Three Tar Heels in Round 2 - Reaction

2nd Round Draft Pick:

Bruce Carter (LB)

Selected: 2nd Round - 

Dallas Cowboys (40th Overall)

Projected: 2nd Round
Mock Draft
Todd McShay (ESPN): 2nd Round - Detroit Lions (52nd Overall)
Mel Kiper (ESPN):2nd Round - Detroit Lions (52nd Overall)
High School Ranking
Rivals: 3* (Position Rank: 33)
Scout: 3* (Position Rank: 64)
ESPN: Grade - 77 (Position Rank: 42 (Safety))

Quote

Bruce Carter

"It was great feeling to get that call from (Dallas owner) Jerry Jones.  My mom was so excited, people were screaming and I could barely hear him. He told me he was thrilled to pick me and excited about what I could bring to the team.  I learned so much at North Carolina and from Coach Davis.  I learned how to become a man, to take responsibility for my actions and how to become a leader."

LB Bruce Carter from UNC gets a call 

from owner Jerry Jones telling him he is a Cowboy

LB Bruce Carter Secret Audio (hyperlink)

 

Jerry Jones Day 2 Press Conference

Day 2 Press Conference (hyperlink)

NFL Network Analysis

		Pick Analysis: Owner Jerry Jones picks up one of the steals of the draft with the addition of Carter. He is a freakish athlete with outstanding speed, quickness and explosiveness. He could play inside at the weak inside linebacker position and add playmaking as a core special teamer on their kicking units.

Rotoworld Redux

Cowboys selected North Carolina LB Bruce Carter with the No. 40 overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft.

Considered a top-15 overall pick and a four-down player before tearing his ACL last November, Carter is a custom-made outside linebacker for Rob Ryan's 3-4 defense. An outstanding athlete with speed in every direction, Carter should ease into the lineup as a special teams demon before pushing Anthony Spencer for a starting job. Carter is on track for the start of training camp, but there is some risk associated with the pick.

2nd Round Draft Pick:

Marvin Austin (DT)

Selected: 2nd Round - 

New York Giants (52nd Overall)

Projected: 1st-2nd Round
Mock Draft
Mike Mayock (NFL Network): 1st Round - Seattle Seahawks (25th Overall)
Todd McShay (ESPN): 1st Round - Chicago Bears (29th Overall)
Mel Kiper (ESPN): 2nd Round - Chicago Bears (62nd Overall)
High School Ranking
Rivals: 5* (Position Rank: 1)
Scout: 5* (Position Rank: 1)
ESPN: Grade - 85 (Position Rank: 1)

Quotes

Marvin Austin

"It was a little tough watching the names go by ahead of me, but I got excited when it was the Giants pick, because they met with me three times at the combine and I knew they were interested.  I'm just thankful for this opportunity, to go to a place where they want me and I can flourish. I know Coach Coughlin is a no-nonsense type of coach and he believes I'm a good guy who can help their football team. I'm so proud to be a New York Giant."

Tom Couglin, NYG Head Coach

"I spent quite a few minutes on the phone with him prior to telling him we would be drafting him in the second round and that there were some very, very high expectations for him if he was to come here and be a New York Giant.  He has an opportunity now to show the world what he can do and hopefully package all the energy and disappointment and motivation based on the fact that he did not play this last year. Hopefully, he'll wrap all that up and come here and be the football player we think he can be."

NFL Network Analysis

Pick Analysis: Jerry Reese doesn't get enough credit for his willingness to add talent to positions of strength. Austin is a legitimate first-round talent with the potential to be a dominant interior player in their one-gap scheme. His combination of strength, power and athleticism is off the charts, and he should be a terrific contributor as part of a deep defensive line rotation.

Rotoworld Redux

Giants selected North Carolina DT Marvin Austin with the No. 52 overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft.

GM Jerry Reese is showing tremendous discipline, sticking to his board as opposed to addressing obvious needs. Austin did a nice job of rehabilitating his image over the past month after picking up a reputation as a bit of a con artist. Although he underproduced for the Tarheels before being kicked off the team in 2010, Austin has always been considered a top-notch talent with power, quickness, and explosion. He'll be eased in behind Chris Canty and Linval Joseph up front.

2nd Round Draft Pick:

Greg Little (WR)

Selected: 2nd Round - 

Cleveland Browns (59th Overall)

Twitter: @Str8upGLittle
Projected: 2nd-4th Round
High School Ranking
Rivals: 4* (Position Rank: 9 ATH)
Scout: 4* (Position Rank: 12)
ESPN: Grade - 84 (Position Rank: 5)

Quotes

Greg Little

"It felt good to hear my name.  I'm just ready to play again. I learned a tremendous amount about how to deal with success and just being able to deal with such an adverse time, I think I've grown from it. A lot of my morals and values have changed so much just from sitting out that year. I'm just so hungry to get back and play."

"I'm very close with Coach Davis.  I respect Coach Davis so much as a coach and as a man. I was really fortunate to be coached by him." 

Pat Shurmer, Cleveland Browns Head Coach

"We spent a lot of time on him.  He can beat the bump and run, he's extremely good at catching the football, he's got size to go up and get the football and he finds a way to get in the end zone. He also had the ability to catch the ball and run with it."

