|
WR/KR/PR
Brandon Tate |
|
|
2007
Statistics |
Coach:
Butch Davis
4-8,
1 year |
2007
Record: 3-9 |
|
JAMES
MADISON |
WON
37-14 |
at
East Carolina |
LOST
31-34 |
VIRGINIA |
LOST
20-22 |
at
South Florida |
LOST
10-37 |
at
Virginia Tech |
LOST
10-17 |
MIAMI
FL |
WON
33-27 |
SOUTH
CAROLINA |
LOST
15-21 |
at
Wake Forest |
LOST
10-37 |
MARYLAND |
WON
16-13 |
at
NC State |
LOST
27-31 |
at
Georgia Tech |
LOST
25-27 |
DUKE |
WON
20-14 (OT) |
|
2007
Final Rankings
AP-UR, Coaches-UR, BCS-UR
|
2008
Outlook |
Like
many first year administrations,
Butch Davis and his staff made
little headway with their new
team’s dismal win total.
It has been six years since
a winning record was in place
to end the season in Chapel
Hill. During that span, only
two seasons have featured defenses
that allowed less than 300 points,
and one of them was seen in
2007 (289). The 2007 point differential
- the difference between how
many points were allowed last
year and how many were scored
-was -35, the least separation
of these two all-important numbers
during the recent losing span.
The proverbial and literal gaps
are closing already. Struggling
to get to .500 is part of the
Tar Heel’s continued destiny,
but climbing the ACC Coastal
Division ladder is also a likely
scenario.
As
usual, Davis has more plans/players
up his sleeve. The pieces are
in place; whatever hand he was
initially dealt, Davis’s
first two recruiting classes
have been bumper crops. This
year, the JUCO infusions will
surely help, but just as many
eager, young freshmen are ready
at the coaches’ command
to prove their wares. When the
coach is a national championship
winner, you see guys giving
110%. That means the work ethic
is in place, and it’s
just a matter of time until
the execution catches up with
it.
QB
T.J. Yates will improve after
his freshman campaign proved
much. On defense, the guy who
will make this year a breakout
effort will be Marvin Austin
at DT. Nine returning starters
on offense and eight on defense
mean talent is already procured.
The ability for this much experience
and budding youth to mix could
mean a huge year…or it
could mean more incremental
steps. The bottom line is, this
team will be better, but how
much remains to be seen.
The
early part of the slate will
define the 2008 Tar Heels. The
rematch at Rutgers seems tough,
but most of the hardest league
games are Kenan Stadium. It
equals a workable schedule for
a winning year. Davis is building
this program in his image, and
fans will be happy sooner than
later. But in a conference that
is very competitive, there are
no guarantees.
Projected
2008 record: 6-6
|
|
NORTH
CAROLINA
*POWER RATINGS |
Offense |
Defense |
QB
- 3 |
DL
- 3.5 |
RB
- 2.5 |
LB
- 3 |
WR
- 4.5 |
DB
- 4 |
OL
- 3.5 |
.. |
|
NORTH
CAROLINA
2007 Statistical Rankings |
OFFENSE |
|
National |
Conf. |
Rushing: |
107 |
10 |
Passing: |
57 |
5 |
Total
Off: |
105 |
10 |
Sacks
Allow: |
105 |
9 |
|
DEFENSE |
|
National |
Conf. |
Rushing: |
51 |
9 |
Passing: |
27 |
2 |
Total
Def: |
35 |
8 |
Sacks: |
22 |
4 |
|
|
RETURNING
LEADERS |
Passing:
T.J. Yates, 218-365-18, 2655
yds., 14 TD
Rushing: Johnny White,
95 att., 399 yds., 0 TD
Receiving: Hakeem Nicks,
74 rec., 958 yds., 5 TD
Scoring: Brandon Tate,
7 TD, 42 pts.
Punting: Terrence Brown,
64 punts, 41.4 avg.
Kicking: None
Tackles: Trimane Goddard,
59 tot., 41 solo; Charles Brown,
59 tot., 43 solo
Sacks: E.J. Wilson, 5
sacks
Interceptions: Deunta
Williams, 3 for 84 yds.
Kickoff returns: Brandon
Tate, 39 ret., 24.1 avg., 0
TD
Punt returns: Brandon
Tate, 23 ret., 9.4 avg., 1 TD
|
|
|
DB
Deunta Williams |
|
|
|
OFFENSE
- 10 |
----RETURNING
STARTERS---- |
DEFENSE
- 8 |
|
KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Scott Lenahan-C, Connor Barth-K |
DEFENSE:
Hilee
Taylor-DE, Kentwan Balmer-DT,
Durell Mapp-WLB, Kendric Williams-CB |
|
|
2008
OFFENSE |
The
good news is that Butch Davis’s
second year should mean the troops
are ready for more than merely adjusting
to a new system. The steady advancements
of Freshman All-American T.J. Yates
give the Tar Heels a solid hurler
around which to grow. The bad news
is that all of this happened despite
coordinator John Shoop. Shoop coached
Yates to his current level (QBs coach),
so his presence isn’t all bad.
