Stats for Week 8: North Carolina at Virginia

[Raising Heel]

Click any image to enlarge.

Interesting match-up this week, particularly on defense. UVA isn't very good running the ball at less than 4 yards per carry*, while UNC's defensive line has been improving every week. It'll be interesting to see what happens when the Heels face the most pass-oriented team they've seen this season.

*Despite their challenges in the running game, the Cavaliers are 1st in the ACC and 2nd nationally in offensive red zone TD percentage at 81%. That result is absolutely bizarre.

 

[Raising Heel]

 

[Raising Heel]

 

[Raising Heel]

 

[Raising Heel]

 

[Raising Heel]

 

[TarHeelNation11]

*Despite their challenges in the running game, the Cavaliers are 1st in the ACC and 2nd nationally in offensive red zone TD percentage at 81%. That result is absolutely bizarre.

It's literally the only thing they do well.

 

[TarHeelNation11]

Our offensive stats are fairly "underwhelming" relative to how eye-popping they were last season. It's important to note, however, that they are underwhelming only because of how potent our offenses have been under Fedora. We were screaming and begging for an offense even a fraction as good as Fedora's under Butch and Bunting.

One very impressive stat for us this season is our third down conversion percentage. I do not remember it being nearly this high last year. Furthermore, basically all our nationally elite stats are tied to Trubisky (passing efficiency, TD/INT ratio, sacks per drop back, etc.)

 

[lerario]

Our offensive stats are fairly "underwhelming" relative to how eye-popping they were last season. It's important to note, however, that they are underwhelming only because of how potent our offenses have been under Fedora. We were screaming and begging for an offense even a fraction as good as Fedora's under Butch and Bunting.

One very impressive stat for us this season is our third down conversion percentage. I do not remember it being nearly this high last year. Furthermore, basically all our nationally elite stats are tied to Trubisky (passing efficiency, TD/INT ratio, sacks per drop back, etc.)

Also, and I know its a touchy topic for some, but our offensive stats have to be taken with a grain of salt due to playing one game in a Hurricane. We are still very good on that side of the ball. One area that we have not been nearly as effective though is first down. I think we were #1 in the nation in yds/play on first down last year, and that was primarily because we knew we could run the ball for 6 or 7 yds whenever we wanted. With the struggles in the run game this year we have not been nearly as good on first down, which makes our 3rd down conversion % even more impressive. Mitch has been absolute money on 3rd downs, and our WRs are making the tough catches to keep drives going.

 

[Archer2]

We are very good offensively and most of that is due to our outstanding passing game. Minus the hurricane game, Mitch has been off the freakin' charts with his passing accuracy and overall game management. Losing our best deep threat hurts but we still have a fine corp of receivers. If our defense comes around, and I think it's starting to improve, we should be in good shape heading down the stretch. Barring further injuries of course.

 

[TarHeelNation11]

We are very good offensively and most of that is due to our outstanding passing game. Minus the hurricane game, Mitch has been off the freakin' charts with his passing accuracy and overall game management. Losing our best deep threat hurts but we still have a fine corp of receivers. If our defense comes around, and I think it's starting to improve, we should be in good shape heading down the stretch. Barring further injuries of course.

Even before Mack went down with injury, we've been struggling to stretch the field vertically. That's going to hurt us when we run into a team with high-quality CBs (I'm not gonna give VT credit for this because the weather hampered us too much. Guys were open against that secondary, but couldn't catch it or Mitch couldn't huff the ball that far in the rain and wind).

Anyway, when we do run into a team with goods corners on a day with normal conditions, if we can't stretch the field vertically, the defensive backs will play up on our receivers and the windows for underneath passes will shrink big time. One solution to this is Mitch is friggin money on out routes.

 

[Archer2]

Yep, we haven't completed the long ball as often as we did last year. But Switz can stretch the field and Proehl has turned into a very reliable possession receiver. We still have a lot of weapons in our passing game, not the least of which is Mitch's uncanny accuracy.

Mitch had a very hard time gripping the ball in the VT game, for obvious reasons. It seemed the ball came off his fingers funny several times. I've noticed that he seems to have smallish hands and wondered if that could be an issue. Has anybody else noticed that his hands seem small for a guy of his size or am I completely off base here? I heard announcers saying he would be playing on Sundays one day and one even mentioned that he'd heard Mitch could possibly be drafted ahead of Clemson's Watson. And I've never heard of any mention of Mitch's hands being small so maybe they really aren't.

