Heel Tough Blog: Richmond Preview

Jim Dedmon- Imagn Images

The Tar Heels return to Kenan Stadium on Saturday looking to build off the momentum of a 20-3 win over the Charlotte 49ers that gave Bill Belichick his first win at the college level. Here’s a look at everything that you need to know for the Tar Heels matchup with the Richmond Spiders.

Team Breakdowns

Tar Heels

It wasn’t the prettiest victory over Charlotte, but it is one that still counts in the win column and hopefully can spark this team on both sides of the ball. Offensively, many are taking issue with how Freddie Kitchens’ offense has looked in the first two plays outside of the scripted drive to open games and for good reason. It feels like he is still not playing into the strengths of his quarterback, Gio Lopez, who was much better in the Charlotte game than he was against TCU. The hope is Lopez turned the corner on Saturday and that he can build upon that in this game with the help of his offensive coordinator. In the run game, it feels like the team may have stumbled upon something special in the form of Demon June and he deserves to be a bigger part of what this team does moving forward. Settling down the rotation at running back will also be important for the sustainability of the running game which right now feels so hit and miss because of how much they are rotating. At wide receiver, both Jordan Shipp and Chris Culliver have had their standout performances in the TCU and Charlotte games, respectively, and Javarius Green has looked promising in both games so far. Those should be the top three receivers right now and the hope is that Lopez can start getting them the ball more consistently. The team is still waiting for a tight end to emerge as a pass catching threat, but both Jordan Owens and Connor Cox have been solid in run blocking situations. Along the offensive line, the team is still looking for answers at center and left tackle. Chad Lindberg’s slow snaps have been a major issue for the team in the first two games of the season and the team has tried three different options already at left tackle to try to find some sort of stability there. This is another area where continuity is key and would be very welcome for a unit that simply has to get better as a run blocking group.

Defensively, the Tar Heels are coming off a game where they allowed the fewest points to an FBS opponent since 2001, but still allowed a decent amount of passing yards to Charlotte on Saturday night. A lot of that is due to the fact that the team cannot seem to get consistent rush from their defensive line. Connecticut transfer Pryce Yates remains sidelined with an indefinite injury and fellow projected starter Smith Vilbert hasn’t been able to create any sort of consistent pressure opposite of Melkart Abou-Jaoude, who’s taken Yates’ place in the starting lineup and done a solid job of creating pressure, but just hasn’t been able to finish those pressures with sacks. On the interior of the unit, D’Antre Robinson flashed in this past game, while Isaiah Johnson has graded out well for each of his first two games in a Tar Heel uniform. The unit still needs to be able to create more havoc plays than they have in the first two games of the season. At linebacker, Andrew Simpson and Khmori House have been everywhere in the first two games of the season, but struggled filling gaps in the second half of the game against TCU and need to make sure that doesn’t happen again. In the secondary, the unit bounced back nicely after being beaten up in the season opener. Both Thaddeus Dixon and Gavin Gibson have been very impactful in the first two games of the season and Marcus Allen bounced back from a career worst performance against TCU that left many with questions about him. The hope is that this unit can be the strength of the unit with so many question marks still surrounding that defensive line.

The special teams unit responded with a better showing in the second game of the season, as well, after having their ups and downs in the season opener. Punter Tom Maginness had one of the better games of his career after a rough go of it against TCU and got help from his long snapper Spencer Triplett, who struggled with his snapping in the opener. Rece Verhoff looks like a very solid pick up for the team at placekicker, while Culliver continues to be a trusted threat at kick returner despite a quiet start to the season. At punt returner, it looks like the team is beginning to make the transition from Will Hardy to Green in hopes of getting more explosive returns.

Richmond

The Spiders are one of the FCS’s most consistent teams from year to year and this season is no different with them being one of the favorites to win the Patriot League this year. Offensively, everything starts with quarterback Kyle Wickersham, who measures in at 6’4, 260 lbs., leading to Bill Belichick comparing him to Ben Roethlisberger. He will be a guy that will test this Tar Heel run defense and will want to get the ball out quickly on short routes, so tackling will be important for the Tar Heels. Joining him in the backfield is Aziz Foster-Powell, who hasn’t been great out of the gate this season but won the job coming out of camp and has taken the bulk of the carries. At wide receiver, Ja’Vion Griffin is back after averaging 14.3 yards per reception a year ago and Quanye Veney is also returning with more responsibility. Keep an eye on Jaiden Fair, as well, a dynamic player in the slot that could cause problems if the Tar Heels aren’t careful. The offensive line has struggled across the board in run blocking scenarios and have been up and down in pass protection, meaning this is an area that the Tar Heels should be able to attack.