Tom Heckert, Cleveland Brown GM

"When he catches the ball, he tries to hurt you."

NFL Network Draft Analysis

Pick Analysis: Mike Holmgren finally gives Colt McCoy an explosive weapon in the passing game with the selection of Little. Though he missed his final season due to an NCAA suspension, he has shown signs of being an impact playmaker in the past, and his intriguing skill set could make him a star at the next level.

Rotoworld Redux

Browns selected North Carolina WR Greg Little with the No. 59 overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft.

 

Little probably drew too many "the next Mike Williams - TB" comparisons during the pre-draft process for his character concerns. But he's going to get the same sort of opportunity in Cleveland that Williams had last year. A physical, run-after-catch wideout ideally suited for a West Coast attack like Pat Shurmur's, Little could easily become the Browns' top receiver in year one. He won't hit Williams' stat levels because his quarterback isn't nearly as good as Josh Freeman, but will pop up on plenty of fantasy sleeper lists.

Robert Quinn Draft Reaction

1st Round Draft Pick:

Robert Quinn (DE)

 

Selected:1st Round - 

St. Louis Rams (14th Overall)

Projected: 1st Round
Mock Drafts
Mike Mayock (NFL Network): 1st Round - Houston Texans (11th Overall)
Todd McShay(ESPN): 1st Round - Washington Redskins (10th Overall)
Mel Kiper (ESPN): 1st Round - Washington Redskins (10th Overall)
High School Ranking
Rivals: 4* (Position Rank: 18)
Scout: 4* (Position Rank: 19)
ESPN: Grade - 80 (Position Rank: 11)

Quotes

Robert Quinn

"This is a dream come true for me and I'm looking forward to making a positive contribution to my new tam and to the St. Louis community. I want to thank Tar Heel fans everywhere for their support over the years and I want to especially thank and acknowledge my coaches, teammates and the entire Carolina football family as I make this transition in my life."

Billy Devaney, Rams General Manager

"We spent a lot of time evaluating Robert Quinn.  As we got closer to the draft, we thought that'd be great if he was there. We didn't really think there'd be much of a chance for him to be there at 14. . . .  [T]he grade we had on Quinn was significantly higher than the other players in the pool, so it ended up being a really easy decision.  Everybody really liked him.  He seems like a real good fit, and we're thrilled to have the guy."

Steve Spagnuolo, Rams Head Coach

Spagnuolo said he feels "very fortunate" to get one of this year's top-flight rush ends and said his suspension is not a concern. 

"He's a great kid. (The mistakes in college) are out of character for him. This is a kid that is from a great family, and a great upbringing. He's a quality guy there. We all make mistakes. He made one. He's paid for it and he's ready to move on."

Tweets of the Day

evansilva Evan Silva (NFL writer for NBC Sports, Profootballtalk.com, Rotoworld)

Favorite 5 picks of Rd 1: 1) #Rams - Robert Quinn 2) #Ravens - Jimmy Smith 3) #Colts - Castonzo 4) #Jaguars - Gabbert 5) #Lions - Fairley

evansilva Evan Silva

Got top-5 talent at 14. 15-sack upside to book end Chris Long. I think so. RT @Femc2 @evansilva Quinn really that good?

Rotoworld Redux

Rams selected North Carolina DE Robert Quinn with the No. 14 overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft.

Medical concerns caused Quinn to slip, even though he had no trouble at UNC with the benign brain tumor that popped up as a senior in high school. Considered an ideal fit at 4-3 defensive end on the right side, Quinn was a two-time high school heavyweight champ as a wrestler in South Carolina before moving on to the Tar Heels. He finished second to only Derrick Morgan in 2009 ACC Defensive Player of the Year voting before missing 2010 due to an NCAA suspension. The Rams stuck to their board -- their doctors have cleared Quinn -- and picked up a top-notch bookend for Chris Long at 14. Assuming he beats out James Hall, Quinn projects as a double-digit sack threat as a rookie. This might be the pick of the night. 

 

Op-Ed

 

While I am disappointed that Quinn fell out of the top 10, he finds himself in a very good situation.  The Rams Head Coach, Steve Spagnuolo, is a defensive minded coach and the architect behind the dominate NY Giants Superbowl winning defense of 2007.  Quinn is going to be placed in a situation to succeed and will be playing with some dynamic players on the d-line, particularly Chris Long.  This is a great pick for the St. Louis Rams and Robert Quinn.

UNC Draft Swagger

Still don't have my Mac back, so I am limited in what I can do with posting images.  It is frustrating, but I hope to be whole again by the beginning of next week.

Tuscoloosa Tornado

Yesterday, a tornado touched down in Tuscoloosa.  The tornado missed Alabama's Bryant-Denny Stadium by 250 yards.  However, the tornado and sever storms destroyed several homes and businesses.  The death toll in Alabama is reported at more than a 100.  Students who have lost their homes have gathered at the Univ. of Alabama Rec Center and are in need of basic necessities, i.e. food, linens, and toiletries.  At the end of the video, Red Cross donation information is presented.


Tuscaloosa Tornado (4/26/2011) by sportsxbrooks

Tweet of the Day

Congratulations to Tyler Alberts!

