Heel Tough Blog: Pittsburgh Preview
The Tar Heels will look to end their two-game losing streak and pick up Bill Belichick’s first win over a ranked opponent on Saturday when they face the No. 25 Pittsburgh Panthers on the road. Here’s everything that you need to know about the matchup with the Panthers, who have won three of the last five meetings between the two.
Team Breakdowns
Tar Heels
The Tar Heels will be hoping to make another statement on how far they have come from last year on Saturday and pick up an important win in the quest to make a bowl game. Offensively, the Tar Heels are coming off of their most productive game of the season from a points standpoint but are still searching for more consistency. In order to find it, they are going to need it to come from quarterback Billy Edwards Jr.. After major issues against Clemson with his accuracy and footwork, he was able to rebound against Notre Dame, but still had two important turnovers. This Pitt secondary is coming off a game where they were absolutely shredded, so the hope is that Edwards can build off some of the positives from a week ago and put together his most complete performance of the year. He’ll have wide receiver Jordan Shipp, who had a career game against Notre Dame, and tight end Jelani Thurman, who found the end zone twice, that he can rely on, but the team might need more from the other pass catching with those two being atop the scouting report. They will also hope to get more from a run game that was shut down against Notre Dame. The team still has a trio with Benjamin Hall, Demon June and Jaylen McGill that is capable of shining, but they need the blocking in front of them to be better. The offensive line opened up plenty of running lanes against Clemson, but were stonewalled against Notre Dame. With starting left tackle Jordan Hall questionable after missing the last game, the team may not be at full strength as they meet another run defense that is thriving. Regardless, they need to be better and protect the quarterback better than they have in the past two games.
Defensively, the team is looking to rebound after falling apart down the stretch against Clemson and being dominated by Notre Dame. It all starts up front on this side of the ball. The team was beaten and battered by a physical defensive front last Saturday and it leaves the statuses of some key pieces in doubt. Edge rushers Jaylen Harvey and Donovan Hoilette Jr. and defensive tackle Isaiah Johnson are all questionable for this game. If they are absent, it makes things way more challenging for this group. Melkart Abou Jaoude will be another week healthier after returning from the hand injury that kept him sidelined for two weeks and he’ll hope to provide more help for Xavier Lewis rushing the passer. The bigger concern would be in the run game where the team has struggled throughout the season. If Johnson can’t go, it will be up to Trey Giddens and Nicco Maggio to hold it down in his spot, while edge rusher reps could go to true freshman Calvin Thomas or lesser used reserves like Joseph Mupoyi. If those guys are out, the Tar Heels will need the linebacker unit to play its best game of the season. Derek McDonald, Peyton Seelmann and Jonathan Agumadu are all racking up tackles, but they sometimes look a step slow, especially when it comes to covering sideline-to-sideline. The biggest concern, though, for this unit remains the secondary. After getting torn apart in the second half by Clemson, the group was exposed once again in the first half against Notre Dame last Saturday. Greg Smith is the one reliable player in the room right now, while guys like Jaiden Patterson and Kaleb Cost have just been inconsistent. The other outside corner spot and field safety spot have been revolving doors so far with poor play at both in the last two games.
Special teams got the boost of Rece Verhoff returning to the placekicking role last week and this week might be where we really see his impact. Aeron Burrell has found a rhythm as a punter and is a solid weapon for the team. The return games look different after true freshman Jaden Jefferson took the opening kickoff of the second half to the house against Notre Dame. The hope is that he will given the opportunities to showcase his track speed more often moving forward. Trech Kekahuna will continue to handle punt return duties.
