Gary Hahn's Scouting Report: North Carolina
Gary Hahn's Scouting Report: North Carolina
NC STATE (3-7, 2-5) at NORTH CAROLINA (1-9, 0-6)
DATE: Saturday, November 18, 2006
TIME: Kickoff: 12:00 p.m. (EST) at Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill, NC (60,000)
RADIO: Wolfpack Sports Network. Airtime: 11:00 a.m. (EST)
TELEVISION: Raycom/Lincoln Financial Sports (ACC Network)
OPPONENT?More than three weeks ago when North Carolina football coach John Bunting was given the choice of resigning or being fired he refused to quit. His team has also refused to give up.
Although the record does not show it, Carolina is an improved football team. In the last three weeks, the Tar Heels nearly upset Wake Forest and Georgia Tech while playing a very competitive game at Notre Dame?all this after Bunting was given the ax by the school he loves deeply.
Last Saturday at home, Carolina played extremely hard against Georgia Tech before falling 7-0. The Heels made the Yellow Jackets earn the victory with an inspired defensive performance. However, Carolina was unable to take advantage of its offensive opportunities and Georgia Tech was just good enough to wrap up the ACC?s Coastal Division title (8-2, 6-1).
Tech?s ground attack and third-down efficiency made the difference. Tashard Choice rushed for 119 yards and the game?s only touchdown. He finished with 32 carries and 32 receiving yards as the Yellow Jackets struggled to execute big plays in the passing game.
Quarterback Reggie Ball missed on several deep passes that could have led to more points, including an overthrow to a wide-open James Johnson that would have been an easy fourth quarter touchdown.
Meanwhile, the Heels did a good job defending big play wide receiver Calvin Johnson. The All-American candidate, who caught 9 passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns the previous week at NC State, finished with only three receptions for 13 yards. Johnson was double-teamed most of the afternoon with safety Kareen Taylor providing the extra help.
Ball?s off-day was also reflected in the final stats. He completed 10-of-24 passes for only 78 yards and an interception. Georgia Tech finished with 221 total yards - the fewest allowed by North Carolina's defense this season - but converted 9 of 19 third-down opportunities to extend several drives, including the game-winner.
Choice's 3-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter ended a 20-play, 83-yard march that spanned 10 1/2 minutes. The scoring drive was the longest this season in the ACC in both time of possession and number of plays.
The best scoring chances for the Heels came during consecutive drives in the first half, but quarterback Joe Dailey was picked off twice in the end zone. The redshirt junior received excellent protection, but completed only 13-of-34 passes for 156 yards.
North Carolina?s last chance to tie the game came in the final minute after the Tar Heels regained possession at their 18-yard line. But Dailey?s deep sideline throw on fourth-down for Hakeem Nicks sailed out of bounds, ending any comeback bid. It was one of several downfield passes for UNC that were off the mark.
Nicks finished with 4 catches for 36 yards while teammate Jesse Holley had 5 receptions for only 32 yards. Ronnie McGill led the Heels with 73 rushing yards. UNC was 2-of-13 on third-down as it suffered its seventh straight loss.
Both Carolina and NC State find themselves in a similar situation. Neither can seem to put together a consistent 60-minute game on both sides of the ball and both struggle with turnovers.
The Tar Heels are last in the ACC with a minus-13 turnover margin and their quarterbacks, Dailey and redshirt freshman Cam Sexton, have thrown a league-leading 17 interceptions. NC State?s turnover margin is slightly better at minus-7, but the Wolfpack has won the turnover battle in only 3 games this season
Neither defense has done much to create turnovers either although State has improved in that area in the last two weeks. The Pack and Heels have forced opponents to cough up the ball only 11 times each. That?s the worst mark in the ACC. Stopping the run has been an issue, too. Carolina is last in the league, allowing 189 yards and 29 touchdowns. State is ninth (157) while giving up 14 TDs.
Glimmers of progress for both teams seem to be undone by mistakes that keep happening week after week. For NC State, the offense has struggled with finding the right balance, dropped passes and penalties while the defense has had momentary lapses at critical times. When Carolina?s offense has produced, the defense has not and vice-versa.
Believe it or not, North Carolina?s offense actually has 25 more total passing yards this season than State?s. The Pack?s rushing totals are better, but both teams have struggled to score. The Wolfpack averages 18.5 points a game to the Heels 14.8.
Each program has also changed quarterbacks. In fact, in UNC?s case, the quarterback situation can change from week to week. Dailey (6-1, 190, Jr.) and Sexton have started five games each. They have been used occasionally in rotation.
Dailey, a Nebraska transfer who continues to struggle with making the right decisions in the passing game, has thrown for 926 yards with 9 interceptions while completing 56 percent of his throws. Sexton (6-1, 190) did not see action against Georgia Tech and has not started since a loss at Virginia on Oct. 19th. He has been picked off 8 times and has a 42 percent completion average.
