Is the Carolina offense predictable and just one dimensional…

[IDUNK4HEELS]

From this viewer it looks like Carolina almost always runs on first and second down which ends up to little gain and forces Howell to hopefully find Downs on third down even when he is double teamed.

If I was a defensive coordinator I would put 8 in the box which is happening a lot now and dare UNC to even consider passing on the first two downs…

Let’s face it 5 games into the season except for the Virginia contest the running game has been non existent so just maybe it is time to open up the play book 📖 and do some short passes on first and second down to give defenses something else to think about.

Sam Howell in most games can carry the team but to be successful the rest of the season he needs others to step up starting with the wide receivers not named Downs. He also needs some help on the play calling which has many like myself shaking my head wondering why was that play called.

There is no other way to say it but right now if the play book 📕 is not opened up some like using screen passes, hitting backs out of the backfield on wheel routes (Chandler only took it to the house) and using some draw plays and reverses by Brown and Downs, the team will just be One Dimensional and overly dependent on Howell to carry the squad until he goes down after all of the punishment he takes every game.

 

[JimmyinVA]

i agree 100%. the lack of running game might be understandable if we lacked talent, but chandler is very talented and carolina needs a balanced attack. a consistent running threat will keep the defense honest and ease the pressure on sam.

 

[uncboy10]

More mesh routes, and quick timing route combos would help get the ball out quickly and let the WR's use their feet to make plays after the catch. One play you always see elite spread offenses running is a kind of downhill toss sweep out of the gun. Clemson in particular used it a lot with Etienne. Force them to defend the edge, and if you fake the toss, a defender has to go with the RB to cover whatever route they break into. If safeties start cheating the run, they end up watching Downs walk into the end zone. For an OL that has been pathetic up the middle, getting out to the edge could neutralize a lot of the penetration up the middle.

 

[tarheel0910]

There is no play book. More like a play short story. Even Longo has said that he doesn't have a large amount of plays. That's not an issue when you have the best players on the field. When you don't have them, well...

 

[GoNtheDistance]

our offensive line is also a trash heap. it’s not necessarily on the running backs.

 

[riverswe]

I'd like to see the breakdown of run vs pass on 1st and 2nd downs. I feel like we tend to throw the long ball on 1st down a lot (too much).

 

[tarheel0910]

I'd like to see the breakdown of run vs pass on 1st and 2nd downs. I feel like we tend to throw the long ball on 1st down a lot (too much).

Yeah, it seems like we try to throw it deep on first and then run off tackle on second down.

 

[riverswe]

then run our 3rd and 9 play

 

[Archer2]

Yeah, it seems like we try to throw it deep on first and then run off tackle on second down.

I keep hoping this will change. Like several have said, how about some short passes to get the ball out of Sam’s hands earlier and hopefully keep him healthy all season? That would help to open up the long ball and our running game. It’s not rocket science but we’ve been too predictable, IMO.