The D: the players, Chizik, or a combination?

[UNCGridironFanatic]

Obviously, to some degree it's a combination. When UNC hired Chizik, the media was full of questions, "why UNC, Chiz?", when he'd said " no thanks" to others. I said at the time that Chiz was coming into a challenging, tough situation, but one where there was more available talent than outsiders thought was here. We were SO young on D last year, that we were going to be some better had we made no changes, which simply wasn't an option.

Guys like Jones, Drennon, and Powell had to play way too early; Junior G, Bart, MJ, and Cayson had to mature into veteran players, and some talented DBs who needed to be totally re-taught (un-Disch-ed). Clarke, Dinkins, and Crawford simply had to grow into their bodies to play at this level. And Shak had to find a home on the field to optimize his ability (wasted on one side of the line as a Bandit).

Warren, Scott, and Papuchis were really great additions to the Chiz hire, probably undervalued at the time due to Chizik's notoriety.

Bottom line, while I thought the improvement would be dramatic, the degree of dramatic improvement has been beyond my wildest dreams. IMO, we are only gonna get better as long as we keep working and buying in....

 

[WoadBlue]

I think it is the whole D staff, lead by Chizik. Yes, the guys have more talent that was even hinted at last year, but it is the new D staff that is harnessimng that talent and nurturing it, bringing it out.

And next year, when the D is more experienced and deeper, could be very fun for us Tar Heel fans who remember and love Carolina Blue Ds that just feast on foes.

 

[UNC_Blue]

I think it is the whole D staff, lead by Chizik. Yes, the guys have more talent that was even hinted at last year, but it is the new D staff that is harnessimng that talent and nurturing it, bringing it out.

And next year, when the D is more experienced and deeper, could be very fun for us Tar Heel fans who remember and love Carolina Blue Ds that just feast on foes.

Oh yes!!!

 

[Bubspub88]

One Carolina D that pretty much feasted on everyone

 

[94tarheel]

For me it is the coaching. You have the same players and getting different results. I like how they went back to basics and didn't worry about scheme until everyone was fine with the basics. From there they started teaching the scheme, basically, they made sure they were teaching how first and then why. Whereas with the previous staff, there was just go do it. They never bothered to teach them why you do a certain thing.

 

[JimmyinVA]

defense in any team sport is 50% skill and 50% motivation. this year our defense has better fundamental skills than last season and better schemes to showcase those skills. but more importantly is their motivation level and sense of unity. i.e. our defense now gives a damm.

 

[Raising Heel]

A few folks have mentioned scheme. I think that's too convenient an excuse/explanation, with the possible exception of adding a true DE up front instead of a hybrid. Otherwise, we've played plenty of nickel this year which was our base package last season. The personnel is largely unchanged from last season, too.

IMO the credit goes to the coaches for motivating and, you know, coaching these players. I still think last year's defense suffered as the result of a power struggle among the defensive staff. The awful results only fueled the "I told you so" conflicts. Eventually the players tuned it all out and you see where that got us. Chizik was an invaluable hire for much more than his excellent defensive mind. He brought instant credibility that helped the players re-engage after last year's disaster.

 

[UNCGridironFanatic]

Don't forget the maturation of a ton of young players from last year, both physically, emotionally, and from an experience perspective. Can't be dismissed. In fact, I think seeing what might be from a talent/maturation perspective is what brought Chizik here.

 

[Archer2]

For me it is the coaching. You have the same players and getting different results. I like how they went back to basics and didn't worry about scheme until everyone was fine with the basics. From there they started teaching the scheme, basically, they made sure they were teaching how first and then why. Whereas with the previous staff, there was just go do it. They never bothered to teach them why you do a certain thing.

The focus on fundamentals has made all the difference in the world.

 

[bobby121567]

I would say the coaching is the main difference. But they can't do it alone. The kids have bought in and worked hard during the off season on there own with no coaches to try and learn what they could between spring and fall. Also work hard with the conditioning coach to get to where the coaches wanted to be at. Like put on 20 pounds lose 10 pounds. And just to get stronger and faster. The biggest difference is they trust the new coaches. Only if we can only get our DL play better in both the run game and pass game. But we are where we are. And who would have thought we would be a Top 50 defense as bad as we were last year.

 

[GoNtheDistance]

not to discredit the work of our kids but any time you see this drastic of a change with pretty much the same personnel, it comes down to coaching. there's a fine line between giving coaches too much credit and also placing too much blame but in this case, I think we all can say it's been phenomenal to see Chiz and staff work wonders with these kids considering what we saw a year ago. It's also pretty obvious that they've bought into the physicality of how Chiz likes to play and they are really improving week by week. From a discipline and fundamentals perspective, it's night and day compared to a year ago.

