think we’re growing. I think our team is getting better on offense especially, and I think we have a great opportunity to show it. Everybody’s on the same page, and everybody’s been grinding throughout these practices, especially with the bye week as well. We’ve had great practices, and everybody’s been on the same page, and we’re all bought in, and I think we have a great opportunity this week.”

“I would just say we got to relax and go play, just have fun. It’s something we’ve done when we were young, and sometimes you can take it so serious. At the end of the day, you’ve got to realize it’s a game, and just go out and compete and have fun and play the game.”

Will Friend

“We have a role in our offense, and no matter who is playing at quarterback, really doesn’t affect us. Whether it’s during a game or heading into a game, it doesn’t matter. You don’t do anything different no matter who’s in the game. We’ve got guys that can execute their job and it’s our responsibility in the protections and the runs, no matter who’s in there. So for an offensive line, it really doesn’t matter.”

“You’re where you’re at. You want to execute better. You want to play more consistent. You want to be more successful. I think it goes back to how you prepare and how you go about each day. Are you working to get better? Are you trying to stack days on every day? It’s the process, it’s not the results. You know, the results will take care of themselves. There’s a process that goes with getting yourself ready. If you continue to improve on that, and you get better and better and better, then results change. So that’s what the focus has been, to try to get consistency, to try to be more successful.”