University of North Carolina Athletics
Lucas: Rapid Reactions
September 17, 2016 | Football
By Adam Lucas
1. After Saturday's 56-28 win over James Madison, the preliminary part of Carolina's season is essentially over. And what did we learn? There are definitely areas of strength (a multifaceted offense, special teams) but the defense still isn't where Gene Chizik would like it to be. The defense didn't matter a whole lot on a day when the teams combined for a whopping 1,130 yards of total offense, but it will matter much more in the games to come.
2. James Madison—a talented offense, but not as talented as other teams the Tar Heels will face in the next couple of weeks—hit too many big plays, and there were too many missed tackles. Next week's opponent, Pitt, is going to pound the ball on the ground until Carolina proves they can stop it. The Tar Heels also suffered from some outright busts, including one on a long scoring pass out of the backfield in the first quarter. Chizik's defense played without Dajaun Drennon and Nazair Jones, and their absence showed along the defensive line.
"It seemed like we were in a daze early on," Larry Fedora told Jones Angell on the Tar Heel Sports Network after the game. "That was disappointing...The energy level was the biggest thing to me. I just didn't feel we had the energy level we needed."
3. And here's an issue that should sound very familiar: penalties continue to be a problem. And not just of the five-yard variety, but big, 15-yard, drive-sustaining or drive-ending penalties. The Tar Heels accumulated 10 penalties for 110 yards. Four of those penalties were personal fouls, and another one was a 15-yard unnecessary roughness flag.
4. The Tar Heel ball security continues to be very good (thanks largely to Mitch Trubisky, as you'll read below). Until a late strip in the fourth quarter after the game had long been decided, Carolina had not committed a turnover this season. That will matter as league games begin. Avoiding miscues is especially important as the UNC defense continues to try to find a rhythm.
5. Trubisky's longest pass coming into the game had been just 28 yards, as the Tar Heels had misfired on several potential big plays. That ended quickly against the Dukes, as Trubisky hit early long strikes to both Ryan Switzer and Mack Hollins. Trubisky finished an outstanding 24-for-27 passing for 432 yards and three touchdowns. He also set the school record by completing 18 straight passes at one point.
It's hard to compare from week one to week three because the level of competition is so different, but Trubisky certainly appears much more comfortable in the pocket and running the team.
"Mitch is getting better and better each week," Fedora said. "Every rep that he gets, he's feeling more comfortable. He's doing a great job of taking care of the football and managing the offense."
"I'm more consistent," Trubisky said on the THSN. "I've learned from my mistakes the last couple of games...I'm more disciplined with my eyes. If I keep calm feet and keep my eyes downfield and stay within the offense, I'll be OK."
6. Six different Carolina receivers—Switzer, Hollins, Austin Proehl, Bug Howard, T.J. Logan and Thomas Jackson—caught two or more passes and a dozen different Tar Heels caught at least one ball.
7. One area where the diverse UNC offense helps quite a bit: third down conversions. Carolina was 7 for 8 on third down against the Dukes, and the only failure came late in the game. Having multiple options prevents the opposing defense from keying on one player and keeps the field spread. The offense was also 6 for 6 in the red zone, and all six of them were touchdowns.
8. The new length of the field LED boards added this year to Kenan Stadium are a major game experience improvement. They make it much easier to find in-game stats and in-game scores.
