North Carolina Tar Heels: Bye Week Report
The North Carolina Tar Heels go into their bye week at 4-1 on the season. This is above my season preview expectation of a 3-2 record at this point. The Tar Heels have looked the part of the better team in all their games, but do not come out of these first five weeks flawlessly. Let’s look at how the Tar Heel season is going so far.
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1. It is the Year of Marquise
Marquise Williams continues to be the focal point of the offense. When things have gone well, Marquise has generally been there. When things go wrong, Marquise has been there too. He is the single reason that the team lost to South Carolina in the opener. He was the total offense in the latest comeback victory against Georgia Tech. Good or bad, Marquise has left his mark on these games. Okay, except for Delaware. It was just Delaware after all.
2. The 4-3 transition is working
Defensive coordinator Gene Chizik came in to restore fundamentals and sanity to the defense. It seems to be working. Shakeel Rashad is having a nice year at outside linebacker and the defensive line has had its moments. At halftime of the Georgia Tech game, the Tar Heels had given up two hundred rushing yards. Chizik did not change the plan but said they would have to do their assignments better. That kind of confidence helps the defense.
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3. Run defense still an issue
Execution and adjustment are one thing, but teams continue to run against the Heels. That was a common theme for all the success that teams like South Carolina, Illinois, Delaware, and Georgia Tech had was ground related. We know names like Josh Ferguson and Thomas Jefferson because that element of the defense still not right. That does not mean the defense has not gotten important stops, just ask Georgia Tech about those.
4. Emergence of Elijah Hood
The sophomore back is now healthy and has taken the most carries (aside from Marquise Williams) since game one. The Georgia Tech game was the first game where did not carry for a hundred yards and he still averaged over six yards per carry. He will fight off the first tackler for extra yardage.
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5. Bunch of people to throw to
Williams and backup Mitch Trubisky have a number of targets they can hit. Who do you ignore? Quinshad Davis, the all-time touchdown reception leader? Ryan Switzer, who believes every play is a punt return? Bug Howard? Austin Proehl? Big play Mack Hollins? Romar Morris? Or tight end Brandon Fritts with his two touchdowns on the year? The Tar Heel offense has looked well tuned when Williams has delivered the ball.
The Tar Heels are looking at a Coastal Division challenge. They get Duke at home, Virginia Tech and Virginia are down, and their cross-divisional game is Wake Forest. Perhaps the Heels could make a return to Charlotte to exorcize the ghosts of the South Carolina loss.