Heel Tough Blog: Charlotte Preview

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The Tar Heels will look to rebound from a disastrous start to the Bill Belichick on Saturday when they travel to Charlotte to take on a team that is looking to bounce back from a similar start to their new era last Friday. Here is a look at everything you need to know for this matchup against the Charlotte 49ers on Saturday night.

Team Breakdowns

Tar Heels

The Tar Heels were embarrassed in every aspect of the game on Monday night in Kenan Stadium against TCU and the staff now has the challenge of rallying spirits on a short week to get the team in the right mindset for this game against Charlotte. For Freddie Kitchens, he simply must put together a better gameplan than what we saw in the opener, one that should be tailored to his quarterback. For now, that quarterback appears to be Gio Lopez, who seemed to dodge a severe injury in the game on Monday night. If he continues to struggle the way that he did against TCU, though, don’t be shocked if the team turns to Max Johnson, who seems like he is better positioned to run the style of offense that the team ran against the Horned Frogs. At running back, it’s Caleb Hood who is getting the first carries, while Benjamin Hall and Davion  Gause battle for backup at the position. Hood looked good when he got the blocking necessary in front of him and the hope is that it will be more consistent against a weaker opponent. In the receiving corps, Jordan Shipp and Javarius Green provided some nice flashes, but starters like Chris Culliver and Alex Taylor need to find ways to get open and haul in the ball when it is thrown their way. It would also help if someone could emerge at tight end that could become a reliable receiving threat as well. Along the offensive line, the hope is that this group will be much better than what they showed in the opener. It all starts at center, where both Christo Kelly and Chad Lindberg need to be better, but the rest of the unit as a whole must run block better for an offense that wants to run the ball at a high rate, at least early in the season.

Defensively, things weren’t much better in the opener. The team was pushed around up front all night and it will be on them to respond against a less talented offensive line. The team is without Pryce Yates for an indefinite period of time, so it is up to Smith Vilbert and Melkart Abou-Jaoude to step up in his absence and be able to win off the edge. On the interior, it’s up to guys like Leroy Jackson, D’Antre Robinson and CJ Mims to be better than they were in the opener and win their one-on-one matchups to make plays and not put it all on linebackers like they did in the opener. At linebacker, Andrew Simpson and Khmori House both had moments where they did play really well, but both had some missed tackle issues that will hopefully be cleaned up this week. In the secondary, Thaddeus Dixon looked the part, but a lot of off-coverage led to a ton of success, especially on the opposite side of the perimeter, for the TCU offense. The team needs to have a short leash on Marcus Allen after he allowed nine catches for 135 yards and a touchdown on Monday night.

Special teams might have been the best unit on the field on Monday night, but that’s not saying much. Punter Tom Maginess remains as inconsistent as anyone in the sport at his position, while kicker Rece Verhoff did not attempt anything longer than an extra point in the opener. In the return game, Chris Culliver had chances but couldn’t break anything long and Will Hardy was unable to do anything in the punt return game.

Charlotte

The Niners didn’t fare much better in their opener against the App State Mountaineers as they opened the Tim Albin era. On offense, the struggles began at quarterback where former Tar Heel Conner Harrell just wasn’t able to consistently move the offense. He will be hoping for more success against his former team after keeping the starting job for this week despite throwing for just 142 yards and an interception in that opener last Friday. At running back, the team has turned to Michigan transfer CJ Stokes to lead the way and he’ll be hoping for a better performance in this one after running for just 49 yards on 15 carries against App State. The receiving corps is in good shape with guys like Sean Brown, E Jai Mason and Jayden McGowan, but they need whoever is at quarterback to get them the ball more consistently than they did in the opener. The offensive line is a question mark too for this unit after they struggled in run blocking scenarios vs. App State. Jonny King and Mo Clipper Jr. are promising anchors, but everyone across the board has to be better in the run game if this offense is going to be able to succeed with Harrell at quarterback.

Defensively, the Niners were absolutely gashed by the new offensive attack for App State, allowing 586 total yards and 34 points. The defensive line struggled to get off of blocks consistently, but did have guys like Mayco Williams and DJ Burgess that flashed in extended reps last Friday. The linebacker room was the biggest issue for the team in the opener, with Kadin Schmitz, Shay Taylor and Reid Williford all having their struggles in extended reps. The secondary is the strength of this unit, led by JaQurious Conley and Dwight Bootle II, who both had really solid openers. This unit still had its guys who struggled, though, as both Caleb Curtain and Treyevon McGee were picked on in coverage over the middle of the field, allowing a combined nine receptions for 138 yards and two touchdowns.

On special teams, the team found a weapon in punter Bronson Long, while Tar Heel transfer Liam Boyd nailed his only field goal attempt. The return game was silent, but if Henry Rutledge makes his return, he is dangerous.

