Before the North Carolina Tarheels started their 2017 college football season, most experts agreed that the North Carolina Tarheels defense would have to carry the team until the offense got some game time under their belts, depth charts were decided, and a few playmakers were found.
Two games into the season, the offense has played well enough to win both games but the defense has regressed to its pre-Gene Chizik days and is giving up 41 points a game. Granted, the last game was against Louisville and reigning Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson, but he torched the Tarheels for 525 total yards by himself and 706 total yards to Louisville. In the first game against California, redshirt freshman quarterback Ross Bowers lit the Tarheels defense up for 363 yards through the air and four touchdowns.
The defensive talent is there for the Tarheels. They have a good mixture of veterans and youth in the defensive backfield with M.J. Stewart, Donnie Miles, Myles Dorn, Patrice Rene, and K.J. Sails. The linebackers are also a veteran group led by junior Andre Smith. A lot of veterans on the defensive front as well with Dajuan Drennon, Malik Carney, Jalen Dalton, and Jeremiah Clarke among the notables.
When defensive coordinator Gene Chizik left the North Carolina Tarheels after last season, John Papuchis was promoted from within so the defensive changes should not have been many. A more aggressive defensive was promised and that "aggressiveness" has resulted in three sacks and two interceptions. The two interceptions already doubles the Tarheels interception total from last season.
The Tarheels have blitzed more in the first two games and one example of this is a cornerback blitz by Patrice Rene on Lamar Jackson during the Louisville game. The blitz was perfectly timed and Patrice Rene should have had the sack. Jackson sidestepped Rene and threw a 75 yard touchdown pass. The Tarheels defense has been unable to get off the field on third down. The opposing teams are converting over 50% over their third down opportunities in the two games.
The reasons behind the Tarheels struggles on defense could be classified as "the usual." "Missed assignments" and "lack of communication" are popular reasons given but as a Tarheel fan, there is nothing more frustrating than watching the Tarheels take a 28-27 lead over nbationally ranked Louisville going into the fourth and watching it disappear within minutes.
Showing posts with label Gene Chizik. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gene Chizik. Show all posts
Thursday, September 14, 2017
Friday, April 15, 2016
Tarheels Football Going Forward Part One
The North Carolina Tarheels football team had their best season in 2015 since the Mack Brown era in the late 1990's. The Tarheels finished 11-3, they won the Coastal Division for the first time and made their first appearance in the ACC Championship game and they made an appearance in the Russell Athletic Bowl against Baylor. The Tarheels offense set numerous team records with Offensive Coordinator Seth Littrell calling the plays and the defense made great strides under Defensive Coordinator Gene Chizik.
Keeping continuity in the coaching staff is important in maintaining the excellence of a program and the Tarheels were able to keep most of their coaching staff intact for 2016. They did lose offensive coordinator Seth Littrell who went to the University of North Texas to be their head coach but managed to hold on to Chizik. I believed Chizik would be gone because of his previous head coaching experience and because of the improvement in the Tarheels defense.
The biggest question for the Tarheels on offense is who the backup quarterback is going to be. Quarterback Mitch Trubisky has not been anointed as the starting quarterback yet but barring injury or he forgets what a football looks like between now and next September 3rd when they take on Georgia. Sophomore Caleb Henderson got some reps last season as the third string quarterback but only had one pass attempt. The Tarheels also have redshirt Nathan Elliot and incoming freshman and North Carolina State Player of the Year Chaz Surratt waiting in the wings.
Keeping continuity in the coaching staff is important in maintaining the excellence of a program and the Tarheels were able to keep most of their coaching staff intact for 2016. They did lose offensive coordinator Seth Littrell who went to the University of North Texas to be their head coach but managed to hold on to Chizik. I believed Chizik would be gone because of his previous head coaching experience and because of the improvement in the Tarheels defense.
The biggest question for the Tarheels on offense is who the backup quarterback is going to be. Quarterback Mitch Trubisky has not been anointed as the starting quarterback yet but barring injury or he forgets what a football looks like between now and next September 3rd when they take on Georgia. Sophomore Caleb Henderson got some reps last season as the third string quarterback but only had one pass attempt. The Tarheels also have redshirt Nathan Elliot and incoming freshman and North Carolina State Player of the Year Chaz Surratt waiting in the wings.
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 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.
Sunday, September 20, 2015
Records Were Broken
It was a record breaking day for a couple of the Tarheels yesterday against Big 10 opponent Illinois in the Tarheels 48-14 win. Wide Receiver Quinshad Davis caught his 22nd career touchdown pass, breaking a tie with Hakeem Nicks, and Punt Returner Ryan Switzer had 168 punt return yards to break the Tarheel record for one game held by Bud Carson. That record had stood since 1951. Switzer had a 71 yard punt return and he closed out the scoring with an 85 yard return in the fourth quarter.
