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UNC Football: Tar Heels hold Players-Only Meeting For Defensive Unit

By Aaron Conrad

UNC Chapel Hill junior linebacker Cedric Gray makes a tackle in the second half of the game against Notre Dame at the Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. on Sept. 24, 2022. The Tar Heels went on to lose 45-32 to the Fighting Irish, moving to 3-1 on the season.Uncvnd 9 24 22 Lj 012
UNC Chapel Hill junior linebacker Cedric Gray makes a tackle in the second half of the game against Notre Dame at the Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. on Sept. 24, 2022. The Tar Heels went on to lose 45-32 to the Fighting Irish, moving to 3-1 on the season.Uncvnd 9 24 22 Lj 012 /
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In an effort to get back on track moving forward, a players-only meeting was held for the UNC football program’s defensive unit. 

On Sunday evening, the UNC Football defense held a players-only meeting. Defensive lineman Ray Vohasek shared the story with Ross Martin of Inside Carolina.

One of the hardest things to watch about the UNC football program this season has been the defensive unit. There have been a few bright spots, but need we remind you of this group surrendering 61 points to Appalachian State, including 40 points in the fourth quarter?

The Tar Heels have one of the lowest-ranked defenses in the nation. They have struggled to get stops on critical possessions and particularly on 3rd down. I once heard it said that “You never hear about players-only meetings when everything is going well.” It sounds like the players are well aware of it too.

Defensive lineman Ray Vohasek shared some of the reasons with Ross Martin of Inside Carolina.

"“Everybody kind of chipped in,” Vohasek said. “The main leader guys, Noah Taylor, Kaimon Rucker, both of the ‘backers, Ced (Gray) and Power (Echols). But even guys who haven’t taken a snap this year talked, just what they see on the sideline and what the attitude is with guys and how they interact and things like that. So everybody chipped in and talked about it and I think it was a productive meeting for us.”"

There have been a number of issues and lack of communication has clearly been one of the biggest. It was clear on Sunday that the players are frustrated and not on the same page. Tony Grimes and teammate Noah Taylor had an animated conversation on the sideline on Saturday after a penalty.

The hope would be that this players-only meeting was a chance to clear the air, get on the same page and re-focus on the game ahead.

"“It was more of a man-to-man conversation like, ‘Hey, we need to turn this thing around.”"

Vohasek is right: this group needs to turn things around.

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