T_Albs Tyler Alberts

HELL FUCKING YEAH ABOUT TIME RT @b_culbreth @T_Albs @iAmJLegOND last day of high school #5thyearseniors

Football Scheduling Announcement?

Yesterday in Charlotte, Butch Davis spoke to a small group of Tar Heel supporters and announced that a Home-and-Home series for UNC between Ohio State is almost a done deal and a Home-and-Home series with Penn State is very likely.  No specific dates were revealed, so we don't know if either will be able to fill the void left by Tennessee for 2012; however, it is an exciting development. 

Another Basketball Preferred Walk-on?

John Cannon is a 2* 6'10 225 lbs center from Burnsville, NC.  He was not recruited by UNC, but was extended the offer to be a preferred walk-on like Jackson Simmons.  However, Cannon has full boat offers from Northwestern and Georgia.  He will announce on Saturday between the three.  As a lifelong Tar Heel fan, this must be a very difficult decision.  Really, I think it comes down to Northwestern and UNC, head or heart.  We will see on Saturday.  Can't post a pic and couldn't find a video.

Nobody's Got 
Draft Swagger Like Us

Warning: Watching the below video may lead to a "what could have been" relapse.  View at your own risk . . . .



Might have to venture over to YouTube to watch this one:



This is the draft where the Butch Davis/Carolina impact is felt.  UNC could potentially have as many as 13 guys drafted in this year's draft.  Eleven is the most any ACC team has had drafted in a single year.  Could it be a record breaking year?  Probably not, but we are still going to be well represented in this year's draft.  Check out the preview below.  I included the high school rankings to add some perspective on player development and talent evaluation. Also, I included twitter handles, so you can show them some love when their name is called if you are on twitter and so inclined. 

Robert Quinn (DE)
Selected:1st Round - St. Louis Rams (14th Overall)
Projected: 1st Round
Mock Drafts
Mike Mayock (NFL Network): 1st Round - Houston Texans (11th Overall)
Todd McShay(ESPN): 1st Round - Washington Redskins (10th Overall)
Mel Kiper (ESPN): 1st Round - Washington Redskins (10th Overall)
High School Ranking
Rivals: 4* (Position Rank: 18)
Scout: 4* (Position Rank: 19)
ESPN: Grade - 80 (Position Rank: 11)

Marvin Austin (DT)
Selected:
Projected: 1st-2nd Round
Mock Draft
Mike Mayock (NFL Network): 1st Round - Seattle Seahawks (25th Overall)
Todd McShay (ESPN): 1st Round - Chicago Bears (29th Overall)
Mel Kiper (ESPN): 2nd Round - Chicago Bears (62nd Overall)
High School Ranking
Rivals: 5* (Position Rank: 1)
Scout: 5* (Position Rank: 1)
ESPN: Grade - 85 (Position Rank: 1)

Bruce Carter (LB)
Selected:
Projected: 2nd Round
Mock Draft
Todd McShay (ESPN): 2nd Round - Detroit Lions (52nd Overall)
Mel Kiper (ESPN):2nd Round - Detroit Lions (52nd Overall)
High School Ranking
Rivals: 3* (Position Rank: 33)
Scout: 3* (Position Rank: 64)
ESPN: Grade - 77 (Position Rank: 42 (Safety))

Quan Sturdivant (LB)
Selected:
Projected: 2nd-3rd Round
High School Ranking
Rivals: 3* (Position Rank: NR ATH)
Scout: 4* (Position Rank: 9 MLB)
ESPN: Grade - 79 (Position Rank: 12 (Safety))

Greg Little (WR)
Twitter: @Str8upGLittle
Selected:
Projected: 2nd-4th Round
High School Ranking
Rivals: 4* (Position Rank: 9 ATH)
Scout: 4* (Position Rank: 12)
ESPN: Grade - 84 (Position Rank: 5)

Deunta Williams (S)
Twitter: @deunta_910
Selected:
Projected: 4th-5th Round
High School Ranking
Rivals: 4* (Position Rank: 25 ATH)
Scout: 4* (Position Rank: 14)
ESPN: Grade - 74 (Position Rank: 63)

Da'Norris Searcy (S)
Twitter: @DSearcy21
Selected:
Projected: 3rd-5th Round
High School Ranking
Rivals: 2* (Position Rank: NR)
Scout: 4* (Position Rank: 8 WLB)
ESPN: Grade - 40 (Position Rank: NR)

Kendrick Burney (CB)
Twitter: @Kburney3
Selected:
Projected: 3rd-5th Round
High School Ranking
Rivals: 3* (Position Rank: NR ATH)
Scout: 3* (Position Rank: 46)
ESPN: Grade - 76 (Position Rank: 37)

Johnny White (RB)
Selected:
Projected: 4th-7th Round
High School Ranking
Rivals: 3* (Position Rank: 11 All-Purpose Back)
Scout: 3* (Position Rank: 41)
ESPN: Grade - 80 (Position Rank: 23)

T.J. Yates (QB)
Twitter: @TJ_Yates
Selected:
Projected: 5th-7th Round
High School Ranking
Rivals: 2* (Position Rank: NR)
Scout: 3* (Position Rank: 38)
ESPN: Grade - 72 (Position Rank: 93)

