Is UNC Going to Have an Offensive Line This Season?
"It didn’t happen. He didn’t hold his own. Nobody did."
That's Butch Davis, talking about whether freshman tackle James Hurst bested Robert Quinn during spring practice. (T.J. Yates had claimed he had.) In what I found the most interesting thing about the ACC Media Days, Davis did have nice things to say about multiple offensive linemen, especially Alan Pelc, who can play any spot on the line, and center Jonathan Cooper. UNC's offensive line woes were the biggest problem the team had last season, and if Pelc, who played all thirteen games but didn't start until the bowl game can now be slotted anywhere, that could be a big boost. The Heels return most of their starters from last year's line; how big of an improvement they've made will go a long way in determining the success of this year's team.
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Tempering Expectations
Hurst is just a freshman. Butch is doing the right thing by tempering the kids practice performance this spring. Quinn’s one of the top 5 defenders in the nation and if folks hear Hurst is holding his own against Quinn expectation sky rocket.
From what I’ve seen of the kid he’s every bit the real deal. Not high school real deal. Not high school tape. Between what I’ve seen and hearing guys discuss Hurst they’re excited to have him. He’ll start early, and depending on Gaskins’ ability to go off the ACL he’ll play right tackle first and move to left.
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by InTheBleachers on Jul 28, 2010 8:19 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
I hope the O-Line is ready
Yates has a hard time completing passes even when the rush is near him. The sky will fall if he is consistently under pressure.
"I could never be a thug, they don't dress this well." - Malice
by Julius Coxswain on Jul 28, 2010 11:03 AM EDT reply actions
He's the same kid
Who had a 166 efficiency rating in 2008 before he got hurt. He didn’t change the team did. From 2008 to 2009 he lost 3 NFL receivers, an NFL offensive lineman, plus 1 more to graduation, 1 to ACL and 5 more at different times during the season.
None of that mattered when it comes to his game though I guess.
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by InTheBleachers on Jul 29, 2010 7:49 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I understand the point you are trying to make
but there were more than a few occasions when Yates made the wrong reads and it had nothing to do with talent around him. Was the play calling questionable at times? Yes. That being said, Yates had a down year last year and it cannot be completely attributed to the NFL talent the Heels lost.
He is better than Cam Sexton though.
"I could never be a thug, they don't dress this well." - Malice
by Julius Coxswain on Jul 29, 2010 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Not saying it is all due to losses
There is a combination of factors that go into it is my whole point. The injuries, NFL losses, lack of running game AND bad decisions all played a role. None more than the other, they were equal players yet for some reason people point at Yates exclusively.
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by InTheBleachers on Jul 30, 2010 10:15 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

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