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Tudor's Take: Road opens up for UNC
Submitted by caultontudor on 09/02/2008 - 10:56
Based on Rutgers’ season-opening performance against Fresno State on Monday, North Carolina’s Sept. 11 trip to New Jersey looks a lot more inviting than almost anyone could have imagined in preseason.
With Ray Rice no longer around to pile up 200 or so yards rushing per game, the Scarlet Knights’ offense was a virtual no-show at home against a underdog team that had to travel cross country.
En route to a 24-7 win, Fresno State dominated throughout and largely because Rutgers simply could not put together two straight productive offensive plays. Knights quarterback Mike Teel threw two interceptions. Kicker San San Te missed both of his field-goal attempts. And although Rice’s replacement, sophomore Kordell Young, wound up with 94 yards rushing, he displayed very little explosiveness.
Not that the Tar Heels were overwhelming in their Saturday win over McNeese State. Far from it, in fact. But unless Rutgers finds some pop, and fast, the challenge for Carolina shouldn’t be nearly as imposing as previously anticipated. The No. 1 defensive priority likely will be a controlling wide receiver Kenny Britt, the Knights’ less versatile version of Brandon Tate.
On the other hand, the Heels need to find a running attack, too. Tate can be a one-man attack force, but there’s no way Carolina can have a breakthrough season unless a breakout tailback emerges.
About the blogger
Caulton Tudor has worked for The News & Observer or The Raleigh Times for more than 30 years.Want to post a comment?
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Comments
maybe, maybe not. UNC was on
Thu, 09/04/2008 - 07:21 — gvillegatrmaybe, maybe not.
UNC was on cruise control untill the 2 hr rain/storm delay came. for whatever reason, they came out unenthused. Hard to start the engine up again against a div 1-aa team. If UNC plays like that against RU they will lose. if not they will win a close one.
Rutgers/UNC
Wed, 09/03/2008 - 13:12 — Anonymous (not verified)Rutgers beats UNC by 14-17 points easily. Despite Rutgers only scoring 7 points against Fresno State, the offense still managed 20 plus first downs and over 350 yards of offense. Moving the ball wasnt the problem for Rutgers, getting the football in the endzone...or even kicking the ball thru the goal posts was Teel will put it together and the offensive line will be able to open up running holes for Young and Robinson. Fresno State blitzed alot and only got to Teel once. Tim Brown and Brock will get more offensive touches which will free up Britt and Underwood. UNC should be more concerned about their defense and allowing 27 points to D1-A McNeese State ( dont really care what their record was in 2007 ) UNC will not put 35 points on this Rutgers defense. Look for the end result to be something like Rutgers 31 UNC 14 ( Teel throws for 3 TD's)
gvillegatr, if app state
Wed, 09/03/2008 - 09:54 — Anonymous (not verified)gvillegatr,
if app state had beat nc state several years ago, you KNOW that all you guys would have been talking down nc state. in fact, you guys did talk trash when we only beat them by 7....even though they were the number 1 team in 1aa. face it, a 1aa team should not be competitive with a 1a team, no matter what their record was the year before. if you can't agree with that, then you're a hypocrite
I didnt even bother reading
Thu, 09/04/2008 - 07:17 — gvillegatrI didnt even bother reading your post when I saw App St. Give it a rest man.
rutgers part deux
Wed, 09/03/2008 - 02:11 — izzykareemI will be very surprised if the same rutgers team shows up from last week. Just don't see how they are gonna play two bad games in a row at home. They are good and have a good reputation for a reason. Fresno State simply took it to them. I'm also not sure which UNC-CH team shows up. I think Butch will have them up for the game but young team jitters in front of a bunch of crazy jersey rednecks will be too much.
Rutgers 24 - UNC-CH 20
Izzy
Wed, 09/03/2008 - 11:23 — gvillegatryou talk about RU as if they have been playing superior football for 10 years or so. you do realize their great run WAS 2 yrs ago, not last year. In that great year, they barely escaped Chapel Hill (3 wins??) with a 21-16 victory!
RU was exposed for what most of us thought. A one guy team (Ray Rice) who literally carried them to slightly above avg status in a conference that is still behind the ACC. Sure, they got WVa but thats it. I also think the ACC beat the Big Least out out in head-to-head victories last season. but, i'm getting off subject.
