The offense came alive in the second half after a forgettable first half against Georgia Tech. It seemed that Offensive Coordinator John Shoop was more concerned about holding the ball and playing keep away from Georgia Tech in the first half than he was running his offense. He did not put QB Bryn Renner in a position to be successful. Third-and-Long is a difficult position to put any QB in on just about every series.
So far this season North Carolina seems to perform at a higher level when they are using the pass to set up the run. After the first game, the teams they have played seemed determined to make Bryn Renner beat them. As was the case against Georgia Tech, interceptions have been his problem this season.
Gio Bernard seems to get better and better with every game and his play has relegated Senior Ryan Houston into being a non-factor. Gio had a scintillating 55-yard run for a TD against Georgia Tech and is well on his way to being a 1,000 yard rusher, averaging over 100 yards a game now.
The Tarheel receiving corps has been almost all Dwight Jones with a little bit of Erik Highsmith thrown in. The rest of the receivers have been non-existent. Jones had 8 more catches against Georgia Tech, Freshman Sean Tapley got his first career start and had one catch for 18 yards, and Jheranie Boyd had one catch for 4 yards. The Tight Ends had more drops than they had catches although Nelson Hurst did have his first career TD reception.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Saturday, September 24, 2011
First Impressions- Georgia Tech
It was a tale of two halves today for the North Carolina Tarheels versus the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Offensively in the first half, the North Carolina Tarheels Offensive Game Plan lacked imagination and was very predictable. The 'Heels only passed on obvious passing downs and Bryn Renner was only 4 for 9 for 36 yards and they only had 93 yards of total offense at halftime and Gio Bernard had 68 of those on the ground and 18 on receptions.
The Tarheels had to play catch up the entire second half and finally pulled even at 28-28 but the defense could not stop the Georgia Tech ground game. They still had a chance to win the game in the fourth quarter and you can't ask for much more than that.
The Tarheels had to play catch up the entire second half and finally pulled even at 28-28 but the defense could not stop the Georgia Tech ground game. They still had a chance to win the game in the fourth quarter and you can't ask for much more than that.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Versus Virginia- The Defense
I thought North Carolina's defense got ran over a little bit against Virginia. They gave up over 450 yards of offense and Virginia averaged over 5 yards per rushing attempt. They were not able to mount much of a pass rush and it showed in those statistics as well.
The Tarheels were able to force their first three turnovers of the year, a fumble recovery by DT Sylvester Williams on a botched snap (that stopped a Virginia drive) and two Matt Merletti interceptions late in the game.
The Tarheels were able to force their first three turnovers of the year, a fumble recovery by DT Sylvester Williams on a botched snap (that stopped a Virginia drive) and two Matt Merletti interceptions late in the game.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Versus Virginia- The Offense
The offense was much more balanced against Virginia and it looks like a third running back is emerging in the Tarheels backfield rotation. Gio Bernard led the way with 102 yards on 12 carries and got some nice gains early in the third quarter, Ryan Houston only had 17 yards on 9 attempts but scored 2 touchdowns, and A.J. Blue logged some meaningful attempts in the second half, gaining 40 yards on 9 attempts.
I was glad to see Jheranie Boyd finally get some passes thrown his way as he caught his first TD reception of the season and also got a touch on an end around. I wouldn't let speed like that go to waste. Gio Bernard has also shown his value catching the ball out of the backfield but I do believe the 'Heels ran the screen pass one time to many.
I really liked John Shoop's offensive game plan. There were several end arounds that helped keep the defense honest, a halfback pass, and a wide receiver pass that was completed for 36 yards from Reggie Wilkins to Dwight Jones.
Bryn Renner played a solid game but this was more of a case of game management than it was putting up big numbers although he still threw for 2 TD's. He completed over 70 % of his passes and his completion percentage still went down on the season.
I was glad to see Jheranie Boyd finally get some passes thrown his way as he caught his first TD reception of the season and also got a touch on an end around. I wouldn't let speed like that go to waste. Gio Bernard has also shown his value catching the ball out of the backfield but I do believe the 'Heels ran the screen pass one time to many.
I really liked John Shoop's offensive game plan. There were several end arounds that helped keep the defense honest, a halfback pass, and a wide receiver pass that was completed for 36 yards from Reggie Wilkins to Dwight Jones.
