Sept. 26, 2003

by Lee Pace, Extra Points

The Tar Heel running game is weighing on the minds of numerous Tar Heel fans this week. Carolina has managed only 116 yards a game running the ball in three games, seventh-best in the ACC. It's interesting that N.C. State with its vaunted tailback T.A. McClendon is actually behind the Heels at 102 yards a game.

These questions are representative of the ones coming in this week:

For a team that doesn't run the ball very well, we don't try to incorporate any trickery into our runs. We seem to be running straight ahead plays and getting nowhere. Why doesn't the coaching staff run some counter or veer plays off tackle or something, maybe get opposing defenses something to defend that isn't coming right at them. I noticed we tried something similar with the introduction of the "rabbit" back with Jacque Lewis, but why not with a larger and faster back like Willie Parker or Chad Scott? - Brad Lee, Raleigh

What has happened with the remarks John Bunting made in the pre-season about running the football? Last week we run the ball on first down the first two possessions and gained four yards each time. Then we threw the ball on second and third downs both possessions. If the O-line is supposed to be the experienced part of the team, why are we not trying to use it to run the football? -Terry Harris, Granite Falls

Rest assured that Bunting's resolve in pre-season and spring ball to improve the Carolina running remains set in stone. The Tar Heels will remain an average offense until they can truly become two-dimensional. It's quite amazing what QB Darian Durant has accomplished over two-plus seasons throwing the ball with opposing defenses knowing the Tar Heels would be throwing.

The Heels have done some good things running the ball this year, but certainly not enough. Willie Parker, Jacque Lewis and Ronnie McGill have each had some success--McGill against FSU, Parker against Syracuse and Lewis against Wisconsin.

One of the problems this year is that the Heels have lacked two of the pieces to the puzzle of a successful ground game--an established fullback and tight end, each of whom are key blockers in a sound running attack.

Last October on a temporary basis and again this spring on a permanent basis, the coaching staff decided that Madison Hedgecock's skills and mindset were better suited to defense than to staying at fullback. Leading to that decision, of course, was Carolina's lack of bodies at defensive end. That left a void at fullback, and thus far replacements Rikki Cook (a transfer) and James Gibson (a former walk-on) have not consistently proven the ability to block well enough to become regular components of the offense.

The Tar Heels have only one scholarship tight end with experience, that being Bobby Blizzard. But he's been sidelined for two weeks with a viral infection and only this week returned to practice, and not having his blocking ability has been a hindrance to the running game. As Saturday's game at Wisconsin evolved, the Tar Heels quit trying to run outside the tackles because they could not block the Badgers' defensive ends and outside linebackers without Blizzard's expertise. Blizzard has also been used in essence as a fullback--not for running purposes but as a lead blocker and a receiver.

So offensive coordinator Gary Tranquill and running backs coach Andre Powell have made do with what they've had to work with. Last spring Bunting noted that each tailback brought different skills to the table--from power running to darting outside to pass-protecting to receiving to breaking tackles--but none had yet to emerge as the total package.

"I wish I had one guy who could do it all," Powell says. "Make space, run over people, protect the quarterback, have good ball skills. But I don't. I've got three or four guys together who can do it. We're going to continue along this path until someone emerges."

In truth the Heels have used quite a bit of variety and misdirection in trying to generate a running game. Their two longest runs of the day against Wisconsin--56 yards and 17 yards by Lewis--were the same plays, a counter-play out of the shotgun. Lewis was the lone running back and took a hand-off from Darian Durant after a counter-step away from the play-side. An adjunct from that play is Durant pulling the ball out of the running back's stomach on the hand-off and keeping it for a run to the opposite side. The Tar Heels have run that play with some success this season.

They've used the shovel pass--which is essentially a running play--and should have gotten a two-point conversion on it against Syracuse. Unfortunately, two linemen got tangled up with one another and missed a block on the linebacker who made the game-winning tackle.

Carolina has also run at least two reverses that I can remember, and the Tar Heels built a touchdown pass off of a running play--McGill's tailback pass to Mike Mason against Syracuse. Much of what you've seen already is setting up additional plays to be run as the season develops. Keep watching closely--the Tar Heels will do some interesting things trying to get that running game going.

