The North Carolina Tarheels proved they are ready for prime time with a 26-19 win over #23 Pittsburgh on the road in front of a national audience on ESPN. Both teams were 6-1 headed into the game and undefeated in the ACC Coastal Division. Although North Carolina had beaten Georgia Tech on the road earlier in the season, many considered Pittsburgh North Carolina's first road test and the Tarheels built a fairly sizable halftime lead and held on for the win.
Tarheels Quarterback Marquise Williams set the tone early in the second quarter when he dropped back to pass, stiff armed an onrushing Pittsburgh lineman while being grabbed by the facemask, and threw a strike to Wide Receiver Ryan Switzer who had slipped behind the Pittsburgh defense for a 71 yard touchdown and a 10-3 lead. In watching the replay, I noticed that Williams readjusted his facemask before throwing the pass. That is cool under pressure.
The Tarheel defense under the leadership of defensive coordinator Gene Chizik is finally starting to get the credit they deserve. Chizik has instilled an "assignment first" philosophy and this has resulted in a "bend but don't break" defense. They displayed a much better pass rush against Pittsburgh and came up with five sacks nearly matching their season total of six. The Tarheel defensive backs also set a season high for passes defensed with eight as Des Lawrence and M.J. Stewart continually broke up Pittsburgh pass attempts.
The win puts North Carolina at 7-1 on the season and should boost them into the top 25. The Tarheels haven't had this much excitement surrounding their football team since the Mack Brown era ended in 1997. The Tarheels are not just playing for a bowl game this season (they already have more than enough wins to qualify), they are playing for a spot in the ACC Championship game, a championship they have not won since Lawrence Taylor roamed the field at Kenan Stadium.
Friday, October 30, 2015
Monday, October 26, 2015
Special Teams
Inside Carolina put o a stat today that really surprised me about the Tarheel Special Teams. Between Corbin Daly and Hunter Lent, the Tarheels have punted the fewest times in the NCAA with 18 and they are also the only team in college football that has not allowed a punt return. Combine that with Ryan Switzer 14.4 yard punt return average (it would be much higher if not for the "phantom" fair catch against Wake Forest) and T.J. Logan's kickoff returns and UNC has one of the top ranked Special Team's units in the nation.
Larry Fedora has always emphasized special teams play since he was introduced as North Carolina's football coach and that is how many players earn playing time as freshman by cutting their teeth on special teams. That is how Wide Receiver Mack Hollins first caught the attention of the coaches and Coach Fedora has never been afraid to use his starters on these units.
Several games a season are won or lost with special teams play. The Georgia Tech-Florida State game and the Michigan State-Michigan are recent examples. The first involved a blocked field goal and the second involved a botched punt attempt. Both games were played out on the national stage and both were the deciding score in the game and occurred on the last play.
Larry Fedora has always emphasized special teams play since he was introduced as North Carolina's football coach and that is how many players earn playing time as freshman by cutting their teeth on special teams. That is how Wide Receiver Mack Hollins first caught the attention of the coaches and Coach Fedora has never been afraid to use his starters on these units.
Several games a season are won or lost with special teams play. The Georgia Tech-Florida State game and the Michigan State-Michigan are recent examples. The first involved a blocked field goal and the second involved a botched punt attempt. Both games were played out on the national stage and both were the deciding score in the game and occurred on the last play.
Sunday, October 25, 2015
The Longest Drive
The North Carolina Tarheels won ugly against the Virginia Cavaliers or as Head Coach Larry Fedora described it, a very "sloppy" game to improve to 6-1 on the season and 3-0 in the Coastal Division with a showdown Thursday night against and fellow Coastal unbeaten, #25 Pittsburgh.
The Tarheels turned the ball over twice in the first half and had 135 yards in penalties for the game. These penalties most often came at the most inopportune times and the penalties either brought back long Tarheel plays or killed momentum and on the defensive side of the ball, extended Virginia drives and kept the Cavaliers in the game. The Tarheels came up with five turnovers of their own in the second half (two fumble recoveries and three interceptions) to keep the Cavaliers in check.
