Heel Tough Blog: Syracuse Preview
The Tar Heels return home for the first time in three weeks on Saturday when they’ll look to extend their winning streak to three games against the Syracuse Orange. With the Orange struggling and a nighttime kick on the horizon next week against the top-ranked team in the country, this has all of the making of a trap game if the Tar Heels aren’t careful. Here is a look at everything you need to know about this one that will take place in front of a sold out Kenan Stadium later tonight.
Team Breakdowns
Tar Heels
The Tar Heels come into this game off the massive rivalry victory over Duke and have been receiving the most praise that they have under Bill Belichick. Quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. is coming off his cleanest game of the season despite only throwing for 191 yards as he had his first interception-free performance since the game against East Tennessee State. With some stiff tests still remaining on the schedule for the Tar Heels, they need more games like that from Edwards where he takes care of the football and makes the important throws. His pass catching group continues to be led by wide receiver Jordan Shipp and tight end Jelani Thurman, who have both continued to thrive despite being atop the scouting reports since the beginning of the season. Tight end Shamar Easter has had his moments recently and slot receiver Trech Kekahuna made some important catches a week ago against Duke, so there are other options that are emerging. At running back, starter Benjamin Hall is banged up, but both Demon June and Jaylen McGill have proved they are capable of having success in the meantime if Hall isn’t at full strength this weekend. Their success will be based on how well this team run blocks up front, which took a step in the right direction against Duke after being pushed around the previous two weeks. Right guard Cristian Alvarez has handled himself nicely since being thrust into a starting position when left tackle Jordan Hall went down, while guys like Christo Kelly and Aidan Banfield had bounce back games a week ago in the run game. In pass protection, the team hasn’t let up a lot of sacks, but they have been prone to giving up a significant amount of pressure and if they aren’t careful, that could come back to bite them like it did in the game against Clemson. Hall’s return could help this, but the unit simply needs to find a way to limit Syracuse’s aggressive pass rush from having a big day against them.
Defensively, the Tar Heel continue to find a way to make plays when they have to and they must be feeling pretty good after what they did against Duke a week ago. Syracuse will be an underrated challenge for this run defense, who might be coming off of its best performance of the season. The defensive line is close to being back at full strength after a rash of injuries. On the interior, Xavier Lewis continues to be a force getting after the passer, while the trio of Leroy Jackson, Isaiah Johnson and Nicco Maggio are making plays pretty consistently in run defense. On the edge, Melkart Abou Jaoude and Jaylen Harvey are getting healthy after their injury and the hope is that they can now lead the charge at edge rusher when it comes to getting the opposing quarterback on the ground. It’s important that they do that this week against a passing attack that could cause issues for the banged up secondary if they aren’t careful. Greg Smith is one of the top safeties in the country so far this season and he is coming off a game where he locked down one of the best tight ends in the league and he could be tasked with doing that again this weekend. The team will hope to have Peyton Waters next to him this weekend, but it may fall on Coleman Bryson to once again help over the top if needed against one of the most dangerous wide receivers in the country. Jaiden Patterson has recovered nicely from a rough showing against Clemson, but this will be the biggest test he’s faced so far this year and he needs to be locked in. At linebacker, it feels like the room has found its legs and there are few teams around the country that boast the type of production that the team is getting from Derek McDonald and Peyton Seelmann right now. With the Syracuse running backs not much of a threat out of the backfield, this unit will have a lot less on their plate than they have at times this season.
Special teams remain a bit of a concern as we’ve hit the midpoint of the season. Placekicker feels like it’s in good hands with Rece Verhoff, but he has only attempted one field goal since returning to action against Notre Dame. Punter is a major concern with Aeron Burrell regressing in the past few weeks and now being banged up. If he can’t go, the team would be turning over those duties to true freshman Adam McCann-Gibbs, who dropped his one punt attempt last week. The return games have been mostly quiet, but you never know when Jaden Jefferson can break one on a kick return with his track speed.
