University of North Carolina Athletics
Lucas: Rapid Reactions
September 4, 2015 | Football
1. What a disappointing loss for a Carolina team that showed progress in almost every area needed—a defense that got some needed stops, a field goal unit that produced points even at big distances—to put the Tar Heels in position to get perhaps the biggest season-opening victory since the Mack Brown era. But three critical red zone interceptions stymied the offense, which was shut out in the second half and didn't produce enough to overcome South Carolina in a 17-13 defeat.
2. The big story was supposed to be Gene Chizik's defense, and it was good enough to win the game. The Tar Heels were gashed on occasion, and gave up the big play on the go-ahead touchdown run, but in general were stout enough to make you optimistic about the next three months.
3. One of the most encouraging glimmers came from tailback Elijah Hood, who seemed to get stronger as the game progressed and regularly bulled through South Carolina tackles. Hood's 139 yards on the ground were the most by a Tar Heel since Giovani Bernard against Virginia Tech in 2012. “Elijah was a beast out there tonight,” Larry Fedora told Jones Angell on the Tar Heel Sports Network after the game. “A lot of his yards were after contact. We have to get some blocking downfield so he can take it the distance.”
“I know the offense better and I know what reads to look for,” Hood said on the THSN. “It comes quicker to me and I'm able to react faster.”
Hood wasn't a part of some key offensive plays inside the 10-yard line, which you would expect to be the next part of his progression with the offense.
Another breakout offensive star: receiver Bug Howard, who reeled in over 100 yards and might have had an even bigger day but for a second-half drop and a nice play in the first half by a Gamecock defender that broke up a potential big play.
4. There were two areas that were most concerning. A veteran offensive line was a part of six procedure or illegal formation penalties, a couple of which came at big moments and put the Carolina offense behind the chains. On a night yards were difficult to find, giving away 30 without much pressure was painful.
“We've got to get it cleaned up,” Fedora said. “One was on a critical big first down play and we had a lineman in the backfield. We have to get that cleaned up and be more disciplined up front.”
5. The other, of course, were the turnovers. It was frustrating that the Gamecocks put the ball on the ground twice but were able to hop back on top of it. But it was devastating that the UNC offense drove inside the South Carolina red zone on three occasions without getting any points at all. Marquise Williams has won a lot of games for the Tar Heels during his career in Chapel Hill. When he watches the film of this one, though, he's going to see some throws he'd like to have back.
“We didn't get it done tonight,” Fedora said. “I'm not going to put it all on 'Quise. There were a lot of factors in the game. It wasn't acceptable with what we have and the returning starters we have on offense.”
"Three times I made the same mistake," Williams said. "They were rookie mistakes...Put it all on me."
What can you say? According to ESPN Stats and Info, Williams had zero career interceptions on 87 passes inside the opponent's 25-yard line. Tonight, he had three.
6. The problem with this defeat is Carolina doesn't really have a chance to make amends over the next three weeks. Games against North Carolina A&T, Illinois and Delaware won't provide the same type of test the Tar Heels received on national television against Steve Spurrier's Gamecocks, and it's going to be October before they get a chance to really make people take notice again of their progress.
7. What about Charlotte and the whole Carolina-South Carolina atmosphere? It definitely felt more like a Gamecock home game. But the people of Charlotte and Bank of America Stadium personnel did a great job in creating a hospitable environment and making it feel like a big game in January, not a Thursday night in early September. It's an atmosphere worth revisiting, which the Tar Heels and Gamecocks plan to do in 2019 and 2023.