The Tarheels were only up 16-13 when they received the ball at their own seven yard line after a punt bounced off the leg of Tarheel defensive back and punt return blocker Mike Hughes. Ryan Switzer alertly dove on the ball to keep the possession for the Tarheels. What happened next may have been a record for a Larry Fedora coached Tarheel team. The Tarheels went 93 yards in 13 plays and consumed 5:58 off the clock to give the Tarheels a 23-13 lead. If the Tarheels have a drive that lasts more than two minutes, it is considered a long drive. The Tarheels used short passes from Marquise Williams and a running game that largely featured Williams and Elijah Hood to cover this much ground.
Williams finished with 297 yards of total offense (226 yards passing, 71 rushing) and Hood finished with his fourth 100 yard rushing game on the season, totaling 101 yards and two touchdowns. It was a win for the Tarheels in what I considered a "trap" game and it doesn't matter if they won ugly or won sloppy, the Tarheels still won.
The Tarheels turned the ball over twice in the first half and had 135 yards in penalties for the game. These penalties most often came at the most inopportune times and the penalties either brought back long Tarheel plays or killed momentum and on the defensive side of the ball, extended Virginia drives and kept the Cavaliers in the game. The Tarheels came up with five turnovers of their own in the second half (two fumble recoveries and three interceptions) to keep the Cavaliers in check.
The Tarheels were only up 16-13 when they received the ball at their own seven yard line after a punt bounced off the leg of Tarheel defensive back and punt return blocker Mike Hughes. Ryan Switzer alertly dove on the ball to keep the possession for the Tarheels. What happened next may have been a record for a Larry Fedora coached Tarheel team. The Tarheels went 93 yards in 13 plays and consumed 5:58 off the clock to give the Tarheels a 23-13 lead. If the Tarheels have a drive that lasts more than two minutes, it is considered a long drive. The Tarheels used short passes from Marquise Williams and a running game that largely featured Williams and Elijah Hood to cover this much ground.
Williams finished with 297 yards of total offense (226 yards passing, 71 rushing) and Hood finished with his fourth 100 yard rushing game on the season, totaling 101 yards and two touchdowns. It was a win for the Tarheels in what I considered a "trap" game and it doesn't matter if they won ugly or won sloppy, the Tarheels still won.
Sunday, October 18, 2015
Taking It To The Defense
Wake Forest came into Chapel Hill with the 15th ranked defense in college football and left Kenan Stadium with the Tar Heel and the rest of North Carolina's foot in their ass to the final score of 50-14.
North Carolina got off to a rough start with Quarterback Marquise Williams throwing interceptions in the their first two drives and a three-and-out on their third drive. Wake Forest's defense was playing in your face aggressive defense and I was thinking "This is going to be a long game." The 'Heels got rolling in the second quarter with a long touchdown pass from Williams to Wide Receiver Mack Hollins and the Tarheels went on to score 29 points in the quarter to lead 29-14 at halftime.
There are times that I wonder if Tarheel coaches even know that Running Back Elijah Hood is standing in the backfield. He had eight carries for 101 yards and a long touchdown run but there was really only one series in the game that he was featured. Hood is well on his way to a thousand yard season and he doesn't even get 15 carries a game.
Freshman phenom (can you call a football player that?) and defensive lineman Jalen Dalton got his first action of his Tarheel career and had four tackles. The downside to him playing is that the Tarheels had to remove his red shirt because of injuries to the interior of the defensive line. Dalton was very active and Dalton said after the game "it's just football."
The light has come on for Senior Linebackers Shakeel Rashad and Junior Gnonkonde as Rashad has had an excellent season and Gnonkonde had the best game of his career against Wake Forest with nine tackles and two sacks and was all over the field. He was a disruptive force. I believe Rashad and Gnonkonde are both thriving under defensive coordinator Gene Chizik because of his return to the more traditional 4-3 defense. I don't think anyone thrived in the last couple of seasons playing the 4-2-5.
