Heel Tough Blog: UConn Preview
The Tar Heels came close to upsetting the No. 1 team in the country last weekend in Chapel Hill and now they’ll look to carry some confidence off of that loss into Saturday’s game against the UConn Huskies. Here’s a look at everything you need to know for a game that will be very important to the team’s chances to make a bowl game.
Team Breakdowns
Bobby Petrino was in his bag against Miami and it led to the most successful offensive performance under his watch. Playing to his strengths, Billy Edwards Jr. put together the best performance of his collegiate career. Now the question is whether or not he’ll be able to build off of that against another secondary that is struggling. Jordan Shipp and Jelani Thurman continue to get open and make plays and Tech Kekahuna has found his footing after a quiet start to the year. Don’t count out true freshman Nyqir Helton either, who made some nice plays after the catch a week ago. The team didn’t run for a ton of yards last week, but made timely plays in the running game, led by Demon June, who continues to shine in short yardage situations. Benjamin Hall returned last week and had some productive carries, while June and Jaylen McGill combined for 109 receiving yards out of the backfield on top of what they did on the ground. The good news for this running game is that they have navigated the stretch of playing the top run defenses in the country, meaning it shouldn’t be as tough to run the ball as it has most of the year. To do that, though, the backs will need the blocking up front and since the Pittsburgh game, this group has done a better job than early in the season outside of the explosion against Clemson. The line is anchored by center Christo Kelly and right tackle Jacqawn McRoy, who are the only two players that have started every game in this room. Right guard Cristian Alvarez, who is a true freshman who enrolled late this offseason, has taken over the starting job and looked good all things considered. The left side of the unit is where there are questions. Left tackle Jordan Hall needs to recover from a tough outing against Miami, while the status of left guard Andrew Threatt is unknown as he fights through a lower body injury.
On the defense, the bend-don’t break nature of the unit has disappeared in the last two games and it needs to return sooner rather than later. The best way for that to happen is for this team to start winning up front again. The UConn offensive line is not having a good season, especially in pass protection, so it shouldn’t be too much to ask for this defensive line to win the battle upfront. In order to do that, they need to get more push, especially on the interior which falls on the defensive tackle group led by Leroy Jackson and Isaiah Johnson. As a whole, the team needs to register more tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage and to do that, they’ll need better tackling from their edge rushers. Melkart Abou Jaoude and Jaylen Harvey need to hold the edge and tackle well in the run game and find a way to get the quarterback on the ground, especially in this one against a mobile quarterback. The linebackers have played well this season, especially considering the worries about the group being undersized in the preseason. Derek McDonald and Peyton Seelmann are first and third, respectively, in the conference in tackles and they have been better in coverage in recent weeks than they were early in the season. The secondary is still dealing with injuries, but they have competed most of the way in each of the last two games against two of the conference's top passing offenses. Kaleb Cost’s return last week was a big boost and he played really well against the one of, if not the nation’s best wide receiver. The team needs Greg Smith to respond after two rough games and Jaiden Patterson to be more like the guy we saw a year ago. The most important thing for this unit is that they find a way to get off the field on 3rd and 4th down, especially in the second half.
Special teams-wise, it feels like the team has settled into a nice groove. Placekicker Rece Verhoff is right where he was last year in terms of trust and punter Aeron Burrell has been consistently solid the last couple of weeks. The return games are in good hands with Jaden Jefferson returning kicks and the reliable hands of Kekahuna catching punts.
Connecticut
It has been a bit of a rollercoaster first season for the Huskies under new head coach Jason Candle, but the team is looking to make their bowl push starting this weekend led by their offense. At quarterback, the dynamic Kalieb Osborne will provide a major test with his dual threat ability and turnover-free approach in the passing game. The Huskies don’t boast a pass catcher the caliber of the ones that Syracuse and Miami do, but Osborne spreads the ball around well to his options, as six different players have at least 120 yards receiving this season. In the backfield, there are three different backs that can factor into the equation and all of them average 5.5 yards or more per carry. Cyncir Bowers leads the way with the most carries so far this year, but both Trey Cornist and Kenji Christian are major threats back there, as well. The offensive line has been best in run blocking situations, but has really struggled in pass protection. Of the five starters, four of them have allowed at least one sack and 17 pressures so far this season. The Tar Heels have to be able to take advantage of that and get Osborne on the ground in the backfield in a game that will have to see the group be aggressive, but also strategic when it comes to limiting his legs.
Defensively, the Huskies haven’t been bad at stopping the run, but they’ve had some issues in pass defense. The defensive line is having a decent year, but won’t bring with the type of pressure numbers that Syracuse or Miami brought into those matchups. Edge rushers Anas Lugman and Joshua Mickens are the names that the offensive line needs to be aware of and ready to counter on passing downs. The linebacking corps is the strength of the unit, with three different members of the unit over 50 total tackles already. K’Von Sherman is the most impactful player so far this year as he leads the team in tackles for loss (8.0) and sacks (3.5), while Jon Lista leads the team in total tackles (58) out of his middle linebacker spot. The secondary is one that has been torn apart at different times this year. While Ty McKinstry is having a good year at one outside corner spot, there are three members of this secondary that have allowed at least 200 yards receiving this season. Cornerback Jayden Price has allowed the fifth-most yards in coverage in the FBS so far this season (432), while safeties Saxton Suchanic and Braedyn Moore have allowed a lot of yards and combined to allow seven touchdowns.
