The Tar Heels will close out the first half of the season on Saturday when they host the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. The program will be hoping to end a frustrating three game losing streak this season and an ugly recent history with the Yellow Jackets. Here is everything you need to know for Saturday’s matchup which will take place on Cancer Awareness Day, which will be dedicated to Tylee Craft and Cal Tierney, who are both battling the disease right now.
Tylee Craft Medical Bills GoFundMe Link
Team Breakdowns
Tar Heels
It’s starting to get late early for this and with just two more home games the rest of the season, so this feels like now or never for this team. This offense is going to be counted on heavily once again down the stretch because of how unreliable the defense has become. It starts with the running game, where Omarion Hampton has tried to carry this offense all season long. While he has reached 100 yards in each of the games that he has played in full so far, defenses have been able to limit his effect in the second half of each of the last two games. The pressure is on this offensive line to step up and be better in front of Hampton and the other backs down on the early downs, especially in the final two quarters. Guys like Willie Lampkin and Austin Blaske have been consistently good this season, but the other three starters simply haven’t been able to hold up when it matters the most. This is where the Tar Heels should probably look to rotate a little bit more if this group continues their issues in the second half of games. Winning on early downs is important for this offense because teams have been able to pin back their ears and get after quarterback Jacolby Criswell in the last few weeks. When there has been time to throw, Criswell has shown that he can move this offense down the field and has the arm strength to hit big plays. Cleaning up some of the accuracy issues will be important down the stretch if this team is going to find their way back to a bowl game. The pass catching group has found themselves since Criswell has taken over, headlined by a big game from Nate McCollum last weekend that hopefully gets him rolling for the remainder of the season. If J.J. Jones and Kobe Paysour can develop some consistency alongside McCollum and Chrisitan Hamilton can eventually return, this wide receiving room has a chance to close the season strong. That would be nice to pair with a tight end room that is having a productive season so far.
When it comes to this Tar Heel defense, the hope is that it can find its footing soon, but that is far from the expectation. The defensive line, which started the season as the most productive unit of the defense, hasn’t been able to control the line of scrimmage since James Madison pushed them around. Travis Shaw is having a good season in run defense, but guys like Jahvaree Ritzie and Kevin Hester Jr. have lost their early season form. On the edge, the loss of Kaimon Rucker has really been felt in the last few weeks. The hope is that he can play more than the nine snaps he played a week ago, but until he can return to playing the majority of snaps at the RUSH position, this group will probably continue to struggle. At linebacker, Power Echols and Amare Campbell have had their ups and downs since that James Madison affair and need to be more consistent and communicate better in the run game and in coverage. The secondary is the biggest weakness of this unit and there doesn’t seem to be much reason to believe they won’t be picked apart each week. Alijah Huzzie has been solid, but Marcus Allen continues to lack the consistency the team needs from him, Kaleb Cost has been picked on way too often and the safeties are providing little help over the top in coverage or in run defense. At some point, the staff needs to start trying some different players in this room to see if they can find anyone who can provide more than what the team is getting right now.
The special team’s unit has been inconsistent once again. Noah Burnette is a still an important weapon for the offense and Alijah Huzzie is still a solid punt returner, but the rest of the unit has had their issues. The kick coverage unit isn’t as bad as last season, but it still ranked outside of the top 90 in yards per return allowed. Punter Tom Maginness has not been great, but the punt coverage unit has also done a poor job of protecting him. This unit needs to be more sound down the stretch of the season to help this team rally and make a bowl game.