Shaun Draughn (RB)
Twitter: @2ShaunDraughn0
Selected:
Projected:  Free Agent
High School Ranking
Rivals: 4* (Position Rank: 30 ATH)
Scout: 3* (Position Rank: 24 S)
ESPN: Grade - 72 (Position Rank: 108)

Zach Pianalto (TE)
Selected:
Projected:  Free Agent
High School Ranking
Rivals: 3* (Position Rank: 36)
Scout: 4* (Position Rank:21)
ESPN: Grade - 79 (Position Rank: 19)

Alan Pelc (OG)
Selected:
Projected:  Free Agent
High School Ranking
Rivals: 2* (Position Rank: NR)
Scout: 2* (Position Rank: NR)
ESPN: Grade - 73 (Position Rank: 59 OT)

Typically, I would have loaded this post up with graphics, but I am unable to do so until I get my Mac back.  Apologies. 

Bomb's Away

Tweet of the Day

You may have noticed that I added some new names to the What The Tweet section.  The football team is not allowed to maintain a twitter account after the fall out that resulted from last year.  However, our signees and commits do have accounts and it is good to see that some of these guys are already really tight.  Click the name for their Rivals profile: EricEbron85 is Eric Ebron and T_Albs is Tyler Alberts.

EricEbron85 Eric Ebron

You dumb lol RT @T_Albs With @_john_henson_ up here in the baseball stadium...idk if h Barnes got 50mph but he threw a strike haha

Quick Hitters

Still don't have my computer back from Apple, but here are a couple of quick hitters.

• Bryn "Bomber" Renner 

Renner shows how he earned the name "Bomber."
There are a couple of things I love about this video besides the obvious making of what appears to be a 60 yard bomb.  The first is Renner's ups.  As soon as I saw that verticle, I thought of Slim from Sinbad's Blacktop Team.  What? You don't know!

Check out that two inch vertical.  Haha!  (Had to dig deep for that one.)  The other thing I love about that video is the "Go Hard" spray painted on the court.  James Hurst said Renner didn't talk to him for two days one time when he beat him in video games.  Dude is competitive and has a ton of talent.  "Go Hard."  September 3rd can't get here quick enough! 

• "I'm On A Boat"

On Veteran's Day, November 11, 2011, we will begin our championship march and play Michigan State on the deck of an air craft carrier in San Diego at 4 p.m. pacific time.  For those of you that were planning on forking over you life saving to be amongst the 7,000 in the crowd and jamming out to this beauty,

you better make other plans.  No tickets will be sold to the public.  Unless you are one of those guys that gets calls at the end of fundraising projects and fills in the blank (and yeah, those guys are out there and they write BIG checks with lots of commas), you are not likely to get a better view than from in front of your flatscreen.  Can't even scalp tickets.  If your name doesn't match the name on the ticket, you will not gain entry.  That is SERIOUS!  I'm thinking of trying to go back to school and become a grad assistant for the team.  I'm not kidding!

Bad Dog

Yesterday, my dog knocked a glass of milk over, spilling all over my laptop.   If I thought that not having internet for a week was bad, this is my nightmare.  Of course, I am grossly unprepared and don't have my computer backed up.  I am going to send it off to see if it can be recovered.  Until I receive my laptop back or am told I have to get a new computer, I will have few if any posts.  I expect it to be two to three weeks . . . .

Cross your fingers and hope the guys at Apple live up to their "Genius" name!

Barnes is a student-athlete at UNC!!!!

Image Courtesy of Brandon Clarke

"As an 18-year old, I'm in the early stages of my life journey.  I'm honored and blessed for the chance to play in the NBA. And because of my family, teachers, passion, and work, I have the ultimate dream of one day playing and experiencing a fulfilling career in the NBA.

"Opportunities, both beneficial and life changing, can seem to make the next phase of my journey an easy decision. But I am a student-athlete at the University of North Carolina. I'm here to experience college life, grow as a person, receive a quality education, and be part of the greatest basketball family in college sports.

"The experiences I've enjoyed on and off the court will be invaluable. These experiences will help fuel my journey in the NBA and beyond.

"I look forward to meeting the challenging journey in the NBA, but my decision on November 13, 2009, still holds true. I'm focused on being a student-athlete. And my decision is to continue this part of my journey at the University of North Carolina.

"As a team, we're preparing for a special season. My off-season plans are to diligently work on honing my basketball skills in all areas with one team-goal in mind -- to bring the 2012 national championship home to UNC."

Make your travel plans for New Orleans NOW!  

Final Four, here we come!

News and No News (kind of)

Last Updated: 5:43 pm on 4/15/11

Which do you want first?  News or No News.

Ok.  No news.

All Quiet

The no news is that nothing has been officially announced pertaining to Harrison Barnes future at UNC or Ryan Houston's surgery.

First, Harrison Barnes.  The word is that Barnes has told multiple people around campus and the basketball program that he will return for his sophomore year.  However, Roy Williams is not included in that company and it is still a relatively fluid situation.  Don't freak out.  The expectation is for Barnes to return and that is the direction he is leaning.  Even the NBA scouts expect for him to return, so breath easy.  Nothing is guaranteed, but I am sleeping easy at night if that makes you feel better.  Besides, does this look like a guy anxious to leave college and looking to protect his investment?

OR

Man, I miss college!!!

