Game Preview: Miami vs North Carolina

Canespace Blogger DZ8 Breaks Down The UNC Offense:

 

The North Carolina Tar Heel offense persevered despite losing their leading rusher, Shaun Draughn, last week against Duke.  They used Ryan Houston effectively on several long scoring drives mostly resulting in field goals.  The big, 6-2 245 lb bruising running back carried the ball 37 times for 164 yards.  The North Carolina offensive line which had been banged up earlier this year is starting to play with some chemistry.  The Tar Heels are stronger at running the ball and we could see some Wake Forest 2008-like 15 consecutive rushing attempts against us. 

 

A former running back named Greg Little is the Tar Heels leading receiver.  He has very good size at 6-3 and 215 lbs and usually gets a couple of carries a game.  Erik Highsmith is a freshman receiver with some height, 6-3, who might get some looks his way.  The passing game of North Carolina is ranked only ahead of Georgia Tech (some obscure Georgia law actually fines the Yellow Jackets every time their football team attempts a forward pass) in the ACC. 

 

TJ Yates is the QB for the Tar Heels and has thrown a pick in every game but two this year, including three games with multiple interceptions.  Not a scrambling quarterback as he has finished with negative rushing yards in two thirds of their games this year.  Yates and the offensive line are giving up about two sacks a game so far this year.  The Tar Heels have not yet developed replacements for the three receivers who went to the NFL last year.

 

DZ8 Breaks Down The UNC-UM Special Teams Match-Up:

 

Casey Barth is the younger brother of Connor Barth, the former freshman kicker for UNC who kicked a game winning field goal against #4 ranked Miami in 2004.  I remember watching that game and thinking how popular Connor would be with the ladies after that kick. 

 

Casey is a consistent kicker who is in his 2nd year on the job despite just being a sophomore.  He is three out four from 40-49 yards this year but hasn't attempted one over 50, yet. 

 

Numbers wise their punt team seems solid and they should have some solid punt and kick coverage with all of those athletes that Butch is recruiting.

 

From the personal relationship we have with their head coach to the heartbreaking 2004, 2007, 2008 losses. This is a team that should've been circled on the calendar by every 'Cane coach and player. 

 

This is a team that we owe, big time.

 

Canespace Blogger SolarCane Breaks Down The UNC Defense:

 

North Carolina has the nation’s seventh best total defense team. The Tar Heels are an impressive number ten nationally in pass defense.  Even more challenging they are number 3 in the nation in tackles for loss. 

 

This could be a long day for Jacory Harris if he gets careless or greedy.  UNC has picked of 8 passes in 8 games by 6 different players.

So we just run against them right?  Not so fast my friend, Carolina is 18th in the nation in rushing defense.  Linebacker #52 Quan Sturdivant leads the team with 55 tackles, including nine for loss.

 

Other sure tackling Tar Heels include number 12 Charles Brown, not to be confused for Canespace’s Charlie Brown, who leads the nation in eclipses produced.  Number 54 Bruce Carter and number 16 Kendric Burny who had 11 tacklers against Georgia Tech. round out the Heels' best hitters.
 

The Tar Heels have an impressive twenty sacks recorded in 8 games.  Number 42 Robert Quinn has 7 sacks for minus 56 yards. Jacory and Quinn should know each other pretty well by the end of the game.
 
Defensive co-coordinator Everrt Withers also coaches the defensive backs.  While at Texas as DC Withers brought the Long Horns from 75th when he got there to number 1 in pass defense. 

 

The Heels are giving up just 16 points a game going into Duke, but all that could change with Thad Lewis and Jacory Harris both having outstanding passing seasons.

Comments

[Troubs]

Go canes!

[shwarma]

Numero Uno

[Canez1]

Who dat chic!!

GO CANEZ!!!!!

[shwarma]

Ahh congrats Troubs as a first time poster

[shwarma]

Canez I agree on that call

[Troubs]

Thank you, thank you

[86Cane]

Duke game is at noon. Sigh. Another 3am wake up for the JSQ.

