Tar Heels Are Something of a Mystery
Cal opens its season Saturday at North Carolina, and the Bears don't know much about the Tar Heels.
Neither do the Tar Heels.
Coming off their 8-5 season that included a 25-23 loss to Stanford in the Sun Bowl, the Tar Heels had to replace both their coordinators, are starting almost from scratch on offense and lost several key parts of their defense.
"We have last year's tape to go off of, and obviously they'll be who they are but they will tailor it to their strengths," Cal coach Justin Wilcox said this week. "They do an excellent job offensively and defensively and we have ideas of what they will do, but you don't really know."
That said, here is a detailed look at the Tar Heels.
OFFENSE
The Tar Heels averaged 439 yards per game last year and had one of country's most productive passing attacks. Repeating that won't be easy as most of those responsible have moved on, including quarterback Mitch Trabisky and career receiving leader Ryan Switzer.
QUARTERBACK
This is the bigget hole. The Tar Heels must replace record-setting Trubisky, now in the employ of the Chicago Bears. The Tar Heels have been holding four-way auditions since the spring much as Cal did. But unlike the Bears, who announced their starter last week, Carolina coach Larry Fedora still hasn't named a winner.
"I would prefer someone had separated two months ago and we named that guy the starter and that guy went forward as a starter," Fedora said in his press conference this week. "But that is just not the way it is in this situation and we've got to deal with it. We have guys competing for a job, we were hoping someone would separate themselves by now, but it hasn't happened. It doesn't change our plan going forward."
Most of those close to the Tar Heels feel that Brandon Harris, a graduate transfer from LSU, will be the man. He has the most experience and the reasoning is he would not have left Baton Rouge without assurance he was going to be the man.
The other contenders are two redshirt freshmen Chazz Surratt, considered one of the top recruits in the country a year ago, and Logan Byrd and sophomore Nathan Elliott, who threw all of nine passes as Trubisky's backup last season.
Unlike Elliott, Byrd and Surratt, Harris is new to the Carolina system, which probably will not change much in scheme under new co-coordinators Gunter Brewer and Chris Kapilovic. But the transfer has been making up for lost time, according to Fedora.
"I think he's improved quite a bit in the few weeks that he's been here in terms of the communication, understanding, the offense and what we expect," Fedora said. "I'm comfortable with where he is right now."
He also had good things to say about the other three. "Elliott is a lefty who throws the ball well. He has made good decisions in practice....Surratt is a tremendous athlete. He can run. He can throw. ...Byrd is 6-3, 225-pounds and has a really strong arm. He is in that stage of learning the offense."
The Cal coaches say whoever is under center won't make much difference to them.
"They're going to run their system regardless. They've got some athletic guys at quarterback, they can use the quarterback as a runner," defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter said. "They're going to make us defend the entire field, so I don't think who the quarterback is, will radically change things."
RUNNING BACK
Trabisky is the biggest loss on offense, but by no means the only one. The top three running backs from a year ago are no longer around.
Sophomore Jordon Brown, who had just five carries in 2016 and freshman Michael Carter are listed atop the depth chart. Graduate transfer Stanton Truitt from Auburn has been bothered by injuries. Freshmen Kayne Roberts and converted linebacker Johnathon Sutton also could get the ball Saturday.
"We know for sure we're going to play multiple guys at that position," Fedora said. "We've got to get a feel like we always do with the running backs, who has the hot hand. Who's making the offense better when they're out on the field is going to get the majority of the snaps. But there is no doubt that we will probably play two or three guys."
WIDE RECEIVERS
Austin Proehl, son of former NFL receiver Ricky Proehl, had 43 catches a year ago to rank third on the team. But after that, the Tar Heels are green, although they do have some talent.
"Proehl has the most experience and he's done a nice job leading this group," Fedora said. "Jordan Cunningham and Dazz (Newsome), Roscoe Johnson have made some nice improvement. I've watched these guys, come through and really make some nice plays in practice."
