This is a statement kind of game for the Tar Heels, who were embarrassed in their bowl game by Baylor and would love to beat an SEC opponent.
Advertisement
The lights may have been a bit brighter than expected. The entire defense – from linebacker to safety to lineman – thinks less, acts and reacts more naturally to game situations now and believes it will continue to build on last season’s improvement this fall.
North Carolina: The Tar Heels were eager for a signature win over a major-conference foe, but too many silly mistakes – and that one disputed penalty – worked against them.
Much to the chagrin of Tar Heel fans, preseason All-ACC running back Elijah Hood touched the ball just seven times in the first half – with five of those coming in the final seven minutes of the half. “You can’t do that nowadays against anybody and have success”. The junior running back picked up almost 1500 yards on the ground with 17 touchdowns.
Smart persisted in his pursuit of Maurice Smith into August, the defensive back transfer from Alabama that Nick Saban initially would not let come to Georgia. The Tar Heels should look to push the tempo and jump ahead early to take Georgia out of its comfort zone on offense.
It’s not like the Tar Heels haven’t been close.
Another big standout Saturday was true freshman Brian Herrien, giving Chubb some breathers when needed. There has been plenty of other turmoil this offseason, including suspensions and a quarterback controversy, but the Bulldogs still have plenty of talent on the roster. You don’t have time to ease into the game.
“This one just got away from us, ” senior cornerback Des Lawrence said. It’s a matter of when they’ll clear him.
Eason was 8-of-12 for 131 yards with Lambert being 5-of-8 for 54. With that in mind, it’s possible that Georgia rests Michel against Nicholls State to ensure his arm is fully healed for the road meeting at Missouri in Week 3. Head coach Larry Fedora argued the penalty and was called for unsportsmanlike like conduct.
“I’m convinced he’s our guy, so there’s no question about that”, Fedora said, via USA Today. “It’s my fault. That’s the first time that’s ever happened in my life”. Hood finished with 72 yards on 10 carries. UNC’s 10-point lead had been whittled down to one point and its momentum was gone. “You definitely feel the competition”, Hood said. I felt like if they did just that, then I’d be comfortable with how they played.
FILE – In this August 5, 2016, file photo, North Carolina coach Larry Fedora watches his players during an NCAA college football practice in Chapel Hill, N.C. Fedora said junior Mitch Trubisky might have “a bit of a learning curve” playing as the starting quarterback against No. 18 Georgia instead of as a reserve.
“I’m excited, I’m just very anxious, I’ve been working for this moment”, Trubisky said.
After running through and around UNC’s defense all night long, Chubb capped his 222-yard, two-touchdown night with a 55-yard scoring run off the right side to push Georgia’s lead to 33-24 with 3:34 to play. He also said the Tar Heels have been having multiple receivers work at inside and outside positions to make them interchangeable.
North Carolina ripped off 17 consecutive points, including two touchdowns by T.J. Logan that included a 95-yard kickoff return to start the second half.
Advertisement
“We’ve been here before, ” Logan said.