Barnes Update:  Word is that Barnes met with Roy earlier this afternoon (Friday, May 15) for a little more than an hour.  Last night at the banquette, the generally feeling had not changed and Barnes was believed to be returning.  As of today, it is believed that Barnes is now leaning toward entering the NBA draft.  Nothing will be official until it is announced by UNC or Barnes himself, but you may need to prepare yourself to support the Back Falcon in the Association.  This is a fluid situation and the best thing to do is wait for an official announcement.  Don't drive yourself crazy with every morsel of information that makes its way in to the public domain.  The deadline is approaching and we will know soon enough.  Barnes has a tough decision and it is a decision that I wish I had to make at some point in my life.  Either (a) enter the NBA draft as an almost guaranteed top five pick with guaranteed money, or (b) stay in college and be the marquee player for the best college basketball team in the country knowing the millions will be there in twelve months.  Could be worse for Barnes . . . . Haha!

As far as Ryan Houston is concerned, nothing has been released.  However, Butch Davis told Heather Dinich,

He'll have surgery tomorrow for a fractured scapula, but Davis said UNC's medical staff is confident they "can fix it," and "he'll be back and ready to go for the season." 

Generally, I don't find a lot of useful information on ESPN, especially from Heather Dinich.  If you read the ACC blog on ESPN you have to wonder how she got her job?  Better yet, how does she keep it?  This, however, I found informative and made me feel better about the situation.  Houston is going to be really important to the success of our season.  Beyond running the ball, he is the only back with significant experience in protection.  That is important when you have a new quarterback.  Needless to say, I am anxious for news regarding Rhyno's surgery and timetable for return.

All things considered, it is good news.  Houston is out for approximately four months, which will have him back in mid-August.  Hopefully, he will be available for the opener against JMU, but should definitely be back for the ACC opener.


Now onto the News

Welcome to the UNC Family, Desmond Hubert!!!

Finally!  Not that I was getting worried . . . .  Desmond Hubert has committed to be a Tar Heel!  

_John_Henson_ John Henson

Would like to congratulate and welcome Desmond Hubert to the #UNC fam! .. He's going to be a good one..!!

TheRecruitScoop Alex Kline

Desmond Hubert on his North Carolina commitment: "Its a great feeling. I'm really grateful for this opportunity."

Hubert is a 6'9" and 195 lb center out of New Jersey.  Scout has him ranked as a 3*, number 13 center in the 2011 class.  (Personally, I prefer Scout rankings for basketball and rivals for football.  This may change as there has been some shake up in staff between the two respective sites, but I digress.) 

This is a big commitment for us, but not because he is going to be an immediate impact player.  In fact, he may redshirt next season.  He is offensively raw and needs to add weight, but I don't doubt that he will improve in every area that is required of him.  If you didn't take the time to read the Read of the Day on Tuesday, take the time now:

Driven by promise: New Egypt basketball star Desmond Hubert pushes past strife to excel on the court

I am really excited that Hubert is a Tar Heel.  This is what Scout has to say about Hubert:

One of the top defensive players in the country. Hubert has superior national shot blocking instincts. He's long, uses his length to impact games. Will need to develop more of an offensive presence. High character kid who is a standout in the classroom. 

Now, if you combine what you read in the Drive by promise article with the Scout blurb, you should start to see why I am so excited.  There are things you can't teach that Hubert has: size, natural shot blocking ability, athleticism, and mental toughness.  Hubert has overcome a lot to get to this point and have this opportunity.  

Do you think he is going to take it for granted?  

I don't.  I think he will approach it with the blue-collar work ethic that his uncle has instilled in him and not take anything for granted.  Initially, he is going to be a great practice player, pushing Henson and Zeller to get better going against a long, natural shot blocker.  But, the kid is smart and coachable.  By the time Hubert leaves the Hill, I predict he will not only be a fan favorite, but will be a major contributor to a championship caliber team.  Hubert is a four or five year guy that will provide some consistency and size in the post.  As "blue chippers" come in, Hubert will set the tone in practice, the classroom, and beyond.  Remember earlier this year when our young Heels were talking about the intensity level?  Hubert will eventually become stalwart; the old guy that has been there and understands what it takes in terms of effort and focus.  

Did I mention how he protects the rim!?!?  Check out the tape:

Welcome to the Hill, Mr. Hubert!  "Damn glad to meet you!" (animal house quote - couldn't find the video)

Houston, We Have a Shoulder Problem

I wasn't planning on writing a post today.  My hope was that I would have some news to post about Harrison Barnes and maybe Desmond Hubert on Thursday, so I could write a post on Thursday and call it a week.  Best laid plans . . . .

Ryan Houston Suffers Should Injury 
During Spring Game and

Will Undergo Surgery On Thursday

Sometimes life isn't fair.  Ryan Houston will be undergoing shoulder surgery on Thursday to repair a fractured scapula.  Even I as I write those words, I am shaking my head.  I just can't contain it . . .



Last Spring, he missed Spring Practice to get his grades in order.  When the season kicked off, he was sidelined by the NCAA investigative buzz saw.  While he was eventually cleared, we are all aware that he decided to redshirt the season rather than play the final four or five games.  This hurts.