McGill is a solid talent at runningback. The senior (5-11, 220) is seventh in the ACC in rushing (66 ypg.) and has also caught 14 passes for a 10-yard average. Barrington Edwards (6-0, 220, Jr.) is the only other UNC runningback with more than 100 yards rushing. However, he has not played the position since the Virginia game due to a violation of team rules.
The left side of the Heels offensive line is the most talented. Tackle Brian Chacos (6-4, 310, Sr.) and guard Charlston Gray (6-3, 295, Jr.) are both third-year starters. No other Tar Heel linemen approach that pair in experience.
Three receivers, all with big play potential, get the bulk of the work when the Heels put the ball in the air. Sophomore Brooks Foster leads the team in catches (33) while Nicks with 32 receptions has the most receiving yards (543) and touchdowns (3). Holley, the most experienced UNC receiver, has grabbed 31 passes, two for touchdowns.
Against ACC opponents, Carolina?s offense is last in the league at 238 yards a game and the Heels have thrown only 2 touchdown passes (also last in the conference) in league games.
The Tar Heels defense is improving. In ACC games, the Heels have surrendered only 3 touchdown passes and they have the second-best pass defense versus the league (135 ypg.). However, they are last in rushing defense in ACC games (187).
Up front, end Brian Rackley (6-5, 270, Sr.) is the most experienced as a third-year starter, but lately tackles Kentwan Balmer (6-5, 288, Jr.) and Shelton Bynum (6-5, 300, Sr.) have stepped up. The other end, Hilee Taylor (6-3, 241, Jr.) leads the team in sacks (3) and tackles for loss (5).
Senior outside linebacker, Larry Edwards (6-2, 235), is symbolic of the no-quit attitude of the Heels. The third-year starter broke his collarbone October 14th, but returned to play against Georgia Tech. Despite a first-quarter ankle sprain against the Yellow Jackets he managed to post five tackles. The other outside linebacker, Durell Mapp (6-2, 225, Jr.), leads the team in tackles and is 13th l in the ACC in stops (7.0).
The Heels secondary is anchored by senior cornerback Jacoby Watkins (6-0, 180), a third-year starter who has a team-leading 6 pass break-ups. He is the Tar Heels top cover corner. Taylor, another third-year starter, is Carolina?s No. 2 tackler (57) at free safety and has recovered two fumbles.
Senior David Wooldridge has been a steady punter this season for the Heels with a 41.3 average, but has had two attempts blocked. Connor Barth, a junior, has made all six of his field goal attempts and 16-of-18 PATs this season. He is 3-of-3 beyond 40-yards and kicked a career-long 52-yarder against South Florida.
Brandon Tate (6-1, 190, So.) is a very dangerous kick and punt returner and ranks in the ACC?s top-10 in both categories. Against Notre Dame, Tate returned a kickoff 90-yards for a touchdown.
NOTES: This will be the 96th meeting between State and Carolina. The Heels lead the series 62-27-6 and they have won 10 of the last 13 meetings, including two straight...The State-Carolina series the fourth-most played series in the ACC...NC State linebacker, Pat Lowery, is averaging 8.7 tackles a game and is No.4 in the ACC in stops...In the last 2 games, the Pack defense has forced 5 turnovers ?its best performance of the season... Quarterback Daniel Evans will start his 8th career game against UNC. He?s No. 2 in the ACC in passing yards per game (186) versus league opponents and is No. 3 in total offense... All of the Wolfpack?s ACC games have been decided by 8 points or less...State committed only 2 penalties for 10 yards last week at Clemson after recording 27 penalties for 226 yards in the previous 3 games...The Wolfpack ran for 178 yards at Clemson after being held to a total of 128 rushing yards in its previous 2 games...Darrell Blackman, who returned a kickoff 95-yards for a TD against Georgia Tech, is No.1 in the ACC in kick returns (31.4) and No. 6 in punt returns (9.9)...State has not scored a touchdown on its opening drive of the game this season...The Pack has scored only 15 first quarter points in ?06 and only 6 since the opener... NC State?s last overtime game was a 27-21 win at home over Wake Forest in 2004...The Pack is 6-4 in overtime games...Carolina has lost 3 games this season to AP top-25 teams by seven points or less...State has not lost six straight games since the 1984 season...UNC linebacker Durell Mapp has 24 tackles in his last 2 games.
INJURIES--NC State:LB James Martin-Out, wrist surgery; OG/C Leroy Harris-Questionable, ankle sprain; OG Curtis Crouch-Questionable, head injury; TB Andre Brown-Probable, neck strain. UNC?LB Martel Thatch-Questionable; LB Larry Edwards-Probable, ankle sprain.
