UNC Football: Key Takeaways From NC State Game
While there’s no doubt the 35-7 loss in Chapel Hill to NC State was tough, the most important part of that game are the lessons UNC brings back with them. It’s how the Tar Heels bounce back for their bowl game as well as next year. Chapel Hill has many takeaways to focus on following this game.
1) UNC Must Commit To The Run Game
The Tar Heels were absolutely buried by NC State in the rushing yards , 388 to 30, on Saturday. This has to change next season. There is no college football team in existence that will survive producing less than eight percent of the opposition’s rush production on a game-by-game basis. It’s a recipe for disaster. Chapel Hill must improve on that.
Listen, running backs Romar Morris and T.J. Logan had four and five carries, respectively. That’s not going to get it done. There is not enough dedication to running the ball by the Tar Heels coaching staff. It’s understandable that Larry Fedora and company desire to be a run-and-gun offense—that’s perfectly fine. Nine carries are not going to get it done. There must be more of a balance or UNC will continue to be digging itself out of a hole by halftime for the foreseeable future.
2) Defensively, Chapel Hill Must Stop The Run
NC State’s quarterback Jacoby Brissett only threw the ball 11 times. He completed 9 of those passes for 66 yards and 3 touchdowns. Basically, every third of Brissett’s completions ended with a Wolfpack player finding the end zone. That’s flat out unacceptable and mind-blowing at the same time. If Larry Fedora saw this disturbing trend playing out, why didn’t he stop it? The answer is simple: Brissett’s touchdowns are an effect of the running game.
Jacoby’s low-production, high-efficient numbers are a direct result of the, oh, 380 some-odd rushing yards. What didn’t help UNC’s cause was the fact that Jacoby also ran the ball 14 times for 167 yards and a touchdown—and an embarrassing 60 yard scamper. State running back Shadrach Thornton also threw in 28 carries for 161 yards and a touchdown.
Going forward, UNC absolutely has to turn this run defense around if they plan to control the clock and have any semblance of a chance to win a football game. Chapel Hill must make run defense a priority going forward. Larry Fedora’s career depends on it.
3) Playing From Behind Is Detrimental To UNC’s Health
While Marquise Williams has played big this season, Chapel Hill must know its own genetic makeup to put itself in the best position to win. The Tar Heels just do not have the offensive firepower on its current roster to overcome 21-0 point halftime-deficits on a consistent basis. It’s important to make it a priority for future UNC football teams that they do not fall behind early.
If Chapel Hill falls behind like that, the opposition tends to want to run the ball—which UNC struggles to stop—and the Tar Heels must throw their run game out the window. It completely flips the scrip for the boys in blue, much to their detriment. UNC has to prioritize not just scoring, but when they produce said points.
There are many things Chapel Hill has to work in the off-season. Much of the plaguing issues UNC has been trying to hide over the course of 2014 came to light quickly and harshly on Saturday. The Tar Heels must use the summer as an important incubation period if they hope to have a shot at the ACC title next season.