Why excellence is becoming a habit for No. 12 North Carolina’s defense this season
The power of the bench and the “power of proximity” have combined to make No. 12 North Carolina a better defensive team this season.
Seem confusing? It’s not.
UNC coach Mack Brown is one who ultimately controls who’s on the field playing,
“The bench is your best friend as a coach,” Brown said this week. “If you’re not playing well we’ll take you out.”
With more depth on this UNC defense, there’s added competition for playing time. You either do or you don’t play. There’s always someone behind on the depth chart itching to get on the field.
The results also have been much better for the Tar Heels (5-0, 2-0 ACC), who host No. 25 Miami this week at Kenan Stadium. No longer is the UNC defense a soft touch for opposing teams. In the second year under defensive coordinator Gene Chizik, there is more experience, a better understanding of the schemes, better technique and better tackling.
“They’re definitely gaining confidence,” Chizik said. “With guys who have this much experience, and it’s year two in a defense, I think sometimes people minimize the value of that.”
Chizik is the one who talks about the power of proximity. He’ll also throw out an Aristotle quote and did Monday -- “We are what we repeatedly do, therefore excellence is not an act but a habit. “ - in discussing the improvement in UNC’s defense.
“The power of proximity is when you’re able to put players in a position to make plays, then they have to make the play,” Chizik said. “Last year we weren’t in the positions to make the play. Now, we’re in better proximity, from the back to the front, to be better at executing the defense. I think that matters.”
In other words, it’s about being in the right place at the right time and then making the play. The Heels last year often were not at the right place – or have close enough proximity to the play.
Having quality depth, and not just depth, is another factor. No longer are players being overloaded with snaps, allowing them to be fresher both in the game being played and the next game.
Brown recalled former defensive lineman Aaron Crawford being in for 97 snaps in the Heels’ 2019 game against Virginia Tech. The game did go six overtimes, but 97 plays?
“He’d look to the bench and we’d look the other way,” Brown said, smiling. “He didn’t come out, And he’s 320 pounds. I felt sorry for him. And he played 80 snaps the next week.”
That’s not happening now. Chizik said a good workload for his linemen might be 40 to 45 plays, not the 60 or 70 some of his defensive guys had to play last season.
Defensive lineman Myles Murphy said he felt fresh and frisky Saturday in the 40-7 win over Syracuse. It showed. He had five tackles including a tackle for a loss and was a handful up front. Travis Shaw and others also were productive in the ACC game.
“I can go all out, six or seven plays, give all I got and give it a tap (on the helmet) and I’ve got my guys coming in,” Murphy said. “I know my guys are going to ball out when I’m out. That’s a whole lot of energy right there.”
The Heels never allowed Orange quarterback Garrett Shrader to get untracked, shutting down his scrambles, shutting down the offense. Syracuse had 221 yards in total offense and ran just 51 plays.
Brown noted that after the Syracuse game, someone mentioned that safety Don Chapman was playing better this season.
“I said he doesn’t have any choice,” Brown said. “He knows he has to play better or they’re going to say, ‘Hey, Stick (Lane), get in the game.’ So that’s helping us.
“The same with the front. Nobody‘s tired. We say, ‘You don’t know how many plays you’ll have, so you better take advantage of the time you’re in there to make plays if you want to stay in there.’”
Through the first five games, the Tar Heels are fifth in the league in scoring defense (19.0 points a game), sixth in total defense (334.6 yards), fourth in interceptions (7) and sixth in third-down conversion defense (35.4%).
Miami, despite the tough last-minute 23-20 loss to Georgia Tech last week should test all those numbers Saturday. The Hurricanes (4-1, 0-1), with Tyler Van Dyke at QB. are averaging 39 points a game, an ACC-best 505.8 yards a game and converting 50% of their third-down plays.
Two years ago, the Tar Heels won 45-42 at Kenan, picking off Van Dyke three times in holding off the Canes. UNC won 27-24 on the road last year despite Van Dyke throwing for 496 yards and three TDs.
“He can really throw the ball on target, especially deep balls,” UNC cornerback Marcus Allen said Tuesday. “They’ve got threats all around. Everybody is catching the ball and everybody is making plays.”
No. 12 North Carolina (5-0, 2-0 ACC) vs No. 25 Miami (4-1, 0-1)
When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m
Where: Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill
TV: ABC
