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Winging It: UNC's Yates healthy
AP File Photo
Quarterback T.J. Yates of North Carolina passed for 2,655 yards last season.
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Published: August 2, 2008
CHAPEL HILL - T.J. Yates stopped worrying about his repaired right shoulder one day recently because of an incomplete pass.
He wasn't happy about missing his receiver, Hakeem Nicks, on the pattern when they were working out on their own, but was elated by the manner in which the misfire happened. The ball flew about 65 yards in Yates' estimation and was well over Nicks' head.
Since then, Yates hasn't wondered if his arm strength was weakened by surgery on the shoulder, which was necessary because of a late-season injury in 2007, or if he will be ready when North Carolina opens its season four weeks from today.
"I knew I was going to be good then," Yates said. "I'm anxious to feel that first hit and see what (my shoulder) feels like, but I definitely think I'm 100 percent.
"The last couple of weeks I've been trying to get in shape as much as possible because I'm going to be throwing a whole bunch over the next two or three weeks."
Yates missed all of spring practice while recovering and couldn't throw forcefully until almost five months after surgery, but the Tar Heels' starting quarterback job is not an issue. Coach Butch Davis said yesterday before the first practice that Yates is the No. 1 quarterback, as he was all of last season.
Unless something unexpected happens, Yates will practice every day and won't be limited to a certain number of passes daily or weekly before the opening game.
"It's to the point where we don't even talk about it," Davis said. "He's been throwing for the better part of two months. He goes out and takes every (snap) and does everything. He's been pushing the envelope for quite a while."
Yates started every game last season as a redshirt freshman in a 4-8 season and played almost every offensive play. His 2,655 yards passing set a school season record. He averaged 221.2 yards passing, the third-highest average among ACC quarterbacks.
He noticed near the end of the season that some of his passes lacked the normal speed and force. He felt a pain in the shoulder when putting on his shoulder pads before a game against Duke to end the season and suspected then something more than arm fatigue was his problem.
Doctors found damage to the labrum, which is cartilage that makes the shoulder joint stable and allows movement. Yates hasn't thrown a pass wearing shoulder pads since the Duke game, which was Nov. 24.
He was allowed to start throwing softly about two weeks after the end of spring practice.
"When I first started throwing again nothing felt natural," Yates said. "Nothing felt like it was before. I was a little worried because it didn't feel right. It was just a long, slow process I had to be patient with."
Yates used the time after surgery in which he couldn't throw to work on other aspects of preparing for the forthcoming season. He spent more time in the video room analyzing tapes of the Tar Heels' offense, opponents' defenses and his play.
Yates is confident he will be able to make decisions more quickly this season. Davis said Yates became a film junkie for the extended hours he spent in the video room.
"He has the opportunity to build on 12 games of experience," Davis said. "I get a sense from him that there's a lot more personal self-confidence that he's been in games and knows what he can do."
Yates spent extra time lifting weights and building strength once he was cleared by doctors for physical activity. He added at least 10 pounds and now weighs 215.
Davis said that Yates will be better equipped to take the physical beating of the season now and will be less susceptible to injuries.
"One of the things I like about him, as I do about a lot of guys on our football team, is his body's changed," Davis said. "He looks differently as a person. He's bigger and stronger.
"He's starting to mature. He's starting to develop. I think certainly that's going to be good for us."
Yates wants personal improvement during the season. He was intercepted 18 times last season and wants to significantly cut his turnovers.
He completed 59.7 percent of 365 passes and had 14 touchdown passes. He would like for both areas of production to be higher.
■ Bill Cole can be reached at bcole@wsjournal.com.
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