University of North Carolina Athletics
Brewer: Hoping To Avoid Another Shootout
October 11, 2002 | Football
Oct. 11, 2002
By Rick Brewer, SID Emeritus
North Carolina's 38-35 victory over Arizona State last Saturday night was probably not the kind that John Bunting wants to see every weekend.
His heart and nerves might be able to take games like that. But, I'm not sure his tenacity for defense will allow it.
Bunting was an all-star linebacker at Carolina from 1969 to 1971. Those three teams gave up averages of 16.4, 16.3 and 13.2 points a game. All three led the Atlantic Coast Conference in both scoring and total defense.
Then as an assistant coach in the National Football League, Bunting was co-defensive coordinator for the Super Bowl champion St. Louis Rams in 1999.
Now as a head coach on the collegiate level he still knows teams are built on defense. However, he also knows Carolina is in a defensive transition after losing eight starters from a year ago.
Arizona State piled up 657 yards of total offense last Saturday. That's the most ever surrendered by a Carolina defense. But, the Tar Heels actually did a better job of tackling than they did the previous week against Georgia Tech.
"Our tackling still wasn't as good as it should have been," says Bunting. "Tackling is part of a mindset defensive players must have. Our inexperience certainly has something to do with that. Our players have been shown the proper technique. We stress defensive fundamentals all the time. But, because they're young they haven't still haven't developed them or been able to make plays on a consistent basis."
Another factor has been the lack of strength needed to wrap opponents up once initial contact has been made. Since so many Tar Heel defenders are sophomores, red-shirt freshmen and even true freshmen they haven't had enough time to develop themselves physically. That will come as they have a chance to spend time in the Carolina strength and conditioning program.
Giving up 657 yards of offense and 35 points has to gnaw at Bunting. But, he also realizes his team was facing the nation's top-rated passer, Sun Devil quarterback Andrew Walter. Arizona State was on a four-game winning streak and had averaged 47.0 points a game in that stretch. ASU had scored 65 points the previous week against Stanford.
Too often fans just don't give credit to an opponent.
Walter slipped out of the number one slot following the Carolina game. Unfortunately, the new top-rated passer is Philip Rivers of N.C. State, this week's opponent. He's completed 65.0 percent of his passes, thrown for 13 touchdowns and also scored six himself.
The Wolfpack is leading the Atlantic Coast Conference in scoring (45.3 points a game) and is second in total offense (418.5 yards a game).
While Rivers is the focus of opposing defenses, freshman running back T.A. McLendon is third in the ACC in rushing with 84.2 yards a game. He has scored a league-high 10 touchdowns despite missing one full game.
"State's offensive balance has been impressive," says Bunting. "Teams go into a game knowing they must pay so much attention to Rivers and then they hurt you with their ground game."
Carolina, of course, is not without its own weapons in the passing game. The Tar Heels are averaging 291 yards a game throwing the football, the most in the ACC. Carolina is less that 17 yards a game behind State in total offense with a 400.6 average.
Sophomore quarterback Darren Durant leads the conference in both total offense and passing yardage. He's averaging 300.0 yards a game in total offense and 275.9 in passing. At this point, he's well ahead of Ronald Curry's school total offense record of 243.3 in 2000.
However, State is second in the league in total defense and first in pass defense.
With Arizona State paying close attention to Sam Aiken last week, senior wide receiver Chesley Borders of Shelby, N.C. turned in a sensational performance. He had nine catches for 194 yards and four touchdowns. The four scoring receptions were a school record.
Bunting has felt all season that his entire group of receivers was among the best in the nation. Durant's ability to find different targets is beginning to prove his coach is correct.
A major problem for Carolina has been an inability to develop a consistent running game. Bunting knows a key to the Tar Heel's standout teams in his playing days was tailback Don McCauley. Not only did McCauley give Carolina one of the nation's top offensive threats, but UNC's ability to run the football also helped keep the defense off the field. Thus, the defense was fresh when it did go into a game.
A better ground game would also take pressure off Durant. Until a running attack can be established, the offense must continue to rely greatly on Durant and his receivers.
Still, despite the defensive inexperience and inconsistency in running the ball, Carolina's 2-3 record could be 4-1.
Even with nine turnovers in the season opener against Miami, the Tar Heels had three plays from the RedHawk 39 and one from the 23 in the closing seconds of that 27-21 loss.
There were chances to win in the 21-13 setback to Georgia Tech, even with all the missed tackles. Carolina drove deep into Yellow Jacket territory in the first half before having to settle for a field goal. Later a third-quarter fumble at the one-yard line, which possibly could have been caused by the ground, in all likelihood cost the Tar Heels a touchdown.
Carolina drove to the Tech 18 with five minutes in the game, but Durant was dropped for a three-yard loss on third down and then sacked on fourth down.
As a young defense continues to make progress, there hopefully won't be as much pressure on the offense. A head coach with such a background on defense may not be able to take many more shootouts like the one at Arizona State.
Rick Brewer is in his fourth decade with the University of North Carolina athletic department and brings a unique historical perspective to TarHeelBlue.com. A native of North Carolina, Brewer served as UNC's Sports Information Director from 1975 until his retirement from full-time work in 2000. Email Rick Brewer at rbrewer@uncaa.unc.edu.