It hurts because Rhyno has the opportunity to be the feature back behind a solid offensive line which will improve his professional draft stock.  It hurts because Rhyno has worked hard to get to this point both in the classroom and in the weight room.  This hurts because he is the only running back we have that has any real game day experience in Chapel Hill.  This hurts because there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the extent of his injury.   

More won't be known until after surgery.  However, this is a blog so I will jump the gun and explore the various scenarios.  Why not, it is what blogs do in our right-here-right-now society.  As such, I am going to start with the worst case scenario so we can end on the best case.  I am an eternal optimist, so I chose to believe that Rhyno has earned some good karma and will have the best case scenario work out for him.

First of all, it is a significant enough fracture to merit surgery . . . .

Worst Case Scenario.  If it is a major fracture, it will require five to six months to be fully rehabbed and cleared for contact.  I have a friend in his last year of med school and he started rattling off a lot of jargon that I processed as "the knee bone is connected to the shin bone, the shin bone is connected to the . . . ."  Essentially, a major fracture of the scapula could significantly effect the shoulder socket joint.  If that is the case, the surgery is very complicated, requiring stabilization of the fracture that utilizes plates and screws to hold the shoulder in place to prevent loss of motion and arthritis.  As awful as that sounds, that is not the worst case scenario.  The worst case scenario is that the shoulder is not responsive and never fully heals enough to sustain the kind of contact that football requires.  He assures me while it is a possibility, there is only a small chance of this happening, especially in an elite athlete like Ryan Houston.  Typically, athletes heal faster for various reasons.  That is the worst case scenario.

Not Quite the Worst Case Scenario.  See above but quit reading when you hit "[a]s awful as that sounds."  To paraphrase, Rhyno is out for six months.  That means that Rhyno would be back for the VTech game on Nov. 17 or, said another way, for the last two games of the season, the ACC championship game(?), and a bowl game.  Yeah, not what Houston had in mind when he decided to redshirt in order to play a full season last year.

Honestly, I don't know if he would be eligible for a medical redshirt . . . .

Not Quite the Best Case Scenario.  Twenty weeks.  Twenty weeks will have Rhyno back at the end of August and back in time for the season opener at the earliest and ACC play at the latest.  Half of that time would be for healing, half would be for rehab, so he would not be limping in unconditioned.  He would have completed all of the strength and conditioning required to compete at a high level.  Works for me, all things considered. 

Best Case Scenario.  Rhyno is out for six to eight weeks, which means he will be back by the middle of June and able to participate in Training Camp.  Fingers crossed!

After we find out a more definitive timetable for Houston's return, we can speculate how this injury impacts the season.  At this point, how big is it that Travis Riley enrolled early to participate in Spring Practice.  

My prayers and best wishes go out to Ryan for a speedy recovery.

Spring Game Sprung

J.J. Patterson is a BEAST

Allow me to introduce you to the second commit of the 2012 football recruiting class.  His name is J.J. Patterson.  JJP has some of the most impressive film I've seen from a high school junior DT.  Before you watch, it is important to remember that JJP plays 2A football for the Roanoke Rapids, so it is not like he is playing the same kind of competition that you see in the Sunshine State or from a Don Boscoe schedule in the northeast.  However, that does not change the fact that this film is impressive!  This is a Man (capitalized) against boys and umpa lumpas (not capitalized)!



What is your favorite part?
(1) When JJP is knocking kids five feet backwards off the line at the snap;
(2) His motor and footwork that allow him to get down the line and make tackles despite the fact that they are obviously running away from him;
(3) How he throws running backs around like they are 8 year olds;
(4) The fact that I am not exaggerating when I say 8 years olds;
(5) How at the 1:05 mark, JJP gets into the back field, makes the RB dance because he can't just run by him, and gets blindsided in an attempted block by a foolish WR (who is in a twenty yard sprint) only to bounce of JJP and crumble like a rag doll as JJP walks back to the line of scrimmage after a negative running play that he caused by getting into the backfield; or
(6) How eventually JJP is triple teamed and they still can't move him.  In fact, he disengages to make the tackle.  Straight BEAST mode!!!

SICK!  Now, JJP was recruited for the trenches on either side of the ball.  Secretly, I was hoping he would opt for the offensive side.  He is so strong, fast, and agile, he would make a great pulling guard.  However, those same skills are going to make him equally effective as a defensive tackle.  He is going to demand double teams, which will allow our DEs to match up one-on-one on the outside.  Anyone else thinking that we are D-Line U?

Tweet of the Day

KButter5 Kendall Marshall

@_John_Henson_ subtweet? --- RT @JuwanStaten3: #youknowpeoplecanthoop when they airball a freethrow

(That made me laugh out loud)

Read of the Day

Over the weekend, Desmond Hubert was on campus.  Word is that we will be picking up his commitment later this week.  I really want this kid.  Read this article and you will understand why I want this kid representing UNC - Driven by a promise: New Egypt basketball star Desmond Hubert pushes past strife to excel on court.  (More to come on Hubert later this week if what I am hearing turns out to be true)

Spring Game Sprung

My girlfriend agreed to go to the Spring Game when she thought it was going to be a nice day.  (Don't forget, she is a Wake and Kentucky alumnus.) Then, she thought I wouldn't want to go because of the threat of electrocution from a probable thunder storm.  Fail!  That was foolish and made me question if she really knows me.  The jury is still out on that one . . . .  However, despite the shitty weather, there was somewhere between 13-15,000 out to join me and watch the action.  Tar Heel Nation came out and represented well for our football team!  Love it!  Check out the pic of Q, Nix, and DPM.

