Houston Gets the Call

For the second year in a row, North Carolina will have major lineup shift as it enters the final games on its schedule.  Last year, quarterback T.J. Yates was reinserted into the lineup against N.C. State after backup Cam Sexton led the Tar Heels to a 5-2 record subbing for Yates.  The immediate results were brutal.  Yates had his worst game of the year, and so did everyone else wearing Carolina blue.  N.C. State suffocated the entire Tar Heel team and boat-raced the Heels in Kenan Stadium

 

This time around, North Carolina will be replacing starting running back Shaun Draughn with backup Ryan Houston.  

 

Houston, has significant experience playing in (and impacting) big games.  Houston, gained more yards last week (164 rushing, 15 receiving) than the entire Duke team combined.

 

But it remains to be seen how Houston, offensive coordinator John Shoop, and the rest of the Carolina offensive attack will play now that big number 32 will be the focus from the get go.

 

I have been in the camp screaming for Houston to get more carries since the Connecticut game.  And actually, the carries over the season have been fairly equal (124 for Draughn compared to 108 for Houston but that includes a 37-to-1 ratio last week). And I have no idea if more Houston would have made a difference in any games but here's what I do know: in Carolina's losses he's carried the ball 13 times, total.  That sounds ridiculous doesn't it?

 

I realize there is nothing good about Draughn's freak injury (a fractured shoulder blade?  Really?  That couldn't sound any more painful, or weird).  For one, it absolutely decimates an already thin Tar Heel backfield.  Backup ball carriers Jamal Womble and A.J. Blue are already out for the year.  (Although if there's one good it's that losing Blue puts an end to the wildcat.)  It also forces Carolina to shuffle some more players around to spell Houston.

 

Anthony Elzy performed admirably last week switching from fullback in a pinch.  Johnny White could be an option, so too could former starting running back Greg Little if need be.  But make no mistake, Houston will be asked to carry the load.  And I think Heels fans should be excited  about it.

 

Look, when has Houston not gained at least three yards.  He gets three yards falling forward and getting pounded by that guy for an entire game takes a toll on defenses.  The Heels will most certainly miss the explosive element Draughn brought (the big 44-yard run against Virginia Tech was huge and perfectly timed) and will need to supplement that with some of the same creative play calls they had in Blacksburg using speedy wide receivers and the aforementioned Little.

 

But, as it has been all year, first down will be the most important down for this team and specifically Yates.  This is not a big revelation obviously.  But when you've got a quarterback who does not look comfortable (and against Duke, Yates did not look comfortable) manageable down and distance becomes even more paramount.  Houston can make 2nd down, at worst, seven yards to gain most of the time.

 

He's surprisingly agile for his size and has the ability to make the first guy miss and run over the second.  

 

Draughn's ability to pick up blitzes and pass protect should not be forgotten here.  Houston, or whomever is in the backfield with Yates, will have to do their part to keep defenders away from the quarterback.  The Heels will miss Draughn but perhaps Houston is ready to take center stage.  At this point it doesn't matter because he has to.

 

It will be interesting to see what new adjustments the offense comes up with.  The game plan in Blacksburg was as colorful as we've seen from Shoop this season.  And it was needed to beat a good team.  Miami is a good team.  And Shoop will need another solid game plan, and probably a few tricks, to keep his offense moving.

David Walker
david@thebigtailgate.com