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September 3, 2021 | Football, Featured Writers, Adam Lucas
Quick takeaways from the 2021 opener.
By Adam Lucas
1. Carolina continues to have not won a season opening game on the road in the ACC since 1992, as the Tar Heels just never really appeared to be in sync on the way to a 17-10 loss to a Virginia Tech team that thrived off a passionate Lane Stadium crowd. The Tar Heels have lost the ACC road opener in four of the past five seasons. Nine of the 11 losses in the Mack Brown 2.0 era have been by a touchdown or less.
2. Carolina is also 5-6 on the road in the ACC in the Brown 2.0 era. That's not a horrible mark, but it's not a record that Brown knows his team needs in order to take the next step. "Virginia Tech has one of the best atmospheres in college football," Brown told Jones Angell on the Tar Heel Sports Network after the game. "If we're going to be a great football team, we have to win in front of big crowds on the road. This was a step we needed to take, and we haven't taken it yet...we have to start winning tough games on the road."
3. There will be lots of dissection of this game in the days to come, but the fundamental question coming out of Blacksburg on Friday night is simple: how did the Carolina offense only manage to score ten points? Yes, four key weapons are missing from last year. But the Tar Heels have a veteran offensive line and one of the best quarterbacks in the country, and still only mustered 354 yards while going 2-for-10 on third down. Other than by a pass interference penalty, Carolina did not convert a third down in the second half.
4. Pretty simple answer to why Virginia Tech controlled the first half: the Hokies were 6-for-7 on third down, while Carolina was just 2-for-5. The only Tech miss on third down came on the final drive of the half, meaning the Hokies essentially did whatever they wanted on offense--draining the clock in the process, which was a key part of their game plan that they accomplished flawlessly--for most of the half. Tech owned the time of possession battle 35:00-25:00, limiting the opportunities for Sam Howell to have the ball.
5. Virginia Tech accomplished much of that clock control by dominating the line of scrimmage on both sides. Especially in the first half, Carolina's young defensive line was pushed around by a veteran Tech offensive line. More surprisingly, an experienced Carolina line couldn't slow down the Hokie defense, allowing four sacks in the first half and six for the game. Take away a 46-yard run against a prevent defense on the final play of the half, and the Heels managed just 13 rushing yards in the first 30 minutes.
6. A dual threat quarterback again gave the Carolina defense trouble in the first half. Braxton Burmeister was very efficient throwing the ball, where he completed seven of his first eight passes. But he was also dangerous when he pulled the ball down, racking up 28 yards on the ground in the first half. Burmeister was much more average in the second half, and finished 12-for-19 with 53 rushing yards.
7. As was expected, Carolina's ground game is uncertain. Ty Chandler saw most of the first half action, but D.J. Jones earned most of the second half snaps...until Chandler came back in midway through the fourth quarter. The most consistent rusher, unfortunately, was Howell. The junior quarterback was credited with 13 rushes for 35 yards. That's not a sustainable formula for the Carolina offense. The offensive line didn't open enough holes, and the tailbacks didn't make enough defenders miss. Chandler's fourth quarter runs made him the team's leading rusher with 66 yards.
8. The offensive bright spot was Josh Downs. Coming off a great Orange Bowl, the receiver did it again at Tech, snagging eight catches for 123 yards and a touchdown. It was clear by the second half playcalling that the Tar Heels considered Downs to be their best playmaker. Other than Downs, the Tar Heel receivers did not distinguish themselves in the opener (probably a good time to keep in mind there are 11 regular season games remaining). "We have to figure out who we need to isolate, especially at wide receiver and running back, and start working more with them," Brown said on the THSN.
9. Carolina caught a break on Virginia Tech's final drive of the first half. With all the momentum and a 14-0 lead, plus the Tar Heels slated to get the ball opening the second half, Justin Fuente elected to essentially sit on the ball instead of trying to put more points on the board. The head-scratching move took some energy out of an electric Lane Stadium crowd and kept the Tar Heels close at the break.
10. A big reason why the halftime deficit was manageable: the fumble forced by Trey Morrison and recovered by Ja'Qurious Conley as it looked like the Hokies were plowing to another first quarter touchdown. The turnover temporarily stemmed the Virginia Tech onslaught. Conley also came up with a big play in the second half, snagging a fourth quarter interception thanks to pressure by Jeremiah Gemmel.
11. If they had it to do again, the Tar Heels would probably call a different play on third and four on the first drive of the second half. On what felt like a big play, the ball wasn't in the hands of Sam Howell, and instead Carolina tried a run from Ty Chandler, who gained two yards. Another play that looks unfortunate in hindsight: allowing 18 seconds to tick away with three timeouts and a minute left...which led to Howell throwing a game-sealing interception on the ensuing play.
