University of North Carolina Athletics
Pace: Parsing The Stat Book Through Six Games
October 14, 2002 | Football
Oct. 14, 2002
The following is an excerpt from Lee Pace's latest edition of Extra Points. To read more about the NC State game, click here.
By Lee Pace
Halfway through the 2002 season, trends have established themselves in the Tar Heel statistics book. Following are some highlights and lowlights John Bunting and his staff will be looking to further develop as strengths or correct as weaknesses beginning Saturday at Virginia:
* QB Darian Durant is first in the ACC in passing with 272.5 yards a game and total offense with 293.7 yards. Those numbers vouch for his throwing ability and knack for moving the chains. Two numbers that aren't as good are his eight interceptions (leading the league also) and the fact that he's been credited with 66 rushing attempts, second on the team to Jacque Lewis's 83 carries. While a few of those have been called QB draw plays, most of them are the result of Durant fleeing from pressure. He's been sacked 21 times and tends to hold onto the ball instead of floating it out of bounds. As coordinator Gary Tranquill tells him, "You can throw the ball 50 yards a lot easier than run it 50 yards."
* Carolina has a meager 633 yards rushing against 1,721 passing. That's not the kind of balance you need to be a quality offense. Think of moaning we all did 20 and 30 years ago over the ground-oriented attacks of Bill Dooley and Dick Crum. What I'd give for a powerful running game like we've seen recently with Thomas Jones of Virginia and Saturday with T.A. McLendon of N.C. State ...
* Safety Dexter Reid far and away leads the team in tackling with 81. Malcolm Stewart is next with 49. That shows how good Reid is but it also shows how many ball carriers are getting into the secondary, necessitating Reid's run support.
* The Tar Heels have only eight QB sacks-last in the ACC.
* Special teams have been led by place-kicker Dan Orner, who's nailed seven of eight field goals, and the punt team. John Lafferty is last in the ACC in punting average, with 35.4, but the Heels are third in net punting at 33 yards per punt, which means Lafferty is hanging the ball high, placing it well and the Tar Heels are covering well.
* The Tar Heels have played great field-goal defense, if there is such a thing. Opponents have made only one of nine field-goal attempts.
* Carolina is 101st among 117 Division 1A schools in turnover margin. The Heels have gained 11 and lost 18 for a deficit of seven.