You do realize RU finished tied for 5th last year in conference. this team is a fraud and one hit wonder (unlike WFU) and it will get badly exposed this season, if not already. UNC is no Fresneck St so no one get up in arms in thinking I think UNC is the greatest b/c they are not, but, I will be highly disappointed if UNC cannot go to the Armpit of America and pull out a win no matter how they looked against a top tier 1aa team in McNeese St.
RU has shown they cannot run the football and the QB can't get rid of the football if UNC blitzes all day. we'll see whose "chopping wood" after this game. Schiano is going to wish he had taken the UM job.
RU Running Back
Wed, 09/03/2008 - 15:42 — AnonymousMO (not verified)We don't have Rice, agreed. But in the first game Kordell Young ran for 94 yards. It will do.
If we develop a game plan to contain Little Man Tate and get the ball to Britt, Underwood, Brock, Brown, Cocoran, KY, MR, Stroud.....I see RU emerging with a "W".
Honestly, best of luck to all ACC teams this season
Tue, 09/02/2008 - 18:37 — UNCAlumnusMadMax, I'll agree that UNC played a 1-AA team, the difference is it is the 10th ranked one in the country. Also, they went 11-1 last year. Yes, they are 1-AA, though. The fact that UNC came back showed me that the coaches contracted common sense and started throwing the ball. The last time I checked, Brandon Tate was playing for UNC...so what's the big deal with him getting the ball? Yes, he had a monster game (and UNC should be thankful), but I will say it to the mountain tops..."If Shoop had said..gee they're loading the front with 8 men every down. Hey, let's throw some deep balls."...UNC would've either scored 45 points or would be able to run the ball better and control the clock.
Anyway, that one's over..I'm looking for UNC to make a statement on National TV that they are improved, and will be a force in the ACC. That's no matter how bad it is. UNC can't help that fact, besides improving themselves.
Best of luck vs. Bill and Mary, NCSU. Go get 'em.
you State fans are simply in
Tue, 09/02/2008 - 18:29 — gvillegatryou State fans are simply in denial. McNeese St was 11-1 last season and Bill and mary finished 4-7. you guys (MM) attempt to grasp at anything you possibly can WITHOUT ever doing any research.
that being said, who gives a frack and lets play out our div 1a schedules. we'll compare notes at the end. lets see who has the better record. Too bad you guys already know the outcome without playing the full schedule out!
glad to be back uncalumnus.
Tue, 09/02/2008 - 15:07 — Anonymous (not verified)glad to be back uncalumnus. first of all, i said that unc can't beat a div 1a school WITHOUT brandon tate. and without brandon tate, no i don't think they would score against a 1a team. don't forget, we still get to eat our cupcake...and i guarantee they won't have a lead on us in the second half.
Oh boy, MadMax is back!!
Tue, 09/02/2008 - 14:11 — UNCAlumnusHaven't seen any comments from you in a while, MadMax. Good to know you're still around. Are you looking forward to NCSU's basketball season? By the way, since UNC can't beat a Div 1-A school.... Do you think they would score against one?
UNC Football Sores?
Tue, 09/02/2008 - 13:55 — ncweddingdjAfter listening to the McNeese State game, I am heartened. Now I DO think we could get a win over Carrboro High They have a shortened week before the next game day and several starters in Detention for spitballs. Hope springs!
unc needs all the help they
Tue, 09/02/2008 - 12:02 — mad_maxunc needs all the help they can get after seeing that performance against mcneese state. i don't think they can beat a div 1a school with just brandon tate. unc needs vast improvement if they expect to beat rutgers. we'll see what happens
I'm looking for the defense to be better.
Tue, 09/02/2008 - 11:49 — UNCAlumnusThe defense is primed to look better. I bet we see more blitzes to break up Rutger's offensive backfield rhythm. As far as the run game, Davis said it best when he said hardheadedness won the day on Sat. Let's hope UNC checks out of run plays when the box is stacked, and gets it to the playmakers on the outside.
weak weak weak
Thu, 09/04/2008 - 20:19 — Crossfire07 (not verified)thats all you can say about unc's football team. their lines had a far superior weight advantage against lil ole 1aa McNeese and couldnt dominate the line of scrimmage.they couldnt even control it. they couldnt even get a sack.couldnt open up a hole to run. McNeese didnt have 8 men in the box EVERY play. i think alot of unc fans are going to be disappointed this year. if they let a 1aa team score that many points and put up that kind of yardage, one can only wonder what the BIG BOYS are gonna do.
havent seen little making any comments to the paper lately. i guess he learned his lesson. he really made a jackass out of himself.