Posted by: JSQ | November 09, 2009 at 12:10 PM

It's a tough life, but somebody has to live it! Really don't see why 3 AM is necessary, but hey, if that's what it takes to get the tailgate organized and to the stadium on time, then I guess sacrifices must be made.

[CGNC]

Nice work DZ8. We can't have the Wake or Clemson team effort show up.

[86Cane]

Troubs...welcome to The Space. Post here, post often!

Email me at: host@canespace.com for your FREE Canespace T-shirt.

[86Cane]

CGNC...DZ8 ans SolarCane both contributed to the article. And I agree, we will need our BEST effort to win the game 34-20, just as I predicted!

[Sarasota 'cane]

"...not to be confused for Canespace’s Charlie Brown, who leads the nation in eclipses produced."

That was funny! Maybe a UM/Canespace "trucker hat" would be in order here! It might throw off the overall size of the dome!

Go 'canes!

[pb(CSROH10)]

I don't see us scoring 34 in this game.

This one could be a replica of the OU game.

[Troubs]

Email on the way 86Cane! Thanks again

[CGNC]

Canez1 - most likely driving up for the day - unless it is a night game.....then who knows....

[Six]

Larry Johnson cut by the Chiefs

He might actually be happy about it b/c they're 1-7

[JSQ]

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/colleges/um/story/1323561.html

CGNC, kickoff is at 3:30pm.

[j.w.]

Troubs, nice work! And more photos next time, please. :)

So, I saw Frank Gore run live and in person yesterday. Why the Niners didn't give him more carries is killing me right now. It cost them the win yesterday.

[86Cane]

Blount reinstated at Oregon.

[CGNC]

JSQ - yeah just saw that on the Acc site - my home computer crashed so I am a little behind ;-D

[Canez1]

Shwarm LMAO!!! That chic is just how I like em!!!! Check the Av

DAYUM!!!!

CG ya the game is at 3:30 so I think we are gonna meet up and drive in together earlier.

Where Soilar at??

GO CANEZ!!!!!

[Six]

86 - what a surprise, ha.

They get beat by Stanford, basically costing them any shot in the BCS title game and they now have to win out in order to win the Pac-10

They still handled the whole situation 1,000 times better than Urban Myth with Spikes. The Crocs looked like complete morons in handling that situation with the half game suspension in the beginning

Hence, the distraction put out there by Urban Myth about the late hit on QB #15 by the UGA player - to take everyone's minds off of what Spikes did and the horrible handling of it by UiF

[DZ8]

Great job with the editing/pictures as always 86. I'm starting to like that shade of tarheel blue... been staring at it for awhile.

[CGNC]

If you look at the NC map up there it doesn't look like Chapel Hill is that far from Charlotte but I can get up to Va Tech in the same amount of time, maybe 5 minutes more - LMAO Canez1 sounds like he is ready NOW!

[Matt Drudge]

UNC may have a good D, but that doesn't mean our O need to be scared of them. Blitzing defenses have had success against our O, so I think Butch may blitz more often than he does usually. We can run the ball on any one unlike Duke, so that should open up the passing game. Jacory and the receivers need to be sharp and UNC needs to be crushed!

Our D should be fired up from the get go and take away all the short passes and the run. We are good against the run, but our back 7 need to take away the screen passes too.

What's the weather going to be like?

[CGNC]

LOL Matt UNC also has TJ Yates who without Nicks this year is a mere mortal

[DZ8]

Forgot to ask anyone... is DeAndre McDaniel, S, Clemson on the Thorpe list. If he isn't why TF not?! This kid has like 10 picks on the year (they come at great times of the game), and I loved the way when he picked Ponder at the end and the QB was running out there to make the stop... he pointed at him before he laid into him. LOVED seeing that (nothing against Ponder, just great fire/passion on McDaniels part).