Special teams is not in the best shape for the Huskies. Placekicker Jack O’Connor has already missed two extra points as well as three field goals, all from 40+. Punter Tommy Warner has been solid, especially with the fact that he has had just three punts returned and it didn’t result in a lot of yards. It feels like the team has tried every option possible at kick returner and can’t find someone to stick with, but the team’s seemed to have settled on Julian Allen to handle punt returns and he’s produced some nice numbers doing so.
Team Stats
Tar Heels
Off. PPG: 25.8 (88th)
Off. PYPG: 236.8 (59th)
Off. RYPG: 108.0 (126th)
Off. TYPG: 344.8 (108th)
Off. 3rd Down %: 44.2% (35th)
Off. 4th Down %: 72.7% (15th)
Off. Red Zone TD%: 69.0% (T-34th)
Tackles For A Loss Allowed: 35.0 (T-35th)
Sacks Allowed: 19.0 (T-99th)
Def. PPG: 23.0 (57th)
Def. PYPG: 225.0 (91st)
Def. RYPG: 153.1 (T-83rd)
Def. TYPG: 378.1 (92nd)
Def. 3rd Down %: 44.2% (123rd)
Def. 4th Down %: 46.4% (48th)
Def. Red Zone TD%: 53.6% (T-44th)
Tackles for A Loss: 30.0 (T-127th)
Sacks: 15.0 (T-84th)
Interceptions: 5 (T-80th)
Turnover Margin: -3 (T-99th)
Penalties Per Game: 4.3 (T-8th)
Penalty Yards Per Game: 32.4 (4th)
Connecticut
Off. PPG: 34.4 (30th)
Off. PYPG: 246.9 (T-44th)
Off. RYPG: 190.8 (T-32nc)
Off. TYPG: 437.6 (29th)
Off. 3rd Down %: 40.6% (65th)
Off. 4th Down %: 41.2% (T-113th)
Off. Red Zone TD%: 78.6% (T-5th)
Tackles For A Loss Allowed: 38.0 (47th)
Sacks Allowed: 25.0 (T-126th)
Def. PPG: 25.3 (T-76th)
Def. PYPG: 249.1 (115th)
Def. RYPG: 139.9 (68th)
Def. TYPG: 389.0 (100th)
Def. 3rd Down %: 40.0% (T-87th)
Def. 4th Down %: 57.1% (T-84th)
Def. Red Zone TD%: 67.9% (T-107th)
Tackles for A Loss: 40.0 (T-89th)
Sacks: 14.0 (T-96th)
Interceptions: 4 (T-94th)
Turnover Margin: 0 (T-68th)
Penalties Per Game: 8.5 (T-128th)
Penalty Yards Per Game: 77.5 (131st)
Keys to the Game
-Take Advantage of a Struggling Secondary
-Get Off the Field on Third and Fourth Down
-Hold This Running Game in Check
Injury Report
Tar Heels
OUT- Jimmy-Phrisco Alo-Suliafu (undisclosed), Keeyun Chapman (suspension), Vodney Cleveland (undisclosed), Tre Miller (ankle), Viliami Moala (undisclosed), Jaxxon Warren (undisclosed)
QUEST- Jonathan Agumadu (undisclosed), Jordan Hall (undisclosed), Andrew Threatt (undisclosed), Peyton Waters (undisclosed)
Connecticut
OUT- Javon Brown (concussion)
QUEST- Jake Merklinger (undisclosed)
Projected Starting Lineup
Tar Heels
Offense
QB# 9 Billy Edwards Jr., Gr.
RB# 7 Benjamin Hall, Jr.
WR-X#17 Nyqir Helton, 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 Jade, 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#16 Coleman Bryson, Sr.
CB#21 Kenton Dopson III, Fr.
NB# 2 Kaleb Cost, Sr.
Special Teams
#92 Aeron Burrell, Jr.
KOS#92 Aeron Burrell, Jr.
H#93 Jacob Horvath, Jr.
PR# 2 Trech Kekahuna, Jr.
Connecticut
Offense
QB# 7 Kalieb Osborne, Jr.
RB# 3 Kenji Christian, Sr.
WR# 0 Ky Wilson, Sr.
WR#11 Ryder Treadway, So.
WR# 9 Julian Allen, Jr.
TE#83 Xavier Watson, So.
LG#55 Fred Johnson, Jr.
C#52 Deron McLaughlin, Jr.
RG#69 Ty Chan, 5th
RT#79 Christian Richter, Sr.
Defense
DE# 9 Zakaih Saez, So.
DT# 3 Esean Carter, 5th
DT# 2 Tahjae Mullix, 5th
DE#15 Anas Luqman, 5th
LB#44 John Lista, 5th
LB# 0 K’Von Sherman, Sr.
CB#24 Zion Paret, So.
S# 4 Braedyn Moore, Sr.
S#12 Saxton Suchanic, So.
CB#13 Jayden Price, So.
Special Teams
P#49 Tommy Warner, So.
KOS#89 Mike Baker, Jr.
H#49 Tommy Warner, So.
KR# 3 Kenji Christian, Sr.
PR# 9 Julian Allen, Jr.
Game Information
Kickoff Time: 12:00 PM EST
Weather: 65°F, 43% chance of rain
TV: CBS Sports Network
Radio: Tar Heel Sports Network
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