I believe in John Bunting and know he's working his tail off to turn things around. As much as I believe that the Tar Heels can still find some quality wins this season, I'm stumped that Bunting does not give these talented true freshmen more opportunities and playing time than he does. The one exception to this is Isiah Thomas, who has started seeing more significant playing time and contributing in major ways for a freshman. Given our linebackers' lackluster performance thus far, I can't understand why Bunting doesn't give Larry Edwards and Fred Sparkman, highly talented LBs, a shot at significant playing time.

Help me with a bit of history here, but didn't Mack Brown throw Dre Bly and Robert Williams onto the gridiron from the start of their true freshman seasons, and the corners became the best in the ACC by the end of their freshman seasons? Bly broke interception records, and was sheer intimidation to opposing offenses, and that was his FRESHMAN year. - Nathan West, Raleigh

This is a popular question. I'll answer the second part first to set the stage for getting to today's team.

Robert Williams was signed in February of 1995 and did not play until the seventh game of the 1995 season, then played the rest of the way. Dre Bly was also in that signing class but was red-shirted in 1995. He started as a red-shirt freshman in the 1996 season opener against Clemson.

So at the same point we're at today during their respective freshman seasons (through three games), neither player had touched the field.

Edwards and Sparkman both played on defense for the first time Saturday and will continue to get playing time. How much time depends on how well they play, and the most important component to that issue is mental. The middle linebacker position, which Edwards plays, is the "quarterback of the defense." It's his job to get the signal from the sidelines, relay it to his teammates, get lined up properly and then read the offense's personnel group and formation. From all of that, he might have to make another call at the line of scrimmage.

That is not a skill one develops in one month of college ball.

There is also the issue of how well a younger player adapts to the speed of the college game and college life that weighs on how much time he'll get in games. Here's an example.

One of the players in question has been ridden particularly hard by Bunting in practice for not having learned how to practice hard for two-hours-plus every day. That doesn't mean the kid is lazy or that he has a bad attitude or anything of the sort. It simply means that he's in an entirely new world. The pace of practice in high school does not come close to equating to college. The demands from the coaching staff are higher. It takes time to adjust physically and mentally to higher standards and find the strength internally to work through the exhaustion and pain. Most players who are good enough to play college football were dominant forces in high school; they were colliding day-after-day with players significantly smaller and weaker and slower than they were. Now they're getting hammered by players bigger and stronger and tougher. The ability to adapt to these changes comes in time for good players.

But you can bet the house on this: If a player has not yet learned to practice, he's not going to be thrown to the wolves in a game situation.

In truth, every freshman on the team when he arrives on campus is indeed given "a shot at significant playing time." Whether that opportunity develops depends on how badly he's needed at his position, how difficult that position is for a true freshman to play, how healthy he was during training camp, how well he adjusts to the nuances of the college games, among many factors.

If you'll notice over the years, the position that true freshman adapt to easiest--beyond playing on special teams--is that of wide receiver. Randall Felton (1989), Na Brown (1995), Bosley Allen (1998) and Sam Aiken (1999) come quickly to mind. It's no coincidence that receivers Mike Mason and Jesse Holley have been most noticeable among freshmen this season.

Edwards is actually making great progress on the Tar Heel special teams. He's first unit on the kick-off, kick-off return and punt teams, which means he's getting at least a dozen snaps a game in key situations. Sparkman, Mason, Joe Kedra, Kareen Taylor and Melik Brown are also starting on various special teams.

My advice is to be patient. Bunting wants to win more than anyone reading this column today. If and when he thinks any member of the roster can help toward that end, the kid will play.

How's our depth at cornerback? Derrick Johnson had a tough time against Wisconsin, and with Michael Waddell out with an ankle sprain, what do we have to fall back on? Our defense is struggling. I just do not see the hustle, focus and determination we Tar Heel fans have grown accustomed to over the years with our defense. The TV guys for the game even used the words "too easy" when describing Wisconsin's ability to pick apart our defense, especially in the air. Is there an answer for this year, or are we still "rebuilding" and for how long? The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill should not be ranked dead last (or close to it) on the defensive side of the ball! Hats off to Darian Durant and our offense for hanging tough ... but they need some help! - Randy Fussell, Greenville, N.C.