Georgia Tech
The Yellow Jackets roll into in a similar position to where the Tar Heels have been the last three years when the teams have met. Brent Key’s squad is off to a nice 4-2 start but has already sustained two conference losses, meaning that if they are going to have any chance of making the ACC Championship game, they have to win this one. The Yellow Jackets offense might not be ranked as high as Pittsburgh’s in the major statistical categories, but it built similarly. Haynes King is one of the most underrated quarterbacks in all of college football with his ability to make plays with his arm and his legs. After issues turning the football over last year, King has done a much better job of protecting the football and moving the offense efficiently. He has had help from running back Jamal Haynes, who will enter this game off his best performance of the season and will be a major challenge for the Tar Heel defense to contain. The team has a couple of other backs who could factor in as well. At wide receiver, Malik Rutherford and Eric Singleton Jr. are both having big seasons and will be extremely difficult for this struggling Tar Heel secondary to slow down. The Yellow Jackets offensive line has been one of the best in the ACC so far this year anchored by center Weston Franklin. The run blocking has been solid, but this is one of the best pass protection teams in country, having allowed just one sack in the first six games.
Defensively, the Yellow Jackets have made major strides this season under new defensive coordinator Tyler Santucci. The run defense is the strength of this unit, led by the interior of their defensive line. Jordan van den Berg, Thomas Gore and Zeek Biggers are a tremendous trio that has wreaked havoc so far this season against the run. The linebacker duo of Kyle Efford and Trenilyas Tatum have also been a big part of the success the team has had stopping the run because of how well they have filled gaps and tackled this season. Off the edge, Romello Height leads a group that has done a solid job of producing pressure off the edge but hasn’t been able to finish consistently. The secondary is probably the most susceptible group on this side of the ball, but it is still in solid shape thanks to corner Warren Burrell and nickelback Rodney Shelley.
The Yellow Jackets special teams unit has been a bit of a mess so far this year. Placekicker Aidan Burr has been horrible so far, making just four of his eight field goal attempts so far this season. The kick return spot has been a rotating door with six different players having returned at least one kick. The team’s kick coverage unit has also really struggled, ranking 127th in yards allowed per return. Punter David Shanahan and punt returner Rodney Shelley are the bright spots.
Team Stats
Tar Heels
Off. PPG: 32.7 (44th)
Off. PYPG: 250.7 (50th)
Off. RYPG: 198.3 (31st)
Off. TYPG: 449.0 (30th)
Off. 3rd Down %: 39.5% (74th)
Tackles For A Loss Allowed: 36.0 (111th)
Sacks Allowed: 11.0 (T-80th)
Def. PPG: 28.7 (96th)
Def. PYPG: 257.2 (113th)
Def. RYPG: 125.2 (52nd)
Def. TYPG: 382.3 (93rd)
Def. 3rd Down %: 33.7% (36th)
Tackles for A Loss: 34.0 (T-42nd)
Sacks: 15.0 (T-18th)
Interceptions: 2 (T-103rd)
Turnover Margin: -2 (T-91st)
Penalties Per Game: 8.5 (124th)
Penalty Yards Per Game: 70.7 (T-110th)
Georgia Tech
Off. PPG: 31.5 (51st)
Off. PYPG: 257.8 (43rd)
Off. RYPG: 176.7 (56th)
Off. TYPG: 434.5 (42nd)
Off. 3rd Down %: 42.9% (T-53rd)
Tackles For A Loss Allowed: 27.0 (T-59th)
Sacks Allowed: 1.0 (2nd)
Def. PPG: 19.3 (36th)
Def. PYPG: 225.0 (T-87th)
Def. RYPG: 87.5 (11th)
Def. TYPG: 312.5 (32nd)
Def. 3rd Down %: 32.4% (31st)
Tackles for Loss: 35.0 (T-36th)
Sacks: 6.0 (T-109th)
Interceptions: 1 (T-124th)
Turnover Margin: +1 (T-56th)
Penalties Per Game: 5.2 (T-32nd)
Penalty Yards Per Game: 43.0 (31st)
Keys to the Game
Win the Line of Scrimmage
This seems important every week, but it is especially important this week against these Georgia Tech offensive and defensive lines. For the Tar Heel offensive line, they have to find a way to win on the early downs, especially in the second half so that they can run the football consistently and make things easier on Jacolby Criswell. On the other side, the Tar Heel defensive line needs to find a way to get consistent push if they are going to slow down this rushing attack that tore them apart a year ago. The offensive side is probably the most important to win, but both are areas where you need to at least break even if you are going to win this game.