Syracuse
The Orange enter Chapel Hill in a similar spot to where they were a year ago when these two teams met, as they sit at 2-4 (0-4) in the ACC. Just like a year ago, they come in with injury issues at the quarterback position, but it does look like Steve Angeli, who has missed the last three games with an injury, will be back for this game. Angeli hasn’t quite been the same quarterback that he was a year ago as he’s struggled with turnovers, but there is still plenty of talent there and he has shown the ability to take over games at times throughout his career. The guy he’ll be looking for the most is wide receiver Umari Hatcher, who is having an amazing season so far. He is in the top five in the country in receptions (50) and receiving yards (784) and he is also top ten in receiving touchdowns (7). Outside of him, there isn’t a ton of production from the receivers, but Calvin Russell III may have found something against Louisville and will need to be prepared for as a former high-end 4✮ prospect in the past recruiting cycle. Tight end Daunte Bacheyie is going to have to be someone that the secondary is aware of as well. The run game isn’t nearly as touted as the one that you faced a week ago and aren’t the threat in the passing game that you saw in Durham, but Tylik Hill and Ahmad Miller have been a solid combination that could cause problems for the Tar Heels if they aren’t careful. The offensive line is part of this group that is struggling more than anything else. Pass protection has been a major challenge for this group, as they have allowed nine sacks and 68 total quarterback pressures according to Pro Football Focus. The biggest issues have come at the tackle spots with Kam Pringle and Trevion Mack, but even the interior hasn’t been flawless. The run blocking grades aren’t anything to write home about either.
On the defensive side of the ball, the team hasn’t allowed a lot of yards, but teams have been able to find the endzone against them. The defensive line is the strength of the unit, led by the trio of Keyshawn Johnson, Tunmise Adeleye and Nissi Ogbebor, who all have 19 or more total quarterback pressures so far this season. That room has also graded out well in run defense so far this year, so it will be a test for this Tar Heel offensive line. At linebacker, it appears that the team will get the services of Antonie Deslauriers back after he missed last week’s game with Louisville. He’ll be back alongside Chris D’Appolonia, who has solid, but has been targeted a bit in coverage. The secondary is the definition of hit or miss. Safety Braheem Long Jr. has been very productive at safety and the corners, both on the outside and in the nickel, have made plenty of plays on the football, but have allowed some big plays. The Tar Heels have to be careful to pick their moments, but there should be plays to be made in the passing game on Saturday.
The special teams unit for the Orange is a mess right now. The team hopes to get Tripp Woody back at placekicker after he missed the last three weeks, but whether it is him or Shay Barker, there isn’t much trust in a duo that has combined to miss four extra points and seven field goals already this season. At punter, Jimmy Gregg has been rather below average and isn’t able to flip field position the way the other punters the Tar Heels have faced were able to do. The return games have seen a lot of rotation, but shouldn’t be taken lightly as they have both produced some nice returns this year.
