Heel Tough Blog: California Preview

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The Tar Heels head to the West Coast on Friday night as they face the California Golden Bears looking to turn their season in the right direction. Here is everything you need to know for the late night matchup with one of the ACC’s most confusing teams so far this year.

Team Breakdowns

Tar Heels

The team needs to show some signs of life against Power 4 competition and this will be one of their best chances to do that the rest of the season. The team appears as if they will go back to struggling starting quarterback Gio Lopez after he missed the game against the Clemson Tigers. The hope is that he is able to dig deep and find something that wasn’t there in his first two games against power competition. If you are looking for positives with this team so far this season, the running game is where you can find it. The second half of the season should see a lot of Demon June carrying the football with some Davion Gause and Benjamin Hall sprinkled in. In order to be successful, though, they will need the offensive line to respond to a rough start to the season. Across the board, the group must be better in run blocking and the tackles simply have to improve in pass protection. In the passing game, the team will be looking for another target to emerge alongside Jordan Shipp, who has already proven to be this team’s best receiver. Javarius Green and Chris Culliver are the two names to watch and the hope is that the team receives better quarterback play in the second half of the season to allow these guys to break out. Tight end Jake Johnson could also be one of those that emerge with better quarterback play after he proved that he is the biggest threat in the tight end room in the first five games of the season.

Defensively, things have not been much better. The defensive line has been solid in run defense led by the interior of the unit with guys like D’Antre Robinson, CJ Mims, Leroy Jackson and Isaiah Johnson all making plays. The biggest issue that this unit has had is getting pressure on the quarterback, but the hope is that the return of Pryce Yates can help with that and that guys like Melkart Abou-Jaoude and Smith Vilbert can also win their 1-on-1 matchups better than they did earlier in the season. At linebacker, Khmori House and Andrew Simpson have had their moments of success, but just need to be a little more consistent tackling wise in the second half of the season. The issues in the secondary might be the most concerning part about this team right now, especially with the loss of Thaddeus Dixon for the time being due to an undisclosed injury. With him out, the team must now rely on Jaiden Patterson to step up in his absence and others to do the same. Tackling is a big part of the issue for this unit and they need to be better across to limit the yards after catch that have killed this unit in the three games against power conference competition.

The special teams unit has been solid, yet unspectacular this season. Rece Verhoff has nailed every extra point and hit all but one field goal, so he has been reliable. Punter Tom Maginness has been better than he’s been the last two years, but he still averaged just 40.4 yards per punt. The team hasn’t produced much in the return game, but the hope is that they will go back to Chris Culliver in the kick return game because of how dangerous he has proved to be in each of the last two seasons.

California

The Golden Bears are looking to bounce back following a collapse in their last game that is a part of what has been a rollercoaster last few games for the team. The team has a promising young quarterback in Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, who has shown major promise this season despite some turnover issues in recent weeks. He has the explosive Trond Grizzell that he can throw to on the outside and trusty Jacob De Jesus in the slot that will challenge this Tar Heel secondary. So too will tight end Mason Mini, who might be struggling as a blocker, but has really made a difference as a receiver so far this year. At running back, Kendrick Raphael is off to a solid start, but he needs better blocking from an offensive line that is struggling out of the gate this season. While they may not be great in run blocking, that is clearly the strength of the unit because of the struggles that the team is having in pass protection at the tackle spots.

When you flip over to the defense, you find one of the more underrated units in all of college football. The defensive line is probably the weakest unit on this defense, but they still have seen some flashes from edge rushers TJ Bush Jr. and Ryan McCulloch and interior defensive lineman Aidan Keanaaina. At linebacker, the team boasts one of the best duos in the conference with Cade Uluave and Luke Ferrelli, who are both off to strong starts this season. The secondary is the strength of the unit, though, led by corners Hezekiah Masses, who leads the country in interceptions, and Brent Austin.

Special teams wise, the Bears have found some steady production. Chase Meyer and Abram Murray are splitting the placekicking duties and finding some decent success, while punter Michael Kern is having a strong season so far. De Jesus is handling everything in the return games and has done a good job, especially in punt return scenarios.

Team Stats

Tar Heels

Off. PPG: 18.8 (T-121st)

Off. PYPG: 161.6 (124th)

Off. RYPG: 102.2 (122nd)

Off. TYPG: 263.0 (133rd)

Off. 3rd Down %: 31.7% (126th)

Off. 4th Down %: 62.5% (T-47th)

Off. Red Zone TD%: 53.9% (106th)

Tackles For A Loss Allowed: 26.0 (T-25th)

Sacks Allowed: 7.0 (T-24th)

Def. PPG: 25.8 (79th)

Def. PYPG: 246.2 (109th)

Def. RYPG: 127.0 (48th)

Def. TYPG: 373.2 (77th)

Def. 3rd Down %: 42.4% (102nd)

Def. 4th Down %: 69.2% (T-119th)

Def. Red Zone TD%: 30.0% (3rd)

Tackles for A Loss: 24.0 (T-125th)

Sacks: 6.0 (T-132nd)

Interceptions: 4 (T-62nd)

Turnover Margin: 1 (T-55th)

Penalties Per Game: 5.0 (T-28th)

Penalty Yards Per Game: 51.0 (53rd)

California

Off. PPG: 24.2 (94th)

Off. PYPG: 255.0 (50th)