Pittsburgh
The Panthers roll into this game undefeated, but suffered a gut punch last Saturday when it was announced that starting quarterback Mason Heintschel was done for the season with an ACL injury. Now, the team will have to rally around fifth-year senior Holden Geriner, who did enough to get the Panthers across the finish line against Virginia Tech. While he made some throws late in that game, Saturday will be a different beast as it will be his first career start after backup stints at Auburn and Texas State in the first four years of his career. The good news for him is that he has a bevy of pass catching options to throw to. Both Cataurus Hicks and Bryce Yates have the ability to produce big plays, while Censere Lee is the reliable option anywhere on the field, including in the redzone. Tight end Carson Kent will also be an option that the Tar Heels will have to be aware of. Geriner could also use some help from the running game, which has been pretty productive considering how successful the team has been through the air. Like the Tar Heels, there are a trio of backs that split the carries here. Damon Ferguson Jr. has seen the most carries and has the most yards, but La’Vell Wright has made plays, too. Ja’Kyrian Turner has seen a solid amount of carries, but his biggest effect might be what he does out of the backfield. The Panthers offensive line has been fine in run blocking anchored by BJ Williams at right guard and Ryan Baer at right tackle, but the unit as a whole let up a lot of pressure in pass protection despite being credited with allowing just one sack.
Defensively, the Panthers are looking to recover from what was a tough night against Virginia Tech outside of the four turnovers. The strength of the unit is up front, where defensive tackle Nick James and edge rusher Isaiah Neal lead a group that has done a good job of creating havoc plays. The linebacking corps has had their issues with missed tackles this season, with Jeremiah Marcelin and Braylan Lovelace missing a combined 18 of the team’s 53 so far this year. Lovelace has also had issues in coverage, allowing 144 yards and a touchdown already this year. In the secondary, guys like safety Cruce Brookins, who might be the best player on this defense, and corner Shawn Lee Jr. are off to fast starts, while safety Josh Guerrier and corner Raion Strader have been picked on a lot.
Special teams is in solid shape for the Panthers. Placekicker Antonio Chadha has hit everything that he has kicked this season and punter Gabriel Russo has been solid despite not having the biggest leg. The return units have been relatively silent so far, but the Tar Heels can’t overlook them in this one.
Team Stats
Tar Heels
Off. PPG: 24.0 (T-98th)
Off. PYPG: 210.5 (T-90th)
Off. RYPG: 135.5 (98th)
Off. TYPG: 346.0 (107th)
Off. 3rd Down %: 40.9% (T-73rd)
Off. 4th Down %: 75.0% (T-11th)
Off. Red Zone TD%: 64.3% (T-70th)
Tackles For A Loss Allowed: 16.0 (T-19th)
Sacks Allowed: 8.0 (T-61st)
Def. PPG: 19.5 (43rd)
Def. PYPG: 200.5 (59th)
Def. RYPG: 152.5 (89th)
Def. TYPG: 353.0 (70th)
Def. 3rd Down %: 42.9% (109th)
Def. 4th Down %: 41.7% (T-44th)
Def. Red Zone TD%: 38.5% (T-8th)
Tackles for A Loss: 18.0 (T-123rd)
Sacks: 10.0 (T-64th)
Interceptions: 2 (T-94th)
Turnover Margin: -1 (T-76th)
