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Tar Heels will try to simplify offense
Slumping UNC to play Georgia Southern
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Published: October 6, 2009
CHAPEL HILL - Coach Butch Davis is hopeful that a simple solution can be found this week that will solve North Carolina's growing offensive problems during a break from ACC play.
UNC will scale down the details of its offensive game-planning before playing Georgia Southern, an NCAA Football Championship Subdivision team, on Saturday in Kenan Stadium. UNC is coming off consecutive losses in which it has scored a combined 10 points and rushed for a combined 56 yards.
Davis and his coaching staff spent much of Sunday looking at what the team has done offensively in the first five games to determine what's wrong, what's fixable, and what is productive.
"I think one of the questions that as coaches that we kind of have to ask ourselves (is), ‘Are we trying to do too much with a young, inexperienced offensive football team,'" Davis said.
"When you're struggling offensively -- and that's where we are right now -- you've got to look at what we're trying to do and say, ‘How much simplification will help these guys in execution,' because execution generally means that you're going to play a little bit better."
Davis said that he knew going into the season that young receivers would be an issue, even with quarterback T.J. Yates starting for the third consecutive season. Injuries and absences on the offensive line has hampered Yates' play, the running game, and the passing game.
The offensive line is rebuilt after losing Aaron Stahl, who quit football with a season of eligibility left; Carl Gaskins, who is out for the season after injuring a knee; Lowell Dyer, the starting center who is out with a shoulder injury; Jonathan Cooper, a starting guard who is slowed by an ankle sprain, and Kevin Bryant, who did not report to practice in August.
Davis said that, by his count, offensive starters have missed a combined 18 games because of injuries. The defensive starters have missed none. The offensive line could lose another starter this week if Kyle Jolly, the left tackle, cannot play after spraining an ankle late in a 16-7 loss to Virginia on Saturday.
Davis said that one issue that can be corrected is recognizing the defensive front before the snap of the ball. Davis said that Virginia had no defensive linemen on the field on UNC's first third-down play. All 11 defenders were standing up, but an on-field decision should have been made about which players would rush the ball and which would drop into pass coverage.
Davis is confident that more experienced linemen could have recognized Virginia's strategy. He said that the call on the field usually should come from Yates or the center, who normally would be Dyer, a senior Cam Holland, a sophomore with limited experience, is starting at center while Dyer is out.
Yates said that UNC might have put in too many plays last week to use against Virginia's 3-4 defense, a system that is seen more in the NFL than in college football.
"We talked (Sunday) about simplifying the playbook, and getting into our base stuff that we're good at and has worked for us in the past," Yates said. "It's kind of get back to the basics."
Davis will consider using Ryan Houston, the team's biggest and strongest tailback, more this week in place of struggling Shaun Draughn, who has rushed for 51 yards on 21 carries in the last two games, including a 24-7 loss at Georgia Tech. Draughn's longest run in those games was 9 yards.
Davis said that Draughn will likely receive the most carries against Georgia Southern, and that the percentage of the split between Draughn and Houston would be about 60-40.
Boos from upset alumni, students and fans were heard several times in the Virginia game. Many stadium occupants were displeased with the play-calling of John Shoop, the offensive coordinator, which they believe has become too predictable.
"I think our offensive coaching staff is working extremely hard," Davis said. "I think John's bright. He's smart. And I don't think he needs defending."
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