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TB
Ronnie McGill |
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2005
Statistics |
Coach:
John Bunting
24-36,
5 years |
2005
Record: 5-6 |
|
at
Georgia Tech |
LOST
21-27 |
WISCONSIN |
LOST
5-14 |
at
NC State |
WON
31-24 |
UTAH |
WON
31-17 |
at
Louisville |
LOST
14-69 |
VIRGINIA |
WON
7-5 |
at
Miami FL |
LOST
16-34 |
BOSTON
COLLEGE |
WON
16-14 |
MARYLAND |
LOST
30-33 (OT) |
DUKE |
WON
24-21 |
at
Virginia Tech |
LOST
3-30 |
|
2005 Final Rankings
AP-UR, Coaches-UR, BCS-UR
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2006
Outlook |
Tar
Heel fans are anxious to see this
team start winning again. In Bunting's
first five years, he has had only
one campaign over .500 (his first).
So naturally, the accusation that
he was dealing with the previous coaches
players continues to be a part of
his naysayers’ complaints. Recent
recruiting efforts have been stepped
up and significant coaching changes
have been made this off-season, but
is it too little too late? A new offensive
coordinator steps in - Frank Cignetti
(from Fresno State) has instructions
to be more aggressive. After all,
this dismal offense (ranked 10th in
the ACC for total effort and 11th
in league scoring) needed to change
something in an effort to locate an
identity. Senior leadership seems
a little more plentiful, but some
question marks and holes exist on
the depth chart, making this team
yet another unpredictable crew. The
Heels still seem far removed from
challenging in the ACC Coastal Division.
With a new offensive system and a
dual-QB situation 100% undecided,
the defense will need to be strong
early. Playing three home games to
start benefits the Heels. Getting
six wins and a bowl invite should
be their realistic expectations. Anything
short and John Bunting's seat will
continue to get hotter.
Projected
2006 record: 5-7
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NORTH
CAROLINA
*POWER RATINGS |
Offense |
Defense |
QB
- 3 |
DL
- 3 |
RB
- 3.5 |
LB
- 3 |
WR
- 2.5 |
DB
- 3 |
OL
- 2 |
.. |
|
RETURNING
LEADERS |
Passing:
Joey Bozich, 9-3-1, 12 yds., 0 TD
Rushing: Ronnie McGill, 130
att., 530 yds., 5 TD
Receiving: Jesse Holley, 47
rec., 670 yds., 1 TD
Scoring: Connor Barth, 11-21
FG, 23-23 PAT, 56 pts.
Punting: David Wooldridge,
66 punts, 41.1 avg.
Kicking: Connor Barth, 11-21
FG, 23-23 PAT, 56 pts.
Tackles: Larry Edwards, 91
tot., 43 solo
Sacks: Kareen Taylor, 3.5
Interceptions: Trimane Goddard,
3 for 1 yd.
Kickoff returns: Brandon Tate,
21 ret., 25.8 avg., 1 TD
Punt returns: Brandon Tate,
29 ret., 9.2 avg., 0 TD
|
|
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LB
Larry Edwards |
|
|
|
OFFENSE
- 5 |
----RETURNING
STARTERS---- |
DEFENSE
- 8 |
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KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Matt Baker-QB, Steven Bell-C, Rikki
Cook-FB, Mike Mason-WR, Kyle Ralph-OG,
Skip Seagraves-OT, Jarwarski Pollack-WR,
Derrele Mitchell-WR |
DEFENSE:
Tommy
Davis-DE, Cedrick Holt-CB, Chase Page-DT,
Tommy Richardson-LB, Mahlon Carey-SS |
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2006
OFFENSE |
The main
focus carrying over from spring is the starting
QB job between Nebraska transfer Joe Dailey
(started 11 games for the Huskers in 2004)
and redshirt freshman Cameron Sexton. The
battle was dead even after spring. Dailey
represents more with his feet (4.4 speed)
and obviously brings more experience to
the table. Sexton has the better passing
skills but also maintains fairly quick footwork.
Both could possibly see action in some form
of a rotation once the season officially
starts. Look for Dailey to begin as the
starter due to his experience.
When healthy, senior tailback
Ronnie McGill is good enough to become the
school's first 1,000-yard rusher in the
last 10 years. He sat out the first four
games of ‘05 recovering from a torn
pectoral muscle and was removed from spring
contact work. In his absence, LSU transfer
Barrington Edwards gets the bulk of the
carries but doesn't represent the explosiveness
of his partner.
Four of the top five WRs
from a year ago are gone. One of them, Mike
Mason, was dismissed from the team. The
lone returnee, senior Jesse Holley (a member
of the 2005 NCAA champion basketball team),
was the team's leading receiver, but no
one else on the current depth chart has
caught a pass in a college game. There is
hope that two of the incoming freshmen (Hakeem
Nicks and Deunta Williams) from a top recruiting
class can compete for playing time. Dropped
passes killed this team last fall. The newcomers
will have to avoid such a plight if this
offense is to progress. Tight end Jon Hamlett
has been consistent for three seasons (46
career receptions) and should be viewed
as one of the most experienced pass catchers.
