Sept 24 | North Carolina

[SoIll]

In all seriousness.. Can you name another power 5 school that Drew Pyne would start for?

 

[NDohio]

In all seriousness.. Can you name another power 5 school that Drew Pyne would start for?

Oh boy - didn't we already do this with Clarence Lewis in the offseason?

 

[IRISHDODGER]

In all seriousness.. Can you name another power 5 school that Drew Pyne would start for?

No but TBF he wouldn’t be starting for ND had Buchner not been injured.

 

[tko]

Even if we hold them defensively to a respectable point total, it will still likely mean that we stop them after a couple of first downs. Our starting field position will be similar to when we played pOSU. My prediction is our average starting position will be the 15 yard line. This means that we will likely have to drive the length of the field on numerous occasions. Maybe we can do that, but color me skeptical.

Don't worry, Rees will attempt to stretch the field and we'll get some quick strikes to Salerno.

 

[drayer54]

In all seriousness.. Can you name another power 5 school that Drew Pyne would start for?

Iowa

 

[Irish du Nord]

Iowa

I'd throw out Mizzou, Colorado, Wisconsin, Arizona State, and Georgia tech as well off the top of my head.

We throw out Power 5 like it means very much, there are plenty of very bad power 5 teams.

 

[slick7410]

I'd throw out Mizzou, Colorado, Wisconsin, Arizona State, and Georgia tech as well off the top of my head.

We throw out Power 5 like it means very much, there are plenty of very bad power 5 teams.

I would trade them Pyne or Buchner (probably both) for Sims next year - based on upside alone.

 

[Irish du Nord]

I would trade them Pyne or Buchner (probably both) for Sims next year - based on upside alone.

You think Sims has higher upside than Buchner? Based on what?

 

[Dale]

Sims is better at getting pummeled weekly without getting injured.

 

[ulukinatme]

Gotta have faith. If the offense comes out loose like they did 2nd half I see no reason we can't put points on UNC. Their defense isn't anywhere near as good as Cal's. I just hope our defense can hold and not give up the big plays.

 

[NDPhilly]

After 3 weeks, the "computers" (SP+ and F+) have ND at #18 and #17. UNC is #44 in SP+ and #50 in F+ as they have one of the worst defenses in college football.

Us winning shouldn't surprise anyone.

2022 COLLEGE FOOTBALL F+ RATINGS | Football Outsiders

2022 F+ ratings combining FEI and SP+

www.footballoutsiders.com

 

[ACamp1900]

In all seriousness.. Can you name another power 5 school that Drew Pyne would start for?

Bama

 

[Domina Nostra]

Should us being ranked #17-18 surprise us?

 

[T-Boone]

To get *some* turnovers, we would first need to get one turnover.

That first pick last week counts in my books.

 

[irishff1014]

I am actually starting to think we have a good shot. This think the d line has some crazy confidence this week. The defense sets the offense up in good positions.

 

[benneboy]

Oh boy - didn't we already do this with Clarence Lewis in the offseason?

Correct. Who was the dumb asshat that made that comment right before our secondary went on to lock up the best wide receiver core in the country?

 

[Te'o4Heisman]

What has North Carolina done against anybody with a pulse that people think their offense is going to be incredibly high powered this year? Look at who they’ve played for goodness sake. Our D will more than hold up.

 

[T-Boone]

I just don't think anyone can have confidence in this ND offense. Except that there were signs against Cal the oline turned it around there is just nothing. I hope to be wrong but I dont see them scoring many points.

 

[ulukinatme]

I just don't think anyone can have confidence in this ND offense. Except that there were signs against Cal the oline turned it around there is just nothing. I hope to be wrong but I dont see them scoring many points.

So far this season North Carolina has given up 24 to FAMU, 61 to Appy State, and 28 to Georgia State. It wasn't that long ago that all 3 were FCS teams and Georgia State still probably qualifies. If we can put 24 on a good Cal defense after a very slow start, what makes you think we can't score on North Carolina? I'm not expecting 50+ points, but if they come out loose and the OL continues to perform I don't see any reason why we can't score points.