Bryn Renner played a solid game but this was more of a case of game management than it was putting up big numbers although he still threw for 2 TD's. He completed over 70 % of his passes and his completion percentage still went down on the season.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
First Impressions- Virginia
As a diehard Tarheel fan, I should be ecstatic to be 3-0. I should be thrilled beyond belief that we won our ACC opener against Virginia, a traditional thorn in the Tarheel foot. It was also the first ACC opener they had won in 11 seasons. The thing that bothers me the most is that they should have put Rutgers and Virginia away early in the second half but didn't.
They showed vast improvement over the Rutgers game in three areas. They didn't commit any bad penalties, they forced a few turnovers, and they only put the ball on the ground once. The fumble came at a crucial time as they could have gone up at a minimum 31-10. Instead they let Virginia hang around.
Offensive Coordinator John Shoop's playcalling really stood out in this game. He opened up the playbook like he never has before. Eight different players had rushing attempts in the game. The 'Heels had a halfback option (I don't care what anyone says, A.J. Blue has the strongest arm on the team) and Freshman Wide Receiver Reggie Wilkins completed a pass to Dwight Jones. Jones made a one handed catch while being mauled on the other end of that pass.
They showed vast improvement over the Rutgers game in three areas. They didn't commit any bad penalties, they forced a few turnovers, and they only put the ball on the ground once. The fumble came at a crucial time as they could have gone up at a minimum 31-10. Instead they let Virginia hang around.
Offensive Coordinator John Shoop's playcalling really stood out in this game. He opened up the playbook like he never has before. Eight different players had rushing attempts in the game. The 'Heels had a halfback option (I don't care what anyone says, A.J. Blue has the strongest arm on the team) and Freshman Wide Receiver Reggie Wilkins completed a pass to Dwight Jones. Jones made a one handed catch while being mauled on the other end of that pass.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Versus Rutgers- The Defense
The Tarheels run stuffers played a great game. The Rutgers offense totaled only one rushing yard but their pass defense is another story. The 'Heels are young and inexperienced in the defensive backfield and it really shows at times. The 'Heels defense also took some stupid penalties and prolonged some Rutgers posessions. It is definitely a work in progress.
The Tarheels have some serious speed at Linebacker. They remind me of the Florida State teams from 10-15 years ago. Zach Brown and Kevin Reddick were really flying around and even Ebele Okakpu went sprinting into the backfield to bring down a running back for a loss. Darius Lipford is another one with speed that came on a blitz and batted a pass down. They all got in on the act.
There were a couple of occasions in this game where the Tarheels had a chance at interceptions but flat out did not catch the ball. Matt Merletti and MLB Tommy Heffernan come to mind. They need to start creating turnovers.
The Tarheels have some serious speed at Linebacker. They remind me of the Florida State teams from 10-15 years ago. Zach Brown and Kevin Reddick were really flying around and even Ebele Okakpu went sprinting into the backfield to bring down a running back for a loss. Darius Lipford is another one with speed that came on a blitz and batted a pass down. They all got in on the act.
There were a couple of occasions in this game where the Tarheels had a chance at interceptions but flat out did not catch the ball. Matt Merletti and MLB Tommy Heffernan come to mind. They need to start creating turnovers.
Versus Rutgers- The Offense
The offense struggled a little bit against Rutgers. The offensive line really didn't create many holes for the Tarheel running backs. They only had two long runs, one each by Gio Bernard and Ryan Houston. Out of leading rusher Gio Bernard's 81 yards, 66 of those came on two runs. 33 yards out of Ryan Houston's came on one run.
Completion wise, QB Bryn Renner had another good game but he threw three picks, he threw two up for grabs and he tried strong-arming one into Erik Highsmith where it was defleccted and intercepted. He seems to be having a hard time finding the safety playing centerfield. He has thrown picks to the centerfielder in each game this season.
The wide receivers played solid games with the exception of the fact they put two balls on the ground. Dwight Jones, barring injury, may be the best wide receiver in the ACC. He posted another 100 + yard game and scored another TD. He is setting himself up to be a high draft pick in next years NFL draft. Freshman Tight End Eric Ebron had a nice 27 yard reception and Tight End Nelson Hurst also had his first reception on the season.
The positives that came out of this game are that the running game has a sense of excitement about it with Gio Bernard back there. His 60 yard TD run was a thing of beauty. Ryan Houston also had a nice 33 yard run that sealed the deal for the Tarheels towards the end of the game. He was also very alert in recovering the fumbled snap by Bryn Renner and may have saved the game in doing so.
Completion wise, QB Bryn Renner had another good game but he threw three picks, he threw two up for grabs and he tried strong-arming one into Erik Highsmith where it was defleccted and intercepted. He seems to be having a hard time finding the safety playing centerfield. He has thrown picks to the centerfielder in each game this season.