Off. RYPG: 96.7 (127th)

Off. TYPG: 351.7 (98th)

Off. 3rd Down %: 39.7% (T-71st)

Off. 4th Down %: 46.2% (T-96th)

Off. Red Zone TD%: 69.6 (40th)

Tackles For A Loss Allowed: 34.0 (T-81st)

Sacks Allowed: 14.0 (T-95th)

Def. PPG: 22.5 (57th)

Def. PYPG: 206.8 (56th)

Def. RYPG: 123.0 (41st)

Def. TYPG: 329.8 (42nd)

Def. 3rd Down %: 34.3% (40th)

Def. 4th Down %: 57.1% (T-78th)

Def. Red Zone TD%: 64.7% (T-83rd)

Tackles for A Loss: 27.0 (T-109th)

Sacks: 9.0 (T-100th)

Interceptions: 5 (T-48th)

Turnover Margin: -3 (T-99th)

Penalties Per Game: 7.3 (T-104th)

Penalty Yards Per Game: 56.7 (T-77th)

Keys to the Game

-Win the Line of Scrimmage

-Pressure Sagapolutele

-Create Turnovers

Injury Report

Tar Heels

OUT- Guytano Bartolomeo (undisclosed), Jake Bauer (undisclosed), Thaddeus Dixon (undisclosed), Cort Halsey (undisclosed), Tyler Houser (undisclosed), Deems May (undisclosed), Chinedu Onyeagoro (undisclosed), Peter Pesansky (undisclosed), Kamarion Thomas (undisclosed), Peyton Waters (undisclosed), Ty White (undisclosed), Laderion Williams (undisclosed)

IN- Ty Adams (undisclosed), Aidan Banfield (undisclosed), Khalil Conley (undisclosed)

California

OUT- Beckham Barney (undisclosed), Sam Bjerke (undisclosed), Mayze Bryant (undisclosed), Nate Burrell (undisclosed)Isaiah Crosby (undisclosed), Jojo Genova (undisclosed), Brandon High Jr. (undisclosed), Ben Marshall (undisclosed), Ryan McCulloch (undisclosed), Jayden Parker (undisclosed), Lamar Robinson (undisclosed), Serigne Tounkara (undisclosed)

GTD- Curlee Thomas IV (undisclosed)

Projected Starting Lineup

Tar Heels

Offense

QB# 7 Gio Lopez, So.

RB#35 Demon June, Fr.

WR-X# 1 Jordan Shipp, So.

WR-SL# 9 Javarius Green, RFr.

WR-Z# 3 Chris Culliver, Jr.

TE#19 Jake Johnson, Jr.

LT#58 Austin Blaske, Sr.

LG#73 Will O’Steen, Sr.

C#69 Chad Lindberg, Sr.

RG#52 Daniel King, Sr.

RT#55 Jakai Moore, Sr.

Defense

DE# 8 Smith Vilbert, Sr.

DT# 6 D’Antre Robinson, So.

DT#92 CJ Mims, Jr.

DE# 9 Melkart Abu-Jaoude, Jr.

WLB# 7 Khmori House, So.

MLB# 2 Andrew Simpson, Sr.

CB#18 Jaiden Patterson, So.

SS# 5 Gavin Gibson, Sr.

FS#31 Will Hardy, Sr.

CB#29 Marcus Allen, Sr.

NB#21 Kaleb Cost, Jr.

Special Teams

PK#90 Rece Verhoff, Sr.

P#96 Tom Maginness, Sr.

KOS#90 Rece Verhoff, Sr.

LS#42 Spencer Triplett, Sr.

H#96 Tom Maginness, Jr.

KR# 3 Chris Culliver, Jr.

PR#31 Will Hardy, Sr.

California

Offense

QB# 3 Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, Fr.

RB# 6 Kendrick Raphael, Jr.

WR-X#15 Mark Hamper, So.

WR-Z# 7 Trond Grizzell, Sr.

WR-SL#21 Jacob De Jesus, Sr.

TE#85 Mason Mini, So.

LT#52 Nick Morrow, So.

LG#66 Jordan Spasojevic-Moko, Sr.

C#56 Tyson Ruffins, Jr.

RG#71 Siopae Vatikani, Jr.

RT#77 Braden Miller, Jr.

Defense

LOLB#10 Jayden Wayne, Jr.

NT#47 Aidan Keanaaina, Sr.

DT#88 T.J. Bollers, Sr.

ROLB# 3 TJ Bush Jr., Jr.

WLB#41 Luke Ferrelli, RFr.

MLB# 0 Cade Uluave, Jr.

LCB# 5 Hezekiah Masses, Sr.

SS#14 Aiden Manutai, Fr.

FS# 2 Dru Polidore Jr., Sr.

RCB# 4 Brent Austin, Sr.

NB#20 Cam Sidney, Jr.

Special Teams

PK#91 Chase Meyer, Jr.

P# 9 Michael Kern, So.

KOS#91 Chase Meyer, Jr.

LS#39 Rino Monteforte, Jr.

H#40 Brook Honoré Jr., Jr.

KR#21 Jacob De Jesus, Sr.

PR#21 Jacob De Jesus, Sr.

Game Information

Kickoff Time: 10:30 PM ET

Weather: 64℉, 2% chance of rain, 4 mph WNW

TV: ESPN

Radio: Tar Heel Sports Network