NC State Crushes UNC

Bill Belichick’s multi-front war against his own legacy continued this week as NC State once again punished its credulous neighbors who fell for all this. They used to write books about this man. He used to be tapped for his wisdom that only someone of his stature could accrue. Now, he’s getting suplexed by Dave Doeren. When asked if there was a common theme over the last three weeks of in-state losses, Belichick delivered this remarkable answer that only someone with his pedigree could grasp.

"I don't know."

State demolished UNC, winning its fifth consecutive game over the Tar Heels. The Pack has now won 14 of the last 19 in the series and eight of the last ten. Since Tom O’Brien was hired, State has two five-game winning streaks over UNC. UNC’s longest win streak over NC State in that time is two. The football rivalry over the last 10 games is now more lopsided than the men's basketball rivalry.

Offense Matriculates

This game was hilarious. Looking at the raw stats, I can’t figure out how State scored 42 points. It only forced one turnover, it averaged a very mediocre 5.47 yards per play, it got 59 yards from Smothers and Scott combined, and Bailey averaged less than seven yards per attempt. Nevertheless, State found the endzone as many times as it did against Georgia Tech.

Will Wilson is the player of the game for the offense. What started the year as a short-yardage gimmick that felt doomed long term has instead transformed into a huge part of the offense. State has started expanding the call sheet for Wilson, even running a flood concept in the first quarter. Wilson just took off anyway, but they no longer just line up and run power every time. 

Wilson’s carries and CJ Bailey's scrambles made up most of State’s rushing yards. Bailey’s 19-yard scramble was the longest run of the game. His 29-yard pass to Terrell Anderson was the longest pass of the game. State never really stretched the field, and Bailey instead spent a lot of time living with quick throws that were early in progressions. Kurt Roper made use of shallow rub concepts, speed outs, and some gift RPOs to give CJ opportunities at quick, decisive throws. The quarterback did a good job taking advantage of soft technique when he saw it.

Really, it was this efficient quick game and Will Wilson’s hilariously reliable short-yardage runs that made the offense go. State was very rarely behind the chains, and as long it needed two yards or less on 3rd or 4th down, it was going to move those chains. The Pack was 10/16 on 3rd or 4th down. By the time it was 35-13, UNC was ready to take its ball and go home rather than see Will Wilson again.

Defense Plays Well

Defensively, State’s secondary delivered an improved effort again. Playing crappy quarterbacks helps some, but there was a lot of standing in the pocket for Gio Lopez and Max Johnson. The pass rush delivered four sacks, but several of those were coverage sacks.

Eliot also found some success with pressures and creepers. State was not winning with this stuff early in the year. UNC being the worst team ever helps with that kind of thing, but it impacted the game. The lone turnover was a product of scheme being able to isolate Tra Thomas on the running back while still only rushing four. The zero blitz call on 3rd and 9 was a critical juncture in the game, and getting out of that without allowing a touchdown was a win that felt deflating for the opponent.

State shows the 5-1 alignment, which creates man blocking assignments. That isolated Tra Thomas on the running back, who he runs over. The ends bail, allowing State to maintain their underneath zone structure while creating that isolation.

Straight up zero blitz and UNC gets caught without a real hot option for the quarterback. Honestly, a pretty good play from the quarterback to give this a chance.

Who Didn't See This Coming?

When UNC tried to conjure the ghost of the first Mack Brown tenure, I called it the most revealing era of UNC football. I assumed that was as hilarious as it could get, but that administration promptly requested that we hold their beer and then said “watch this.” UNC could have hired any number of up-and-comers who are having success in modern college football. The reason it didn’t seems obvious: they think they’re better than that. Georgia doesn’t hire G5 coaches. Alabama doesn’t hire G5 coaches. Why should UNC? This is a real quote from a trustee: 

UNC football is the younger brother that would lose to his older brother in a foot race and then insist he was only half trying. At some point, people should stop believing them. They are so convinced that all of the sport's power players are nervously glancing over their shoulder, anxious about what will happen if the Tar Heels decide to turn it on. In fact, there is only one reason people look at UNC football. It's the same reason traffic on the opposite side of the highway slows down for a car wreck. 

UNC again won the offseason, greenlighting a Hulu documentary, scoring a Monday night showcase game, and, in a shocking twist, landing some recruits. The PR machine didn’t quite fall in line like it used to, mainly because people hate Bill Belichick, but they got everyone into the theater week one. Here’s a pretty good encapsulation of it. 

Big-time football has been achieved, even though a single snap has yet to happen. How could that be? Because it was a standalone game with some celebrities there?

The Tar Heel football program has nothing to offer other than pomp and circumstance. They think the artificially inflated brand value entitles it to success, and that they should be able to jump to step five. As a result, UNC once again embarrassed themselves pulling from their endless well of naivety. And no, they did not dump a multimillion dollar treasure chest on the front porch of a 73-year old in the interest of patience.

It’s the same story every time. Don’t be the person that buys the timeshare. This thing is a perfunctory scam. UNC football is Heather from account services. UNC football is trying to reach you about your vehicle's extended warranty. Bill Belichick is a Nigerian prince who just needs you to venmo him $100.