Turnovers Clipping UNC Offense As Tar Heels Try To Boost Scoring

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Bill Belichick cited turnovers as the “No. 1 problem” North Carolina must eliminate following the team’s loss to Virginia on Saturday.

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Two of the team’s three turnovers took place with the Tar Heels taking snaps from the red zone —  Kobe Paysour’s fumble on his lunge to the goal line, and Gio Lopez’s intercepted pass when looking for Shanard Clower to his right side. The third was Lopez’s deep ball attempt to Madrid Tucker at the end of the regulation that went off Tucker’s hands and into Antonio Clary’s possession.

North Carolina has turned the ball over six times in the last two weeks, though one was a result of a series of last-ditch laterals against Cal on the very last possession of the game. The other five, however, proved costly throughout the flow of the game. Belichick said on Tuesday that the team works on ball control drills in practice and repeats them each week, but he also spoke to the in-game mindset players have of wanting to secure extra yardage and score when close to the goal line.

“We’re trying to gain yards, but we’re also trying to gain yards with excellent ball security, and not ever giving the defense, not only a chance to get it out, but not even showing them that, ‘Hey, here’s an opportunity,’” Belichick said. “Because runners that don’t take care of the ball when they’re in space just send a signal to defenders that, ‘Oh, it’s loose. I wasn’t even thinking about stripping it. But now I see the ball when I get closer to them.’ Now, it kind of triggers that ‘get it out’ response. 

“So it’s ball security 24/7, it’s all the time. It doesn’t matter who has the ball. The center, quarterback, a running back, a receiver, punt returner, kickoff returner, a defender who intercepts or recovers a fumble and advances it. Anybody who touches the ball.”

The Tar Heels have lost by a combined four points the last two weeks, a stark contrast to the first three games they played against power conference teams. They were outscored 120-33 against TCU, UCF and Clemson combined.

The UNC defense has played better, holding teams to 19 points and 276.5 yards per game. But the offense hasn’t taken advantage, scoring only 17 points per game as a unit.

North Carolina had an opportunity at a go-ahead touchdown against California late in the game, with Nathan Leacock taking a pass to the one-yard line. As he attempted to cross the plane, though, a Golden Bear defender knocked the football out of his possession before he could reach the endzone. That play, as well as each of the two red zone turnovers against Virginia, kept the Tar Heels from getting the jump and taking the lead on the opponent.

Lopez took accountability for his interceptions on Saturday, particularly the third-quarter pick when attempting to throw it to Clower. He said he was trying to connect with him on a back-shoulder throw, but should have made a better decision.

UNC ranks 126th nationally in points per game, averaging just 18.3. North Carolina had its highest total yardage output on Saturday with 353 yards, but only managed 16 points as a result. While the unit has shown improvement in moving the ball, it hasn’t capitalized on it.

“The biggest goal of offense is we have to score more points,” Belichick said. “That’s why they put a scoreboard up there. We just have to score more points. We move the ball, but you don’t get points for moving the ball. It’s got to cross the endzone, or you gotta kick it between the uprights. And we’ve missed on too many of those opportunities, scoring opportunities in the red area. And they’re team opportunities, not just one guy, but we’ve got to do a better job collectively of finishing our drives, finishing our plays and having the result that we feel like should be the result at the end of the play.”

North Carolina will face Syracuse on Halloween night, looking for its first ACC win of the season. It can afford just one more loss before being eliminated from bowl contention. The last time UNC missed out on a goal game was the 2018 season.

The defense has shown tangible strides in recent weeks in limiting opposing offenses, but the team hasn’t accompanied that growth with wins. For the Tar Heels’ offense, eliminating mistakes and protecting the football are the next steps.

“I think if we clean up some of the turnovers, especially in the red zone, that changes a lot of our outcomes in the game,” Lopez said. “If we can clean those things up, then we’re sitting at a different record. And that’s something that we’re urgently wanting to get better. And I think everyone has a good mindset towards it.”