University of North Carolina Athletics
Rapid Reactions: Miami
November 1, 2014 | Football
1. There was a moment when it looked like Cayson Collins' 39-yard fumble return for a touchdown might be a momentum turner, as it took the Tar Heels from trailing 9-0 to within 9-6 (after a missed extra point, one of three huge special teams errors on the day).
Instead, it just turned out to be a temporary island in a hurricane of Miami points. There's just not much to say about that 47-20 defeat--the 'Canes were better in every phase of the game.
2. The UNC rushing stats are a little deceptive--but just a little. The Tar Heels finished the day with just six rushing yards, but that's largely due to a pair of errant punt snaps that accounted for over 50 yards of negative yardage.
Even without those plays, though, this was an occasion when the Carolina running game reverted to some of the struggles from earlier this season. Romar Morris and T.J. Logan combined for just 43 yards on 13 carries. "We gave up six sacks today, and we didn't run the ball very well at all," Larry Fedora told Jones Angell on the Tar Heel Sports Network after the game. "We got in a position where we were down so far we had to throw it every down, and that's not what we're built for."
The best case scenario for the ground attack, at least from the tailback position, is that the week off allows for the return of freshman Elijah Hood.
"We need all the days we can get to get some extra work in," Fedora said. "We will try to get some guys healthy and get them freshened up and make a run these last three games."
As for Miami's running game, well, the Hurricanes did exactly what you might have expected. Duke Johnson had 177 yards (9.6 yards per carry, meaning he nearly picked up a first down every time Miami handed him the ball) on a day when it seemed he really could have named his final total.
3. Credit Miami for doing perhaps the best job this season of containing Marquise Williams, who managed just eight rushing yards (for a 0.6 average) and 184 passing yards. The solid Hurricane defense highlighted just how much the Tar Heels depend on their quarterback. When he wasn't able to be productive, the offense was completely caught in the mud.
4. OK, this is grasping at straws, but nice day for Tommy Hibbard, who punted five times for a 44.2 yard average and pinned Miami inside the 20 on three occasions.
5. There's a temptation to say the Pitt game now becomes the biggest of the year, because a win in Kenan on Nov. 15 puts the Tar Heels in good position to become bowl eligible, and would require just one victory in the final two games.
It's tempting to take the contrary position, though: that how people are going to feel about this season depends almost entirely on the results at Duke (Nov. 20) and at home against NC State (Nov. 29). Defeat those two in-state opponents and Carolina would have in-state ACC bragging rights and be bowl eligible. Any bowl that a 6-6 team might make would not carry the same significance that wins over the Blue Devils and Wolfpack would have.
Regardless of which way you look at it, the Tar Heels are in the exact same position right now that they were in 2013, as they sit 4-5 facing a game against the Panthers. Two differences last year: there was a game against Old Dominion among the final three, and UNC was riding a three-game winning streak going into the Pitt game.