12. It will largely be lost in the rough first half, when most impressions of the game were formed, but Jay Bateman made some very good halftime adjustments for the UNC defense and the Tar Heel defenders played much more effectively in the second half. Tech managed just 93 yards in the final 30 minutes. "The defense played well enough to win in the second half," Brown said. "I was really proud of the defense in the second half, we just didn't play well enough in the first half."
13. If you're going to have instant replay, not sure why it wasn't used to review an "interception" in the third quarter that stopped a Carolina drive in Virginia Tech territory. The play was ruled an interception on the field, as the Hokie defense wrestled the ball away from Justin Olson, but repeated looks at the play made it look at best like an incomplete pass, with Tech gaining possession long after both players were on the ground. But it happened in front of a persuasive Hokie sideline, and the play was never reviewed despite the protestations of offensive coordinator Phil Longo. The ACC officiating crew also gifted the Hokies 15 yards on a "late hit" in the fourth quarter and allowed a late borderline interception to stand. The Tar Heels didn't create many breaks...but didn't get many either. But if you go into an ACC road game relying on breaks to win, you're probably going to be disappointed.
14. Sam Howell now holds the Carolina career record for touchdown passes, as his 37-yard strike to Josh Downs was the 69th touchdown pass of his career. Howell has also thrown a touchdown pass in 26 straight games. But he also threw the first two fourth quarter interceptions of his UNC career.
15. Mack Brown has consistently demonstrated a willingness to go for it on fourth down during this version of his Carolina head coaching career. He did it again early in the fourth quarter on Friday, trying a slant to Emery Simmons on fourth and three from Carolina's own 42. But the ball bounced off Simmons' hands, and Virginia Tech took over with great field position and a ten-point lead.
16. There are 11 regular season games left. Friday night was an extremely disappointing opener. But probably prudent to save any blanket statements about the 2021 season for another month or so. The way the league schedule unfolds, Carolina will either be back in the Coastal race by early October, or completely out of it. That's the time to begin to form overall opinions about this season. The Tar Heels have now given away any national goodwill, as there will be some understandable skepticism. Anything else the Heels earn in the national eye will have to be earned on the field, and they'll have the chance to do that in the next month.
1. Carolina continues to have not won a season opening game on the road in the ACC since 1992, as the Tar Heels just never really appeared to be in sync on the way to a 17-10 loss to a Virginia Tech team that thrived off a passionate Lane Stadium crowd. The Tar Heels have lost the ACC road opener in four of the past five seasons. Nine of the 11 losses in the Mack Brown 2.0 era have been by a touchdown or less.
2. Carolina is also 5-6 on the road in the ACC in the Brown 2.0 era. That's not a horrible mark, but it's not a record that Brown knows his team needs in order to take the next step. "Virginia Tech has one of the best atmospheres in college football," Brown told Jones Angell on the Tar Heel Sports Network after the game. "If we're going to be a great football team, we have to win in front of big crowds on the road. This was a step we needed to take, and we haven't taken it yet...we have to start winning tough games on the road."
3. There will be lots of dissection of this game in the days to come, but the fundamental question coming out of Blacksburg on Friday night is simple: how did the Carolina offense only manage to score ten points? Yes, four key weapons are missing from last year. But the Tar Heels have a veteran offensive line and one of the best quarterbacks in the country, and still only mustered 354 yards while going 2-for-10 on third down. Other than by a pass interference penalty, Carolina did not convert a third down in the second half.
4. Pretty simple answer to why Virginia Tech controlled the first half: the Hokies were 6-for-7 on third down, while Carolina was just 2-for-5. The only Tech miss on third down came on the final drive of the half, meaning the Hokies essentially did whatever they wanted on offense--draining the clock in the process, which was a key part of their game plan that they accomplished flawlessly--for most of the half. Tech owned the time of possession battle 35:00-25:00, limiting the opportunities for Sam Howell to have the ball.
5. Virginia Tech accomplished much of that clock control by dominating the line of scrimmage on both sides. Especially in the first half, Carolina's young defensive line was pushed around by a veteran Tech offensive line. More surprisingly, an experienced Carolina line couldn't slow down the Hokie defense, allowing four sacks in the first half and six for the game. Take away a 46-yard run against a prevent defense on the final play of the half, and the Heels managed just 13 rushing yards in the first 30 minutes.