 

[Crazy Balki]

I think this is going to be like 2020. Deceptively low scoring and like how Cal was the game the OL finally started coming together, I think this is the game the LBs start coming together.

 

[T-Boone]

So far this season North Carolina has given up 24 to FAMU, 61 to Appy State, and 28 to Georgia State. It wasn't that long ago that all 3 were FCS teams and Georgia State still probably qualifies. If we can put 24 on a good Cal defense after a very slow start, what makes you think we can't score on North Carolina? I'm not expecting 50+ points, but if they come out loose and the OL continues to perform I don't see any reason why we can't score points.

I just think at half time we will be going "WTF!!!!".
I am pretty certain of my position actually.
The only hesitancy is that the Oline did indeed show good signs in the second half for a while and if ND can run it will lead to a win.

 

[Irish#1]

I have faith the defense will hold their own. ND wins if the O can generate a consistent offense. Just avoid the three and outs.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

SP+ has ND offensively ranked 32nd. Vegas isn’t directly using SP+ but uses very similar power rankings in general. I think you certainly could be correct in the over, but I just don’t really get the Vegas is telling us part. If anything, Vegas is telling us NDs offense is better than we’ve seen.

ND being successful on offense, while meaning ND scores, likely suppresses the score due to possessing the ball more than the better offense.

ND's offense is certainly capable of coming alive against bad defenses. It's exactly what happened last year.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

This season isn't going to be for the faint of heart. Like, if you're coming on this board and demanding the game be over by halftime and the team scores X number of points or you'll be pissy pants mad, this simply isn't going to be the year for you.

Every game is going to be a slog, for the most part.

 

[Free Manera]

This season isn't going to be for the faint of heart. Like, if you're coming on this board and demanding the game be over by halftime and the team scores X number of points or you'll be pissy pants mad, this simply isn't going to be the year for you.

Every game is going to be a slog, for the most part.

For sure. This a just win baby kind of season. Play with heart, execute the simple stuff, and grind out wins. Try to shock the world and beat USC. Oh and recruit your ass off to convince the commits it will be better once Carr is there.

 

[IrishSpartan]

If we don’t put up at least 30 there is a serious problem. I know UNC will score but their defense is a joke.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

If we don’t put up at least 30 there is a serious problem. I know UNC will score but their defense is a joke.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

ND's offense is certainly capable of coming alive against bad defenses. It's exactly what happened last year.

Right but that ND defense still gave up 400+ yds to UNC

 

[IRISHDODGER]

So far this season North Carolina has given up 24 to FAMU, 61 to Appy State, and 28 to Georgia State. It wasn't that long ago that all 3 were FCS teams and Georgia State still probably qualifies. If we can put 24 on a good Cal defense after a very slow start, what makes you think we can't score on North Carolina? I'm not expecting 50+ points, but if they come out loose and the OL continues to perform I don't see any reason why we can't score points.

That’s definitely the trend but it’s only been 3 games for both teams so who knows what either one looks like at season’s end? UNC has two weeks to prepare so don’t be surprised if their D finally “clicks” & they hold ND to the lowest number of points of any UNC opponent. It’s not like they lack talent on that side of the ball. That’s what we say about ND right….”too much talent to be that bad”, “just need time to gel“, etc. That shit goes both ways.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

That’s definitely the trend but it’s only been 3 games for both teams so who knows what either one looks like at season’s end? UNC has two weeks to prepare so don’t be surprised if their D finally “clicks” & they hold ND to the lowest number of points of any UNC opponent. It’s not like they lack talent on that side of the ball. That’s what we say about ND right….”too much talent to be that bad”, “just need time to gel“, etc. That shit goes both ways.

Not for the Tar Heels. Here's their DFEI for each year since Mack Brown's return:

2019- 59th
2020- 90th
2021- 98th
2022- 109th (through three games)

This is not a talented defense that just needs time to gel in order to get right. Looking back over the last decade, the best they've managed is "average," with several dips into the bottom quintile of the FBS. They've gotten worse every year under Brown.

If we lose, it'll only be because we repeatedly punched ourselves in the dick with offensive ineptitude and our defense couldn't pitch a shutout.