Defensively, the Spiders are a strong unit led by their defensive line. Edge rusher Cameron Byrd and defensive tackle Matei Fitz are back after productive seasons a year ago and they are joined by Donovan Hoilette, who is off to a strong start as a pass rusher this season. At linebacker, Peyton Seelmann and Carter Glassmyer for a solid tandem, but did have their trouble stopping the run in the season opener. In the secondary, Wake Forest transfer Tayshaun Burney has been outstanding in the nickel, allowing just a 45.2 quarterback rating so far, but the outside corner D’Angelo Stocker has struggled to tackle and the guy opposite of him, CJ Fraser, has already allowed two touchdowns and committed three penalties this season.

On special teams, the Spiders are searching for answers at two key spots. At placekicker, Jayden Alsheskie and Will McManus are battling for the starting job with McManus having missed the lone field goal attempt of the season so far. At punter, the team is relying on Ned Gray, who is averaging just 37.3 yards per punt so far this season. The return games are dangerous, though, led by the kick return game where Isaiah Dawson has already returned one kickoff for a touchdown this season. In the punt return game, Fair is averaging a very respectable 9.8 yards per return so far this year.

Team Stats

Tar Heels

Off. PPG: 17.0 (T-114th)

Off. PYPG: 163.5 (109th)

Off. RYPG: 99.0 (T-119th)

Off. TYPG: 262.5 (126th)

Off. 3rd Down %: 24.0% (127th)

Off. 4th Down %: 66.7% (T-44th)

Off. Red Zone TD%: 75.0% (T-34th)

Tackles For A Loss Allowed: 13.0 (T-96th)

Sacks Allowed: 2.0 (T-28th)

Def. PPG: 25.5 (94th)

Def. PYPG: 267.0 (118th)

Def. RYPG: 139.5 (T-80th)

Def. TYPG: 406.5 (106th)

Def. 3rd Down %: 50.0% (T-121st)

Def. 4th Down %: 50.0% (T-50th)

Def. Red Zone TD%: 12.5% (10th)

Tackles for A Loss: 8.0 (T-110th)

Sacks: 1.0 (T-124th)

Interceptions: 3 (T-7th)

Turnover Margin: 0 (T-65th)

Penalties Per Game: 4.0 (T-21st)

Penalty Yards Per Game: 40.0 (T-37th)

Richmond

Off. PPG: 14.0

Off. PYPG: 133.0

Off. RYPG: 93.5

Off. TYPG: 226.5

Off. 3rd Down %: 36.7%

Off. 4th Down %: 100.0%

Def. PPG: 15.5

Def. PYPG: 123.0

Def. RYPG: 105.0

Def. TYPG: 228.0

Def. 3rd Down %: 20.8% 

Def. 4th Down %: 50.0%

Sacks: 5.0

Interceptions: 2

Turnover Margin: -2

Penalties Per Game: 8.0

Penalty Yards Per Game: 88.0

Keys to the Game

Contain Wickersham

This will be much easier said than done, but much like last week, this is not a quarterback that is going to be able to shred you through the air the way Josh Hoover did in Week 1. Instead, he going to try to use his legs to set up the short passing game, which is where he thrives. For the Tar Heels, it is about containing him in the pocket and making sure he doesn’t find a rhythm on the ground for this offense.

Run the Ball

In the first game of their season against Lehigh, Richmond was gashed for 163 yards and a touchdown and the hope is that this an area that the Tar Heels can take advantage of too. The Tar Heels found some success on the ground last week with guys like Demon June and Davion Gause and they should be a big part of this rushing attack alongside Caleb Hood in this game. With Gio Lopez still trying to figure some things out in this Freddie Kitchens offense, this is the best way to be able to move the ball consistently on Saturday.

Find Some Continuity

The Tar Heels need to find a rhythm on offense in this game and one way to do that is by finding some continuity on that side of the ball. Belichick has referenced this as an evaluation period for the team where he has been rotating guys heavily at running back, wide receiver and along the offensive line. While it makes some sense that the staff is still evaluating the roster with all of the changes on the roster, this unit needs to find answers in order to find efficiency. Hopefully this full week of practice beforehand and the two previous have been enough to get some more stability on this side of the ball.

Injury Report

Tar Heels

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

QUEST- Chris Culliver (shoulder), Christo Kelly (undisclosed)

Richmond

No Injuries to Report

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.

Richmond

No Projected Starting Lineups

Game Information

Kickoff Time: 3:30 PM ET

Weather: 70℉, 0% chance of rain, 7 mph NE

TV: ACC Network

Radio: Tar Heel Sports Network