UNC's first taste of the Air Raid included plenty of ground support

Longo's version of the Air Raid isn't all about letting it fly

Jeremy Brevard - USA TODAY Sports

No one has influenced Phil Longo’s offensive philosophy more than Washington State coach and Air Raid guru Mike Leach, but Carolina’s new offensive coordinator has been quick to point out that the Tar Heels’ new attack won’t be a carbon copy of the aerial assault Leach’s teams are known for.

“I think the only big difference between the die-hard Air Raid population and what we do is that we’re just going to emphasize, there’s a much greater emphasis on the run game as well with this offense than maybe in the pure Air Raid system,” Longo said before the South Carolina game.

Quite the understatement.

Not only was there a greater emphasis on the run game, but the Tar Heels’ 52 carries for 238 yards in Saturday’s win over the Gamecocks were the most a Carolina team has run the ball against a Power Five opponent since rushing 57 times in a 2014 win at Duke.

Last season, Carolina ran for an average of 182.7 yards on 35.2 carries against Power Five competition, while over the entire Larry Fedora era, the Tar Heels averaged 171.7 yards on 36.3 carries.

Date	Opponent	Attempts	Yards
Nov. 10, 2018	Duke	37	315
Nov. 5, 2016	Georgia Tech	35	283
Dec. 29, 2015	Baylor	36	244
Nov. 14, 2015	Miami	45	294
Nov. 28, 2015	N.C. State	41	374
Nov. 20, 2014	Duke	57	316
Oct. 13, 2012	Miami	44	272
Oct. 6 , 2012	Virginia Tech	45	339

UNC's best rushing performances since 2012

Ultimately, it was that run that changed the complexion of the game in the third quarter when the Tar Heels leaned on Antonio Williams — responsible for 51 yards — to help rush for 66 yards on the 98-yard scoring drive that gave Carolina and the crowd new life.

It was a big moment for an offensive line that has consistently been challenged to be tougher and more physical since Mack Brown and his staff took over.

“You question your offensive line’s toughness when you get here and they did a really good job with the backs that we have, who are tremendous, of running the ball in the fourth quarter,” Brown said. “I think that was the difference in the ballgame; the 90-plus yard drives, twice, keeping South Carolina’s defense on the field, not allowing their offense to have the ball … all of those things were real positive for us.”

Carolina’s coaching staff has made no secret that it loved its running backs throughout training camp, and with a true freshman starting at quarterback, it was clear there would be a far greater emphasis on running the ball than the past.

And despite seeing some seven- and eight-man looks in the box, Longo was impressed with the opportunities that the offensive line gave the running backs, with Williams and Carter each delivering two runs of 20 or more yards while Javonte Williams had runs of 26 and 10 yards.

“The offensive line did a heck of a job blocking up front and we controlled the line of scrimmage for the most part. When you control the line of scrimmage, it gives the running backs a chance to beat the line of scrimmage … when you beat the line of scrimmage, it becomes more about the talent we have at that position,” Longo said. “Typically, if you meet Michael Carter at four yards, he’s going to get five or six. I think that holds true for all three of them. So, when you win the line of scrimmage and can get your (backs) down the field a little bit, that’s where you get some of the prolific run plays we got, and I attribute that to the offensive line.”

Not only did the offensive line perform at a level it has rarely approached recently, it did so with three new starters on the field while playing a new power running scheme that creates specific gaps and allows lead blockers to get to the second level.

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Previously, the Tar Heels utilized a zone blocking scheme that focused on blocking space rather than specific assignments.

Both starting their first collegiate game, Ed Montilus and Marcus McKeithan, were called upon to use their athleticism as pulling guards, serving as a lead blocker to hammer open a running lane.

Combine that with what the Tar Heels have at running back, and Brown likes his trio as much as anyone in the country.

“We’ve got Williams, Williams and Carter, which sounds like a law firm,” he said. “We used to have Johnson and Johnson, which obviously sounds like something different. With these guys, we want it to be The Firm, we want them all three to carry the ball … all three of them at times were hot.

“I feel like the running backs are our best group. I’m not sure anybody’s got three that are as good as these three. Robert Gillespie did a masterful job of keeping all of them in the game. “