History has told a different story
on Shoop. Drops in production seen
in Shoop’s stints at Oakland
(OC in 2006 when Raiders finished
last in the NFL for total offense)
and Chicago (2001-03, as Bears lost
yardage per game in his successive
years there) have us skeptical of
his ability to bring much to Davis’s
schemes. But whatever – as long
as Yates keeps rising up the learning
curve, this offense can grow. 6’5
Yates drops back and rarely runs,
and his 18 INTs mean decision-making
still needs tweaking. But the promise
he showed with his 59.7% completion
rate (when foes knew the 107th-ranked
running game couldn’t deliver)
is the sliver of hope for this offense
to be better. Junior Cam Sexton led
the team in 2006, and his work with
passing coach Tom Martinez (Tom Brady’s
guy) in the off-season means Yates
will be on a short leash. Mike Paulus
is the by-default third-stringer,
but that’s only due to his inexperience
when compared to Yates and Sexton.
After
their struggles, the RB unit has much
to prove. A WR-athlete with a prep
background as a RB, Greg Little was
a member of the Tar Heel receiver
corps last year prior to being tapped
at RB. An athlete beyond most found
at this level, Little should be a
1,000-yard guy. Houston and ex-QB
Bobby Rome will vie for second-back
face time, with Rome being tapped
due to his soft hands and Houston
due to his north-south approach/success.
Last year’s No.2 Tar Heel runner,
Anthony Elzy bumps into that same
second-back role, too. Overall, there
are too many big backs and not enough
few little quicksters. All-ACC Brandon
Tate is deadly in the open field,
and last year he got the ball handed
to him about once a game with great
effect.
A
senior now, Tate is one of the leaders
on offense with his deep threat abilities.
Foes will feel artificially intoxicated
turning their heads to cover Brooks
Foster, especially when Hakeem Nicks
is distracting them since Nicks is
now that ‘go to’ type
which foes always need to mark. 6’6
RS frosh Rashad Mason and 6’4
senior Kenton Thornton offer tight
end-like qualities. True TE Richard
Quinn has hands for grabbing passes,
but his size makes him wanted for
his blocking just as much. Pianalto
seems to go into pattern more (had
24 catches compared to Quinn’s
four).
Targets
abound for Yates to find, and he should
find plenty of time to hit them with
so many upperclassmen returning to
start (four). The (new) fifth guy
is LG Byron Bishop for now, but he
will have to stay sharp to hold off
bigger/younger combo of Pelc and Bishop.
How Reynolds stays at right tackle
when LT (ex-TE) Kyle Jolly grades
out 10 points lower (88% vs. 78%)
remains a mystery. Darity is the run-blocking
specialist needed inside, while Stahl
bumps to center, where his brand of
leading-by-example can be the OL undertone
as he calls the blocking schemes.
The elements and players seem in place,
and even Shoop cannot seemingly fail
as long as consistency can be established.
|
|
WR
Hakeem Nicks
|
|
|
NORTH
CAROLINA 2008 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
T.J.
Yates-So (6-3, 210) |
Mike
Paulus-Fr (6-5, 215) |
FB |
Bobby
Rome-Jr (5-11, 250) |
Anthony
Elzy-So (5-10, 210) |
RB |
Greg
Little-So (6-3, 210) |
Ryan
Houston-Fr (6-2, 255) |
WR |
Hakeem
Nicks-Jr (6-1, 210) |
Kenton
Thornton-Jr (6-4, 230) |
WR |
Brandon
Tate-Sr (6-1, 195) |
Brooks
Foster-Sr (6-3, 205) |
TE |
Richard
Quinn-Sr (6-4, 250) |
Zack
Planalto-So (6-4, 240) |
OT |
Kyle
Jolly-Jr (6-6, 300) |
Carl
Gaskins-Fr (6-5, 295) |
OG |
Bryon
Bishop-Sr (6-3, 300) |
Alan
Pelc-So (6-6, 325) |
C |
Aaron
Stahl-Jr (6-3, 290) |
Lowell
Dyer-Jr (6-3, 280) |
OG |
Calvin
Darity-Sr (6-3, 300) |
Kevin
Bryant-Fr (6-7, 350) |
OT |
Garrett
Reynolds-Sr (6-7, 310) |
Mike
Ingersoll-So (6-5, 295) |
K |
Jay
Wooten-Fr (6-3, 185) |
Trase
Jones-So (6-0, 185) |
|
|
2008
DEFENSE |
The
same eerie feeling comes over fans
when they realize their other hands-on
leader, first-year defensive coordinator
Everett Withers, was the DC for the
worst defense in the bowl subdivision
last year – Minnesota. Then,
upon viewing Withers’ strong
résumé, a different
emotional conclusion is likely made.
His time under Jeff Fisher at Tennessee
(NFL) compliments Withers’ accomplishments
at BCS schools Texas and Louisville…this
Charlotte native seems like a good
fit, especially as the DB specialist.