I will research McDaniel some more 'cause lord knows the Dolphins could use a ballhawking free safety.

[dawgmeatcane]

canes 31 Heels 17

[Sarasota 'cane]

I will research McDaniel some more 'cause lord knows the Dolphin's could use a ballhawking free safety.

Posted by: DZ8 | November 09, 2009 at 01:18 PM

I'd settle for a clutch receiver!

Go Dolphin's
Go 'canes!

[DZ8]

CGNC thanks. Solar got their more glamorous defense but 86 spiced my section up with a pic and a map.

We need a complete game at UNC. U are going to be there... U are still in charge of timeouts right? Use them wisely... got a feeling we need to make them count this game.

[Caneslegend]

Nice article...This could be our toughest game of the year...Butch always wants to beat us and he will have his boys ready...And we have never won there before and that is big hurdle to overcome. Canes Optimist I understand your point of being balanced but balance come with criticism. These kids get full ride to a school and performance and criticism is what they signed up for. I feel a player is under performing. We should call him out. Just the other day Shandel called out the coaching staff after the wake forest game. That was prob the worse coached game I have seen this year. Did he have a right to call them out? Sure because if that is the type of product they are putting on the field they deserved to be critiqued. Saying Randy is okay, learning on the job, or its going to take time...Okay I agree but there comes a time when someone has to be acountable and that is fans job. I am not calling for him to get fired because next year and the year after will be the true test for this coaching staff. NC will be coming for us and we can't sleep on T.J. Yates he is a good quarterback he just hasn't had the wide receiver help. And the reason I questioned you (Canes Optimist)about Cincy's coach because he is one of the best head coach's in the country and he has turned a program that was irrelevant to a BCS contender. I consider him a good coach. And one whose name pomped around before we hired Randy. Thats all.

Go Canes

[DZ8]

It takes a year or two for receivers to develop. I have faith in our guys, except for Ginn, in the clutch.

We need to develop (or just get) a #1 so that Ginn can wreak havoc as a secondary option. IMO

[CGNC]

DZ8 - yes I have not relinquished the timeouts back to the coaches until they prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that they can handle them

[DZ8]

I don't remember Kellys name popping up before Shannon. I remember Mike Leach being brought up.

[DZ8]

Good idea CGNC

[Caneslegend]

I don't remember Kellys name popping up before Shannon. I remember Mike Leach being brought up.

Posted by: DZ8 | November 09, 2009 at 01:26 PM

I stand corrected your right it was Leach...I confuse those two sometimes because they both like to be pass happy.

[Matt Drudge]

LOL Matt UNC also has TJ Yates who without Nicks this year is a mere mortal

Posted by: CGNC | November 09, 2009 at 01:18 PM

I agree CGNC. Given our D's success in making subpar QBs look spectacular with the short passes/ screens, it all depends on how sharp the D shows up at game time. From the youtube link someone posted two blogs ago, UVA D did a great job on Yates and co.

[CGNC]

Last two UNC games have come down to the last play of the game - in 2007 we were marching down the field and ready to score until Kyle threw a pick. In 2008 Marve threw a pick. This year will be different

As for TJ Yates a good dose of Allen Bailey wouldn't hurt

[dawgmeatcane]

We have been down this road before i.e. their O is ranked dead last, they RB is hurt, their QB sucks and then soon as the game starts we make these guys look like Marino and whatever world beater out there. just saying

[Matt Drudge]

Also, it is absolutely essential we come out swinging and not let UNC go up on the scoreboard like they did against FSU this year (and in 2007 against us).

[Matt Drudge]

Did you all catch Doc Walker's comment on Brandon Washington on Saturday? LOL. I think it is part of Rusty's highlights too.

[Caneslegend]

We have been down this road before i.e. their O is ranked dead last, they RB is hurt, their QB sucks and then soon as the game starts we make these guys look like Marino and whatever world beater out there. just saying

Posted by: dawgmeatcane | November 09, 2009 at 01:34 PM

Yates does not suck bro...He lost some great talent last year and his O-line hasn't been that good. And there offensive cordinator makes Nix look good. Yates is a threat and we must be on our toes.

