Rivals.com has been rolling through the 120 Division I-A teams which finds the Heels ranked 28th for the upcoming season.
OVERALL OUTLOOK
North Carolina seemed ready to play for an ACC title midway through last season in Davis’ second year on the job, but stumbled down the stretch with three losses in its last four games. The Tar Heels could be better this season, but so is the rest of the Coastal Division. North Carolina needs Yates to stay healthy and must get breakthrough seasons from at least a couple of receivers. The Tar Heels might be good enough to win the Atlantic Division, but they instead have to fight it out with Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech and Miami in the Coastal. That’s the main reason they’re probably a year away from making a serious run at the ACC championship.
Interestingly enough, 28th sounds about right considering we have zero idea how the receiving corps is going to perform and if T.J. Yates can be more accurate with his throws than he has been. Yates also has to stay injury free which he has yet to do. On the way to giving UNC a C-plus on offense, Rivals fails to make mention of the running backs. Shaun Draughn and Ryan Houston will be a key part of the offense. The way this article reads it gives the impression UNC will be chucking the football every down and if the receivers do not pan out then life will end shortly thereafter or when basketball season starts, whichever comes first. Not that I do not think the receivers are a huge concern, they are. However no college offense can be solely dependent on throwing the football. Draughn and Houston will need to be productive or else opposing defenses are going to fluster Greg Little and Dwight Jones in the secondary while trying their best to give Mike Paulus some quality time at QB.
The defense is expected to be the bread and butter of the 2009 Tar Heels with nine returning starters. The problem is I am not convinced the defensive coaching is all that. I still get pissed off when I recall the way UNC handed UVa the win in Charlottesville with that inept prevent defense. Rivals also makes a fair point about the lack of QB pressure from the Tar Heel front seven. Opposing QBs have had time to order pizza and get it delivered because Everett Withers decided that it was better to not pressure the QB so much. That needs to change and hopefully it will since most of the defensive coaches have been replaced for various reasons. That still does not speak to whatever scheme Withers decides to use but if continue to see the same no QB pressure, prevent crap we saw last season, Butch Davis might want to think about a personnel change. The defense will be the strength of this team because of the experience residing on the side of the ball which means it is a known commodity. The offense is less so and if UNC struggles to score points, the hope will rest on a defense to keep the other team out of the endzone.
The schedule is not particularly daunting but having to I-AA teams will do that. And contrary to Rivals ability to actuall research UNC’s past schedule, the Heels have played ECU twice since 2001.
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In addition to Draughn and Houston, expect Jamal Womble to get some carries. Another aspect of the Heels offense will be the end around type plays for Little, passes to the flat for Elzy (which was an overlooked injury last year) and also lots of plays to the TE’s. The Heels cannot afford any injuries to the OL.
I do look for some changes in the way we play D, due to the speed and size up front and with the LB’s. I’m looking for Charles Brown to emerge at one of the corners (he was hurt last year too). I see no need NOT to pressure QB’s this year.
Who are the TEs going to be?
What made me maddest about the lack of consistent pressure on opposing QBs last year was the fact that the few times plays were called to put pressure on the QB, the front 7 or a blitzing DB pretty much always did exactly what they were supposed to do and the play worked beautifully. Obviously the players had the ability to carry out the plays successfully but i think that the coaches failed to put them in a position to succeed with the pansy plays they kept calling.
I expect the run game to have a huge year. An old school huge year. A Natrone Means type of year. I’m excited, can’t wait for the season to start.
THF, I couldn’t agree more with the frustrations in the defensive schemes last year. On one hand, you had a pretty young, hungry, ballhawking unit that got after the ball with some ferocity we haven’t seen since the Mack Brown years, but then see the defensive line the only part of the team trying to get the QB while the LB’s were consitently dropping back in coverage. Looking at things in reverse, maybe Davis and Withers actually believed that they didn’t have the personnel to apply consistent, in your face pressure on the QB. However, that doesn’t excuse giving UVa a game in Charlottesville and my dad and brother an excuse for getting in my face after the game.
As far as the offense goes, I’m not all that concerned about the receivers. A lot of UNC’s passing game seemes to be geared on timing rather than heaving the ball deep every down. Of course having Tate, Nicks, and Foster helps, but I think Yates can do a ton of damage with those quick routes to Little, and if Jones is anywhere the threat that I keep hearing about, Yates can have a huge year and open up the running game.
I’m not saying UNC will compete for a national title, but I believe 28th is a little low. I anticipate UNC hanging around the last two or three weeks in contention for a division title, and another berth in the Tire Bowl.
S&PP Look for Pianalto and Christian Wilson to be the primary receiving TE’s with Barham and Taylor used to block.
Is the Pianalto move from Flex Back, or whatever e was recruited as complete? I remember being impressed with him last year but confused about his position. BMFD made a big deal out of him coming in as some kind of hybrid FB/TE position, but never using him like he talked about before the season. He’s a big boy with speed and pretty good hands.
I’m excited about UNC football and look forward to a great year. I think the running game will be an important part of this season as well adding more balance to the offense will certainly help. As to the incidentals – we have a pretty good schedule, an excellent bye week and Thursday night football – all good things in my mind.
Looking back at 2008 in many ways can be deceptive when you look at the number of players we lost to injury and those that departed to the NFL. Last year was a tale of two maybe three teams with the loss of Yates, Tate then Paschal. Still the program moves forward and the teams reflect more and more the stated goals of the Davis, the work ethic and physical stamina he requires.
I’m looking for a few improvements that would make a big difference in the 2009 season:
Run the ball with more consistency and without the turnovers we experienced at the end of the year.
Hold the lead in the fourth quarter, prevent scoring by the opponent.
Beat NC State in their house.
That said, it is pretty cool to see the energy and excitement that Butch Davis has generated in the program with the fans, students, recruits and level of animosity. You know you are doing something right when your opponents tag you as BMFD.
The addition to the stadium is almost complete and looks to be a nice improvement is only for the additional shade it will generate. The stadium is presently undergoing some much needed maintenance including painting of the railings, seating repair and electrical work on the lighting. Aside from that the field looks better than I have ever seen it at any time in the summer and that’s always a good sign.
Go Heels!
I need the Heels to make some waves nationally so I can quit hearing about the SOONERS! SOONERS! SOONERS! on ESPN all the time. (p.s. I live in Tulsa)