Pressure Haynes King
King has done a much better job of taking care of the football this season and a big part of that is that he hasn’t been pressured much this season. It’s hard to think that this pass rushing group is the one to do it, but it is what could allow this defense to force those turnovers that are going to be so important if they are going to keep allowing the type of yards that they are. Kaimon Rucker’s return to full strength could certainly help with that.
Score Touchdowns in the Redzone
The Tar Heels were able to move the ball on Pittsburgh a week ago, but they weren’t able to cash in when it mattered. Making the right decisions, unlike a week ago, will be important, but this team needs to be better at turning their redzone appearances into touchdowns. Being able to run the ball down there would go a long way towards helping that, as could the emergence of Nate McCollum.
Injury Report
Tar Heels
OUT- Liam Boyd (lower body), Christian Hamilton (lower body), Max Johnson (leg)
QUEST- Darwin Barlow (lower body), Spencer Triplett (upper body)
PROB- Kaimon Rucker (lower body)
Georgia Tech
OUT- Trey Cooley (undisclosed), Brett Seither (knee)
Projected Starting Lineup
Tar Heels
Offense
QB#12 Jacolby Criswell, Jr.
RB#28 Omarion Hampton, Jr.
WR-X# 5 J.J. Jones, Gr.
WR-SL# 6 Nate McCollum, Sr.
WR-Z# 8 Kobe Paysour, Jr.
TE#81 John Copenhaver, Gr.
LT#79 Howard Sampson, So.
LG#68 Aidan Banfield, Fr.
C#58 Austin Blaske, Gr.
RG#53 Willie Lampkin, Sr.
RT#78 Trevyon Green, So.
Defense
DE#10 Des Evans, Sr.
NT#98 Kevin Hester Jr., Gr.
DT# 5 Jahvaree Ritzie, Sr.
RUSH#40 Tyler Thompson, RFr.
WLB#23 Power Echols, Sr.
MLB#17 Amare Campbell, So.
CB#28 Alijah Huzzie, Gr.
BS# 1 Stick Lane, Gr.
FS# 2 Jakeen Harris, Gr.
CB#29 Marcus Allen, Jr.
STAR#21 Kaleb Cost, So.
Special Teams
PK#98 Noah Burnette, Sr.
P#96 Tom Maginness, Jr.
KOS#97 Lucas Osada, Fr.
LS#61 Grant Mills, Fr.
H#96 Tom Maginness, Jr.
KR# 6 Nate McCollum, Sr.
PR#28 Alijah Huzzie, Gr.
Georgia Tech
Offense
QB#10 Haynes King, Jr.
RB#11 Jamal Haynes, Jr.
WR# 8 Malik Rutherford, Jr.
WR# 7 Chase Lane, Sr.
WR# 2 Eric Singleton Jr., So.
TE# 9 Avery Bond, Sr.
LT#55 Corey Robinson II, Jr.
LG#67 Joe Fusile, Jr.
C#72 Weston Franklin, Sr.
RG#77 Keylan Rutledge, Jr.
RT#54 Jordan Williams, Sr.
Defense
END#27 Charles Robinson, Sr.
NOSE#88 Zeek Biggers, Sr.
TACKLE#99 Jordan van den Berg, Jr.
END# 9 Romello Height, Jr.
LB#44 Kyle Efford, So.
LB# 0 Trenilyas Tatum, Sr.
SAM# 6 Rodney Shelley, Jr.
RCB# 3 Ahmari Harvey, Jr.
LCB# 4 Warren Burrell, Sr.
SS# 5 Clayton Powell-Lee, Jr.
FS# 1 LaMiles Brooks, Sr.
Special Teams
PK#33 Aidan Burr, So.
P#43 David Shanahan, Sr.
LS#46 Henry Freer, Sr.
Game Information
Kickoff Time: 12:00 PM ET
Weather: 70℉, 0% chance of rain, W at 6 mph
Betting Line: Georgia Tech -4
TV: The CW
Radio: Tar Heel Sports Network
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