With the exception of an interception by Quarterback Marquise Williams, the Tarheels played a great game. The most notable improvements are in their defense and their special teams. The defense was flying all over the field and Donnie Miles, Jr., and Shakeel Rashad had some wicked hits on Illinois wide receivers and running backs. I am impressed with Rashad's ability to diagnose plays. He sniffed out a wide receiver screen and crushed the wide receiver for about a five yard loss. Miles was in the backfield on running back sweeps before the running back could start making his move. Gene Chizik has made a big difference with his scheme and you can tell the coaching staff and players have been watching some film.
Marquise Williams and Elijah Hood both had over one hundred yards rushing and Williams had over 200 yards passing and two touchdowns. North Carolina seems more focused on running the ball this year and Hood has had over one hundred yards rushing in two games already. After the first game against South Carolina, the Tarheels game plan has been more balanced.
Nick Weiler hit another 48 yard field goal and is five for five this season with a pair of 48 yarders. Fedora is confident enough in the kicking game to send Weiler out there this year in any kicking situation. You can tell that Weiler put in the work this past off season.
With the exception of an interception by Quarterback Marquise Williams, the Tarheels played a great game. The most notable improvements are in their defense and their special teams. The defense was flying all over the field and Donnie Miles, Jr., and Shakeel Rashad had some wicked hits on Illinois wide receivers and running backs. I am impressed with Rashad's ability to diagnose plays. He sniffed out a wide receiver screen and crushed the wide receiver for about a five yard loss. Miles was in the backfield on running back sweeps before the running back could start making his move. Gene Chizik has made a big difference with his scheme and you can tell the coaching staff and players have been watching some film.
Marquise Williams and Elijah Hood both had over one hundred yards rushing and Williams had over 200 yards passing and two touchdowns. North Carolina seems more focused on running the ball this year and Hood has had over one hundred yards rushing in two games already. After the first game against South Carolina, the Tarheels game plan has been more balanced.
Nick Weiler hit another 48 yard field goal and is five for five this season with a pair of 48 yarders. Fedora is confident enough in the kicking game to send Weiler out there this year in any kicking situation. You can tell that Weiler put in the work this past off season.
Friday, June 26, 2015
Back From Hiatus
I am back writing about Tarheel sports after a three month long hiatus. The basketball team's season ended with a loss to eventual runner up Wisconsin, Jean Pierre Tokoto decided to forego his Senior season and enter the NBA draft, where he was selected in the second round, #58 overall, by the Philadelphia 76ers. I have always said his athleticism reminded me of a young Julius Erving.
Spring Football practice came and went and starting Quarterback Marquise Williams missed Spring football recovering from an injury. Backup Mitch Trubisky got a lot of reps and got some quality playing time last year as a Redshirt Freshman. Trubisky had 459 yards passing and threw for five Touchdown's. The Tarheels have a lot of experience on the Offensive Line, Running Back, and Wide Receiver but the Tarheels season may go as far as their new 4-3 defense under new Defensive Coordinator Gene Chizik will take them. Several True Freshmen will have a chance to be in the two-deep depth chart when Fall practice begins.
The NCAA is hard after North Carolina again and the phrase "lack of institutional control" keeps popping up. It seems that the NCAA has already tried this case one time (I believe in legal terms it is called "double jeopardy") but it seems that the NCAA will not rest until they can pin something on UNC that sticks. The education is there for the taking and it is up to the players to take it. I am sure they all have professional dreams but the phrase "student athlete" is used for a reason. Several of the top ranked teams have teams with one or more future felons on their roster and how is that not a lack of institutional control? Jameis Winston should have been kicked off the team well before he won the Heisman.
Spring Football practice came and went and starting Quarterback Marquise Williams missed Spring football recovering from an injury. Backup Mitch Trubisky got a lot of reps and got some quality playing time last year as a Redshirt Freshman. Trubisky had 459 yards passing and threw for five Touchdown's. The Tarheels have a lot of experience on the Offensive Line, Running Back, and Wide Receiver but the Tarheels season may go as far as their new 4-3 defense under new Defensive Coordinator Gene Chizik will take them. Several True Freshmen will have a chance to be in the two-deep depth chart when Fall practice begins.
The NCAA is hard after North Carolina again and the phrase "lack of institutional control" keeps popping up. It seems that the NCAA has already tried this case one time (I believe in legal terms it is called "double jeopardy") but it seems that the NCAA will not rest until they can pin something on UNC that sticks. The education is there for the taking and it is up to the players to take it. I am sure they all have professional dreams but the phrase "student athlete" is used for a reason. Several of the top ranked teams have teams with one or more future felons on their roster and how is that not a lack of institutional control? Jameis Winston should have been kicked off the team well before he won the Heisman.
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