[CGNC]

Matt that happened in 2007 - they got way ahead of us and we were playing catch up. With Kyle. Good times :-(

[86Cane]

Also, it is absolutely essential we come out swinging and not let UNC go up on the scoreboard like they did against FSU this year (and in 2007 against us).

Posted by: Matt Drudge | November 09, 2009 at 01:35 PM

Preach on, brother, preach on!

[DZ8]

I first noticed Kelly a couple of years ago when Cincinnatti lost something like 7 QBs and still kept winning.

I was in favor of hiring Leach before Randy till I realized we wouldn't be able to keep Randy as defensive co-ordinator (he would go to Texas if he didn't get the head coching job here). When I looked at losing a lifelong Cane with great connections to the community and a proven record as a defensive co-ordinator I decided I didn't want Leach at that cost. (The administration didn't ask me anyways for the record.)

[86Cane]

GO CANES!

[dawgmeatcane]

that must have came off way I was just speaking in gereral everybody seem to have their best game against us, DO NOT SPARE THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THIS GAME COME OUT SWINGIN' AND HIT EVERYTHING THAT MOVES

[DZ8]

Did you all catch Doc Walker's comment on Brandon Washington on Saturday? LOL. I think it is part of Rusty's highlights too.

Posted by: Matt Drudge | November 09, 2009 at 01:37 PM

Lol, yes!

Doc Walker love the Canes. I met his brother up here and had some beers with him. This was a few years back. Good guy.

[Matt Drudge]

Here is a link to UVA vs UNC:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6KVIPqyiF8

U vs UVA highlights from Saturday:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbIPHr0dHlA&hd=1

[TrueCaneFan]

Call me paranoid, but I can't believe the NC game is at 3:30PM. The last three games scheduled at 3:30 resulted in a UM loss to VT 31-7, UM loss to Clemson 40-37 in OT, and a lucky win at Wake Forest 28-27. I don't think bodes well for us. I just hope this time Miami shows up to play.

[Charlie Brown]

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) -- Ryan Houston ran for a career-high 164 yards and Jheranie Boyd scored the clinching touchdown midway through the fourth quarter to help North Carolina beat Duke 19-6 on Saturday.

Charles Brown also came up with a key interception late in the third quarter as part of a dominating defensive performance for the Tar Heels (6-3, 2-3 Atlantic Coast Conference), who shut down Thad Lewis and the prolific passing attack that had carried the Blue Devils (5-4, 3-2) to three straight victories.

With the win, Carolina earned two points in the Carlyle Cup all-sports competition between the Tar Heels and Blue Devils. Carolina leads the 2009-10 edition by a 5.5 to 2.0 score.

Duke finished with 125 total yards and had to fight for every one of them. The Tar Heels didn't have much offensive success, but they wore down the Blue Devils behind Houston after starting tailback Shaun Draughn went out with an early shoulder injury.

Houston finished with a career-high 37 carries, including 10 on the clock-draining drive that ended with Boyd's touchdown with 6:57 left.

He also had the lead block on Matt Daniels that allowed Boyd to get to the right pylon on a 3-yard end-around that made it a two-possession game.

Not a bad performance for a guy who typically served as the short-yardage and goal-line back and had never had more than 18 carries or 74 yards rushing in a game. Then again, the Tar Heels didn't have much choice after Draughn injured his left shoulder on a 9-yard gain on the Tar Heels' first offensive play and didn't return.

North Carolina didn't manage much offense outside of Houston.

T.J. Yates threw for just 119 yards and the Tar Heels had to rely on a career-high four field goals from Casey Barth.

But they're now one win from bowl eligibility--though their last home game is next week against No. 16 Miami, followed by trips to Boston College and rival North Carolina State to close the regular season.