Upon Further Review- UNC

Hey Lance, I know the clicks on these aren’t as high as they use to be but keep these going. Guys like me look forward to these so I can get a better idea of who actually played well and who played like crap. Thanks!
Appreciate you saying this. I spend a lot of time on these (my choice, not looking for sympathy), and I’m not sure if the group honestly wants these any more.

The program has definitely reached a low spot.
 
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I don't know how Lance does it at this point. Who wants to watch this game again? It's irritating and frustrating.
 
I don't know how Lance does it at this point. Who wants to watch this game again? It's irritating and frustrating.
It’s a whole different world watching film. Of course I wish I had All-22 of all plays, but most important plays get an All-22 view eventually.

When I watch film I pick up so many things I miss during the games. Sometimes I think someone was bad, who actually played pretty well and Vice versa, or the coaches called a good/bad game etc.

But yes, so much frustration watching these mistakes and missed chances.
 
Appreciate you saying this. I spend a lot of time on these (my choice, not looking for sympathy), and I’m not sure if the group honestly wants these any more.

The program has definitely reached a low spot.

We want them. The macro problems are just depressing the enthusiasm temporarily.

I hate seeing situations like Hodges falling down on a wide open route or TVD having field vision problems. But those are mistakes that you can mitigate through better recruiting and development. They're not signs the system is broken per se.

What's hard for me both during the live game and now in retrospect is how horrific we are at the fundamentals. Guys like McCloud and Hall and Donaldson who have been with the program for 4 years or more are still repeating the same mistakes over and over again. Or younger guys like Flagg and Steed who have had enough reps to know better but more often than not take the wrong angle and show terrible tackling technique. That's just a brutal indictment of the staph.

I'm with you. My take:
* Starters that need to lose their spots and see a dramatic reduction in snap counts -- McCloud, Hall, Donaldson, Bolden, Ivey, Gaynor
* Starters that need to split reps with younger players -- Steed, Ford, Frierson, Harley, Mallory
* Young guys that need to start or see a lot more action -- James and now Avantae Williams, Chantz, Arroyo, Chase Smith, Roberts, LT, Freshmen OL, Freshmen WRs, Thad
 
It’s a whole different world watching film. Of course I wish I had All-22 of all plays, but most important plays get an All-22 view eventually.

When I watch film I pick up so many things I miss during the games. Sometimes I think someone was bad, who actually played pretty well and Vice versa, or the coaches called a good/bad game etc.

But yes, so much frustration watching these mistakes and missed chances.
I have a great respect for what you do. I have done my own breakdowns for a couple years now but I do not have the patient to add screen shots and a play breakdown for each. Kudos to you my guy. Your analysis and understanding are spot on a majority of the time IMO. I took up coaching a local HS this year and I haven't had the time to breakdown games on my own this year and your breakdowns are great. I did get to review the UVA game and I for the life of me cannot understand what in the **** is going on with our tackling. I mean it looks like the peewee kids I used to coach just bumping into each other hoping the other would fall down.
 
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Appreciate you saying this. I spend a lot of time on these (my choice, not looking for sympathy), and I’m not sure if the group honestly wants these any more.

The program has definitely reached a low spot.
These should be required reading as far as I'm concerned, @Lance Roffers. Especially as bad as this season is going. It's important people understand how poor we are playing and how much of this could be fixed with better coaching and scheme.
 
Appreciate you saying this. I spend a lot of time on these (my choice, not looking for sympathy), and I’m not sure if the group honestly wants these any more.

The program has definitely reached a low spot.
I read every single one and I read every single word but i wouldn't blame you for stopping...until we get a new coach that is
 
@Lance Roffers

Great work as always!

Question: How has the offensive line played overall? Better then last year? Progressed? I always remember you talking about them, and how they should be looking for work etc.
 
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Why do you do to this to yourself?

Do you simultaneously shove pickle jars up your *** like its the Pain Olympics while watching this slop to analyze?
 
I feel like I have said this at least once a year since Manny has been coaching defense. Shorten the rotations and stop letting bums on the field so much. Play the top 11 85% of the time.
 
@Lance Roffers

Great work as always!

Question: How has the offensive line played overall? Better then last year? Progressed? I always remember you talking about them, and how they should be looking for work etc.
They have played better. We still aren't aggressive enough on looking for work, but the overall play has improved.

