UNC Game Week: Player Interviews Ahead of Richmond’s Visit

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — After playing two games separated by five nights, North Carolina has had a standard week of preparation ahead of a Saturday matchup for the first time during this young college football season.

>>> Welcome to the new home of Inside Carolina! Reactivate your account for $1 <<<

The Tar Heels (1-1) meet visiting Richmond (1-1) in two days at Kenan Stadium. UNC defensive tackle D’Antre Robinson and running back Davion Gause met with reporters on Thursday at Kenan Football Center, before heading out to the team’s afternoon practice session. Watch those interviews in their entirety below, and read some noteworthy excerpts from their comments.

The 6-foot-4, 315-pound Robinson supplied six tackles, including a stop for lost yardage, and two quarterback hurries last week as UNC’s defense stuffed Charlotte to a total of 21 rushing yards on 29 attempts. And the Tar Heels’ defensive front gave up just 1.9 rushing yards per carry on non-sack attempts. Meanwhile, Gause rushed for 30 yards on five carries in the game, highlighted by a 12-yard touchdown run that put Carolina ahead 17-3 with 13 seconds remaining in the first half.

D’Antre Robinson

“I feel like from the first (game) to the second, we made a very big jump as a whole D-line. We’ve been coming into practice really focused on striking and clogging up the lanes, for the linebackers and everything. We feel like we didn’t do that good the first game (against TCU) and we made big progress in the second game. I feel like we continue to do that throughout the season.”

“Preparing for him (Richmond quarterback Kyle Wickersham), you’ve got to focus on tackling. Tackling is a big part of the game this week, because he’s a big quarterback. He’s not going to go down easy. So we’ve been focus on tackling a lot this week.”

“Having a whole new team and a whole bunch of new teammates, we had to get closer by going out to dinner, going to get steak, going to fish, and everything like that. That’s where it started from, building a brotherhood. And then when it comes to learning the plays with (defensive coordinator) Steve (Belichick), he makes it pretty easy for us. It’s pretty simple. And after practice, we all might go in there, have a defensive meeting and go over it just with the players. So we’ve been getting closer that way.”

Davion Gause

“There’s really no pressure (having as many as five running backs carrying the ball in a game). It just lets you know to give it your all when you’re out there on the field, and you’ve got fresh legs coming in right after you.”

“What played into me coming back this year was Coach Belichick, and Coach (Natrone) Means coming back as the running back coach. He was here with me last year. We had a great relationship, so it wasn’t a question for me to come back this year. … It was a very easy transition (with Means), because we already had that bond. And he already knew like, what I’m kind of good at and what I need to work on. So it’s just been smooth all the way around.”

“That’s a very big thing, playing running back in general, just protecting the  quarterback and protecting the ball. So that’s one of the main things we take a big consideration in for you to get on the field.”