University of North Carolina Athletics
LEE PACE'S EXTRA POINTS: Yellow Jackets Derail Tar Heel Express.
November 5, 2001 | Football
Nov. 5, 2001
NOTE: Readers are encouraged to view this week's Extra Points in the convenient PDF Format. PDF Format contains all material seen below, as well as additional content that is only available through PDF, including The Inner Game. 
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By Lee Pace
fell 28-21 to Georgia Tech on Thursday. |
The little things, the details, the parts that added to a glorious whole from Sept. 22 through Oct. 20--with an old Bowden of Florida State hanging his head at one bookend and a younger one in Clemson red-faced at the other--were unattended by Carolina in game number nine. When it was over, Tech and coach George O'Leary were left with their fourth straight win, this one a 28-21 decision, over the Tar Heels.
In 1998 it was a big-picture issue--Carolina had lost seven starters to the NFL on defense and was rudderless without a quarterback or tailback and was manhandled, 43-21.
In 1999 it was a risky coaching move--the foiled fourth-down gamble on the 1-yard line for Carolina that gave Tech the sliver of hope it needed for a tying field goal and eventual 31-24 overtime victory.
In 2000 it was a question of tackling and special teams play--14 Tech points on Tar Heel punting game errors and the Heels' inability to ground Joe Burns late in the game that added to a 42-28 Tech win.
And now pop some aspirin and count the ways in 2001--the many and varied ways--that conspired to chip away at Carolina's heady designs on a potential ACC championship:
* A gradually evolving and improving Carolina ground game nets only 13 yards in three-plus hours. Two tailbacks combined gain one yard on 12 carries.
"We cannot be that one-dimensional," Tar Heel coach John Bunting said. "We are still a team that has trouble handling the blitz. And they blitz a lot."
"I don't exactly know what the problem was," center Adam Metts said. "We'll have to watch the film and figure it out. I know on several plays, on counter plays, we were just one man away, just one block on a backer, from being out the gate for 20 or 30 yards."
* A Tar Heel defense that was stingiest in the ACC on third downs (allowing only 30 percent conversion) yields five third-down successes on a pivotal third-quarter drive and 10 of 17 for the game.
"This game came down to third-and-longs, and they made a bunch of plays," tackle Ryan Sims said. "To be a successful defense, you cannot do that."
"We just could not get them off the field," Bunting added. "We did not play well defensively and particularly did not play well on third down."
* Those same defensive players who'd showed outstanding willpower not to jump on quarterback cadences on short-yardage situations the last month twice jumped off-sides on keys snaps.
"Those penalties were inexcusable," Bunting said. "We talked about those situations going into the game. They were a big emphasis. We thought we might get some cadences, and we needed to stay onside. We didn't do that and it hurt us a bunch."
* An equipment problem for guard Jeb Terry leads to a delay-of-game penalty, nullifying a play unfolding successfully that would have helped get the Tar Heels off their goal line in the first quarter.
* Two snaps later, tight end Zach Hilton is open on another effort to get a first down out from underneath the goal posts, but quarterback Darian Durant makes a poor throw. A quick punt out of the end zone leads to excellent field position for Tech and its first touchdown.
* First-half substitution and personnel rotation problems lead to one penalty and one wasted time out.
* An ill-fated pooch punt by kicker Jeff Reed requires a come-from-behind tackle by deep snapper Greg Warren to keep a big gain of 50 yards from getting any bigger.
* Two fumbles by Georgia Tech are lying on the ground, waiting to be covered by blue-shirted Heels, but instead fall back into the hands of Tech players. The Heels force only one turnover after winning five straight with the help of 12 takeaways.
* The kick-off cover unit, an improving category of special teams over five weeks, allows a late-game return of 46 yards. That helps Tech burn the clock to the final whistle.
* And Burns for the second straight year makes a deadly run of 51 yards late in the game. Last year it set up the game-settling touchdown, Thursday night it was good for the Jackets' final and game-securing score.
It didn't take long afterward for Bunting to capsulize the events:
"A whole bunch of things hurt us. I don't think we played very disciplined tonight. I think we were outplayed in almost every aspect and probably out-coached. We win as a team, and we certainly lost this one as a team."
The defeat likely knocks the Tar Heels out of consideration for winning or tying for the ACC championship, but a good run to complete the year with Wake Forest, Duke and SMU on the horizon will nonetheless land Carolina in either the Gator or Peach Bowls. A 5-4 record at this juncture for the Heels given their problems coming into the season is quite respectable indeed.
"We came back off the break and were rusty," cornerback Errol Hood said the Tar Heels' off-week. "We had a tough time getting it together. But we'll get it together. We'll be fine."
