UNC Film Room: Notre Dame Review

Hey y’all, my name is Wes “Frat” Patterson and I’m fired up to join the KeepingItHeel.com squad this season. To give you some background, I’m a former offensive lineman who views the game through different lenses than the average fan. I hope that my insight will not only help you understand a bit more behind the Xs and Os of gameplay, but also help you enjoy the game more whether it be from your couch, from the stands or behind a pint at your favorite watering hole.

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I want to start off with emphasizing how much this team has come along since the debacle in Greenville. The youth across the two-deep on this squad continues to grow, and the amount of mental mistakes keeps shrinking week to week. I must applaud this staff for keeping this team’s head up and bringing this group to fight this past weekend in South Bend. This past Saturday’s game reminded me an awful lot of last year’s Thursday night thriller against Miami. This team sprung to an early lead out of the gate, they recovered after a couple of counter punches, but Notre Dame, like Miami, proved to be too much in the end. All in all, I was awfully proud how this team competed and believe, like last year’s Miami game, this game is a stepping stone towards a making a mid to late season run.

With every game there are plays to build on and there are a couple plays that show areas Carolina must continue to improve. Being the mid point of the 2014 campaign I picked a several plays from the past Saturday’s game to highlight the needed improvements going forward but to also applaud the strides made.

First up we’ll look at a couple of plays that showcase phases of the game Carolina must fix

1. Carolina’s interior offensive line needs to get mean, and become more consistent. In games 1-6 the interior has made some good plays (the one that stands out is Lucas Crowley’s block on TJ Thorpe’s touchdown sprint against Clemson) but has failed to form any bit of consistency from the point of attack. The following play highlights that inconsistency

On Carolina’s 4^th drive, the Heels needed to put together a drive to cool off a Notre Dame offense that found some rhythm. Instead, Carolina found themselves in a 3^rd and long situation. While I’m not opposed to the third down call (it was very conservative), I am opposed to Landon Turner’s pad level and his embarrassing. He has to take some pride in scooping the nose guard Isaac Roshell. Roshell played a heck of a game and outclassed Landon Turner and the rest of the interior for the better part of Saturday.

While This offensive line continues to improve,  there were several plays like this where Carolina neglected to solidify the interior. This must get corrected going forward.

1. The breakdowns across the defense have exceeded the number of fingers and toes I have combined. Between missed tackles, neglecting basic technique in the defensive line fits, and taking bad angles, opposing offenses have carved this defense up like a turkey.  First 2^nd half drive for ND: Jailbreak Screen Resulting in a touchdown. ND threw multiple of these at the Carolina defense, this being the worst of those defensed.

Missed tackles at the second level, lineman swarming up field rather than breaking down and following the blockers, and terrible angles by the secondary is a recipe to give up six on these plays. This play is Carolina’s 2014 defensive woes in a nutshell.

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It’s time to focus on the phases of the game that have improved tremendously since week one. These themes are essential for a second half of the season run.

1. Establishing the power run game specifically Elijah Hood.

From Saturday: Following the first forced turnover, Carolina struck quick pounding the rock with the freshman stallion. Hood carried bodies upon bodies on the couple carries as he rumbled into the end zone. The vine above was his first run and it was a beaut. Recipe for success going forward, like I’ve said for weeks now is a steady dose of Elijah Hood. I really hope he comes back strong after getting dinged up this past week. I cannot forget to mention how well the offensive line blocked that play. The HAWGS got after it. Another fine example of what our run needs to become was a 8 yard rumble from Hood in the third quarter.

1. O Line putting a hat on a hat

Excellent job of the O Line putting a hat on a hat, Hood running north and south, and if he breaks that tackle, he’s still running. The offensive line must continue to put a hat on a hat in pass protection, making sure they keep themselves between the rusher and the QB.

1. The defense must sure up tackling plus continue to swarm and gang tackle

The first is Des Lawrence making an excellent break on the ball to sniff out the jet sweep.

Tackling in space, well tackling in general continues to be the Achilles heel of this defense. Des Lawrence kept his head up, wrapped up and drove his legs straight through the ball carrier. The second part of this theme highlights the need to pressure the QB plus terrific pursuit by the defense on a broken play

That play is another fine example of how this defense must continue to pressure the QB for the duration of the ball game. Staub reads the play correctly and cleans house following a nearly perfect escape from Everrett Golson.

At this point last year the rumblings surrounding the program were less than positive. The 2013 squad was challenged with turning things around on a year that was set to be placed on life support. The 2013 bunch was able to take advantage of the opportunities ahead (including a much more favorable schedule), reach and later win a bowl. The 2014 squad faces the same test starting this week against Georgia Tech. Learning from last year mistakes, plus the first half this season, let’s hope this 2014 squad has another turn around in them.

WFP