Nov. 21, 2003

by Lee Pace, Extra Points

CHAPEL HILL -- There's not much in the way of thoughtful questions this week about Tar Heel football--not too surprising given Carolina's 2-9 season.

There have been a handful of queries about these silly Steve Spurrier-to-Carolina rumors. Let's put those to rest right now. One, the Tar Heels don't have a job opening and will not have one. Two, Spurrier's not unemployed and he's not going to resign--no matter the frustrations he is having in Washington and no matter any relationship problems with Redskins owner Daniel Snyder. Maybe he gets fired. But for Spurrier to walk away from the Redskins and the NFL would be to say, "I cannot coach at this level." Steve Spurrier saying, "I quit" and "I cannot" doesn't compute.

There are other missives about Tar Heel coach John Bunting's decision to punt with under four minutes to play in Saturday's game at Georgia Tech. Bunting has explained that his hope was for punter David Wooldridge to launch a towering kick, have gunners Mike Mason and Wallace Wright breathing down his nose and hope for a fumble. It happened a week ago against Wake Forest. It almost happened in the first quarter against the Yellow Jackets. It happened in N.C. State's favor two months ago at Ohio State in similar--though not identical--situations. In this case, it did not work.

I would have gambled on fourth down with the Tar Heels trailing by 10 points at their own 25 yard-line, for this reason. If you gamble and lose, the game's over. If you punt and don't get the fumble, the game's over as well, particularly given that the Carolina defense could not stop Tech throughout the second half. The odds seem better of converting for four yards and a first down than praying for a fumble on a kick.

But I'm not paid to make those decisions, so what I think doesn't matter. As I read somewhere recently, people in jobs like Bunting's "do their crossword puzzles in ink." The unfortunate thing is that Bunting has taken a hit from a perception standpoint in that it looks like he's risk-averse or timid. Those who know him realize there could be nothing further from the truth.

I see in the ACC stats that Carolina has two pass interceptions this season with the next closest team, N.C. State, having eight. Wake Forest, Georgia Tech and Florida State each have 13. I know there have been injury problems at cornerback. But still--shouldn't we be getting our hands on more balls?
Jake Sessums, Virginia Beach

There's no question that picking off opposition passes and forcing and covering fumbles has been a major weakness for the Tar Heels this year. Carolina has gained 10 turnovers and lost 23 in 2003--a negative margin of 13 and an average of minus-1.18 per game, easily the worst in the league.

Obviously the Tar Heels have to get better and deeper at cornerback. Covering a receiver is one thing. Having a knack of finding the ball in the air and then going and getting it is another skill entirely. Great ones can do both-such as the Heels' own Dre Bly, who snared 20 in three seasons from 1996-98.

Bunting agrees with that but emphasizes the problems extend to the entire defense.

"It's also a matter of pass rush," he says. "It's a lot to do with pressuring quarterbacks, making them throw early, making them throw untimely throws, making them believe they're going to get pressured. I don't believe the quarterbacks we play feel like they're going to get pressured. Interceptions, tipped balls, tight coverage, mixing coverages--all that stuff intermingles. We've not had the right solution to that. We've got to get a better pass rush, we've got to cover tighter. I'm a big believer if you can't intercept the pass, you've got to tackle the catch. If you do not tackle the catch, you've got an explosive play. We've certainly had too many of those."

The offensive line loses two starters this year, guards Jeb Terry and Jupiter Wilson. Who do you see replacing them in 2004?
Lee Stuart, Southern Pines

There are a variety of scenarios that could develop over spring practice and pre-season camp next August.

Kyle Ralph will be a junior next year, and he's played behind Wilson at left guard and has played extensively. He should be one of the guards.

Offensive line coach Hal Hunter could find his other guard in a variety of places.

He'll have three experienced tackles in 2004 in Willie McNeill, Skip Seagraves and Andy Chacos. Hunter says that moving one of them inside is a possibility.

Stephen Bell has been a backup center to Jason Brown. He could play guard.

Arthur Smith has been out of action since early 2002 with a broken foot, but he's had surgery, has a clean bill of health and will return for spring practice. He is an option.

True freshmen Scott Lenahan and Charleston Gray are possibilities as well. Lenahan has played center this fall but Hunter says he's smart enough to play both positions. Gray has worked at both tackle and guard. Walk-on Patrick Hope could be in the mix as well at guard.

"The meat and potatoes for 2004 is here in place," Hunter says. "I think we've got pretty solid replacement guys inside for the seniors we lose. It's matter of who will step up."

Hunter has spent the entire 2003 season preparing for 2004. At the beginning of fall camp, each position coach has to decide which players will work with the first and second teams preparing for that week's game, and which players will go to the scout team on the opposite field to run the opponent's plays each day in practice. This year, he's had Lenahan and Gray working with "the varsity" instead of the "scouts," even though the chances were nil of them playing.

"Lenahan and Gray know the entire offense," Hunter says. "We could plug them in Saturday if we needed to. They've been ready for several weeks. But why waste a red-shirt year? They've been coached every day in 2003 because they'll be important to us in 2004. And you can't get them ready in 15 days of spring ball."

The Tar Heels would like to sign four offensive linemen this recruiting season, and they have commitments from two already.