Team Stats

Tar Heels

Off. PPG: 14.0 (T-105th)

Off. PYPG: 172.0 (91st)

Off. RYPG: 50.0 (128th)

Off. TYPG: 222.0 (125th)

Off. 3rd Down %: 10.0% (131st)

Off. 4th Down %: 100.0% (T-1st)

Off. Red Zone TD%: 100.0% (T-1st)

Tackles For A Loss Allowed: 8.0 (T-107th)

Sacks Allowed: 2.0 (T-76th)

Def. PPG: 48.0 (T-132nd)

Def. PYPG: 284.0 (120th)

Def. RYPG: 258.0 (127th)

Def. TYPG: 542.0 (132nd)

Def. 3rd Down %: 58.3% (T-127th)

Def. 4th Down %: 100.0% (T-77th)

Def. Red Zone TD%: 20.0% (23rd)

Tackles for A Loss: 3.0 (T-111th)

Sacks: 0.0 (T-115th)

Interceptions: 1 (T-21st)

Turnover Margin: -2 (T-114th)

Penalties Per Game: 3.0 (T-9th)

Penalty Yards Per Game: 25.0 (T-21st)

Charlotte

Off. PPG: 34.0 (T-113th)

Off. PYPG: 142.0 (110th)

Off. RYPG: 76.0 (T-121st)

Off. TYPG: 218.0 (127th)

Off. 3rd Down %: 28.6% (T-107th)

Off. 4th Down %: 100.0% (T-1st)

Off. Red Zone TD%: 50.0% (T-86th)

Tackles For A Loss Allowed: 6.0 (T-79th)

Sacks Allowed: 0.0 (T-1st)

Def. PPG: 34.0 (T-113th)

Def. PYPG: 404.0 (135th)

Def. RYPG: 182.0 (106th)

Def. TYPG: 586.0 (133rd)

Def. 3rd Down %: 46.7% (T-107th)

Def. 4th Down %: 100.0% (T-77th)

Def. Red Zone TD%: 80.0% (T-87th)

Tackles for A Loss: 3.0 (T-111th)

Sacks: 1.0 (T-87th)

Interceptions: 0 (T-70th)

Turnover Margin: -1 (T-98th)

Penalties Per Game: 7.0 (T-80th)

Penalty Yards Per Game: 54.0 (T-77th)

Keys to the Game

Win the Line of Scrimmage

Losing in the trenches was a big part of why the Tar Heels lost the way that they did on Monday night and it is an area that they need to clean up in this game. Both the offensive and defensive lines should be able to control the line of scrimmage despite being without a key member of each unit. If this doesn’t happen, then this could be what leads to this game being closer than it should be.

Stop the Run

One of the biggest weaknesses for this Charlotte team is this passing offense and the Tar Heels need to test it constantly. The Niners made a concerted effort to run the ball on early downs a week ago and that should be the focus again this week. If the Tar Heels can find a way to win against this run game, they should be able to take care of a struggling Conner Harrell at quarterback.

Adjust Your Offense to Your QB

The Tar Heels have two quarterbacks with very different styles and it is on Freddie Kitchens and the offensive staff to make the adjustments necessary to suit whichever quarterback is in the game. The gameplan that they rolled with last week was not one that seemed to play into Gio Lopez strengths and with him set to start again this weekend it appears, Kitchens needs to be more willing to get his quarterback out from under center and put him in RPO scenarios like the ones that he thrived in last season. If not, than the team needs to be willing to turn to Max Johnson and not look back if Lopez struggles the way that he did on Monday night.

Injury Report

Tar Heels

OUT- Austin Blaske (foot), Pryce Yates (undisclosed)

PROB- Christo Kelly (undisclosed), Gio Lopez (undisclosed)

Charlotte

QUEST- Adam Hopkins IV (leg), Henry Rutledge (undisclosed)

Projected Starting Lineup

Tar Heels

Offense

QB# 7 Gio Lopez, So.

RB# 4 Caleb Hood, Sr.

WR-X# 1 Jordan Shipp, So.

WR-SL# 0 Alex Taylor, RFr.

WR-Z# 3 Chris Culliver, Jr.

TE#80 Jordan Owens, Sr.

LT#71 William Boone, Jr.

LG#68 Aidan Banfield, So.

C#53 Christo Kelly, Sr.

RG#52 Daniel King, Sr.

RT#55 Jakai Moore, Sr.

Defense

DE# 8 Smith Vilbert, Sr.

DT# 6 D’Antre Robinson, So.

DT#91 Leroy Jackson, RFr.

DE# 9 Melkart Abu-Jaoude, Jr.

WLB# 7 Khmori House, So.

MLB# 2 Andrew Simpson, Sr.

CB# 1 Thaddeus Dixon, Sr.

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.

Charlotte

Offense

QB#15 Conner Harrell, Jr.

RB#23 CJ Stokes, Jr.

WR-X# 7 E Jai Mason, Gr.

WR-Z#88 Miles Burris, So.

WR-SL# 3 Jayden McGowan, Sr.

TE#87 Jake Young, Jr.

LT#68 Jesse Ramil, Sr.

LG#55 Mo Clipper Jr., Jr.

C#52 Jonny King, Sr.

RG#70 Dallas Shirley, Jr.

RT#57 Mason Bowers, Sr.

Defense

DE# 7 DJ Burgess, Jr.

NT#51 Jamarrion Solomon, Jr.

DT#18 Zion Shockley, Sr.

RUSH#24 Jaylon Johnson, Jr.

WLB#19 Kadin Schmitz, Jr.

MLB#35 Shay Taylor, Sr.

LCB#16 Thai Baldwin, Sr.

FS# 9 Cary Grant, Jr.

SS# 6 Ja’Qurious Conley, Sr.

RCB#12 CJ Clinkscales, Jr.

NB# 2 Trevyeon McGee, Gr.

Special Teams

PK#37 Liam Boyd, Jr.

P#95 Bronson Long, Jr.

KOS#37 Liam Boyd, Jr.

LS#39 Colby Garfield, Gr.

H#95 Bronson Long, Jr.

KR# 5 Javen Nichols, Jr.

PR# 5 Javen Nichols, Jr.

Game Information

Kickoff Time: 7:30 PM ET

Weather: 79℉, 34% chance of rain, 6 mph WNW

TV: ESPN+

Radio: Tar Heel Sports Network