Carolina Gameday vs. App State: keys to victory, what a victory would mean and where to watch
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Carolina (2-1) vs. Appalachian State (2-0)
Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill
3:30 p.m., RSN/ACCNX (PxP: Tom Werme; Analyst: James Bates; Sideline: Lyndsey Rowley)
Carolina Game Notes | App State Game Notes | UNC leads all-time series 1-0
BetOnline Spread: Carolina -3 | O/U: 58
The Two-Sentence Drill
Another week, another intriguing in-state nonconference matchup for the Tar Heels from a program that doesn't always get its due. This game is everything awesome about college football and there will most certainly be points.
Carolina can win if...
- Coaches and players have spent all week talking about the need to come out of the gate with the right amount of energy. If the Tar Heels don't come out with their hair on fire in this one, there's a problem.
- The need for a better start means starting each possession with the same urgency. Last week, Carolina gained one yard or fewer on 14 of 26 first-down plays.
- Sam Howell has ample time to throw the ball. If there's one weak spot on the App State roster, it's the Mountaineers inexperienced cornerbacks. Dyami Brown, Dazz Newsome and Co. will have a clear advantage in one-on-one matchups.
- Howell has been at his best in the fourth quarter. With Carolina generally trailing late, he's completed 22 of 30 attempts for 314 yards and three touchdowns. It would benefit the Tar Heels to open up the playbook a little earlier and let the gunslinger rely on his instincts.
- Jason Strowbridge plays effectively. Carolina's pass-rush was clearly lacking its punch at Wake Forest without its best player up front, and the Tar Heels need him to make Zac Thomas uncomfortable.
Carolina won't win if...
- It doesn't take App State seriously. It's clear several Tar Heels expected an easier game against Wake Forest. The Mountaineers might not have the recruiting stars, but this is a team and program that doesn't know anything but winning.
- The "atrocious" third-down performance keeps up, with Carolina converting just 9 of 42 attempts this season, ranking 125th nationally.
- The offensive line has another performance like last week at Wake Forest when the Deacs got ample pressure with four rushers, the Tar Heels look confused early on and the running game never found consistency.
- The App State defense tees off on Howell, who has been sacked 13 times this season, in addition to the hits he's taken on scrambles and designed runs.
- The Tar Heels aren't more disciplined than they were in the first half against Wake Forest, when Kenneth Walker and Christian Beal-Smith took advantage of poor run fits and overpursuit to gash the defense. Darrynton Evans won't be caught in the open field and Zac Thomas can scramble for big yardage.
Spotlight Story
Mack Brown got his first head-coaching job at App State in 1983. He still remembers his time in Boone fondly, just like a couple of assistant coaches on his current Carolina staff.
Opponent Preview
The Mountaineers clearly have explosive talent on offense and Eli Drinkwitz led a strong attack at N.C. State. To this point, App State hasn't put its true offensive potential on tape for opposing coaches to scout.
What would a win mean for Carolina?
Halfway to bowl eligibility, which is a big deal.
If the Tar Heels make the corrections that coaches demanded all week, particularly in terms of energy and focus, that would prove players are locked in and the message is resonating.
Brown pushes in-state victories and in-state recruiting, and this would certainly be a positive step on that front.
Should Carolina win this one, it will have meant the defense took a major step in slowing down what's likely to finish among the nation's top-ranked offense. That would be huge, especially in light of some of the inconsistency it showed vs. Wake Forest.
What would a loss mean for Carolina?
That would depend on what type of loss.
In the event the Tar Heels come out flat and play uninspired football for a second straight week, that would point to a bigger problem within the locker room. After the emotion and fun of the first few weeks, what suddenly went wrong?
If the Tar Heels come out and play hard and simply lose to a better team, it's not the end of the world, although fans will have to spend the next few years hearing from their App State buddies.
Should Carolina lose this game, it will likely be because the offense didn't do enough, which would be concerning. The offensive line personnel is what it is for the next little bit with Nick Polino sidelined, so big changes might be on the horizon.
Dropping to 2-2 would certainly take some wind out of the sails after the hot start and fan support the team has gotten over the past few weeks.
Pregame Reading + listening
Carolina's third-down issues are actually starting on first and second downs, with the Tar Heels facing an average of 7.9 yards to go.
No one really know the how and why of energy's whims, but the Tar Heels know it's better this week.
Here's everything Mack Brown had to say after Wednesday's practice, which he felt was a good one.The offensive line knows it has to be more physical this week.
Film study: here's where the Tar Heels went wrong against Wake Forest.
Comments from Phil Longo on the offense and defensive coordinator Jay Bateman.
Analyzing App State-Carolina on Charlotte's Gerry V Show.