There is much more to work with here
than in Minnesota, and UNC’s
No.35 total defense returns eight
legitimate starters. Sadly missed
will be Hilee Taylor, so meddle will
be tested to see who fills the leadership
void he left. Inside, it will be up
to Mullins and Thomas to battle it
out for one of the assignments, each
getting time depending on the down
and distance needed – Thomas
is used on runs so Mullins’
ability to penetrate and use his quickness
can be banked upon when those qualities
are needed (plays that take longer
to develop). The big news is Marvin
Austin and his readiness to build
on his Freshman All-American campaign.
This former No.1 DT prospect has the
physical skills to dominate at the
next level, so seeing a future NFL
star in his developmental stages makes
it worth following the Heels’
DL. Considering the DL’s outside
size, rushing the passer will be a
challenge. Wilson has proven abilities,
but as the best DE, he will get extra
attention. Powell is the lone speedster
in the DE crew, making his development
into a sack artiste crucial.
The
linebackers are a ragtag bunch, no
more exemplified than by MIKE Mark
Paschal. After losing his starting
status to now-departed Wesley Flagg
(left during off season), Paschal
earned it back by the end of 2007
and proved his range in his 17-tackle
performance against Duke. Stacked
behind Paschal are true frosh speedster
Kevin Reddick and special team sensation
Ryan Taylor, so Mark has to stay on
his game. Senior SAM Chase Rice is
back after being lost in the ’07
opener to an ankle injury, but he
lost his assured starting nod to Bruce
Carter. As just a true frosh thrown
in over his head, Carter was admirable
in his effort as he climbed the learning
curve and proved to be on top of things
by season’s end. Their battle
benefits the entire D; each will see
time. Quan Sturdivant was the other
true freshman who saw starting time
when Rice went down, but Sturdivant
earned Freshman All-ACC honors to
secure the continued start at WILL.
Learning to play together is all the
LBs have to do so all of their size
and speed can be brought to bear.
Ex-QB
Trimane Goddard has carried his leadership
skills to this side of scrimmage.
His return in 2007 from two separate
foot injuries in 2006 proved Goddard
is back up to speed. Trimane is the
lone senior on the DB two-deep, so
his health is vital. Deunta Williams
won the ACC Defensive Rookie of the
Year vote; the former WR will complete
a formidable pair of safeties. JUCO
standout Melvin Williams, here for
the entire spring, brings much needed
experience to this group. Many will
label the corners as a comical unit
since Charles Brown and Richie Rich
are vying for one of the starts. Brown’s
nine starts as a frosh will go a long
way toward securing him the slot,
but Rich is a proven open-field tackler
looking to prove his switch from RB
midway through 2007 was worth the
staff making. Under Withers, this
possible marginal dimension (coverage)
should be OK. Burney can do the job,
even at 5’9, of the other corner,
though, speedy Jordan Hemby returns
from his 2006 knee troubles to push
Burney and the position to new heights.
Last year’s No.27 pass defense
is poised (with so many starters back)
to be even better.
Overall,
the defense itself is on the verge
of making some major waves. Finishing
ranked 35th in the nation for total
defense was only good enough for 8th
place in the ACC; ergo, you can see
how good the stoppers have to be if
UNC wants to ride its defense to new
heights.
|
|
DB
Trimane Goddard
|
|
|
NORTH
CAROLINA 2008 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
Greg
Elleby-So (6-4, 285) |
Darrius
Massenburg-So (6-3, 280) |
DT |
Aleric
Mullins-Jr (6-3, 295) |
Cam
Thomas-Jr (6-4, 325) |
DT |
Marvin
Austin-So (6-3, 295) |
Tydreke
Powell-Fr (6-3, 310) |
DE |
E.J.
Wilson-Jr (6-2, 265) |
Darius
Powell-So (6-2, 230) |
SLB |
Chase
Rice-Sr (6-3, 220) |
Bruce
Carter-So (6-3, 220) |
MLB |
Mark
Paschal-Sr (6-0, 230) |
Ryan
Taylor-Jr (6-3, 240) |
WLB |
Quan
Sturdivant-So (6-2, 230) |
Kennedy
Tinsley-Jr (6-0, 220) |
CB |
Charles
Brown-So (5-10, 190) |
Richie
Rich-Jr (5-9, 195) |
CB |
Kendric
Burney-So (5-9, 180) |
Johnny
White-So (5-10, 205) |
SS |
Trimane
Goddard-Sr (5-11, 195) |
Da'Norris
Searcy-So (6-0, 200) |
FS |
Deunta
Williams-So (6-2, 195) |
Melvin
Williams-Jr (6-0, 205) |
P |
Terrence
Brown-Sr (6-3, 190) |
Jay
Wooten-Fr (6-3, 185) |
|
|
|
2008
SPECIAL TEAMS |
Terrence
Brown is the kind of consistent performer
that can give the Tar Heels an advantage
in their field position battles. Laurinburg’s
Jay Wooten looks like he will become a solid
contributor, but replacing K Conner Barth
is a tough prospect since Barth only missed
from outside the 50. Brandon Tate earned
1,155 total return yards for UNC in 2007;
hopefully, the number of kick returns can
go down as Tate’s average goes up.
As the school’s greatest all-time
return specialist, Tate is a valuable commodity.
|
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|