The
OL is anchored by tackle Brian Chacos, who
was granted a sixth year of eligibility.
New OL coach Mark Weber will be taking over
a group extremely short on experience. The
talent exists, but only playing time will
tell if this unit is capable of providing
protection for a new QB and holes for an
unproven set of RBs.
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WR
Jesse Holley
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NORTH
CAROLINA 2006 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Joe
Dailey-Jr (6-1, 205) |
Cam
Sexton-Fr (6-1, 180) |
FB |
Nick
Starcevic-So (6-2, 235) |
Joey
Bozich-So (6-2, 228) |
TB |
Ronnie
McGill-Sr (5-11, 220) |
Barrington
Edwards-Jr (6-0, 230) |
WR |
Jesse
Holley-Sr (6-3, 208) |
Brandon
Tate-So (6-1, 193) |
WR |
Brooks
Foster-So (6-3, 200) |
Dirk
Engram-Fr (5-10, 170) |
TE |
Jon
Hamlett-Sr (6-4, 260) |
Rock
Wells-Jr (6-4, 250) |
OT |
Brian
Chacos-Sr (6-4, 301) |
Kendall
High-Sr (6-4, 290) |
OG |
Charlston
Gray-Jr (6-3, 301) |
Aaron
Stahl-Fr (6-3, 300) |
C |
Ben
Lemming-So (6-5, 301) |
Scott
Lenahan-Jr (6-1, 285) |
OG |
Kyle
Jolly-Fr (6-6, 300) |
Kenny
Price-So (6-4, 320) |
OT |
Garrett
Reynolds-So (6-7, 300) |
Andre
Barbour-So (6-6, 290) |
K |
Connor
Barth-Jr (6-1, 192) |
.. |
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2006
DEFENSE |
The DL improved
by leaps and bounds (allowed 138 rushing
yards per game) given the porous numbers
put up in the three previous campaigns.
This was continually the worst rushing defense
in the ACC, and the marginal difference
(finished 9th in the ACC) has to do with
maturity - three seniors are represented
in the starting rotation. The recruits became
available, but patience had to be a key
with the coaching staff. Now, the feeling
is that this may be the best group since
the 2001 campaign when NFL player Julius
Peppers dotted the line up. Pressure on
QBs must improve as the Heels lack a pass
rushing threat from the outside.
LB Larry Edwards is of NFL
caliber, but several position moves had
to be made in an effort to give him some
support. With the moves, coaches feel secure
enough to believe that this can be a contributing
factor in the plight of the overall defensive
prognosis.
Cooter
Arnold has moved from tailback to free safety
and joins senior Kareen Taylor, who started
all 11 games in 2005. The corners have some
experience. Jacoby Watkins can be counted
on after missing the final five games of
last season with a broken leg, while the
battle for playing time at the other CB
slot will carry over into the fall. This
unit as a whole finished ranked 9th in the
ACC is pass efficiency defense, an effort
that must improve, especially when called
upon early as the offense attempts to gel.
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DB
Kareen Taylor
|
|
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NORTH
CAROLINA 2006 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
Brian
Rackley-Sr (6-5, 263) |
Hilee
Taylor-Jr (6-3, 230) |
DT |
Kyndraus
Guy-Jr (6-2, 282) |
Cam
Thomas-Fr (6-4, 330) |
DT |
Shelton
Bynum-Sr (6-5, 295) |
Khalif
Mitchell-Jr (6-6, 315) |
DE |
Melik
Brown-Sr (6-2, 260) |
Kentwan
Balmer-Jr (6-5, 285) |
SLB |
Larry
Edwards-Sr (6-3, 230) |
Garrett
White-So (6-2, 235) |
MLB |
Victor
Worsley-Sr (6-1, 235) |
Mark
Paschal-So (6-0, 228) |
WLB |
Durell
Mapp-Jr (6-2, 220) |
Chase
Rice-So (6-3, 220) |
CB |
Jacoby
Watkins-Sr (6-0, 190) |
Bryan
Bethea-Jr (5-10, 185) |
CB |
Quinton
Person-Jr (5-11, 185) |
Jermaine
Strong-Fr (5-10, 185) |
SS |
Trimane
Goddard-So (5-11, 185) |
D.J.
Walker-Sr (6-0, 185) |
FS |
Kareen
Taylor-Sr (6-0, 200) |
Cooter
Arnold-So (5-10, 190) |
P |
David
Wooldridge-Sr (6-2, 200) |
.. |
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2006
SPECIAL TEAMS |
Kicker
Connor Barth had an amazing freshman season. That
was two years ago. He truly hit a sophomore slump
last fall, making only 11-of-21 attempts. His
promise is good enough to make the kicking game
a plus (he also handles kickoff duties). Much
like Barth, punter David Wooldridge had issues
in ’05, but those seemed to have been resolved
this spring. His average severely dropped last
fall when compared to the year prior. He did have
some stellar performances on occasion but was
far too inconsistent.
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