 

[Archer2]

Obviously, to some degree it's a combination. When UNC hired Chizik, the media was full of questions, "why UNC, Chiz?", when he'd said " no thanks" to others. I said at the time that Chiz was coming into a challenging, tough situation, but one where there was more available talent than outsiders thought was here. We were SO young on D last year, that we were going to be some better had we made no changes, which simply wasn't an option.

Guys like Jones, Drennon, and Powell had to play way too early; Junior G, Bart, MJ, and Cayson had to mature into veteran players, and some talented DBs who needed to be totally re-taught (un-Disch-ed). Clarke, Dinkins, and Crawford simply had to grow into their bodies to play at this level. And Shak had to find a home on the field to optimize his ability (wasted on one side of the line as a Bandit).

Warren, Scott, and Papuchis were really great additions to the Chiz hire, probably undervalued at the time due to Chizik's notoriety.

Bottom line, while I thought the improvement would be dramatic, the degree of dramatic improvement has been beyond my wildest dreams. IMO, we are only gonna get better as long as we keep working and buying in....

He may not have made many scheme adjustments at halftime but he sure adjusted the defense's attitude!

 

[UNCGridironFanatic]

not to discredit the work of our kids but any time you see this drastic of a change with pretty much the same personnel

Lots of dead spot on observations in your post. But I would take some exception, to a degree, w/ the idea that the personnel is basically the same. For example, Justin Thomason isn't even close to the "same".... he's 20 lbs. of muscle heavier and a year older and more mature. Shakeel is playing a new position and resculpted himself physically. MJ Stewart is a main secondary cog that didn't get much run last year. Donnie Miles is playing his natural position. Crawford, Dinkins, and Clarke didn't even play last year (Crawford was in HS). There is more to what's going on from a personnel standpoint than we often are prone to think.

That all said, Chiz has been just the chef to cook up a much better recipe, defensively. Pay him the big $, Bubba!

 

[heelz2345]

ESPN just posted a story about our improved defense, which I've linked below. Some things that jumped out to me (in case you don't feel like reading the whole article):

• Last season, drives that included at least one explosive play (runs of 10 or more yards, passes of 20 or more) resulted in points 52 percent of the time. This year, opponents are scoring on just 27 percent.
  
• The UNC defense hasn’t allowed a single point following a turnover by the offense this year.
• This season, Chizik has cut opponents’ completion percentage from 60 percent to 43 percent and trimmed their yards-per-pass by half.

I definitely think there is plenty of credit to go around, but I think the largest share has to go to Chizik.

http://espn.go.com/blog/acc/post/_/id/86610/uncs-defense-has-turned-the-corner-under-gene-chizik

 

[Raising Heel]

ESPN just posted a story about our improved defense, which I've linked below.

I've said it before, but David Hale is awesome. He's armed with data from ESPN Stats & Info and does a great job turning it into relatable information.

Re: points off turnovers, UNC has only committed 5 turnovers in 5 games with 3 of those coming in the first game (barf). The only fumble was by Trubisky in the wet Delaware game.

 

[WoadBlue]

ESPN just posted a story about our improved defense, which I've linked below. Some things that jumped out to me (in case you don't feel like reading the whole article):

• Last season, drives that included at least one explosive play (runs of 10 or more yards, passes of 20 or more) resulted in points 52 percent of the time. This year, opponents are scoring on just 27 percent.
  
• The UNC defense hasn’t allowed a single point following a turnover by the offense this year.
• This season, Chizik has cut opponents’ completion percentage from 60 percent to 43 percent and trimmed their yards-per-pass by half.

I definitely think there is plenty of credit to go around, but I think the largest share has to go to Chizik.

http://espn.go.com/blog/acc/post/_/id/86610/uncs-defense-has-turned-the-corner-under-gene-chizik

If this keeps up, Chizik could win the Brolyes Award. Again. He won it while at Auburn.

 

[Archer2]

There's a great post Tech interview with Gene on the front page. He just seems to "get it". And more importantly, has the ability to pass it on to the players. He's a football guy and a man's man. Sure hope we can keep him here for a long time.

 

[strummingram]

I think Gene Chizik was one of the best coaching moves in the football program's history. The kids are obviously part of the result, but I think Chizik is where he does what he can do best.

By the way, that 1998 Team was the best I think I ever saw at UNC in my whole life, and my first game as a kid saw Bill Dooley on the sidelines.