Team Stats
Tar Heels
Off. PPG: 23.5 (102nd)
Off. PYPG: 213.7 (88th)
Off. RYPG: 116.2 (120th)
Off. TYPG: 329.9 (117th)
Off. 3rd Down %: 37.3% (86th)
Off. 4th Down %: 71.4% (T-19th)
Off. Red Zone TD%: 65.0% (T-61st)
Tackles For A Loss Allowed: 27.0 (T-30th)
Sacks Allowed: 13.0 (T-72nd)
Def. PPG: 19.2 (34th)
Def. PYPG: 211.7 (70th)
Def. RYPG: 147.3 (80th)
Def. TYPG: 359.0 (74th)
Def. 3rd Down %: 43.3% (T-114th)
Def. 4th Down %: 36.8% (T-26th)
Def. Red Zone TD%: 42.1% (10th)
Tackles for A Loss: 24.0 (T-127th)
Sacks: 13.0 (T-71st)
Interceptions: 5 (T-52nd)
Turnover Margin: -2 (T-89th)
Penalties Per Game: 4.2 (T-7th)
Penalty Yards Per Game: 33.7 (5th)
Syracuse
Off. PPG: 31.7 (T-52nd)
Off. PYPG: 291.2 (12th)
Off. RYPG: 158.7 (66th)
Off. TYPG: 449.8 (27th)
Off. 3rd Down %: 43.3% (47th)
Off. 4th Down %: 50.0% (T-77th)
Off. Red Zone TD%: 53.1% (110th)
Tackles For A Loss Allowed: 39.0 (T-100th)
Sacks Allowed: 15.0 (T-94th)
Def. PPG: 25.7 (T-88th)
Def. PYPG: 190.8 (40th)
Def. RYPG: 139.5 (63rd)
Def. TYPG: 330.3 (42nd)
Def. 3rd Down %: 34.7% (47th)
Def. 4th Down %: 50.0% (T-53rd)
Def. Red Zone TD%: 70.0% (T-114th)
Tackles for A Loss: 44.0 (T-24th)
Sacks: 15.0 (T-45th)
Interceptions: 4 (T-72nd)
Turnover Margin: -2 (T-89th)
Penalties Per Game: 10.2 (138th)
Penalty Yards Per Game: 94.3 (138th)
Keys to the Game
-Hold On to the Football
-Win the Line of Scrimmage
-Limit Umari Hatcher
Injury Report
Tar Heels
OUT- Jimmy-Phrisco Alo-Suliafu (undisclosed), Ashton Blatt (undisclosed), Keeyun Chapman (suspension), Vodney Cleveland (undisclosed), Mason Humphrey (undisclosed), Tre Miller (ankle), Viliami Moala (undisclosed), Jaxxon Warren (undisclosed), Jakob Weatherspoon (undisclosed)
PROB- Aeron Burrell (undisclosed), Kaleb Cost (knee), Benjamin Hall (undisclosed), Jordan Hall (undisclosed), Jordan Shipp (undisclosed), Peyton Waters (undisclosed)
Syracuse
OUT- Matthew Hawn (undisclosed), Jackson Iak (undisclosed), Malachi Nelson (ankle), Amari Odom (shoulder), D’Joni Scatliffe (undisclosed), Darien Williams (undisclosed)
PROB- Steve Angeli (undisclosed), Antoine Deslauriers (neck), Tripp Woody (groin)
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#11 Jaylen Harvey, So.
WLB#10 Peyton Seelmann, Jr.
BCB#18 Jaiden Patterson, Jr.
BS# 1 Greg Smith, So.
FS# 7 Peyton Waters, So.
CB#21 Kenton Dopson III, Fr.
NB# 2 Kaleb Cost, Sr.
Special Teams
P#92 Aeron Burrell, Jr.
KOS#92 Aeron Burrell, Jr.
H#93 Jacob Horvath, Jr.
PR# 2 Trech Kekahuna, Jr.
Syracuse
Offense
QB# 9 Steve Angeli, 5th
RB#20 Tylik Hill, So.
WR# 2 Umari Hatcher, 6th
WR#86 Justus Ross-Simmons, 5th
WR# 6 Darius Johnson, So.
TE# 0 David Clement, Sr.
LG#69 Oluwafunto Akinshilo, 6th
C#78 Joe Cruz, 5th
RG#71 Jayden Mann, So.
RT#77 Kam Pringle, Jr.
Defense
DT#11 Nissi Ogbebor, So.
DT#92 Rashard Perry, Sr.
LB# 5 Antonie Deslauriers, So.
LB# 6 Chris D’Appolonia, Sr.
N# 3 Davien Kerr, Jr.
CB# 1 Demetres Samuel Jr., So.
SS# 9 Jai Eugene Jr., Sr.
FS#12 Chris Peal, Sr.
CB# 7 Nazir Ward, Sr.
Special Teams
P#41 Jimmy Gregg, Fr.
KOS#40 Shay Barker, Fr.
H#41 Jimmy Gregg, Fr.
KR# 3 Davion Kerr, So..@@@@@
You 3PR# 1 Demetres Samuel Jr., So.
Game Information
Kickoff Time: 7:30 PM EST
Weather: 59°F, 0% chance of rain
TV: ACC Network
Radio: Tar Heel Sports Network
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