GT / UNC - 1st Half Report

Wow - things go from looking comfortable to looking downright pitiful............. Message to the secondary - were you listening in practice this week about tackling? Evidently not............ Based on the first game-and-a-half I think it's official. The way to compete with Georgia Tech is to have a good O-Line that can pick-up the blitz and give the QB that extra second to get the ball to his receivers. Because our secondary is not playing well for the 2nd week in a row. A group that was thought to be one of the deepest area on our team has proven to be a major weakness. They have missed 3 tackles in 2 games that have resulted in TD's. They play off the receivers. This is the real question - are they really talented enough to play one-on-one while everyone else blitzes? Against a talented offensive line - they have shown that the answer is no..............


Reggie Ball has looked good, but let's face it - he's throwing it up there again and hoping our receivers go get. They mostly have. he dodges a bullet when instant replay reverses an INT call. However, he ends the half 12-20 for 153 yards, 2 TD's and no INT's.


Damarius Bilbo is having his coming out party, with 5 catches for 102 yards in the first half. That includes a spectacular circus catch for a 50-yard TD, and it includes a long drop as well, or he'd have more.............Calvin Johnson only has 2 catches for 20 yards, and quite frankly wasn't thrown to that much.


PJ Daniels had a great first half. Let me correct that - a great 1st quarter. He ends the half with 10 runs for 73 yards and also catches a TD pass as well. But here's the crazy thing. He goes out late in the 1st half and Chris Woods comes in. What happens? UNC scores 2 TD's in about 4 minutes. Whacko. Just whacko........


Now, I'm not one that usually complains about the officials, but they blew one that led to the Heels' first TD. On third down and an incomplete pass, they call roughing the passer, when Gerris Wilkerson CLEARLY did not do it. He was trying to block the pass and literally barely bumped Baker. Bad call - 1st down UNC - instead of 4th - and they score a TD...............


The UNC O-Line has done a pretty good job and Matt Baker has done a great job considering it's his first collegiate start. He's 8-14 for 148 yards, 1 TD, no INTs.


Let's remember what's most important - the running game. GT gave up some y
ardage on the ground, but UNC ends the half with only 50 yards rushing. Remember, you score with passing, but you WIN by running. I look for Tech to tighten up in the 2nd half.


One last thing to watch - Reggie was limping noticably after being knocked down late in the 2nd half. Watch his foot and mobility.......