Looking back at how N.C. State beat UNC

One week ago, N.C. State pushed the Heels around on their home field and ended UNC’s two game winning streak against State. We look back at how that loss happened.

Mauled. Pushed Around. Battered. Beaten. Dominated. All those words just cover the tip of the iceberg for how I viewed Carolina offensive and defensive front at the hands of NC State. Dave Doeren, his staff and his players came in to Chapel Hill and punched the Tar Heels right in the teeth for 60 minutes. Even when Carolina tried to counter, the Wolfpack manned up and threw body blow after body blow. The more prepared, the more fundamentally sound, and the hungrier team won this past Saturday.

Whenever a team get dominated, it’s typical to attempt to uncover the straw or set of straws that broke the camel’s back. Last Saturday, I thought Lucas Crowley’s injury contributed to the much of the trouble that the offensive line faced, but I wouldn’t deem it as the outlying circumstance that led to NC State”s front seven to feast on the O Line and backfield.

….we witnessed likely the poorest O Line play of the Larry Fedora Era.

NC State put together an excellent gameplan full of stunts, gap control and athleticism to confuse and disrupt Carolina’s offensive attack. We had heard all year about when would NC State’s talent on defense begin to show, and show it did in Chapel Hill.

Statistically, UNC’s offense couldn’t have looked any worse, especially with production on the offensive line. Carolina’s offense, which has lived and died by the rushing attack in 2014, struggled to a dismal 30 yards on the ground. The offense line didn’t do any favors for the quarterbacks either. NC State’s defense torched Carolina’s O Line for 10 tackles for loss, 4 sacks and 8 quarterback hurries. The hits on Marquise Williams added up and none more than the body slam in the third quarter that knocked Quise out of the game. In 2015, it will be imperative that the offensive line show more effort play in and play out than what we see here:

LG Caleb Peterson gets abused by the dreaded swim move and LT John Ferranto doesn’t set his feet to base up against a straight bull rush. This results in Marquise Williams having no time. This play was exhibited early and often at what I deemed as an “OK” NC State defensive front.

Following the Lucas Crowley injury, Carolina’s offensive line couldn’t piece together the bread and butter plays that make this offense hum. In this next play we see an entire side of the offensive line get shut down on an outside zone play. NOTE: The offensive line is not supposed to play behind the LOS on this play design.

NC State’s front did an excellent job of jamming Carolina’s OL at the LOS and forcing them in the backfield to disrupt Elijah Hood’s rushing lanes. Again, LG Caleb Peterson falls for the dreaded swim move and Center Arien Smith loses the hand position battle. Credit to NC State’s BJ Hill on how violent his first couple of steps were off the ball. He wins the leverage, hands and gap control game all in two steps.

It’s truly amazing how just 9 days after we saw the Carolina O Line’s best performance of the year, we witnessed likely the poorest O Line play of the Larry Fedora Era.

For as bad as Carolina’s offensive front was last Saturday, I can make the claim that the defensive front, at times, played better. Despite relinquishing 35 points, the defense did force stops early on. Unfortunately State’s best defense turned into keeping drives alive and keeping this Carolina unit on the field. Missed tackles, extended plays and poor angles such as these from Carolina’s surest defenders led to NC State drives ending in 6.

One of the worst came in the first quarter with NC State facing a third and long. Carolina’s Defensive end do an excellent job forcing Brissett out of the pocket, but Carolina’s spy Jeff Schoettmer gets exposed and completely whiffs on a 3rd down saving tackle. Carolina makes that stop and the offense isn’t looking at a 14-0 hole the next drive. Another 3rd down conversion of NC State’s that gave me heart burn came in the second quarter. On this third and short Carolina had another shot to keep this game close, only to have NC State execute a QB power run to perfection. In this series of 4 photos, watch Carolina’s scheme right into the hands of NC State’s play call. The front line of UNC stunts hard left, playing into the front side blocking scheme of the Wolfpack. The stunt allows State to easily seal off the playside and to free up the pulling (right) guard to tee off Carolina’s last hope, in the form of CB Des Lawrence.

Tim Scott takes himself out of the play by following the play action fake. Jacoby Brissett follows his pulling guard and has nothing but open field until Brian Walker catches him from behind. NC State’s scheme OWNED the Tar Heel defense.

State’s schematic dominance didn’t end there. Another play in the second State found themselves in a short yardage down with Carolina trying to gain momentum. State throws a three tight end set that COMPLETELY confused the Tar Heels. The Heels should have called a time out but it was too late: The Wolfpack offense ran a toss to the strength and State got a hat on a hat.

The State running back simply followed his blockers and took off toward open field.

The stat sheet gave us a brief glimpse of how dominant State was over Carolina. State racked up 386 yards on the ground to Carolina’s measly 30 net yards. In game 12 of 2014, that’s simply unacceptable. My hope is Carolina takes advantage of these 15 extra practices, gives the youth some meaningful snaps and prepares to set the foundation towards a breakout year in 2015. All is not lost in Chapel Hill, but there’s certainly lessons to be learned when you get your behind handed to you, the way Carolina did this past Saturday.

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