Senior Thomas Jackson saw limited duty last year, and Fedora likes sophomore Anthony Ratliff-Williams, who has climbed to the top of the depth chart. "He is one of the most talented guys we have at the receiver spot," Fedora said. "With speed and ability, and he has really come a long way. Now he is really starting to understand the receiver position."
TIGHT END
Brandon Fritts and Carl Tucker, both whom have started games, are capable tight ends. The position might play a bigger role in the passing game this year, given the inexperience at wide receiver.
OFFENSIVE LINE
This unit, which has three returning starters and a lot of experience, was bolstered by the addition of a couple of graduate transfers, center Cam Dillard from Florida, who will start Saturday, and guard Khaliel Rodgers from USC. Left tackle Bentley Spain is an All-American candidate. The Tar Heels were also boosted by the return of OL RJ Prince, who was reportedly removed from a 2-game suspension.
DEFENSE
Seven starters return, with the biggest losses defensive tackle Naizar Jones and cornerback Des Lawrence.
Cornerback M.J. Stewart is this year's headliner, and is on many preseason All-American teams.
"They are a really well-coached defense," Wilcox said. "They have traditionally been based out of a four-down front. They have been a split safety team, cover-four team. They generate a lot of disruption with their front four, they make you earn everything in the pass game.
"They do good job of mixing things up. Their front four generates a lot of disruptions. They are very sound in what they do they make you earn everything."
One of the best against the pass year ago, the Tar Heels allowed just 180.1 yards per game, 12th best in the country. In one of those statistical oddities that can keep geeks busy for hours trying to explain, the Heels managed just one interception in 13 games.
"That is weird," Fedora said. "It was just one of those years, it just happened. I can't give you a reason why. Other than the ones that we got our hands on, we didn't make the plays. We've got to do a better job with our ball skills.
"It's not like something we said, 'We've got to get interceptions.' We talk about takeaways as a team, how important that is to our team. If we want to be a really good defense we've got to have takeaways."
DEFENSIVE LINE
Despite the loss of Jones, 11 of the top 13 contributors return. Defensive end Malik Carney was a surprise starter at the beginning of the year but led the team in sacks with 5.5.
On the other end, Dajaun Drennon is an explosive pass rusher when healthy. Injuries were an issue for him last year. Tackle Aaron Crawford, who became a starter as a freshman last year, is strong against the run.
LINEBACKERS
The top five performers from a year ago return, led by junior Andre Smith, the middle backer.
Cole Holcomb, a junior who joined the team as a walk-on, led the team in tackles with 115 and is said to be the strongest man on the squad. Cayson Collins is the other returning starter.
SECONDARY
The strength of the team in 2016, Lawrence and Stewart were the top pair in the ACC.
Lawrence is a shut down corner and one of the best in the country.
"They've got a lot of great athletes, but he jumps out at you on film," Wilcox said. "He's a very competitive guy with great athletic ability. He's got quick feet. You can see why they like him so much."
Safety Donnie Miles had 280 tackles over the last two years and is considered one of the best in The South. Fedora likes the improvement of sophomore Miles Dorn, the other safety.
"Myles Dorn has got a chance to be a star," Fedora said. "If he keeps progressing he will not be just a good football player, he'll be a great football player. He really understands what he's doing back there."
SPECIAL TEAMS
Punter Tom Shelton hangs his kicks so high he allowed opponents a measly total of just two return yards for all of last year, best in the country.
As of the middle of the week, the Tar Heels had not settled on a placekicker to replace three-year starter Nick Weiler. Junior Freeman Jones and freshman Noah Ruggles are the candidates.
OVERALL
North Carolina, an 11-point favorite over the Bears, has become a consistently competitive proram under Fedora. His overall record at UNC of 40-25 would probably get him fired at Alabama or Ohio State, but is just fine in Chapel Hill. It wouldn't be bad in Berkeley either.
The Bears will have to be considerably better than they were in 2016 to hang with the Tar Heels especially on the road.