We still have the communication issues such as the play with Donaldson. I do not believe the plan was to not block the DT, run a read-option fake (it was play-action all the way), then ask Knighton to carry out the fake, locate the DT, then block him 1-on-1.

But they're better in true pass-sets, technique overall is better. Especially at T, both Zion and Jarrid Williams have improved over last year. They have improved awareness as far as situation and what the pass rusher is trying to do while pushing them wide.

Even with that, we still have breakdowns in the biggest spots. Those are the times when we see the communication breakdowns.
  • Donaldson on a 3rd down in the red zone in a huge spot
  • Zion in a huge spot against Michigan State, where we get the sack/strip fumble when if we score that drive I think we win
  • Scaife giving up a blown pass protection leading to a fumble
  • Gaynor having miscommunication and allowing King to get crushed and possibly ending his season (just a few games later)
 
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I feel like I have said this at least once a year since Manny has been coaching defense. Shorten the rotations and stop letting bums on the field so much. Play the top 11 85% of the time.
Trying to be pragmatic, I looked at the Bills and Saints on defense in the NFL for a comparison. Why them? They have allowed the fewest points in the league on defense, so thought that was a decent proxy for benchmarking.

Last Buffalo game, which was competitive.
  • Both starting CB's played every snap, slot CB played all but three snaps
  • MLB/SLB played every snap
  • Their third LB played the three snaps that the slot CB didn't play, meaning they only played three LB's total
  • FS/SS both played every snap
  • They played four total DE's, each playing between 20-34 of the 53 snaps
  • They played three DT's total, each playing between 20-31 snaps

Last New Orleans game, which was competitive.
  • One CB played all 83 snaps, nickel played 77, one played 61, dime played 20 snaps
  • Two LB's played all 83 snaps, third LB played six snaps
  • Both safeties played every snap
  • One DE played 67 snaps, others played 31, 37 and 36 snaps
  • DT's played 45, 34, 31 snaps
There were 75 defensive snaps in our UNC game.
  • Amari Carter led us in snaps at 61
  • Bubba Bolden played 60 snaps
  • Flagg played 57 snaps
  • Tyrique played 56 snaps
  • Steed played 48 snaps
  • Couch played 48 snaps
  • Two highest graded players by PFF played 27 snaps (Harvey) and Leonard Taylor played 20 snaps
It's another of the baffling things that our coaches do. Play your best players and play them a ton. To get on the field is a privilege, not a right because you were recruited or because you are an upperclassmen.

James Williams needs to play every snap. Kam Kinchens needs to play every snap. Taylor needs to play as much as he can. Tyrique needs to play every snap. Harvey needs to play more. Keontra needs to play every snap.

Quit making it harder than it is to win games.
 
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Lance, keep doing what you do. It's a valuable service to this sight. I've learned a ton.

Breakdowns like this our invaluable in putting real analysis to what we see in real time, and give us a firm conclusion to whatever biases and opinions we may have
 
Before I read this, thank you for putting yourself through torture.
 
Miami put forth a good second half in their game against UNC but came up just short. How did it look on film? Follow along here at Upon Further Review.

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First play and one of the issues I see so often with our DL/LB group is how often they lose sight of the ball and just dive with their shoulder. If Steed keeps his head up and locks his arms out on this TE, this play is defended well. Instead, he ducks his head, throws his shoulder into a blocker, as so often happens on Miami film, and there is a cutback for the RB.
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I try not to be an incessant screamer at our coaching staff each week, as I know they are major D1 coaches for a reason, but I cannot understand how you look at what UNC has done on offense to this point in the season and come out with a game plan that basically forgets to cover Josh Downs. Coming into the game, UNC had completed 114 passes and 49 of them had gone to Downs. Yet, they just don’t cover him on play two of the game. At least not within the frame of the screen.
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This goes for a 1st down. It is so frustrating to watch this over-and-over again. The defense should’ve been off-the-field. He’s hit in the backfield by McCloud. Steed is right there, unblocked, to provide a second defender to get him down. They let this go for a 1st down!
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All. Season. Long. Miami has just completely refused to take advantage of opportunities. I know this coaching staff has a lot to answer for with the issues we are seeing with tackling, physicality, adjustments needed, but the players all have a lot of culpability as well. We just don’t have defensive backs who will catch the ball. At least seven interceptions have been flat out dropped this season and they only have three all season. Look the ball in and make a play.
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Downs gets a little swing pass, Flagg misses a tackle. Drink. (Not pictured)

