UNC Film Room: Pittsburgh Recap

After the last whistle echoed Saturday, I clinched my first one reason and one reason alone: Carolina won. What I viewed for roughly 3 and a half hours was not what the common football fan would believe as good football. Instead, I watched an  offense struggle to find any semblance of success for the first 20 minutes of game play and a defense that looked lost at the point of attack in the game’s entirety . I thought this game was over when Pitt’s Chris Blewitt lined up for that first field goal.

Luckily, getting to my second point, Carolina proved me wrong when I deem this team dead in the water. A blocked field goal attempt and Marquise being Marquise, this team, the coaching staff and the crowd finally showed some life. Credit to the offense making the plays needed to win this past shootout, however, I can’t overlook this week’s defensive performance. One that’s been synonymous with an uncomfortable habit stretching since Week 1: Another Poor Defensive Performance

1. The Defensive  Busts and how the Faces Must Change

Saturday I watched defenders blow assignment after assignment, play out of place, and for the majority of the game let a power Pittsburgh rushing attack. Case and point Tim Scott running away from the blocking and Dom Green get hammered by Pitt’s FB. Then, Des Lawrence shows one of the poorest efforts at a tackle I’ve seen all year.

While I can’t overlook how talented James Conner and Tyler Boyd, I also struggled to find noticeable changes Vic Koenning and the defensive staff made to slow down this run heavy Pittsburgh offense. At times we’d see VK shift a LB to add a 5th player to the line, but we rarely saw more than 7 defenders in the box. Carolina struggled to tackle, struggled to get off blocks and struggled to get off the field. This counter play by Pitt is no different. Tim Scott, Jeff Schoetttmer and Dom Green let a combination of poor angles and lack of aggression help the Pittsburgh offensive line pull around and set the edge. Pitt picks up an easy first down.

What truly saved Carolina ‘s defense was the offense finally starting to click mid way through the second quarter. Thursday is Game 11. It’s time for the defensive coaching staff to get rid of these upperclassmen who continue to show lack of discipline in their assignments and from the point of attack. We keep hearing about the talented youth that’s finding its way into this program. Stick them on the field. This defense will not be successful in 2015 unless these players start putting in more minutes. We’ve seen what Cayson Collins can bring with Travis Hughes being a shell of what we thought he’d be. Time to give Allen Artis, MJ Stewart, Joe Jackson, and Nazair Jones more meaningful snaps.

2. This Team Has Not Given Up On the Coaching Staff

This post is not all fire and brimstone towards the coaching staff and select players. I do give credit where credit is due and I have to give credit to a core of this team not giving up when a stat like this is thrown up late in the second quarter. Despite a few sparks I was convinced this offense would continue to struggle thus leaving the defense doomed to stop Pittsburgh’s punishing ground attack.

(Graphic: 19 of 36 plays have gone for 0 or negative yards)

It’s almost like the Offensive Coaching staff and players received word of getting “called out” by the telecast. Carolina would go on to score on 6 of their last 8 possessions including 4 of their last 5. I often talk about that bit extra that means all the difference between gaining that extra yard. Despite not converting  on third down, Quise stretching out for the first helped TJ Logan convert of a 4th that was almost too close for comfort.

3. Marquise Williams’ Is A Special Player

For anyone that’s followed Carolina football this year this 3rd line item shouldn’t come as a surprise. This team has lived and died by the toughness, heart and decision-making by Quarterback Marquise Williams. With each blow from the Pitt defense I thought we were watching the last few snaps of the game for this guy but he continued to fight back. Finishing with 398 total yards including 122 on the ground and 4 total touchdowns (3 on the ground) Marquise Williams took over another game for this team in 2014. Going forward the play calling and offensive line need to do everything in their power to keep this guy upright, because when they do he can throw a vicious stiff arm to keep any play alive.

Next up is Duke, a team that no one on this roster that’s a 3rd year or younger had success against. Carolina must take advantage of Duke coming off an emotional loss to Virginia Tech and bring the Victory Bell back to Chapel Hill.