Previewing Clemson

The Clemson game is going to be tough. The Tarheels offense will be facing a Clemson defensive front that can put pressure on the QB, has plenty of experience, and knows how to blitz. A young and inexperienced offensive line got thinner and younger when two Tarheel starting offensive linemen went down last week and are unavailable for this game. This is a game for Wide Receivers Quinshad Davis and Bug Howard to use their size to their advantage and make plays. The Tarheels defense also face a daunting task. I think Clemson has finally settled on a QB than can beat you with his legs and his arm and I look for Clemson to put up a few points. Death Valley has never really been kind to the Tarheels anyway and if the 'Heels can keep it close into the 4th Quarter, anything can happen.

The Positives Against East Carolina

There were several positives that the Tarheels can take away from the loss to East Carolina. They did score 41 points and their offense was creative and the coaching staff dug into their bag of tricks. The 'Heels scored two touchdowns off a wide receiver pass from Ryan Switzer to T.J. Thorpe and a fake field goal from holder/punter Tommy Hibbard to backup Tight End Ethan Albright. Backup QB Mitch Trubisky made some good throws down the field and former walk on Wide Receiver Mack Hollins made some good catches and has had the best season to date of any of the Wide Receivers. The running game is still looking for one of the backs to take control and emerge as the lead back. That seems to be a three horse race between Romar Morris, T.J. Logan, and Elijah Hood.

Insanity

Albert Einstein defined insanity as "doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result." The North Carolina Tarheels defensive game plan against East Carolina was the definition of insanity. They gave up an even more insane 70 points and it could have been worse. I have said it before but it is time to scrap the 4-2-5 defense and go back to the drawing board. I don't know if the coaching staff does not have the athletes to make this system work but I have always been of the opinion that your system has to fit the players on hand. Their blitzes Saturday were all slow and telegraphed, their zone coverages were very loose and wide open, but they did play some solid man-to-man defense down the field. M.J. Stewart, Donnie Miles, and Brian Walker all made plays on the ball when they had the chance. The Tarheels travel to pass happy and athlete-rich Clemson this coming Saturday and they may need to line their players up one-on-one and see what happens.

Doing The Math

70 points. 789 total yards. 12 of 17 third down conversions. 10 plays of over 20 yards. A 55 yard TD pass. An 85 yard run. One more blowout loss to East Carolina.

Redemption Versus East Carolina

First of all, I think redemption is a lousy motivating factor going into a football game. If you have to use what happened last year to get up for a football game, then you may be in trouble. I watched the East Carolina-Virginia Tech game and in the First Quarter, all ECU QB Shane Carden did was throw jump balls to his Wide Receivers 50 yards down the field. This is the same QB that lit up the North Carolina defense last year. This year's UNC DB's do not have the experience that last year's DB's did. This year's UNC Defensive Line only has one returning veteran and that is Ethan Farmer. LB Norkeithus Otis making his return will aid the Tarheel defense. The 'Heels defense has had two weeks to prepare for this as well as having the benefit of being able to watch the game last week. UNC's offense has not exactly set the College Football world on fire either. The Tarheel offense was shutout against San Diego State in the first half of their game. They have a young offensive line going up against the Swamp Monster and a blitzing ECU defense. I think UNC also needs to settle on one or two Running Backs to carry the load. This three or four Running Back system is not allowing the Backs to develop any kind of rhythm with their Offensive Line. My top two are T.J. Logan and Elijah Hood. I think the Tarheels need to roll QB Marquise Williams out and get him out of the pocket and on the edge and let him make some plays.

Two And Oh

I was talking about the San Diego State-North Carolina game with my roommate this morning and he made the comment "At least they won..." When is a win a loss? If the first two games has taught this Tarheel fan anything it's that the Tarheels defense has some major weaknesses. San Diego State kept running up the middle last night to the tune of 168 yards rushing for the game. San Diego State had 509 yards total offense although the 'Heels came away with three interceptions. The 'Heels did not mount much pressure on the QB and only have one sack in two games but have came away with 9 turnovers. I have never been a big fan of the 4-2-5 defense. It might be time for Coach Fedora to try some thing more conventional like a 4-3, especially against running teams. The 'Heels are are not getting any pressure up the middle and the 4-2-5 is not creating the mayhem it is designed to. The 'Heels defense has given up 56 points in two games and they have East carolina, Clemson, Notre Dame, and Virginia Tech as their next 4 opponents. As a lifelong Tarheel fan, I am celebrating the fact that the 'Heels are 2-0. I also realize the team has a lot of work cut out for them.

Versus San Diego State

San Diego State's Defensive game plan of sending six or seven men on every play with "exotic" blitz packages could be a recipe for disaster for the North Carolina Tarheels young offensive line. Marquise Williams, Starting Quarterback at North Carolina, promises a different result if San Diego State blitzes. SDSU gave up over 31 points a game last year so I don't know if they have a different Defensive Coordinator or a different defensive system but that is why they play the game. The chess match has already begun. The Tarheels use many running backs and they need to be well versed in blitz pick up. The 'Heels threw short last week- and then some. Ryan Switzer had 8 catches but only 43 yards receiving. The 'Heels only had 235 yards receiving on 29 receptions. They need to try to get the ball down the field. It was probably a tough week in practice. The 'Heels have a game under their belt, a lot of players saw their first collegiate action, and they have the #21 ranking in the country. The San Diego State game is what I like to call a "trap" game. The 'Heels should win but it is a game they will lose if they do not play better than last week.