See all those people?  That wasn't even the crowded side.  Frustratingly, there isn't any video that I can find to embed, so all I can do is provide a hotlink for a free video from TarHeelBlue.com:

FB: Spring Game Highlights - 4/9

(While you are there, check out the FB: Gameday Experience clip.  It makes me hurt for Fall!)

Bests of the Day

·  Best Run:  The run of the day starts at the 49 second mark of the clip.  Rhyno gets nice blocking up front to get into the second level and trucks Tre Boston.  Boston made a nice play on the much bigger Rhyno and might have made the tackle if he would have wrapped up.  Maybe.  That isn't a knock on Boston.  Kid is going to be a player!  Boston made a solid open-field tackle on Dwight Jones and that is no easy task.  It is a complement to Rhyno.  Rhyno vs. a DB is the kind of match up we want.  Even when we had a piecemeal o-line, Ryno could get us a yard or three on third and short.  Rhyno is a big, violent runner that will try to go through the defense just as much as he will try to run around/by it.  If we can get Rhyno into the second level and get blocks on the linebackers, forcing DBs to make the tackle, four or five times a game, it will wear down the opposing teams secondary and big plays will get bigger and bigger.  

·  Best Tackle for a Loss:  At 1:24, Sly Williams blows up a run play in the backfield by beating T.J. Leifheit.  Sly is going to get paid very well to play on Sundays and Nix is going to have to work hard to keep him out of the starting lineup.  (That kind of competition is what championships are made of.)  Sly is BEASTing this Spring!!!  When Sly lines up beside Q, Sly will command a double team, which will free Coples for one-on-ones on the outside for passing plays.  Advantage Tar Heels!  You saw the kind of run-stopper he is in the video.  Advantage Tar Heels!  Its got to suck to be an offensive coordinator trying to figure out an effective blocking scheme against our front four.  While it sucks for them, I can't help but smile!

·  Best Block:  The Block of the Day is at 1:50.  On an option read, Renner fakes the hand off and passes to Dwight Jones for a naked screen.  Brennan Williams showed incredible athleticism to get out for the block on the DB in space.  It was a VICIOUS pancake block!  Whole crowd went oooooooohhhhhh!  To me, it was the play of the day.  If we can get this kind of play out of the o-line, you are going to see O-coordinator John Shoop's play calling shine.  This is what he has been waiting for!

·  Best Pass: At the 2:00 mark, Renner hits Highsmith off play-action.  It was a well thrown ball and a little too easy . . . .  Our secondary was a shell of what you will see in the fall with Charlie Brown, Jonathan Smith, and Brian Gupton unavailable, so the sky isn't falling.  

·  Best QB Scramble:  Marquise Williams scrambles 42 yards for a TD at the 2:42 mark.  At the time, I didn't realize it was a 42 yards run.  He was very smooth as he broke the pocket and picked up at least 3 to 4 yards with each stride once he get beyond the line of scrimmage.  Effortlessly fast!  Did I mention the kid can throw it too.  Marquise Williams is the future and the future is bright!

 

What I Was Watching:

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

The Good

The QB play was solid.  Renner looked good, he looked like a starter.  He was 9-13 for 123 yards and a TD.  Hanson is now a serviceable backup if the need arise, going 3-4 for 25 yards.  A.J. Blue was only 1-5 for 10 yards.  Most of his throws were short passes that he put too much mustard on.  Sometimes, a little dab will do you.  However, Blue is an incredible athlete and I wouldn't be surprised to see him under center in a wild cat formation a couple of times a game.   Marquise Williams was 1-2 for 8 yards and an INT.  Lets not forget, he should have been getting ready for the prom on Saturday, not competing in Spring Practice.  Don't let those numbers fool you, he looked good.

The Bad

It is tough to really gauge where you stand during the Spring Game/Scrimmage.  It is a showcase for Tar Heel Football, i.e. a Harlem Globe Trotters game with no Washington Generals.  You could tell that Coach Davis took all the face cards out of the deck and was giving borderline guys the opportunity to earn playing time.  Why else would Rhyno get only two carries and Renner only take one shot deep?  Yeah, Butch was sandbagging and why not?  What is there  to gain in an intra-squad game?

The Ugly

Punting.  Period.  It was worse than me being without internet for a week last week and that is pretty fucking bad.  Good thing is that we have a U.S. Army All-American kicking specialist coming in that just happened to punt in the  USAAA game.



Yeah.  That's pretty freaking serious.  If your name is C.J. Feagles and you want to keep your job, you better get better.  RIGHT NOW!!!  That is all I'm saying.

I don't want to end on a negative.  Despite the uncertainty, this team has the potential to be very good.  It is going to be a fun Fall for college football!  Go Heels!!!

The Future's So Bright, I Got To Wear Shades, Vol. 2

*I wrote this post in about 15 minutes with no editing.  The Panera I was in closed as I finished my first draft and had to post without proofreading.  I just re-read it for the first time since writing it and am kind of embarrassed.  I apologize for all of the errors, uh, I mean don't judge me . . . . 

