University of North Carolina Athletics
Droschak: Defensive Effort Wasted
September 18, 2005 | Football
Sept. 18, 2005
by David Droschak, TarHeelBlue.com
CHAPEL HILL - Wisconsin came in with the gaudy offensive stats, but for the first time in recent memory it was the North Carolina defense that left the field with heads held high, holding on to an effort worth noting against a quality opponent.
Too bad it was wasted.
The Tar Heels dropped to 0-2 to start 2005 not because of a porous defense that has plagued the program the last three years, but because of an inconsistent offense and 12 penalties for 115 yards that spelled doom in a 14-5 loss to the Badgers on Saturday night.
The defense came into the second game of the season with no sacks, but picked up four on this night and held Wisconsin to just 304 total yards. It was an effort that turned the heads of many who took a wait-and-see attitude in the preseason when coach John Bunting talked about an upgraded defense, saying it was a unit that had more speed and more game experience than his previous three.
"I've sensed this coming throughout training camp," Bunting said. "I'm very proud of the way these kids have been working. We're better up front, which helps us play better. That was a big offensive line we were playing against and they want to beat you up. It was good we were able to stand up to them for most of the night."
Most of the night was right, until midway through the fourth quarter with the game still in the balance. It was then that the Badgers drove 67 yards in eight plays to go up 14-3 with 7:12 left.
It was a tough way for the UNC defense to close out the game, considering it had thrown up a three-and-out on Wisconsin's previous series with the Tar Heels down just 7-3.
"That last drive is still sitting with me," said senior defensive lineman Chase Page. "But I'm excited to play next week because of this game. I can't wait to get on the field."
Page said the offense carried the program the last few seasons, so there was no complaining from the defense when things bogged down for a second straight week on the other side of the ball.
"Nobody said, `Ah, we're punting again,"' Page said. "Nobody was like that. We thought we would get the ball back for the offense and they were going to score. Everybody believed until the end."
One of UNC's best defensive showings of the last three seasons was accomplished despite being on the field 11 more minutes than the offense. However, defensive lineman Kyndraus Guy and Page said fatigue didn't play a factor.
"We did too much running in the offseason," Guy said. "Our preparation right now is at its peak. We're ready to play five quarters if we have to." Four good ones will work just fine again next week at N.C. State, but UNC must first find an offensive rhythm in the next week to put a complete package on the field.
"My hat is off to the defense," quarterback Matt Baker said. "We apologize to them. We didn't make any plays on offense _ again. If you want to point the finger, point it at the offense. I'm proud of what the defense has done in the last few weeks."
The penalty situation is also a growing concern, since the Tar Heels were 13th in the nation last year in fewest penalty yardage allowed. In last week's loss at Georgia Tech, UNC was called for eight penalties for 67 yards.
On this night, the Tar Heels were called for two penalties the first time they touched the ball - a block in the back on a punt and an unsportsmanlike call on Bunting for arguing the call on the field. There was also a 52-yard field goal taken off the board because of a delay penalty, and a gain to the Wisconsin 35 late in the second quarter taken back because of a silly pass interference call away from the play. And there were more, many more on a night when a few more heads up plays could have produced an unexpected victory.
"I've never seen so many flags fly in a game," Bunting said. "That was different than I've been accustomed to being around. One was thrown on me and I'm very ashamed of that."
David Droschak is the former sports editor for the North Carolina bureaus of the Associated Press, the largest news-gathering organization in the world. In 2003, Droschak was named the North Carolina Sportswriter of the Year. He currently works in public relations at Robbins & Associates International, based in Cary.
