A three-point loss to ECU. A two-point loss to Virginia. A seven-point loss in Blacksburg to No. 17 Virginia Tech. A six-point loss to then-No. 7 South Carolina. A four-point loss in Raleigh to rivals NC State. A two-point loss in Bobby Dodd to Georgia Tech.
That's right—six losses by a total of twenty-four points. Six losses by a touchdown or less. Six games that were simply a tipped ball, a dropped pass, a made field goal, or a third down conversion away from being Tar Heel wins instead of losses.
In 2008, the Tar Heel offense looks to make these results go the other way.
Similarly to the team entering 2007, this 2008 offensive unit features plenty of talent at every position. The difference is the level of experience.
While 2007 saw only four players with significant experience open the season, this year's edition features some 15 offensive players who've seen a good amount of quality playing time.
Lets take a look at the this older, more experienced 2008 edition of the Carolina Tar Heels.
Quarterback
At the headlining position of the college football world sits the signal caller. Since the departure of Darian Durant in 2004, the Tar Heels have started four quarterbacks in three seasons. Teams live and die with quarterback success, so the emergence of T.J. Yates should restore confidence and stability to this previously shaky position.
Now 21 years old, T.J. Yates had a solid freshman campaign in which he broke the UNC single-season passing yardage record, throwing for 2,655 yards on 218 of 365 attempts. However, his touchdown to interception ratio of 14:18 was one of many direct contributors to the Tar Heels' struggles.
As a 20-year-old kid, new to the college game and extremely inexperienced, Yates struggled late in the season as teams threw different blitz packages, fronts, and secondary coverages at him. The young quarterback also battled through shoulder pain during the second half of the season.
This shoulder pain led to surgery in the offseason, a procedure that forced Yates to watch from the sidelines while redshirt freshman Mike Paulus and redshirt junior Cam Sexton dueled in the spring.
Paulus is the prototypical pocket passer, while Sexton is a slim speedy guy with a big arm. These two highly touted recruits took advantage of Yates' absence to get reps with the first team, experience that will prove invaluable to the Heels as a team.
Sexton and Paulus battled over the 15 practices, with the younger QB inching ahead in the final weeks of spring ball. The battle between these two talents should be exciting entering fall camp, with the winner garnering the number two spot.
Heading into 2008, a healthy T.J. Yates should keep his starting job, maintaining the ever-elusive continuity at the quarterback spot that is so crucial in college football—and a luxury that UNC hasn't been afforded since 2004.
Running Back
11 comments Last one added 11 months ago — Leave a Comment
23452 23452 11 months ago
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=272720259
7 Point loss to Virginia Tech
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Lisa Horne 11 months ago
Excellent analysis and I totally agree...I have them as an ACC title contender- those great recruiting classes Butch is amassing will come to fruition! Nice job!
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Tim Pollock 11 months ago
Good stuff again, Michael.
Hopefully the Heels can give a boost to the conference.
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Matt Smith 11 months ago
That UVA loss still burns me up. Sitting on the goal line seeing the field goal called no good then reversed on a review; someone forgot to tell them they cant review field goals!
Great article Michael, cant wait for the season to start!
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Justin Goar 11 months ago
good read!!
when all that miles to michigan talk was going on, the first coach i wanted was butch davis.
he's one of the best. good luck to the heels!!
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Michael Felder 11 months ago
Thanks for the reads guys, this season should be exciting for the Heels, especially with the young players from last year a year older a year better.
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Justin S. 11 months ago
Good write up
Although, UNC did lose a bunch of close ones it is fair to also say they won some close ones (in there few wins)
6 point win over Miami
3 point win over Maryland
6 point win over Duke (OT)
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paul howington 11 months ago
It was a pretty good take except, the Cam Sexton can't throw the ball over 20 yards. So I have no idea where you get he as a "big arm"!
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Michael Felder 11 months ago
Thanks for the reads,
From watching him throw the ball. In games he's struggled because he's flighty and wants to get out of the pocket. He has got a tremendously strong arm in terms of setting up and tossing bombs. When he first arrived on campus his arm strength was the most impressive part of his game, not his scrambling ability.
Certainly the losses could have been wins and the wins could have been losses. I think that due to the inexperience the Heels lacked the ability or the know-how to close out games at the end. That was the problem last year, hopefully with a year or experience under their belt they should be able to grow up and close games.
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greg lisk 11 months ago
I think that T.J is now a seasoned QB with a great ability to stay patient and read the field. Little is a great RB but needs to keep his muscle flexing in the locker room 10yrds foward 15 back isn't progress. We will miss Connor Barth new PK has big shoes to fill
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Michael Felder 11 months ago
Greg
I wouldn't worry too much about Greg Little celebrating in all honesty. The kid was a freshman seeing his first extended playing time in big spots at the end of last season, nothing more nothing less.
Personally I like his attitude and his enthusiasm and its great to see someone with that type of fire out on the field a la Knowshon Moreno, Tim Tebow and LaSean McCoy. It fires up the crowd, the team and sets a tone that helps carry through the stadium.
He'll be fine, trust me, if for no other reason than being an every down back takes a lot out of a kid and I doubt he'll deem it wise to celebrate every 1st down, juke and 15 yard gain.
Check out the special teams preview because I definitely agree with you on the importance of finding a replacement for Connor Barth. Casey Barth (Connor Jr. we hope) and Jay Wooten will have some serious battles starting tomorrow at camp.
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