After enjoying a well-timed bye week, the Hokies are back in action this Saturday with an afternoon tussle against injury-riddled North Carolina. Limping in at 1-6, the Tar Heels are catching an astounding 21 points against Josh Jackson and company.
But before Justin Fuente and Larry Fedora meet for the second time, I spoke to Ross Martin, beat writer at InsideCarolina.com, to get a better handle on the state of the union in Chapel Hill.
JC: Let's call a spade a spade: it's been a disastrous few months for the North Carolina football program. While some early-season struggles could have been expected given the turnover on offense, how shocking has the Heels' 1-6 start been?
RM: You nailed it. I don't think many thought the 2017 Tar Heels were going to be great, but many believed a 6-7 win year was obtainable. An extreme amount of injuries combined with inexperience at backup spots, depth issues, and a young quarterback have compounded for the perfect storm of problems.
UNC was leading in the fourth quarter against Cal, Louisville, and Duke, but couldn't pull out those wins. Offensive issues since have really made it hard for the Tar Heels to stay in games. They can't move the ball effectively and the defense has fallen apart late in games.
JC: Can you begin to pinpoint the biggest issues for this Tar Heels team? While quarterback play from Chazz Surratt and Brandon Harris has certainly been inconsistent, it feels like the weapons just aren't there right now for Larry Fedora's squad.
RM: Correct. It comes down to offensive line inconsistencies, clear inexperience at quarterback and a lack of offensive weapons, particularly at wide receiver. UNC lost wide receivers Ryan Switzer, Mack Hollins, and Bug Howard (two of whom are in the NFL) from the 2016 season. Carolina also lost stud running backs T.J. Logan and Elijah Hood and three offensive line starters. Combine that with a rookie quarterback in Chazz Surratt and it has been tough sledding. UNC has since lost four receivers from the 2017 roster including three starters. The playmakers are just not there on the outside. That has really affected the ability for the offense to move the chains and score.
JC: Given his overall track record in Chapel Hill, how much leeway does Fedora get for a lackluster 2017 from the UNC fan base? Can another productive recruiting haul ease concerns around the viability of Fedora moving forward, or does he need to right the ship this season to avoid hot seat talk from popping up come winter?
RM: Fedora gets a complete pass for this season. The team is too young and he is dealing with upwards of 19 scholarship injuries and 9 or 10 starters who are out for the year. It has been unbelievable. He is two years removed from winning 11 games and the ACC Coastal Division.
Even without the injuries, this team lost so much. It is and was a rebuilding year. I think you look to what he does in 2018 and 2019 to truly judge if this was a one year deal or the start of a downward trend. Recruiting needs to stay in the top 30 range and they need to bring in and develop a better offensive line.
JC: Defensively, the Tar Heels have been a touch unsettled under first-year coordinator John Papuchis. How does this Papuchis-led unit differ from Gene Chizik's defenses?
RM: Papuchis has been a little more aggressive and that has led to more sacks, more turnovers, and more tackles for a loss. But, it has also led to an alarming amount of what they like to call "catastrophic plays." The Tar Heels have given up at least one per game and that has been a black eye on an improving defense that at times has been good enough to win games.
JC: Where do you see the Tar Heels going from here?. With a late-season slate that appears less than forgiving, is a two-or-three win season within the realm of possibility?
RM: 2-10. Maybe, 3-9 if they can beat Pittsburgh up in Heinz Field on a Thursday night, but I bet the Panthers will be favored. The one win left on the schedule is Western Carolina.
I just don't see them beating Virginia Tech, Miami, or N.C. State
JC: Sounds like we may have already covered it, but it's prediction time. Can UNC pull off the stunner, or will the Hokies move to 6-1 on the year?
The spread is around 21 or 22. I think Virginia Tech dominates UNC. The Hokies' strengths on defense, on third down, and their ability to harass the passer plays right into UNC's weaknesses. VT 32, UNC 7.
Comments
I attended the UNC-UVa game last week for parents weekend.
