Why playing special teams for Bill Belichick at UNC is like a master class

Of course UNC long snapper Spencer Triplett has seen the video. As far as he knows, every long snapper in the country has seen that video.

Nearly four years ago Bill Belichick, then Patriots coach, showed his passion for football history by delivering an impromptu 1,500-word explanation on the evolution of long snappers. He traced the specialist role’s rise from its roots — when kickers and punters played other positions — through pivotal changes in the 1980s. He discussed Steve DeOssie’s influence on punt protection. On that day, at a routine press conference, Belichick took over nine minutes to address the importance of specializing in long snapping instead of simply cross-training a few guys.

“When the greatest coach of all time goes that long talking about long snappers, [we] are pretty in tune to listening to it,” Triplett said in a press conference Tuesday afternoon. “It’s really cool how much he cares about it [and] how much he actually knows about it. We actually had a conversation before one practice that felt like 10 minutes, just talking about stuff I could do.”

That attention to detail is what Triplett, as well as UNC punter Tom Maginness and kicker Rece Verhoff say they appreciate about playing special teams for Belichick in Chapel Hill. Triplett said having a head coach with Belichick’s depth of knowledge is different from what he’s used to. While some in Belichick’s position may simply acknowledge a successful snap and move on, Belichick goes further.

Triplett said Belichick breaks down each detail, asks follow-up questions about blocking and encourages him to share what he sees with his teammates.

“It kind of encourages you to work harder and try to be the best and perfect your craft,” Triplett said.

Triplett isn’t alone in feeling how different things are for special teams when Belichick runs the room.

Maginness grew up in Australia, where Aussie-style punting is basically a birthright. This is the senior’s third year at UNC, and he remembers being “pretty shell shocked” when Belichick first walked through the door.

“He’s such a football mind,” Maginness said. “He just thinks of absolutely everything. Stuff I don’t even think of... like he knows the shape of a good punt, the shape of a shank, he knows where to put returners.”

For Belichick, working with a guy like Maginness was new too. The coach said he’s never worked with a rugby or Aussie punter before and described the experience as “interesting.”

“He can clearly kick conventionally,” Belichick said, “but [we] just think he’s even better doing what he’s been doing. So we have adapted our punting system to him, which has been good. He’s done a great job.”

Verhoff, who joined the Tar Heels this offseason from Marshall, also appreciates Belichick’s meticulous approach. He is a kicker who leans on visualization and mental reps, doing a lot of “leg swing kicks” off to the side during practices and games.

Verhoff knows the quiet work he does, as with the other guys on special teams, can go unnoticed. But he said Belichick’s “thinking about special teams all the time” and often points out things Verhoff “didn’t even think of.”

“It’s great,” Verhoff said, “because the knowledge he gives me is amazing.”

Belichick’s impact isn’t just felt by the starters.

Triplett has seen a culture shift ripple through the locker room. He said more and more players want to be part of special teams now. The long snapper said he’s even had teammates approach him to ask: “Hey, can you talk to coach about putting me on one of these teams, or one of the scout teams?”

That wasn’t always the case in years past, Triplett said. He recalls how some teammates used to turn their noses up at the less glamorous roles, like being right guard on the punt team or the L1 on kickoff.

But not with Belichick in charge.

“When you have coaches that care so much about special teams, it’s fun to play... that’s what you want in any program,” Triplett said. “Guys who are so eager and just want to play that they’re going to go to special teams.”