Penalties Per Game: 4.0 (T-5th)
Penalty Yards Per Game: 28.8 (4th)
Pittsburgh
Off. PPG: 38.4 (25th)
Off. PYPG: 316.0 (10th)
Off. RYPG: 162.0 (63rd)
Off. TYPG: 478.0 (23rd)
Off. 3rd Down %: 46.2% (38th)
Off. 4th Down %: 55.6% (T-62nd)
Off. Red Zone TD%: 63.6% (T-73rd)
Tackles For A Loss Allowed: 20.0 (T-36th)
Sacks Allowed: 5.0 (T-18th)
Def. PPG: 13.4 (T-13th)
Def. PYPG: 239.8 (110th)
Def. RYPG: 55.6 (2nd)
Def. TYPG: 295.4 (31st)
Def. 3rd Down %: 30.0% (22nd)
Def. 4th Down %: 33.3% (T-28th)
Def. Red Zone TD%: 40.0% (T-11th)
Tackles for A Loss: 32.0 (T-31st)
Sacks: 12.0 (T-39th)
Interceptions: 5 (T-28th)
Turnover Margin: +5 (T-15th)
Penalties Per Game: 8.8 (T-127th)
Penalty Yards Per Game: 79.4 (T-126th)
Keys to the Game
-Billy Edwards Jr. Puts Together His Most Complete Game So Far
-Get Pressure on Holden Geriner
-Remain Disciplined
Injury Report
Tar Heels
OUT- Keeyun Chapman (suspension), Vodney Cleveland (undisclosed), Viliami Moala (undisclosed), Jordan Washington (undisclosed), Jaxxon Warren (undisclosed), Jakob Weatherspoon (undisclosed)
QUEST- Jimmy-Phrisco Alo-Suliafu (undisclosed), Jordan Hall (undisclosed), Jaylen Harvey (undisclosed), Donovan Hoilette Jr. (undisclosed), Xavier Jackson (undisclosed), Isaiah Johnson (undisclosed), Dream Rashad (undisclosed), Jonah Rodriguez (undisclosed), Peyton Waters (undisclosed), Ade Willie (undisclosed)
Pittsburgh
OUT- Allen Bryant (undisclosed), Rodney Dunbar (undisclosed), Mason Heintschel (undisclosed), Max Hunt (undisclosed), Ben Kauffman (undisclosed), Elijah Lagg (undisclosed), Isaac Patterson (undisclosed), Trevor Summers (undisclosed)
QUEST- Zach Crothers (undisclosed), Josh Guerrier (undisclosed), Malik Knight (undisclosed), Alex Sanford Jr. (undisclosed)
PROB- Raion Strader (undisclosed)
Projected Starting Lineup
Tar Heels
Offense
QB# 9 Billy Edwards Jr., Gr.
RB# 7 Benjamin Hall, Jr.
WR-X#14 C.J. Sadler, Fr.
WR-SL# 2 Trech Kekahuna, Jr.
WR-Z# 1 Jordan Shipp, Jr.
TE#45 Jelani Thurman, Jr.
LG#68 Aidan Banfield, Jr.
C#56 Christo Kelly, Gr.
RG#60 Cristian Alvarez, Fr.
RT#71 Jacqawn McRoy, So.
Defense
RUSH# 9 Melkart Abou Jaoude, Sr.
NT# 0 Isaiah Johnson, Sr.
DT#91 Leroy Jackson, So.
DT/DE #90 Xavier Lewis, So.
JACK#12 Calvin Thomas, Fr.
WLB#10 Peyton Seelmann, Jr.
BCB#18 Jaiden Patterson, Jr.
BS# 1 Greg Smith, So.
FS#16 Coleman Bryson, Sr.
CB# 6 Tre Miller, Jr.
NB#2 Kaleb Cost, Jr.
Special Teams
P#92 Aeron Burrell, Jr.
KOS#92 Aeron Burrell, Jr.
H#93 Jacob Horvath, Jr.
PR# 2 Trech Kekahuna, Jr.
Pittsburgh
Offense
QB#15 Holden Geriner, 5th
RB# 9 Ja’Kyrian Turner, So.
WR-X# 7 Malik Knight, 5th
WR-Z#10 Censere Lee, 5th
WR-SL# 3 Cataurus Hicks, Sr.
TE#86 Carson Kent, 5th
LT#74 Netinho Olivieri, 5th
LG#53 Kendall Stanley, 5th
C#71 Ryan Carretta, Sr.
RG#55 BJ Williams, Sr.
RT#70 Ryan Baer, 5th
Defense
DE# 2 Isaiah Neal, Sr.
DT#55 Sean FitzSimmons, Sr.
DT#11 Nick James, 5th
DE#44 Jimmy Scott, 5th
STAR# 0 Braylan Lovelace, Sr.
MIKE#32 Jeremiah Marcelin, Jr.
CB# 3 Shawn Lee Jr., So.
FS#17 Cole Woodson, So.
CB# 6 Raion Strader, Sr.
Special Teams
P#98 Gabe Russo, Sr.
KOS#91 Sam Hunsaker, Jr.
H#92 Kaemon Tijerina, So.
Game Information
Kickoff Time: 12:00 PM EST
Weather: 66°F, 0% chance of rain
TV: ESPN
Radio: Tar Heel Sports Network
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