The Long Hard Way

 
The Carolina offense had 25 first downs in each of the last two games against the Blue Devils.  On one hand these can be viewed as good stats, but on the other it’s cause for concern because we couldn’t score on big plays.  The tailback position of the Heels carried the ball 66 times for 340 yards against Duke in their last two meetings. Over those two games, Dwight Jones had 21 catches but for only 222 yards.  Any Tar Heel fan knows that Dwight was capable of a 200 yard receiving day with only seven catches. 
 
Coach Knowles and the Duke staff limited our quick strike ability and made us play a patient, grind it out style of football.  Sometimes commentators refer to this as a “bend but don’t break” style of defense.  I think that has negative connotations.  Aggressive zone schemes that don’t give up big plays and force an offense to have mental and physical endurance while going the “long hard way” is sound football.  
 
Last week against Virginia Tech I was surprised that the Blue Devils gave up four touchdowns of 40 yards or more.  This is highly uncharacteristic for their style.  In fact the Duke defense hadn’t given up a scoring play of more than 40 yards since the second play of the season, on September 1, against FIU.  Good coaching staffs have a way of correcting problems from week to week.  I imagine Duke spent a great deal of time this week on eliminating big plays. 
 
The good news is that UNC appears to have the mental and physical endurance to put drives together.  They also have the talent.  Gio is an uncommon back running behind an uncommon group of offensive linemen.  I had dinner with an NFL scout recently and he remarked that the three most talented lines he has seen in the country this year are Alabama, Texas A&M, and North Carolina.  James Hurst, Jonathan Cooper, Russell Bodine, Travis Bond, Landon Turner, and Brennan Williams are fully capable of maintaining long sustained drives again this year. 
 

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A Coach's Perspective

Following football in the Triangle will be hard for me this season.  I’m taking a year off from coaching since being fired by UNC.  I won’t be watching many games on TV but will be getting game films weekly to study.  Watching the more sterilized game film copy may ease some of the pain of […]

Recruiting Wars

Gio Run” has become a constant chant that builds and builds each Saturday as we anticipate Gio Bernard accelerating through a hole and with one cut, he’s off to the races.  So it wasn’t too surprising when the Hurricanes of Miami saw up close “Run Gio Run.”  Many times.  A monster performance in Gio’s […]

The Light at the end of the Tunnel

It’s finally here ladies and gentlemen…. the last game of the 2012 University of North Carolina football season. Wow, this season has absolutely flown by and, for me; this is when depression sets in. After Saturday, the countdown begins to the opening kickoff of the 2013 season (August 31, 2013) in Columbia, South Carolina. That’s […]

Not This Time Either, Duke!

If Duke thinks this is the year to beat UNC, the Blue Devils had better think again. The records are dead even – both teams 5-2 overall and 2-1 in the ACC. And they are mirror images of each other, playing a no huddle, fast-paced offense and an ameba-like 4-2-5 defense. So, it seems like […]

'Fast' Larry Fedora

Retired Southern Mississippi Athletic Director Richard Giannini knew he would have a hard time retaining his own football coach, Larry Fedora, late in his breakthrough season with the Golden Eagles. So when they talked about where the multi-million-dollar offers might come from, they discussed the UNC job. A former assistant A.D. at Duke, Giannini thought Fedora would be […]

"I Applaud Chancellor Thorp"

There are a lot of us folks who applaud the Chancellor for putting institution above any sport. I am a season ticket holder and a twenty-five year Ram but I do not want to see Carolina become a football factory. Our b-ball program makes it clear that excellence and graduating the kids can go together. […]

Claudette Regains Tropical Storm Strength After 13 Deaths

Written by JEFF AMY and AMY FORLITI Claudette regained tropical storm status Monday morning as it neared the coast of the Carolinas less than two days after 13 people died — including eight children in a multi-vehicle crash — due to the effects of the storm in Alabama. The children who died Saturday were in a van for […]

Part of 'A Unique Family'

Chapelboro.com has been publishing excerpts from Return To The Top on the 20th Anniversary of Dean Smith’s 2nd NCAA title season in 1993. Check the “Hoop it Up” section for all the excerpts from this fantastic series.  By George Lynch, UNC ‘93 In the end, the coaching staff had a lot to do with how […]

Coaching, Tradition Helped Heels Rebound

I know our fans were disappointed, as was I, with the loss at State. But we can’t lose sight of who we were playing against. That’s a veteran team with two seniors and two juniors and two really good freshmen. You know, most of their lineup will probably be in the NBA next season. And […]

Carolina 'Building Confidence'

Vince and the 1997 Tar Heels started 0-3 in the ACC before making the Final Four. No, I wasn’t surprised what happened at Florida State. I’ve played, coached and watched so much Carolina Basketball over the years — I’m never surprised at what the Tar Heels can do.  Now, I knew that would be a […]

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