"We've got to re-focus and re-commit to do all the little things well," receiver Kory Bailey added. "The penalties, the pre-snap penalties, the missed tackles on special teams--those were the things that helped us turn the season around in the first place. We've got to go back to those fundamentals."
There is also danger in focusing too much on what Carolina did not do or did wrong and not grant that the Yellow Jackets, with two league losses in overtime, are still a quality operation. QB George Godsey is a good thrower and an outstanding thinker. Burns is a load at tailback. The Jackets have talented receivers and return specialists. The defense was tops in the ACC in scoring and total defense (allowing 16.4 points
286 yards and three TDs in his first start. |
"This team we just played was pretty good," Bunting said. "Give Godsey credit. He's a magnificent thrower with people in his face. We're knocking them down and he's still completing them. They were emotional and they played with a great deal of fire. We have a pretty good defense that they put a bunch of yards on."
The Tar Heels were hurt by not having the running ability of quarterback Ronald Curry, who did not play after straining a hamstring two weeks ago at Clemson. Curry took limited snaps in practice over the last two weeks, and although he told Bunting he believed he was healthy enough to play, Bunting said last week there was far too much of the season left to gamble on bringing him back too soon.
Durant played well overall, despite the aforementioned miscue, completing 22 of 37 passes for 286 yards and three touchdowns. He threw one interception in the face of a furious blitz. The offensive line was not able to crack holes in a defensive front overloaded to stop the run, but it did a credible job protecting Durant. The red-shirt freshman now holds school records for a freshman in TD passes (12), number of completions (88) and yards passing (1,234). He's taken each of those records from Curry, a true freshman in 1998.
"He did an exceptional job of standing in the pocket and getting the ball in our hands," Bailey said. "He handled the pressure really well. I was impressed by what he did in his first start."
Added Metts: "He did a really good job taking control of the offense. He played like a senior out there. He's a good football player. He's got a lot of heart. He's a winner. He takes the punches and keeps coming back at you. I like that. I respect that in him."
Taking the punches and coming back is something that Durant not only does well but all of his teammates as well. Now they have another opportunity.
"Winning the ACC was a goal, but now we have to put it on the back-burner," Bailey said. "We have to re-commit ourselves to winning the rest of our games."
NOTE: Readers are encouraged to view this week's Extra Points in the convenient PDF Format. PDF Format contains all material seen below, as well as additional content that is only available through PDF, including The Inner Game. Download Free Acrobat Reader
Many Tar Heel fans enjoyed Lee Pace's six-part series chronicling the playing and coaching careers of coach John Bunting that appeared at TarHeelBlue.com last spring. Now those same stories are available with new material in a book that promises to be a collector's item in the future.
Born & Bred is now available. It is on sale at a variety of venues around campus and Chapel Hill, as well as in the TarHeelBlue.com FANStore and by mail order.
New chapters cover Bunting's coaching staff, his visit in May to Tar Heel legend Charlie "Choo Choo" Justice, and efforts to improve the game-day experience in Kenan Stadium. In addition, there are sidebars on the 1980 Carolina championship team, led by Kelvin Bryant, and Bunting's key role in the 1982 NFL players' strike. Contact Lee Pace today at leepace@earthlink.net for ordering information.
Extra Points, now in its 12th year, is published 15 times a year, once following all Carolina football games as well as at the beginning of the season, the end of the season and at the end of recruiting and spring practice. Subscriptions $30 per year, payable by check or MC/Visa to:
Extra Points Publishing Co.
101-A Aberdeen St.
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
Lee Pace, Editor & Publisher
919/933-2082, leepace@earthlink.net
Join The Foundation
Help sponsor the educations of Tar Heel football players--for as little as $100 a year. Membership to the Educational Foundation includes: Opportunity to purchase season football tickets and mini-season basketball ticket packages, access to the Ram's Room in Kenan Fieldhouse, tickets to annual Super Saturday lunch featuring John Bunting and Matt Doherty, invitations to annual functions featuring Carolina coaches, RamPage newsletter, donor card, car decals, much more!
For more information, call the Educational Foundation offices at 919/945-2000.
It's the perfect late-fall getaway and is scheduled Nov. 9-11. Pinehurst is joining hands with Golf Digest for this unique presentation of paintings, drawings, books, sculptures, photographs and more. Package includes two nights accommodations, breakfast and dinner daily, Art of Golf Awards Banquet on Friday, access to all Festival displays and activities, optional golf on any Pinehurst course.
Call 1.800.IT'S.GOLF (487-4653) and ask for information on the Art Of Golf Festival, or visit Pinehurst.com.