North Carolina got off to a rough start with Quarterback Marquise Williams throwing interceptions in the their first two drives and a three-and-out on their third drive. Wake Forest's defense was playing in your face aggressive defense and I was thinking "This is going to be a long game." The 'Heels got rolling in the second quarter with a long touchdown pass from Williams to Wide Receiver Mack Hollins and the Tarheels went on to score 29 points in the quarter to lead 29-14 at halftime.
There are times that I wonder if Tarheel coaches even know that Running Back Elijah Hood is standing in the backfield. He had eight carries for 101 yards and a long touchdown run but there was really only one series in the game that he was featured. Hood is well on his way to a thousand yard season and he doesn't even get 15 carries a game.
Freshman phenom (can you call a football player that?) and defensive lineman Jalen Dalton got his first action of his Tarheel career and had four tackles. The downside to him playing is that the Tarheels had to remove his red shirt because of injuries to the interior of the defensive line. Dalton was very active and Dalton said after the game "it's just football."
The light has come on for Senior Linebackers Shakeel Rashad and Junior Gnonkonde as Rashad has had an excellent season and Gnonkonde had the best game of his career against Wake Forest with nine tackles and two sacks and was all over the field. He was a disruptive force. I believe Rashad and Gnonkonde are both thriving under defensive coordinator Gene Chizik because of his return to the more traditional 4-3 defense. I don't think anyone thrived in the last couple of seasons playing the 4-2-5.
Saturday, October 17, 2015
Wake Forest Brings The Defense
The North Carolina Tarheels offense will face their biggest test of the season when they face Wake Forest's defense and their exotic blitz packages. Wake Forest beat Boston College 3-0 last Saturday and in today's era of high scoring offenses, that is unheard of. Wake Forest's Defense is highly ranked nationally and North Carolina needs to make them pay for their blitzes.
North Carolina has won four in a row and they are favored to win their next two games over Wake Forest and Virginia and become bowl eligible before they face the most difficult part of their schedule. The 'Heels have the Coastal Division title within their sights and this could be the year that Larry Fedora's team turns the corner from pretender to contender.
North Carolina has won four in a row and they are favored to win their next two games over Wake Forest and Virginia and become bowl eligible before they face the most difficult part of their schedule. The 'Heels have the Coastal Division title within their sights and this could be the year that Larry Fedora's team turns the corner from pretender to contender.
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
A Comeback For The Ages
The North Carolina Tarheels had a historic comeback win against Georgia Tech coming back from a 21-0 deficit and grinding out a 38-31 win at Georgia Tech. Marquise Williams posted a stat line against Georgia Tech that probably has not been seen at North Carolina since the days of Charlie "Choo Choo" Justice. Williams led the team in passing, rushing, and receiving and he scored a touchdown rushing and receiving.
Larry Fedora outcoached Georgia Tech's Paul Johnson. North Carolina beat Georgia Tech at their own game, rushing for over 200 yards and playing a great defensive second half. The defense could not stop Georgia Tech in the first half until about four minutes to go in the first half. North Carolina scored two quick times to pull to within 21-14 and the momentum quickly shifted.
I applaud Fedora's onside kick early in the second half. He had the momentum and went for the throat of Georgia Tech. The defense allowed less than two yards a carry in the second half and Linebackers Cayson Collins and Jeff Schoettmer were all over the place during the pivotal defensive stops. Collins had the best game of his young career with 10 total tackles and Schoettmer, the fifth year senior, matched that total.
North Carolina proved a lot on this day. They can win a big game on the road, they can overcome adversity, and this is not the same Tarheel defense from the past several seasons. Their defense kept them in the game and their offense rose to the occasion and Coach Fedora showed no fear in going to his bag of tricks at just the right time. The Wide Receiver pass from Quinshad Davis to Marquise Williams was a beautiful call and executed to perfection and I believe that was the play that finished off Georgia Tech.