3rd down and Miami parts like the red sea for Howell to pick it up. UNC goes on to score a TD after Miami had two opportunities to get them off-the-field early. (Not pictured)

Very next play. Bolden is pushing his forcing player. Couch loses his outside position where he should be attacking and Bolden should be attacking inside. Neither has any desire to make a tackle and this goes for a TD. It’s just all season long and this kind of S play cannot be tolerated. Couch has to just make this tackle as well instead of diving at his feet, but this picture right here is just brutal. Hall takes a bad angle and gets outran to the end zone. #99 gets blocked by a TE 1-on-1. No excuse for this drive ending in a TD.
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First play and Miami has Keyshawn Smith wide-open on the flea flicker and TVD makes a really poor throw. (Not pictured)

If you’re going to throw on 1st down and it goes incomplete, you have to be prepared to throw again on 2nd down, otherwise you’re just about giving up the drive in most cases. A 2nd-and-10 run after an incompletion is the single least inefficient play-call in football. Goes for one yard, brings up 3rd-and-9. I’ve written many times I’m disappointed in the job that Lashlee is doing and this is just another example why. (Not pictured)

Miami had a wide-open Keyshawn Smith on 1st down. A wide-open Keyshawn Smith on 3rd down. TVD makes an awful throw on the first. A really bad throw on the third down. I’m a TVD fan, but this is not acceptable. Miami should’ve had points on their first drive and instead go 3-and-out. (Not pictured)

I’m going to skip to highlighting just big plays because you’ve all read all season long about execution issues and probably don’t want to read more of them, frankly.

This is an incredible play by Harvey, first you sprawl to keep the cut blocker off your legs, then you gather, locate the ball, tip it, catch it, score it. The type of play Miami has failed to make all season long. Way to go.
View attachment 158453

Gotta hit this gap and make this tackle, Steed. Nothing outside on the edge, as is common with this scheme, and it’s another big run. Chandler stiff-arms Bolden to the ground. I don’t go back to every game I’ve ever seen and review, but I cannot remember a team that is worse at tackling than this Miami team.
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The defensive gameplan was, “Let’s back Gurvan Hall off of Downs 10 yards and let him have space to do whatever he wants.” Also, look at where your MLB is, there is no help on a slant and Hall this far in off-coverage. This is stealing on a 1st down play and a good OC/QB checks into this throw every single time you get this look. Leverage in this defense is almost purposefully given away, it seems.
View attachment 158456

This route combo is nasty from UNC. They run a switch concept on the outside, which gets the outside man to have to come across and switch receiver, but the route is to Downs the whole way if you look at Howell, he is staring it down. Downs is running a Texas route out of the slot behind the switch and there is no chance Gurvan Hall could cover this even if he was up on the LOS, but from that depth, he is toast. The defensive gameplan to have Gurvan Hall take their best WR 1-on-1 in the slot is maddening. This play goes for a TD.
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Slide the OL to the right, 55 doesn’t even touch the DT, Knighton is taking a play-action and not expecting to block a free rushing DT. Shows you the trouble with our red-zone play-calling as well. Run the ball twice for zero total yards. On 3rd & 10 run play-action and no one is biting on that. Total bust by Donaldson.
View attachment 158458

They run another Texas route, this time with the RB isolated on Keontra Smith. If he doesn’t drop this, it’s a TD. The single-high S is to the top of the screen and it’s Bubba Bolden flat-footed. Miami defenders act as though they have never seen this route before, maybe because we never run it in practice.
View attachment 158459

How many times are we going to see Corey Flagg in this position before someone else gets a shot at MLB? Steed gets called for hands-to-the-face penalty, but he was being held bigger than nothing out there and no call.
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How do the Miami coaches watch Kamren Kinchens and James Williams play at S and watch Bubba Bolden and Gurvan Hall play at S and choose to put the latter group out there repeatedly? Kinchens with an excellent open-field tackle on Downs. (Not pictured)

