Tar Heels Football: Takeaways from UNC vs. Virginia Tech
The offensive play-calling was not practical!
On social media, many people were blaming the weather for North Carolina’s offensive woes. If you are going to blame the weather for the Tar Heels’ bad performance, then how do you explain Virginia Tech scoring 34 points against North Carolina…in the same game…in the same weather conditions?
Tar Heel Nation – win with grace and lose with grace. Do not be sore losers. North Carolina was not prepared against the Hokies on Saturday. The coaches did a bad job of calling offensive plays.
Carolina’s first offensive drive illustrates how quirky the play-calling was. North Carolina started on their own 44-yard line. Their first play on offense was a 14-yard run by T.J. Logan for a first down.
This gave UNC a first down at Virginia Tech’s 42-yard line. The next play was a run by Mitch Trubisky for four yards. Second down was a five-yard run by Logan that set up a ‘3rd and 1,’ (third down with one yard needed for the first down). On third down, Trubisky threw a pass to Ryan Switzer for no gain.
This lead to a fourth down and one. North Carolina went for it by handing the ball to Logan, who stopped for a loss of one yard.
North Carolina did not choose to kick a field goal on fourth down due to the distance and weather conditions. However, what’s more alarming is the fact that UNC threw the ball on a third down when they needed one yard for the first down. If it isn’t broke, then don’t fix it.
North Carolina had the momentum on offense at the start of the game. On their first three run plays, North Carolina averaged 7.6 yards. They should have stayed with the run on third down instead of passing the ball.
This would have forced Virginia Tech to respect Carolina’s rushing the entire game. In addition, this would have set up the passing game.
Everyone knows that Mitch Trubisky is a good quarterback with a good arm. Despite North Carolina having an impressive aerial attack, the weather was not conducive for Trubisky to air the ball out on most of the offensive plays.
UNC should have changed the game plan on offense against Virginia Tech. North Carolina had 33 pass plays and 29 run plays whereas Virginia Tech had 17 pass plays and 66 run plays. Despite not having Elijah Hood available to play, North Carolina had T.J. Logan, Khris Francis and true freshman Jordon Brown as running backs.
In addition, Trubisky and Ryan Switzer as very capable of running the ball effectively. Both Trubisky and Switzer are exceptional runners who possess a great deal of athleticism and elusiveness. Trubisky rushed eight times for negative two yards. Switzer did not carry the ball against Virginia Tech.
UNC’s coaching staff dropped the ball literally. They misused Trubisky and Switzer on Saturday by not utilizing their other rushing skills more.