After a long holiday weekend to gather my thoughts, I'm still shaking my head after what we saw from the North Carolina football team on Saturday.
What happened to the new and improved rush defense? Who was the Mitch Trubisky we saw against Georgia? And where, oh where has Elijah Hood gone?
First, the biggest concern: In the past three games, UNC has allowed a combined 1,253 rushing yards to Clemson, Baylor and Georgia. While Nazair Jones and co. came into this season with high hopes for improvement, the defense needs a serious evaluation before facing the likes of Dalvin Cook and Wayne Gallman in conference competition.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the game was the poor performance of Trubisky, who went from a star-in-waiting to a wide-eyed newcomer in just 60 minutes. Yes, first-game jitters under the lights of the Georgia Dome could have spooked the redshirt junior quarterback. But if the Mentor native can't meet the lofty expectations set for him before the year, this team will be hard-pressed to match its production from a season ago.
Of course, handing the ball to Hood might help. The preseason All-ACC back rushed the ball just 10 times on Saturday, despite netting 7.2 yards per carry. Even TJ. Logan — who produced perhaps the most thrilling yet easily forgettable touchdown in UNC history — had only six carries of his own. If North Carolina's potent rushing attack can't alleviate Trubisky's early anxieties, it could be a long road ahead for the Tar Heels.
UNC football's season-opening loss
- After an electrifying performance from Georgia running back Nick Chubb, UNC is trapped in a never-ending nightmare.
- After three years on the sidelines, this moment was supposed to be different for Mitch Trubisky.
Stories from the weekend
- Twin brothers Tucker and Walker Hume saved the day for the undefeated men's soccer team despite its overall sloppiness against VCU.
- Lindsey Harris showed her potential as an elite goalkeeper with two clean sheets against Duke and Villanova.
- The volleyball team is hitting its stride as stiffer competition looms.
Football preview edition
- Did you miss Friday's football preview edition, including features on the top players, breakdowns for every positional group and a preseason podcast? How about our ACC previews of every opponent in the conference? It's not too late to check them out — it'll be worth the read.
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