Keontra is your force player to the boundary, yet he drops way out of his zone and gives up the edge easily. Keontra is almost touching Williams on this play he’s so far out of position. It’s all the time with the defense. Maintaining an edge defender is a basic principle in any defense. If you can’t defend your edges you can’t stop anyone. Carter does that delayed blitz, runs into #96, both end up on the ground again, with an OL standing over them. This is so brutal they might call taunting in the NFL.
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Howell gets 17 out of this. Sigh. #81, you have to run to where he’s going, son, not where he is.
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I’m throwing to Downs isolated on a S with a free release, two-way go, on every single play. What these defensive coaches came up to start this game was this pretty mind-blowing. Howell never looked anywhere else.
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You’re telling me Miami defenders are seeing what they’re hitting? This S ducks his head and absolutely drills his own man in the open field. Never touched Howell. Ivey basically breathed on Howell, who fell over his own feet or he walks in for a TD after Miami defenders just run into each other. It was Gurvan Hall, who had the embarrassing “block tackle” against Michigan State as well. This one just isn’t viral.
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Here is Flagg’s attempt at a “tackle.” I don’t understand.
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Jump offsides on 3rd down. They get in-close and play-action for the TD. Miami gives it all away over-and-over. (Not pictured)

What is this route combination? Makes no sense. You’re trying to run two shallow crosses together off read-option play fake. Woof. Gets tipped on a bad pass and decision really, and intercepted. But your OC did you no favors here.
View attachment 158467

Another “tackle” attempt from #5. This just isn’t acceptable. He takes this from a TFL into a 1st down. They’re just leaning into people and not even trying to use their arms. What is happening?
View attachment 158468

Howell throws this right to your entire defense basically. Ivey drops another would-be interception. Over and over, again.
View attachment 158469

James Williams needs to play every snap. Makes a great tackle on Downs on 3rd down. (Not pictured)

Next play Williams roughs the kicker and it was a game-changing play. He was bumped by his own guy #2, which I didn’t realize live because I was so ticked. Leads to the TD. (Not pictured)

Restrepo gets open for a nice reception. He has to play more. Has to. (Not pictured)

Goal line and they use Justice as an extra TE and he has a nice block to spring Knighton for the TD. This is a game Miami should’ve won. (Not pictured)

Corey Flagg missed tackle. Drink. Nesta has had a bad game. Gets bullied here.
View attachment 158470

Why yes, that is Corey Flagg matched up 1-on-1 in coverage against Downs. Easy 1st down.
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I talk about the limitations in contain with our defense on the edges and you can see it here again. Just push the edge defender upfield and no one replaces. They run the LB off with a decoy underneath route as this is a QB draw all the way. This defense will not work. There is no one here.
View attachment 158472

What is this tackle attempt, Flagg? Seriously just diving at the legs of Howell. He steps over Flagg’s lifeless corpse and picks up a 1st down. Incredible that he keeps seeing the field.
View attachment 158473

Keontra is shot out of a cannon on 3rd down for a big sack. Nice play. Keontra, James Williams, Harvey, Tyrique have all played well thus far. (Not pictured)

TVD throws to a spot and doesn’t see the field at all. Interception. Just a really bad throw and awareness. (Not pictured)

This has to be called on JHH. They tried to pull a G and JHH split the gap and the OL just grabs him in a bear hug from behind and throws him. No call. Instead, they call Miami for an atrocious rough-the-passer call.
View attachment 158474

Here is an example of a catch being made, but why are you going to the ground on the catch? Not great accuracy, no doubt, but if Harley just stays on his feet he has tons of room to run. Harley falls down catching the ball so often.
View attachment 158475

TVD misses an open Harley deep. Then he gets pressured and throws it to Smith five yards behind the LOS. Just throw it away TVD. He’s really had a rough game thus far. Accuracy has been nonexistant. (Not pictured)

TVD on a 4th down takes off and scrambles and gets the 1st down. He’s been much more dangerous with his legs thus far. Tough kid. I call his type a “gamer.” You need that accuracy to start showing up though. (Not pictured)

Cody Brown scores a TD after keeping his legs moving and bouncing in. (Not pictured)

