Carolina misjudged where it was offensively

By Dane Huffman
Oct 5, 2009

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Two weeks ago, North Carolina looked ready for a huge season. But now we know North Carolina’s victory over East Carolina Sept. 19 was a mirage.

Coach Butch Davis said as much Monday. Davis explained at length at his news conference that the Tar Heels needed to simplify their approach, that the new plays they put in for Virginia didn’t work.

A plan, Davis said, isn’t effective if the players aren’t ready to execute it.

But that led to an obvious follow-up question. The Tar Heels knew from the start of fall drills that they had inexperienced receivers and little depth on the offensive line. Given that, I asked, should Carolina have kept it simple from the beginning?

Davis’ response was telling. The Heels were pleased with what they saw in the opening win over The Citadel. And then came the win over Connecticut and what looked like a breakthrough win over ECU.

But that ECU game made Carolina think it was further along than it was. Given the injuries that had hit by then, the Heels should have kept it simple.

“At that point maybe we should have scaled some of it back,” Davis said. “But then we played so well against East Carolina. So we thought, OK, that’s the measuring stick, let’s push it more. And that might have been a mistake on our part.”

And it was. Carolina’s offense went backward against Georgia Tech and back even further against Virginia. Even defensive end Robert Quinn said Monday that the defenders were urging the offense to pick it up, trying to stay positive as the struggles continued.

The Georgia Tech loss may have eliminated the chance for a big season, but the Virginia loss endangers a bowl season. Carolina has to win seven games this year to reach a bowl because it plays two Football Championship Subdivision teams.

And looking down the schedule, you go, Uh oh …

The Heels should beat Georgia Southern. OK. Then comes Florida State, at Virginia Tech, Duke, Miami, at Boston College and at N.C. State.

Carolina should beat Georgia Southern and get to four wins. But it’s easy to imagine UNC being 6-5 and heading to Raleigh for the season finale.

State will need seven wins as well. And it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Wolfpack at 6-5 when the Tar Heels arrive Nov. 28. Think the Pack will be stoked for that one? Oh man.

Virginia was a game Carolina had to have. The Tar Heels misjudged where they were offensively, and now UNC has a tough climb the rest of the season.

Most Recent Comments

RE: Carolina misjudged where it was offensively

I wasn't expecting a "big" year, but I thought it would be a good year. Obviously, I was wrong. The D is doing their job, but the offense isn't. I wouldn't put that Georgia Southern game in the win column yet. Remember that Virginia lost at home to William & Mary and was giving up over 30 points a game against a pretty weak schedule, but UNC only scored 7 against them. After UNC played that poorly against a winless team that lost to William & Mary, the Georgia Southern game is NOT a sure win.

What's the problem with offense for any team with Carolina in their name anyway? Right now, Carolina football has none, Carolina women's soccer has none, and the Carolina Hurricanes have none.

RE: Carolina misjudged where it was offensively

I thought that UNC would have a solid year. I know the receivers and the OL was young, but Yates has experience. But, he hasn't shown much to date. The D has held them in games. Beating UC was a stretch. ECU didn't have a good game against them. I truly thought they would soundly beat UVA.

RE: Carolina misjudged where it was offensively

Dane - I agree totally and I think you're being a little optimistic. I'm having a difficult time seeing this offense putting enough points on the board to win more than 2 more games. That's including Ga Southern! Duke is the only winnable looking game on the schedule. Do you think they'll be stoked to see a limping Tar Heel team? Yooooou betcha. Hope I'm wrong but I fear the season may be lost.

RE: Carolina misjudged where it was offensively

I don't think Carolina ever looked like it was going to have a "huge season". How could anyone think that if they watched us play UCONN? We were lucky to walk out of there with a win. The only game I felt good about was the ECU game. I thought our offense was progressing in that game. Then the wheels came off. I agree that UVA was a "must win". It was a home game against a weak opponent. To me, that game was the deciding factor in what this season will be like for Carolina.

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Dane Huffman