University of North Carolina Athletics
Turnovers Costly to Tar Heels
October 25, 2000 | Football
Oct. 25, 2000
By DAVID DROSCHAK
AP Sports Writer
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) - North Carolina's football season so far has been one of missed opportunities - none more so than in the defensive secondary.
One week after holding N.C. State's Philip Rivers to a season-low 202 yards passing and Atlantic Coast Conference receiving leader Koren Robinson to two catches, the Tar Heels (3-4, 1-4) allowed four touchdown passes by Clemson backup quarterback Willie Simmons.
North Carolina has just three interceptions through seven games. The defense has caused just five turnovers, while the offense has coughed it up 16 times.
``Our turnover ratio is by far the worst thing we've done all year,'' coach Carl Torbush said Tuesday during his weekly news conference. ``If you would have told me we would be this far behind in turnover ratio I would have not believed it as much as we work on it on both sides of the ball.''
Torbush is frustrated by a defense that is often in position to make a key play, yet has been unable to either intercept the ball or knock it down.
``The good thing is we're there to make the plays,'' Torbush said. ``It would be different if we were getting beat by 5 or 6 yards because that tells you you are not athletic enough to make up the foot speed or not fast enough to recover.
``We've been there, but at times we hadn't looked back quite quick enough or got our shoulder on the receiver. It's a lot like a rebounder in basketball. You've got to have a knack to be able to jump at the right time and get the ball at the highest point. That is something that you really work on as a football coach, but sometimes you're either born with it or not.''
After watching the film, Torbush said there were seven so-called ``jump balls'' in the Clemson game and the secondary failed to make a play on five.
``That's the difference a lot of times in winning and losing,'' Torbush said. ``It's not like our players aren't trying. We haven't lost any confidence in them whatsoever. We just have to keep teaching the finer points and fundamentals.''
Errol Hood had five interceptions last season and was touted by the coaching staff as a preseason all-ACC pick. He has one pick this season, while the Tar Heels are breaking in sophomore Michael Waddell at the other cornerback position. Waddell didn't play last season.
This may be a good game for the secondary to turn things around since Virginia QB Dan Ellis sat out last week with a hamstring injury and he was picked off three times by the Tar Heels last season.
``Errol has been playing well as far and has been in position to make plays,'' said wide receiver Kory Bailey. ``This past game he wasn't able to get things done. Fortunately, he's not taking it too hard because he knows he was there to make the play.''
Notes: The Tar Heels have been virtually injury-free on offense, starting the same 11 players in all seven games. ... Blake Ferguson, who muffed a snap and had another punt blocked against Georgia Tech, will be punting this weekend against Virginia after John Lafferty was diagnosed with mononucleosis Monday. ... Since last winning in Charlottesville, Va., in 1981, the Tar Heels have averaged 14.3 points in nine games there. The Tar Heels have scored 20 or more points in six of seven games this season.
