Before we start talking about the football side of this game, let us first extend our condolences once again to the Craft family and the football program after the passing of Tylee yesterday morning. His passing is more important than the outcome of this game.
The Tar Heels had a chance to end multiple losing streaks on Saturday in Chapel Hill and came so close to getting the job done. Instead, the team suffered one of their most heartbreaking losses yet with one of the worst defensive plays that we have ever seen from a Tar Heel defense. Here are our biggest takeaways from the Tar Heel 41-34 loss to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
This Loss Will Be Hard to Recover From
The Tar Heels had a great opportunity on their final drive to come away with a victory but somehow came away with a regulation loss. The dropped pass by John Copenhaver in the end zone was frustrating, but in the end, it didn’t even matter. In a situation where Georgia Tech was running the football to just get to overtime, poor alignment and tackling allowed Georgia Tech running back Jamal Haynes to take the ball 68 yards for the game-winning touchdown. This loss is a crushing one that will be extremely difficult to recover from with the schedule the team has remaining. They must now go 3-2 in their final five games meaning at least one of those wins will have to come on the road, a feat that might be too much to ask.
Run Defense is Officially Back to Where It Was Prior to This Season
The first three games of the season had us thinking this Tar Heel run defense was finally making progress, but this unit has been gashed over the last few weeks and Saturday was no different. The Tar Heels allowed 371 yards on the ground including that horrendous game-winning touchdown run. The defense had absolutely no answers for whoever carried the football, especially off tackle. There were way too many instances where guys were out of position because they were guessing rather than reacting to what was going on in front of them. Until this unit can start figuring out how to fill gaps better, they will have major issues stopping any rushing attack.
Jacolby Criswell Shows He Is Capable of Leading This Offense
The reason that the Tar Heels had a chance to win the game was because of the play of their quarterback. After some missed throws in the first half, Criswell settled into the game, aided by what he did with his legs. After rushing for just 54 yards in his first five games, he ran for 73 yards and two touchdowns on Saturday, providing an element that this offense has lacked this season. As a passer, he finished the day 17-31 for 209 yards and a touchdown, a solid stat line that could have been even better if not for some important drops. If Criswell can continue to utilize his running ability, he can make enough throws to make this one of the most productive offenses in the nation and give them at least a shot to win some games down the stretch.
Offensive Tackle Concern Continue to Grow
While Criswell was able to make plays in the second half, he was under pressure nearly the entire day thanks to the struggles of right tackle Trevyon Green. Green allowed a sack and four other pressures on Saturday, continuing a trend of pass protection issues that has peaked in the last few weeks. So far this season, he has allowed a team-high five sacks and 21 quarterback hurries, the majority of that coming in the last three weeks. At some point, the staff has to think about using Jakiah Leftwich or Luke Masterson, who was seen for the first time in limited snaps on Saturday, to see if they can provide better protection.
Tylee Craft Will Be Honored By The Receiver Room The Rest of the Season
The rest of this season will be about honoring Craft as a program, but the wide receiver room will have a special way of doing so. Guys in the room will take turns wearing Craft’s jersey, just as J.J. Jones did on Saturday. Jones’s touchdown was a special moment on Saturday and should have brought a tear to everyone’s eye, especially if you watched it back after the news came out. Hopefully, the receivers that wear his jersey the rest of the way can create more memories like this.
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