6. A dual threat quarterback again gave the Carolina defense trouble in the first half. Braxton Burmeister was very efficient throwing the ball, where he completed seven of his first eight passes. But he was also dangerous when he pulled the ball down, racking up 28 yards on the ground in the first half. Burmeister was much more average in the second half, and finished 12-for-19 with 53 rushing yards.
7. As was expected, Carolina's ground game is uncertain. Ty Chandler saw most of the first half action, but D.J. Jones earned most of the second half snaps...until Chandler came back in midway through the fourth quarter. The most consistent rusher, unfortunately, was Howell. The junior quarterback was credited with 13 rushes for 35 yards. That's not a sustainable formula for the Carolina offense. The offensive line didn't open enough holes, and the tailbacks didn't make enough defenders miss. Chandler's fourth quarter runs made him the team's leading rusher with 66 yards.
8. The offensive bright spot was Josh Downs. Coming off a great Orange Bowl, the receiver did it again at Tech, snagging eight catches for 123 yards and a touchdown. It was clear by the second half playcalling that the Tar Heels considered Downs to be their best playmaker. Other than Downs, the Tar Heel receivers did not distinguish themselves in the opener (probably a good time to keep in mind there are 11 regular season games remaining). "We have to figure out who we need to isolate, especially at wide receiver and running back, and start working more with them," Brown said on the THSN.
9. Carolina caught a break on Virginia Tech's final drive of the first half. With all the momentum and a 14-0 lead, plus the Tar Heels slated to get the ball opening the second half, Justin Fuente elected to essentially sit on the ball instead of trying to put more points on the board. The head-scratching move took some energy out of an electric Lane Stadium crowd and kept the Tar Heels close at the break.
10. A big reason why the halftime deficit was manageable: the fumble forced by Trey Morrison and recovered by Ja'Qurious Conley as it looked like the Hokies were plowing to another first quarter touchdown. The turnover temporarily stemmed the Virginia Tech onslaught. Conley also came up with a big play in the second half, snagging a fourth quarter interception thanks to pressure by Jeremiah Gemmel.
11. If they had it to do again, the Tar Heels would probably call a different play on third and four on the first drive of the second half. On what felt like a big play, the ball wasn't in the hands of Sam Howell, and instead Carolina tried a run from Ty Chandler, who gained two yards. Another play that looks unfortunate in hindsight: allowing 18 seconds to tick away with three timeouts and a minute left...which led to Howell throwing a game-sealing interception on the ensuing play.
12. It will largely be lost in the rough first half, when most impressions of the game were formed, but Jay Bateman made some very good halftime adjustments for the UNC defense and the Tar Heel defenders played much more effectively in the second half. Tech managed just 93 yards in the final 30 minutes. "The defense played well enough to win in the second half," Brown said. "I was really proud of the defense in the second half, we just didn't play well enough in the first half."
13. If you're going to have instant replay, not sure why it wasn't used to review an "interception" in the third quarter that stopped a Carolina drive in Virginia Tech territory. The play was ruled an interception on the field, as the Hokie defense wrestled the ball away from Justin Olson, but repeated looks at the play made it look at best like an incomplete pass, with Tech gaining possession long after both players were on the ground. But it happened in front of a persuasive Hokie sideline, and the play was never reviewed despite the protestations of offensive coordinator Phil Longo. The ACC officiating crew also gifted the Hokies 15 yards on a "late hit" in the fourth quarter and allowed a late borderline interception to stand. The Tar Heels didn't create many breaks...but didn't get many either. But if you go into an ACC road game relying on breaks to win, you're probably going to be disappointed.
14. Sam Howell now holds the Carolina career record for touchdown passes, as his 37-yard strike to Josh Downs was the 69th touchdown pass of his career. Howell has also thrown a touchdown pass in 26 straight games. But he also threw the first two fourth quarter interceptions of his UNC career.
15. Mack Brown has consistently demonstrated a willingness to go for it on fourth down during this version of his Carolina head coaching career. He did it again early in the fourth quarter on Friday, trying a slant to Emery Simmons on fourth and three from Carolina's own 42. But the ball bounced off Simmons' hands, and Virginia Tech took over with great field position and a ten-point lead.
16. There are 11 regular season games left. Friday night was an extremely disappointing opener. But probably prudent to save any blanket statements about the 2021 season for another month or so. The way the league schedule unfolds, Carolina will either be back in the Coastal race by early October, or completely out of it. That's the time to begin to form overall opinions about this season. The Tar Heels have now given away any national goodwill, as there will be some understandable skepticism. Anything else the Heels earn in the national eye will have to be earned on the field, and they'll have the chance to do that in the next month.
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