It's hard to believe that Fedora, or any coach, will be able to make UNC into a powerhouse because no one there cares. The game is an excuse for all the partying on Saturday.
And this is how much the RTP, in general cares about football. How many people had to see this before it got printed?
VT is quickly taking over the RTP. We rock it whenever Tech plays in the area.
I don't understand. What's so upsetting about the t-shirt or newspaper?
Basketball player on a football.
NC STATE plays in Atlantic division not the Coastal.
UNC apparel is handled by the Jordan brand though - that "Jumpman" image is on all of their uniforms and shirts because it's the logo of the company making it.
Newspaper headline is confirmed dumb/lazy.
Yes we all know what jumpman is. And it's stupid for a football program to put a basketball specific logo on their gear.
Wait who's Jordan
But something something someting LaVar Ball
Apologies for the initial knee-jerk downvote at the very mention of that waste of oxygen's name
Some old lady. Somebody named Baby Ruth
They're not the only one though.
Exhibit A - Meeshegan
I also noticed they had an article about a Mark Twin children's book above NCSU. No slant to Mark Twain or children reading but didn't seem like a piece that should go above the local NCSU team having a pretty darn good year.
Yeah... but this is the Durham Herald-Sun we're talking about. Its a minor newspaper specifically for the city of Durham. Even worse, its staff is essentially the C-team, with everyone who is good going to work for the News & Observer, whose owners bought the Herald-Sun back in the 90s, and is the main paper for everything east of Chapel Hill.
I call bullshit.
You must hate Mark Twain AND children that read to have posted that.
Shame on you.
We can't overlook them, and with their aggressive D, can't our O-line prorect Josh, to be able make the "catastrophic" plays? and not just watch them sack JJ ?
Um....I wouldn't say their defense is..."aggressive"
Well, I mean there's an above average chance that Dalton does something stupid to get himself ejected
If he wasn't inactive then I would agree
What makes you think that'll stop him?
lol u rite
something something Marshawn Lynch.
I just wish he had gone full Bobby Valentine with a disguise when he came back to watch the game in the stands.
the four letter is speculating that he didn't come off the bench to protect his quarterback from the KC corner that teed off on him, but rather came off the bench to protect the KC corner from getting his shit pushed in by the oak OLine.
So, being a total traitor to his team, getting kicked out of a crucial division game in the process, and probably getting a fair amount of his game check garnished by Herr Goodell. And I wouldn't be totally shocked if he gets suspended when the NFL reviews the tape.
Total bonehead move.
I hadn't realized unc's injury situation is so bad.
16 out for the year. 2 more definitely out for saturday with the punter listed as questionable.
And still, I want to win this one by at least 6 TDs. Please don't let off the gas, Fuente. Burn them to the ground and salt the field...in Chapel Hill not lane. That's right, after you beat them, load the players up on a bus and go salt kenan stadium.
Sounds like us 2 years ago.
Disregarding their 6 losses UNC is actually 1-0.
via GIPHY
Surprised a variant of this question didn't pop out:
"What do you find more pathetic, the fact that you're 1 - 6, or the fact that your school handed out degrees worth less than the Mcdonald's mcfish burger wrapping their printed on and you're STILL 1 - 6?"
And then when he starts talking you interrupt and say: "no, no... That was rhetorical. If you hadn't gone to UNC you would understand that word."
You've got superhuman restraint Joey. Superhuman.
(grammar edit)
Honestly, I've read exactly zero words related to NCAA violations/lawsuits in like the last 5 years. I just don't care anymore. So, I'd like to call it restraint, but it's more just being clueless as to what's going on beyond my Twitter echo chamber.
Funny that's exactly what the head of UNC said.
All of the sandlot references have made my day. Then cap it off with some NCAA ineptitude humor and youve got a winner.
Very honest responses, I like it. I don't see a 32-7 game (though I'd like to). I'm thinking more like 31-17, with UNC scoring late in the game on the 2nd string. At the same time, I wouldn't be at all surprised to see a blowout.
I can't believe no one pointed this out.