With Michael Waddell's ankle injury at Wisconsin, depth is definitely a concern at cornerback. Waddell suffered a turf toe against Syracuse and the coaching and training staff were going, if possible, to play him only in the kicking game at Wisconsin. But with Johnson struggling in the first half, secondary coach Jim Fleming planned to play Waddell in Johnson's spot in the third quarter. Both play the "field corner," or the wide side of the field. But Waddell sprained an ankle on a punt return early in the second half and was out for the rest of the afternoon. He did not practice on Wednesday and is questionable for Saturday.

JUCO-transfer Lionell Green moved in front of Johnson at the field-corner position this week in practice. Johnson will focus on being the fifth defensive back in nickel pass coverage. On the other side of the field, Cedric Holt is the starter, but Bunting said this week he hopes to get Chris Hawkins back on the field. Hawkins started against Florida State, struggled and hasn't played much since.

Green is like the true freshmen in that he's adapting to a level of competition a notch higher than he played a year ago. He's also having to learn to play zone pass defense. He specialized in hands-on, aggressive man-coverage in junior college. He was playing man coverage against Syracuse and gambled on one play, giving up a touchdown, and was caught looking at the quarterback in zone coverage in allowing another big score. He'll get better playing zone as the year progresses. Unfortunately, the Tar Heels aren't nearly good enough in generating a pass rush to allow them to play much man-coverage in the secondary. A quarterback with time can always beat man-coverage.

There is no question the Tar Heel defense is still "rebuilding." Four of its defensive line mainstays of the future are at Hargrave Military Academy after failing to qualify this summer; hopefully several will enroll in Chapel Hill in January.

I can't tell you how long it will take. But I'll point you to strong safety Mahlon Carey as an example of what it's going to take to get the Heels back within sniffing distance of those vaunted defenses of 1996-97.

Carey in three games in 2003 has emerged as a quality player.

They stand up and identify themselves and you don't have to be paying close attention while it's happening.

They make plays--turnovers and big hits. They disrupt blockers. They don't miss many tackles. You hear their names called by the P.A. announcer, the radio and TV broadcast teams. Opposing coaches comment on them. Their photos pop up in the newspapers. You turn to your neighbors in the stand and say, "Did you see that?" They spark excitement from their teammates and fans. They get hurt and keep playing--just like Carey did against Syracuse after having the tip of his left-hand ring figure literally torn off and then sewn back on before halftime.

Carolina had one of these at every position just several years ago.

The question is, who's waiting in the wings to emerge and join Carey and Dexter Reid as outstanding players on defense?

Last season, Michael Gilmore was one of seven true freshmen to play for the Heels. To the best of my knowledge, he has not played yet this season. Is he still on the team, and if so is he injured or has he just failed to win playing time in 2003, or has he decided to take a red-shirt season? - Wayne Killian, Wilmington

Gilmore is a part of the team this year and is expected to red-shirt.

What kind of punishment does our coaching staff have for false starts, offsides and all the other penalties that we have? If we could just cut these things out we could improve 100 percent. - John Tolley, Rockwell, N.C.

The ultimate punishment is that the offending player will find himself watching from the bench during the next game.

If a player is making frequent mental mistakes during practice or egregious errors of effort, he might have the opportunity to enjoy a "wake-up call" with strength coach Jeff Connors, which is a private session over in one corner of the field where the offending player runs through a routine of conditioning drills. Or there might be extra running planned for after-practice.

The Tar Heel offense actually was not snake-bitten with those kinds of penalties in the first two games. But they did rear their ugly heads against Wisconsin. Carolina had nine penalties for 73 yards against Wisconsin after hardly seeing the referees' yellow flags against Florida State (four penalties for 42 yards) and Syracuse (six for 55).

That's a three-game average of 57 yards a game--too much, of course, but still in the better half of the ACC rankings for yards-penalized and better than the 66 yards a game from last year.

TarHeelBlue.com football expert Lee Pace will again answer your questions about the Carolina program this season in an exclusive column published each Friday. Pace, editor of the Extra Points newsletter that appears each Monday morning, will answer your questions on personnel, strategy, opponents and anything on your mind about the Tar Heels. Please send your questions to Lee at lpace@nc.rr.com, and include your first and last names and your hometown.