The Dailey Interception September 11
By the looks of it, this will be part 1 of a multipart series.
Yes, that’s right! The subject at hand is UNC Football QB Joe Dailey. I have faith in my Tar Heels, and Coach Bunting, but COME ON! Look… a QB’s weakness should never be following a receiver, or staring down his receiver with his eyes. That is a very prude fundamental flaw.
Four interceptions in the past two games, one of which cost UNC a potential victory. Two against Virginia Tech (with two more from Cam Sexton) which infuriates me. Now knowing that Virginia Tech leads the ACC in interceptions this decade (if I remember the stat correctly the announcers brought up during the game) why would you attempt questionable passes? Why in the world would you attempt passing in traffic? Why would you try to force a pass?
As a QB one of your main jobs is to pass the ball. Wouldn’t it be pretty obvious that the pass defense, conversely, is trained to combat that job? Wouldn’t a pass defense train to read the QB, and shouldn’t a QB at the college level be cognitive of his oppositions capability? All this being said Dailey’s “weakness” is equivalent to a professional sprinter not being able to line up in the blocks. Dailey’s “weakness” a fundamental intuition almost all QB’s have. To have this as your flaw should earn you a spot back on the pee-wee football squad carrying water… to the bench… from the field house.
I am have sympathy for Dailey since he really doesn’t have any stats since 2004. That being said it is going to take time for him to settle in on offense. I truly wonder if Bunting had made a decision sooner about who the starting QB was going to be, perhaps Dailey would be more comfortable than he is now? Maybe the coaching staff would have been able to work more personally with Dailey to fix his “weakness”? All in all we cannot fault the QB for the teams woes.
The most obvious fundamental missing from UNC is tackling. I’ve noticed this especially the past 2 years. 3 years ago the tackling was great in the wake of Dexter Reid. I remember the 5 minute highlight promo that was played on the big screen of the HUGE hits and TREMENDOUS slams of the opposition straight to the ground. However the tackling I see today is simply pathetic.
From what I see now, the UNC Defense tried too often to tackle with their arms, and a good portion of the time while they are air born. NEVER leave your feet on Defense unless it is a goal line situation and your blocking an over the top play. Square your shoulders on the ball carriers hips, while watching the angle of the knees and learn to read the ball carrier. Soccer goalies do the same thing when defending a penalty kick. It’s not a failsafe, but it’s a better indication than not having a clue. When you make contact, make contact at the hip, hit and wrap, then drive through the ball carrier to the ground. If you don’t get the best of the ball carrier and get driven backwards, pivot on one foot 90 degrees, hold on tight (obviously), and push with the pivoted foot when it comes down while falling forward on your knees (if possible). There are two goals here. One is to slow down the ball carrier by holding on and distributing the momentum laterally (like you’re twisting the ball carrier) where the ball carrier is moving vertically (up the field). The second goal is to get out of the way, because you are setting up your teammate to pummel the ball carrier. Of course this is *if* you get good body contact on a tackle, which UNC has not done well for 2 years.
The loss to Rutgers was within one score, and it had a potential for a Tar Heel win if it wasn’t for a last minute turnover. The loss to Virginia Tech was just plain miserable. If anything at least the Defense could have tackled well. At least at that point the focus can be on play calling, a responsibility of the coaching staff, not a fundamental of the athlete.
In conclusion the Tar Heels have the potential to be a great team this year and have an over .500 season. However, they need to find a quick and sturdy fix on their run defense. I’m a Tar Heel fan, I support the team, but I hope the team is open to a little constructive criticism. They know what they have to do which is apparent in their interview comments. On the other hand I was once told something by a very wise man (my old boss). “Establish yourself through your accomplishments, not your conversation”.