2017 ACC Football: Coastal Division Power Rankings week 7

All my Friends Say

For a recap of the game against Virginia click here.

All my friends are saying things are not good in Tar Heel town. UNC lost for the fourth-straight time this past week and sixth time in seven games.

With this latest loss, several questions were raised that Larry Fedora needs to answer.

First, why does Michael Carter not touch the ball more?

Against Virginia, Michael Carter finished the game with 157 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries. The rest of UNC combined for 54 yards on 22 carries. This was only the second game this season that Carter got the most carries.

For the season Carter is averaging 6.4 yards a carry, while Jordon Brown is averaging 4.4. Despite this Brown has 14 more carries.

Carter has shown to be the better scorer with seven touchdowns to Brown’s three and also the more explosive back with a long of 56 compared to a long of 23 for Brown.

For whatever reason, Brown remains Fedora’s main back. This needs to change and was evident in the Virginia game. If Fedora really wants to shake things up maybe he should start Carter instead of doing what he did Saturday. Speaking of that.

Second, why didn’t Chazz Surratt play this past week?

I would like a good answer to this. Despite rumblings that Chazz was ill, everyone in the media was under the impression Fedora made the choice to bench Chazz, who I never saw on the sideline of the Virginia game.

Did he do something wrong? Was he being punished? Was he really running a 103 fever? I just want to know because the one answer I don’t believe is that Harris was a better option. Speaking of that.

Third, is there really no better options than Brandon Harris after Surratt?

I get that Surratt hasn’t looked great, but in what world has he been worse than Harris? Harris finished the Virginia game with 71 combined yards. That’s running and throwing. Surratt hasn’t finished with less than 140 yards passing in a game.

Harris also had three interceptions bringing his total to six on the season. Harris is averaging an interception every ten passing attempts.

Look I understand wanting to shake things up when an offense is looking lost, but how is Harris the answer? A team with Nathan Elliot (career 89 percent completion percentage) and Logan Byrd (Top 15 quarterback) only has Harris as a shakeup option?

If this is true, we are further from hope than I had originally thought.

Finally, how many kicks does Freeman Jones have to miss before you try Noah Ruggles?

Jones has been shaky this season. He is only making half of his field goal attempts and missed a 36 yarder against Virginia. Jones’ long this season is only 39 and he is 0-for-3 on field goals longer than 40 yards.

I know Nick Weiller was a luxury the Tar Heels had but UNC does have another option. Noah Ruggles is a freshman and was rated the number 12 kicker according to ESPN. Ruggles had a kick of 57 yards last season. I get giving Freeman a chance, but he isn’t the answer. It is time to give the kid a chance.

Look there is no answer to a season this bad. Barring a miracle, the season is a lost one, but that doesn’t mean the Tar Heels get to quit playing. Next up is a well rested and more talented Virginia Tech team.

If things don’t change everyone will be talking basketball way before the season is over.