The wide receivers played solid games with the exception of the fact they put two balls on the ground. Dwight Jones, barring injury, may be the best wide receiver in the ACC. He posted another 100 + yard game and scored another TD. He is setting himself up to be a high draft pick in next years NFL draft. Freshman Tight End Eric Ebron had a nice 27 yard reception and Tight End Nelson Hurst also had his first reception on the season.
The positives that came out of this game are that the running game has a sense of excitement about it with Gio Bernard back there. His 60 yard TD run was a thing of beauty. Ryan Houston also had a nice 33 yard run that sealed the deal for the Tarheels towards the end of the game. He was also very alert in recovering the fumbled snap by Bryn Renner and may have saved the game in doing so.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Growing Pains
Todays 24-22 win over Rutgers was about as ugly a win as you can possibly get. 5 Tarheel turnovers, 3 interceptions thrown by Bryn Renner and 2 fumbles by wide receivers after the catch. the 'Heels put at least 4 other balls on the ground, the last one of those occurred when they were just trying to kneel on the ball. Yes they still have alot of work to do.
The first series of the game the Tarheels looked like an offensive juggernaut when Renner hit Dwight Jones with a 66 yard TD pass. With the exception of three or four runs, their run game was anemic. They only had a single yard rushing after the First Quarter. However, every time Giovani Bernard touches the ball, you can't help but feel something exciting is going to happen. He got the start today over Ryan Houston. The 60 yard TD run of his was a thing of beauty.
The defense has helped sustain drives by their opponents in the first two games by taking bad penalties on a couple of third and longs. Granted Rutgers had a short field to work on several of their offensive series but the 'Heel defense helped them out on several occasions. They allowed Rutgers to convert several third-and-longs. They also should have had two interceptions, one by Matt Merletti and the other by Freshman MLB Tommy Heffernan, but the balls were dropped.
The Tarheels improved to 2-0 but the offense left alot of points out on the field and I guess you could say that the defense did too. Everette Withers, in the post game interview I saw, realizes that he was lucky to get out of there with a win and that the coaching staff has alot of correctable material to work with.
The first series of the game the Tarheels looked like an offensive juggernaut when Renner hit Dwight Jones with a 66 yard TD pass. With the exception of three or four runs, their run game was anemic. They only had a single yard rushing after the First Quarter. However, every time Giovani Bernard touches the ball, you can't help but feel something exciting is going to happen. He got the start today over Ryan Houston. The 60 yard TD run of his was a thing of beauty.
The defense has helped sustain drives by their opponents in the first two games by taking bad penalties on a couple of third and longs. Granted Rutgers had a short field to work on several of their offensive series but the 'Heel defense helped them out on several occasions. They allowed Rutgers to convert several third-and-longs. They also should have had two interceptions, one by Matt Merletti and the other by Freshman MLB Tommy Heffernan, but the balls were dropped.
The Tarheels improved to 2-0 but the offense left alot of points out on the field and I guess you could say that the defense did too. Everette Withers, in the post game interview I saw, realizes that he was lucky to get out of there with a win and that the coaching staff has alot of correctable material to work with.
James Madison- Part III- The Freshmen
I was surprised to see that 10 true Freshmen got to play in the game against James Madison. That was one of the top numbers in the country. That can be a good and a bad thing. Playing the Freshmen gives them game experience but I wouldn't want to burn a potential Red-Shirt year in a blowout win and that be the only game they play all year.
Three of the Freshmen Tight Ends got to play-Eric Ebron, Sean Fitzpatrick, and Jack Tabb- and Eric Ebron really flipped the James Madison player on the interception return.
The most surprising Freshman that got to play (and the start) was walk-on Punter Thomas Hibbard. He beat out incumbent C.J. Feagles for the job although I am sure it is probably a week-to-week or maybe even a punt-to-punt competition. His first punt was downed at the 1- yard line by Special Teams stalwart Matt Merletti. Although Hibbard later botched a snap and had his punt blocked, he had a pretty good showing.
Freshmen Wide Receivers Reggie Wilkins, Sean Tapley, and T.J. Thorpe mostly got to play on Special Teams although Wilkins had one carry for nine yards.
Three of the Freshmen Tight Ends got to play-Eric Ebron, Sean Fitzpatrick, and Jack Tabb- and Eric Ebron really flipped the James Madison player on the interception return.
