North Carolina State University Athletics
Gary Hahn's Scouting Report: North Carolina
11/15/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
NC STATE (3-7, 2-5) at
DATE:
TIME: Kickoff:
RADIO: Wolfpack Sports Network. Airtime:
TELEVISION: Raycom/Lincoln Financial Sports (ACC Network)
OPPONENT—More than three weeks ago when North Carolina football coach John Bunting was given the choice of resigning or being fired he refused to quit. His team has also refused to give up.
Although the record does not show it,
Last Saturday at home,
Tech’s ground attack and third-down efficiency made the difference. Tashard Choice rushed for 119 yards and the game’s only touchdown. He finished with 32 carries and 32 receiving yards as the Yellow Jackets struggled to execute big plays in the passing game.
Quarterback Reggie Ball missed on several deep passes that could have led to more points, including an overthrow to a wide-open James Johnson that would have been an easy fourth quarter touchdown.
Meanwhile, the Heels did a good job defending big play wide receiver Calvin Johnson. The All-American candidate, who caught 9 passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns the previous week at NC State, finished with only three receptions for 13 yards. Johnson was double-teamed most of the afternoon with safety Kareen Taylor providing the extra help.
Ball’s off-day was also reflected in the final stats. He completed 10-of-24 passes for only 78 yards and an interception. Georgia Tech finished with 221 total yards - the fewest allowed by
Choice's 3-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter ended a 20-play, 83-yard march that spanned 10 1/2 minutes. The scoring drive was the longest this season in the ACC in both time of possession and number of plays.
The best scoring chances for the Heels came during consecutive drives in the first half, but quarterback Joe Dailey was picked off twice in the end zone. The redshirt junior received excellent protection, but completed only 13-of-34 passes for 156 yards.
Nicks finished with 4 catches for 36 yards while teammate Jesse Holley had 5 receptions for only 32 yards. Ronnie McGill led the Heels with 73 rushing yards. UNC was 2-of-13 on third-down as it suffered its seventh straight loss.
Both
The Tar Heels are last in the ACC with a minus-13 turnover margin and their quarterbacks, Dailey and redshirt freshman Cam Sexton, have thrown a league-leading 17 interceptions. NC State’s turnover margin is slightly better at minus-7, but the Wolfpack has won the turnover battle in only 3 games this season
Neither defense has done much to create turnovers either although State has improved in that area in the last two weeks. The Pack and Heels have forced opponents to cough up the ball only 11 times each. That’s the worst mark in the ACC. Stopping the run has been an issue, too.
Glimmers of progress for both teams seem to be undone by mistakes that keep happening week after week. For NC State, the offense has struggled with finding the right balance, dropped passes and penalties while the defense has had momentary lapses at critical times. When
Believe it or not,
Each program has also changed quarterbacks. In fact, in UNC’s case, the quarterback situation can change from week to week. Dailey (6-1, 190, Jr.) and Sexton have started five games each. They have been used occasionally in rotation.
Dailey, a
McGill is a solid talent at runningback. The senior (5-11, 220) is seventh in the ACC in rushing (66 ypg.) and has also caught 14 passes for a 10-yard average. Barrington Edwards (6-0, 220, Jr.) is the only other UNC runningback with more than 100 yards rushing. However, he has not played the position since the
The left side of the Heels offensive line is the most talented. Tackle Brian Chacos (6-4, 310, Sr.) and guard Charlston Gray (6-3, 295, Jr.) are both third-year starters. No other Tar Heel linemen approach that pair in experience.
Three receivers, all with big play potential, get the bulk of the work when the Heels put the ball in the air. Sophomore Brooks Foster leads the team in catches (33) while Nicks with 32 receptions has the most receiving yards (543) and touchdowns (3). Holley, the most experienced UNC receiver, has grabbed 31 passes, two for touchdowns.
Against ACC opponents, Carolina’s offense is last in the league at 238 yards a game and the Heels have thrown only 2 touchdown passes (also last in the conference) in league games.
The Tar Heels defense is improving. In ACC games, the Heels have surrendered only 3 touchdown passes and they have the second-best pass defense versus the league (135 ypg.). However, they are last in rushing defense in ACC games (187).
Up front, end Brian Rackley (6-5, 270, Sr.) is the most experienced as a third-year starter, but lately tackles Kentwan Balmer (6-5, 288, Jr.) and Shelton Bynum (6-5, 300, Sr.) have stepped up. The other end, Hilee Taylor (6-3, 241, Jr.) leads the team in sacks (3) and tackles for loss (5).
Senior outside linebacker, Larry Edwards (6-2, 235), is symbolic of the no-quit attitude of the Heels. The third-year starter broke his collarbone October 14th, but returned to play against Georgia Tech. Despite a first-quarter ankle sprain against the Yellow Jackets he managed to post five tackles. The other outside linebacker, Durell Mapp (6-2, 225, Jr.), leads the team in tackles and is 13th l in the ACC in stops (7.0).
The Heels secondary is anchored by senior cornerback Jacoby Watkins (6-0, 180), a third-year starter who has a team-leading 6 pass break-ups. He is the Tar Heels top cover corner. Taylor, another third-year starter, is
Senior David Wooldridge has been a steady punter this season for the Heels with a 41.3 average, but has had two attempts blocked. Connor Barth, a junior, has made all six of his field goal attempts and 16-of-18 PATs this season. He is 3-of-3 beyond 40-yards and kicked a career-long 52-yarder against
Brandon Tate (6-1, 190, So.) is a very dangerous kick and punt returner and ranks in the ACC’s top-10 in both categories. Against Notre Dame, Tate returned a kickoff 90-yards for a touchdown.
NOTES: This will be the 96th meeting between State and
INJURIES--NC State:LB James Martin-Out, wrist surgery; OG/C Leroy Harris-Questionable, ankle sprain; OG Curtis Crouch-Questionable, head injury; TB Andre Brown-Probable, neck strain. UNC–LB Martel Thatch-Questionable; LB Larry Edwards-Probable, ankle sprain.
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