An 0-2 start in the ACC has North Carolina looking for answers, especially on offense. The Tar Heels have scored 10 points and rushed for 56 yards in the two losses.
UNC coach Butch Davis was steadfast in his support of offensive coordinator John Shoop, who has been with Davis all three seasons in Chapel Hill, after the Georgia Tech loss and again on Monday.
"I think John's bright, he's smart," Davis said. "I don't think he needs defending."
Still, the numbers aren't pretty for the Heels. Even with a big running game (261 yards) in a 40-6 win over The Citadel in the opener, the Heels average 100 rushing yards per game, which ranks 103rd nationally. They rank 113th in total offense (280.8 yards per game) and 107th in scoring offense (18.6 points per game).
Davis said he encountered a similar scenario when he was head coach at Miami. He said then-coordinator Larry Coker was criticized by the fan base early in his tenure.
"Then unbelievably when we got Reggie Wayne got there and Kellen Winslow got there and Andre Johnson got there and Clinton Portis got there and we started averaging 40 points, all of the sudden Larry Coker looked like a genius," Davis said.
"All it was, was growth in your program, experience and depth," Davis said. "I think our offensive coaching staff is working extremely hard."
Comments
I do not blame Butch or
Tue, 10/06/2009 - 10:54 — s196322I do not blame Butch or Shoop. It is only their 3rd year and no national champion has ever been built in 3 or4 years, however it is difficult to understand how an offense can play pretty average (not great) for three games and all at once look as though they have never played the game of football. Something significant happened prior to the Ga. Tech game and it has adversely affected the entire offense. As good as the defense is playing if the offense was playing average we would be 5 - 0. Butch will get if fixed but I think this will be an average season and a disappointing one as well.
Davis
Mon, 10/05/2009 - 15:27 — blitzballDavis is doing what he did at Miami; recruiting well, but he couldn't win the big one there and that was the "U". Why would you think he could do it at Carolina?
huh?
Mon, 10/05/2009 - 19:57 — gvillegatrwhat do you mean couldn't win the big one? if we are referring to the NC, well, it is b/c he left for the NFL before he got that oppurtunity. he won plenty of games at Miami, including keeping ucla out of the championship game in like '98.
But make no mistake. All those (big time) players who, IMO, won the '00, '01 and '02 national championships were all recruited (and a few coached) by Butch Davis.
He desperatley needs to recruit some offensive linemen. the team potentially won't win another game this year b/c of them.
note: Miami was hosed in '00 not getting the oppurtunity to play OU in the title game after already beating FSU earlier in the year. OU beat FSU like 21-2 or something. Miami did win the '01 title and the '02 title is well documented. the yellow flag, for pass interference, just hit the ground a few minutes ago.
2002?
Tue, 10/06/2009 - 08:19 — JPDOhioAbout time to let that penalty go, isn't it Gatr? I agree with you about Miami back in those days and was with you up to that point. But if Miami had taken care of business like Florida and LSU did, a last minute penalty would not have mattered.
Of course, you know this to be true. This is just a friendly reminder.
i think
Tue, 10/06/2009 - 09:46 — gvillegatr(on-line) you know me well enough not to let a sleeping dog ly. but just for you, i'll do my very best to not bring it up again. that is my promise to all of you guys! :)
That's OK
Tue, 10/06/2009 - 11:45 — JPDOhioAlthough my memory is fading, one thing I remember about that game is watching it with my son and a friend of his who, believe it or not, doesn't like football. And if that wasn't bad enough, he commented about it the entire game. I would have booted him out of the house by half-time, but he brought a 12-pack of beer and I didn't feel like getting off the couch.
Shoop and/or Yates aren't
Mon, 10/05/2009 - 14:58 — chrismg1Shoop and/or Yates aren't the problem. Its the O-line. They can't run-block or pass block. Draughn has to run through guys to get more than 2-3 yards and Yates has all of 2 seconds to find a reciever before he has someone breathing down his neck.
Shoop can stay in the coaches box and Renner can keep holding the clipboard.
Why God Invented Coordinators
Mon, 10/05/2009 - 13:11 — AgentPierceGod invented "Coordinators" as a first line of defense for a Head Coach under fire.
The honeymoon is now over for Butch and the criticism has begun. "Blame the coordinator" is the first knee-jerk of 90% of fans. Recall all of Chuck Amato's many fired coordinators .... recall UNC's Dave Huxtable .....
Also .... the #1 most popular player on every underachieving team is THE BACK-UP QUARTERBACK. Look for "Renner" fans to pop up among the UNC lunatic fringe.
Nothing new or original about any of this. Is there a firebutch.com up yet? There WILL BE.
sooo...
Mon, 10/05/2009 - 12:51 — izzykareemhow does Wake keep scoring points with 2 and 3* recruits?
Sorry
Mon, 10/05/2009 - 14:58 — SurferBecause ....... they are playing State? Sorry, just couldn't resist.
Actually, because they are all red shirts?
I knew it.
Tue, 10/06/2009 - 09:08 — JPDOhioAs soon as that original comment got posted, I was waiting for the obvious response. Thanks, Surfer, for not letting me down.
You are right in the end though. To win with 2 and 3 star players, you recruit guys that fit your system and keep them around for 5 years.
You're Welcome
Tue, 10/06/2009 - 15:14 — SurferGlad to oblige.
Yep and the other side is that those that excell within two or three years, leave (understandably) early.
Would be kind of frustrating to me. With this constant flux and uncertain job security, I can see how the coach's salaries are justified.