Well, this is fucking sad.  I am sitting in a Panera Bread writing this post because it seems to be the only place that I can get reliable fucking internet service.  Like Joni Mitchell always said, "you don't know what you got until it is gone." And let me tell you, not having internet isn't worth a shit.  I have proudly claimed to be immune from addiction, but I can't say that anymore.  I went through internet withdrawal and I am happy, naw fuck that, ECSTATIC to have access now.  If you don't follow me on twitter, I haven't been able to post due to a lack of internet on my travels.  I love to travel, but sometimes the small hassles turn in to big fucking problems.  So I guess what I am trying to say is, I am sorry for the lack of posts this week and this one is going to be a little rushed.  What can you do?  Blame shitty internet providers . . . but Spring practice is in full swing and I have been m.i.a.  Guess I better quite wasting time. 

Tweet of the Day

_John_Henson_ John Henson

Yessir we back in this thang!!!!!!! Lol RT @BDAHT: Well, I can break my silence it appears: Henson and Zeller will be returning #UNC fans!

M33RY1 Mary Troutman

by Lezz_McDonald2

http://twitpic.com/4hr5cy @Lezz_McDonald2 before the rim broke. all that's missing is the fresh fade...what happened to that anyways?? :)

 

 

Read of the Day

In terms of NFL-style Talent, North Carolina is New Number 1. You know you are doing it big and making some noise when Rick Gosselin of Dallas Morning News is writing about our football program in Texas !  In you don't know the deal, it is a hyperlink if the text is (as close as I can get it to) Carolina Blue.

Practice, We Talking About Practice

Damn Right! We talkin' 'bout practice.  Spring Practice!

Offensive Line.  The best news to come out of spring practice is the performance of the o-line.  We all know about the D-line. The D-line is nasty and its only getting better.  Coples is a first team All-American, DPM is the number one ranked NFL DE prospect of his class (though this is probably the last year we will have his services before he graduates to the NFL), and the DT spot is borderline ridiculous.  Sylvester Williams is as good if not better than advertised.  Marvin Austin says he is the same kind of player he is and that is saying something.  Our two-deep has multiple NFL prospects.  Sick! Obviously, the D-line has been a position-group of strength for a couple of years now, so we expected the O-line to get handled.  Well, not anymore my friends!  Check this out.

If you are missing my point, you need to get your IQ evaluated, but I'll play Captain Obvious.  We have an NFL size O-line.  Those are some big boys with game day experience going against arguably one of the best defensive front fours in the country day in and day out, getting better and better.

Word out of practice is that the battle in the trenches teeters back and forth.  It is no longer dominated by the D-line.  Hurst is a future first round pick and Jonathan Cooper is an pre-season Honorable Mention All American.  Football games are won in the trenches and we are stacked on both sides of the ball.  Reportedly, a fight broke out in practice yesterday between the two positions groups.  Finding out about that made me smile.  Why?  (1) No one was hurt.  (2) Already knew the D-line had a nastiness to it.  (Did you DPM in the Music City Bowl?  If you didn't, you are not a good Tar Heel and need to educate yourself.)  Now, we know the O-line does too.  

Quarterbacks.  We all know that Renner is the starting quarterback.  However, when Coach Davis is in charge, every position is up for grabs and must be won with your play on the field.  Competition makes you better.  Apparently, Braden Hanson went from maybe walking away from football to providing Renner with some real competition.  Remember what Yates did with Renner pushing him . . . .  Yeah.  While he will make some mistakes and try to fit the ball into some tight windows, the Bomber (Renner) is going to go HAM this year.  I predict that Dwight Jones will break some records!

Wide Receiver.  Speaking of Dwight Jones.  WR is our deepest position and a new face is emerging from Spring Practice.  Sean Tapley is apparently making waves and has drawn comparisons to Reggie Wayne.  I can't say anymore than that.  Wish I could, but thats all of got and it is enough to make me pee myself a little.  Just a little . . . .  

Runningback.  RB was a position of concern for me, but those concerns have been alleviated to a degree.  Rhyno is looking good and working on catching the ball out of the back field.  He is our only known commodity and that is what is concerning.  The news out of Spring camp is that Hunter Furr is fast as shit.  If he gets it in space and doesn't have to make more than one cut, he can take it to the house.  That is good news if we can consistently get him in the flats.  As far as Gio is concerned, he has not participated in any contact drills.  You know, better safe than sorry with his knee rehab.  However reportedly, he is a "different kind of back."  I asked for an explanation and all my boy could say was, he has "IT" capital I capital T if he can stay healthy.  You just never know which way his going to go and, when he goes, he is gone.  Do work Coach Mylo and UNC Trainers, do work!

Safety.  Tre Boston is making a smooth transition is going to be a big time player for us.  Word is that his added size has increased the level of the BOOM! that he delivers.


Its fun to be a Tar Heel!  The Spring Scrimmage is Saturday and I can't wait to see it.  Tailgating in April?  Hell yeah!  Sign me up!!!

Finally,  Larry Who? 

Ha!  

UCLA = Unwanted Carolina Left Overs?

If you have something better email or tweet me, I'd love to post it.