North Carolina Tar Heels Preview 2022: Offense
The offense finished tenth in the nation overall, scored 35 points per game, and it cranked up the balance and the pop, and yet it wasn’t enough.
It’s not the O’s fault the D was so horrible, but that was the deal. North Carolina went 0-7 against FBS teams when scoring 34 points or fewer. This year’s version might not be quite as prolific, but the defensive side should be stronger, and the offense isn’t going to spend so much effort relying on one guy.
It was all about Sam Howell. He was the star, he was the next-level caliber quarterback, he was the all-around playmaker who handled the ground attack as well as the passing game. Granted, it’s hard to argue with the results of the tenth-best offense in the country, but this year’s version should spread it out a bit more, rely in the backs a bit, and still keep most of the same pop.
The fight is at quarterback between Jacolby Criswell, Drake Maye, and freshman Conner Harrell. Criswell is a smaller baller, Maye is 6-5 and can run, too, and they’ll both get fall camp to figure it all out.
No matter who’s throwing, there’s a superstar on the other end in All-America caliber target Josh Downs. Three of the top four receivers are back, but it’s Downs who needs to get the ball in his hands 100 times again.
The offensive line did enough to help the team crank up all the big yards, but it was also among the worst in the nation in pass protection. As long as it can spring the holes for the big, gashing runs, it’ll do its job.
There’s an overhaul being done, though. Asim Richards is the veteran left tackle, and there’s enough experience among last year’s reserves to step up and possibly be better – it’s hard to be worse – keeping teams out of the backfield.
Leading rusher Ty Chandler is done, and Howell was the No. 2 rusher. WIth them, 24 of the team’s 30 touchdown runs are gone. Senior British Brooks averaged over nine yards per carry with four touchdown, and now he’ll be the lead back as part of a rotation with junior DJ Jones.
North Carolina Tar Heels Preview 2022: Defense
Let’s just say the defense could stand to be a wee bit better. It wasn’t the worst in the ACC, but it allowed 418 yards and 32 points per game. In comes former Auburn national championship head coach – and Texas defensive coordinator for a time under Mack Brown – Gene Chizik to try changing this all up.
The Tar Heels have talent on D. They have pro prospects and enough experience to be better, but after allowing over six yards per play for the first time since 2014, there’s a whole lot of room to improve.
The defensive backs had to make way too many plays, but on the plus side, they can tackle – and a slew of them are back. Tony Grimes and Storm Duck have next level talent at the corners, and the safety tandem of Cam’Ron Kelly and Giovanni Biggers combined for 117 tackles last season – they were third and fourth on the team in stops, respectively.
The depth needs to be worked on – safety Trey Morrison left for Oklahoma – but the secondary should be fine, and so will the linebacking corps. Cedric Gray left the team with 100 tackles, and Power Echols is coming off a good freshman season.
Can the Tar Heel front 3/4 hold up better and be more disruptive? It wasn’t great against the run, but it’s got two terrific tackles in Myles Murphy and Ray Vohasek to work around. They’re two 300-pounders who can get into the backfield.
Tomari Fox is currently ineligible for the season – there’s still an outside shot an NCAA ruling against him gets reversed – but UNC should be excellent at defensive end with Virginia transfer edge rusher Noah Taylor and veterans Kaimon Rucker and Chris Collins in the rotation.
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