UNC gets a 3rd down, waits for the defense to run past the QB for the fifth time in this game thus far, Howell runs for an easy 1st down again.
View attachment 158476

James Williams has now caught the shoulder tackle affliction. TD. Never seen a team tackle like this. Never. Will you tackle? If yes, you can play. That’s my requirement.
View attachment 158477

Whew. Haven’t seen this sort of thing in a while. Knighton in space after catching the wheel route. Let’s go, Lashlee, give me more wheel routes with Knighton now that Cam is out for the year. Makes this man miss and goes to the house.
View attachment 158478

Double-team Downs, Howell doesn’t throw it even though he was open really, then Keontra sacks him again. His speed makes a difference and he needs to play every snap. (Not pictured)

Excellent play call by Lashlee here as he releases Hodges late after giving max-protect look. He is wide open and Hodges just falls down on his own or this is a big play. It wasn’t perfectly accurate. Sigh.
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Awful play call on 4th down as they just run a stop route, as if the defender won’t be sitting on the sticks. (Not pictured)

These officials, man. Miami had them off-the-field and then they throw a roughing the passer flag when James Williams throws Howell down. This is football. He didn’t body slam the guy and how does he know he doesn’t actually have the ball still? Leads to a TD. (Not pictured)

These officials, man. #91 jumps on the guy as he’s going to the ground and they throw another flag. The announcers are incredulous as these calls are just awful. (Not pictured)

Flagg gets a sack on the previous play (where he barely was able to tackle him). But then he completely runs himself out of this gap on the next play. Where is he going way over there when he has the A-gap? Runner gets 8, allows Howell to get the TD on the infamous everyone dive and not actually make a tackle, play.
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I just can’t with this shoulder stuff. Use your arms. Kinchens, hit him! A gift of a TD from this team that absolutely cannot stop shooting themselves in their foot.
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I am done with this at this point. Play the young players and do not play these veterans who cannot/will not tackle another snap if you can help it. That is harsh and that will anger several on the team, but at some point accountability has to come into play. Miami gave this game away. Point blank.
Always appreciate these, but can we get some of the offensive plays that worked in the second half. I also believe the o-line performed better than it has all season and would like to see some examples if they are there. I now we are all frustrated t for what this season has become but as we take the bad with the good it would be nice to see where some guys are improving or making plays that stand out. Thanks again for spending your time on these I always enjoy reading.
 
Trying to be pragmatic, I looked at the Bills and Saints on defense in the NFL for a comparison. Why them? They have allowed the fewest points in the league on defense, so thought that was a decent proxy for benchmarking.

Last Buffalo game, which was competitive.
  • Both starting CB's played every snap, slot CB played all but three snaps
  • MLB/SLB played every snap
  • Their third LB played the three snaps that the slot CB didn't play, meaning they only played three LB's total
  • FS/SS both played every snap
  • They played four total DE's, each playing between 20-34 of the 53 snaps
  • They played three DT's total, each playing between 20-31 snaps

Last New Orleans game, which was competitive.
  • One CB played all 83 snaps, nickel played 77, one played 61, dime played 20 snaps
  • Two LB's played all 83 snaps, third LB played six snaps
  • Both safeties played every snap
  • One DE played 67 snaps, others played 31, 37 and 36 snaps
  • DT's played 45, 34, 31 snaps
There were 75 defensive snaps in our UNC game.
  • Amari Carter led us in snaps at 61
  • Bubba Bolden played 60 snaps
  • Flagg played 57 snaps
  • Tyrique played 56 snaps
  • Steed played 48 snaps
  • Couch played 48 snaps
  • Two highest graded players by PFF played 27 snaps (Harvey) and Leonard Taylor played 20 snaps
It's another of the baffling things that our coaches do. Play your best players and play them a ton. To get on the field is a privilege, not a right because you were recruited or because you are an upperclassmen.

James Williams needs to play every snap. Kam Kinchens needs to play every snap. Taylor needs to play as much as he can. Tyrique needs to play every snap. Harvey needs to play more. Keontra needs to play every snap.

Quit making it harder than it is to win games.
james williams is a beast. he should never leave the field. yes i know he made two big mistakes (shoulder throw and slinging howell down) but he is physically more gifted than any of the other safeties we are trotting out there.
 
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