The most surprising Freshman that got to play (and the start) was walk-on Punter Thomas Hibbard. He beat out incumbent C.J. Feagles for the job although I am sure it is probably a week-to-week or maybe even a punt-to-punt competition. His first punt was downed at the 1- yard line by Special Teams stalwart Matt Merletti. Although Hibbard later botched a snap and had his punt blocked, he had a pretty good showing.
Freshmen Wide Receivers Reggie Wilkins, Sean Tapley, and T.J. Thorpe mostly got to play on Special Teams although Wilkins had one carry for nine yards.
James Madison Part II
For the first time in quite a while the excitement seems to be back in Chapel Hill. Don't get me wrong, it was there last year as well but due to the NCAA investigation just days before the season started, the wind got taken out of those sails pretty quickly.
I credit alot of that excitement to the "X Factor". The X Factor was the unknown that was Tar Heel football before the kickoff against James Madison. Nobody knew exactly how the Tar Heels would perform. You had a Red-Shirt Sophomore QB with all of two passes under his collegiate belt. The running backs were largely a question mark coming in with Ryan Houston being the only one with any real game experience and he had not had any contact in about a year, Giovanni Bernard was a Red-Shirt Freshman in his first game back from ACL surgery, and A.J. Blue had changed positions due to the transfer of Hunter Furr. The defensive backfield also did not have alot of experience in what was perceived to be one of the 'Heels weakest areas.
Some excitement should also be credited to Giovanni Bernard. I don't think the 'Heels have had a running back with that kind of shiftiness since Kelvin Bryant or Amos Lawrence if you want to go that far back. As soon as I saw his first carry, I'm thinking "The 'Heels may have something here...". His second TD run was a thing of beauty. He is also the perfect compliment to power back Ryan Houston.
I credit alot of that excitement to the "X Factor". The X Factor was the unknown that was Tar Heel football before the kickoff against James Madison. Nobody knew exactly how the Tar Heels would perform. You had a Red-Shirt Sophomore QB with all of two passes under his collegiate belt. The running backs were largely a question mark coming in with Ryan Houston being the only one with any real game experience and he had not had any contact in about a year, Giovanni Bernard was a Red-Shirt Freshman in his first game back from ACL surgery, and A.J. Blue had changed positions due to the transfer of Hunter Furr. The defensive backfield also did not have alot of experience in what was perceived to be one of the 'Heels weakest areas.
Some excitement should also be credited to Giovanni Bernard. I don't think the 'Heels have had a running back with that kind of shiftiness since Kelvin Bryant or Amos Lawrence if you want to go that far back. As soon as I saw his first carry, I'm thinking "The 'Heels may have something here...". His second TD run was a thing of beauty. He is also the perfect compliment to power back Ryan Houston.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
James Madison Part I
I am excited about the potential of the 2011 North Carolina Tarheels football team. The biggest question for me heading into the opening game against James Madison was starting QB Bryn Renner. He only attempted two passes last year and a player can be an All-American in practice but not perform well in games. Bryn Renner answered my question with an exclamation point. His stat line read 22-23 for 277 yards, 2 TDs, 1 Int (so technically none of his passes hit the ground), and 1 rushing TD.
I thought Offensive Coordinator John Shoop called an excellent game. He called a balanced game, set Renner up with several easy throws at the beginning of the game to help get him into the flow, and helped build his confidence. I believe you have to set your players up to be successful and Shoop did a good job of that.
The offensive line was one of the Tarheels strengths heading into this season and they went out and showed that it was not just hype against James Madison. Bryn Renner wasn't hardly touched the entire game and had time to make his throws. Tackle James Hurst led the way on many of the sweeps and outside runs and it is hard to believe that he is only a sophomore.
Dwight Jones also had a great game. 9 receptions, 116 yards, and 2 TDs is setting setting the table for a record-breaking senior season. I don't think he will make anyone forget Hakeem Nicks but he is carving is own niche.
I thought Offensive Coordinator John Shoop called an excellent game. He called a balanced game, set Renner up with several easy throws at the beginning of the game to help get him into the flow, and helped build his confidence. I believe you have to set your players up to be successful and Shoop did a good job of that.
The offensive line was one of the Tarheels strengths heading into this season and they went out and showed that it was not just hype against James Madison. Bryn Renner wasn't hardly touched the entire game and had time to make his throws. Tackle James Hurst led the way on many of the sweeps and outside runs and it is hard to believe that he is only a sophomore.
Dwight Jones also had a great game. 9 receptions, 116 yards, and 2 TDs is setting setting the table for a record-breaking senior season. I don't think he will make anyone forget Hakeem Nicks but he is carving is own niche.
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