 

[lerario]

Even before Mack went down with injury, we've been struggling to stretch the field vertically. That's going to hurt us when we run into a team with high-quality CBs (I'm not gonna give VT credit for this because the weather hampered us too much. Guys were open against that secondary, but couldn't catch it or Mitch couldn't huff the ball that far in the rain and wind).

Anyway, when we do run into a team with goods corners on a day with normal conditions, if we can't stretch the field vertically, the defensive backs will play up on our receivers and the windows for underneath passes will shrink big time. One solution to this is Mitch is friggin money on out routes.

I'm not sure that we've had a ton of trouble stretching the defense, but more so just haven't taken a ton of deep shots. We should have been throwing at least 2-3 bombs to Mack a game, but it was more like one every other. In the UGA game, we threw deep passes down the sideline to Prohel and Bug and another down the seem to Switz. All three were open and probably would have been TDs but Mitch missed the throws. I'm not so much worried about those guys being able to make catches downfield, I just hope the coaches will not shy away from calling the plays, especially if teams are really pressing up with their safeties.

 

[uncboy10]

Yep, we haven't completed the long ball as often as we did last year. But Switz can stretch the field and Proehl has turned into a very reliable possession receiver. We still have a lot of weapons in our passing game, not the least of which is Mitch's uncanny accuracy.

Mitch had a very hard time gripping the ball in the VT game, for obvious reasons. It seemed the ball came off his fingers funny several times. I've noticed that he seems to have smallish hands and wondered if that could be an issue. Has anybody else noticed that his hands seem small for a guy of his size or am I completely off base here? I heard announcers saying he would be playing on Sundays one day and one even mentioned that he'd heard Mitch could possibly be drafted ahead of Clemson's Watson. And I've never heard of any mention of Mitch's hands being small so maybe they really aren't.

I doubt his hands had anything to do with it. I would challenge anyone who hasn't played the quarterback position in heavy rain to go dunk a football in your bathtub then go try to throw it around. It just doesn't work. It's not like you just have to make an adjustment and get used to it, there's just literally no grip on the ball. I've only played one game like that but it was one of the most miserable experiences I've ever had in sports. Even taking a snap under center was difficult because the ball gets so slick

 

[WoadBlue]

Our offensive stats are fairly "underwhelming" relative to how eye-popping they were last season. It's important to note, however, that they are underwhelming only because of how potent our offenses have been under Fedora. We were screaming and begging for an offense even a fraction as good as Fedora's under Butch and Bunting.

One very impressive stat for us this season is our third down conversion percentage. I do not remember it being nearly this high last year. Furthermore, basically all our nationally elite stats are tied to Trubisky (passing efficiency, TD/INT ratio, sacks per drop back, etc.)

That we have been as good as we have, especially in areas like 3rd down conversion, without Hood being dominant is so amazing it is hard to believe. Factor in Holllins not starting 3 of 7 games, Fritts yet to be fully healthy, and an OL beat up with in jury, and our offensive production is amazing.

 

[Archer2]

Big game simply because we're tied with VT with 1 ACC loss and they win the head to head tie breaker. So we need them to lose at least 1 more ACC game, even if we run the table. Hopefully we'll beat UVA and Pitt will beat the Hokies this weekend. I want desperately to play Clemson again for the ACC title.

 

[TarHeelNation11]

Thanks again for doing the stats this way, in addition to your "When UNC has the ball..." stats. For some reason, the latter just doesn't make sense in my mind. What I quoted above is much easier for me to digest.

 

[Raising Heel]

Thanks again for doing the stats this way, in addition to your "When UNC has the ball..." stats. For some reason, the latter just doesn't make sense in my mind. What I quoted above is much easier for me to digest.

Hey, you guys just keep paying me and I'll provide the stats however you want to see them.

 

[TarHeelNation11]

Hey, you guys just keep paying me and I'll provide the stats however you want to see them.

Pick yourself out something nice this weekend, courtesy of the Tar Heel Blitz Stats Slush Fund.