Larry Fedora outcoached Georgia Tech's Paul Johnson. North Carolina beat Georgia Tech at their own game, rushing for over 200 yards and playing a great defensive second half. The defense could not stop Georgia Tech in the first half until about four minutes to go in the first half. North Carolina scored two quick times to pull to within 21-14 and the momentum quickly shifted.
I applaud Fedora's onside kick early in the second half. He had the momentum and went for the throat of Georgia Tech. The defense allowed less than two yards a carry in the second half and Linebackers Cayson Collins and Jeff Schoettmer were all over the place during the pivotal defensive stops. Collins had the best game of his young career with 10 total tackles and Schoettmer, the fifth year senior, matched that total.
North Carolina proved a lot on this day. They can win a big game on the road, they can overcome adversity, and this is not the same Tarheel defense from the past several seasons. Their defense kept them in the game and their offense rose to the occasion and Coach Fedora showed no fear in going to his bag of tricks at just the right time. The Wide Receiver pass from Quinshad Davis to Marquise Williams was a beautiful call and executed to perfection and I believe that was the play that finished off Georgia Tech.
Saturday, October 3, 2015
Playing Georgia Tech
As a diehard Tarheel fan, I really hate seeing Georgia Tech on the schedule. Georgia Tech Paul Johnson's team runs the triple option offense and unless the 'Heels play one of the military academies, they are only going to see that offense once a season. Georgia Tech has put up video game like numbers on North Carolina's defense in the three seasons that Larry Fedora has been head coach at North Carolina. Georgia Tech started the season ranked in the top 15 but have lost two in a row, both on the road, but return home for this game. This game could go a long way in deciding the Coastal Division title.
In North Carolina's 48-43 win last season, Georgia Tech had over 600 yards of offense including almost 400 yards rushing. North Carolina has since switched to a more traditional 4-3 defense and the most points Gene Chizik's defense has given up this season is 17 against South Carolina.
This is the type of game that North Carolina's up tempo offense works against them. Georgia Tech is capable of going the length of the field and burning six to seven minutes off the clock. North Carolina's scoring drives only last two to three minutes on a long drive. North Carolina cannot afford to many three and outs in order to give their defense some rest. North Carolina's front four has to hold their own in this game and limit Georgia Tech's explosive plays and force a few three and outs of their own. On a wet field, North Carolina needs to force some turnovers and make Georgia Tech put the ball on the ground. I do believe that a wet field favors a team that can run the ball and North Carolina's running game has been much improved this season.
North Carolina's Marquise Williams put up 390 yards passing last season with four TD's and while he may not need those types of numbers, he needs to have a solid error free game in order to give North Carolina chance. It will be interesting to see how he responds after being pulled from last week's Delaware game. I look for North Carolina to try to establish Elijah Hood early on and try to open up the play action passes later on in the game.
In North Carolina's 48-43 win last season, Georgia Tech had over 600 yards of offense including almost 400 yards rushing. North Carolina has since switched to a more traditional 4-3 defense and the most points Gene Chizik's defense has given up this season is 17 against South Carolina.
This is the type of game that North Carolina's up tempo offense works against them. Georgia Tech is capable of going the length of the field and burning six to seven minutes off the clock. North Carolina's scoring drives only last two to three minutes on a long drive. North Carolina cannot afford to many three and outs in order to give their defense some rest. North Carolina's front four has to hold their own in this game and limit Georgia Tech's explosive plays and force a few three and outs of their own. On a wet field, North Carolina needs to force some turnovers and make Georgia Tech put the ball on the ground. I do believe that a wet field favors a team that can run the ball and North Carolina's running game has been much improved this season.
North Carolina's Marquise Williams put up 390 yards passing last season with four TD's and while he may not need those types of numbers, he needs to have a solid error free game in order to give North Carolina chance. It will be interesting to see how he responds after being pulled from last week's Delaware game. I look for North Carolina to try to establish Elijah Hood early on and try to open up the play action passes later on in the game.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)