After getting the week off, UNC football is set to return to the field this Friday night to take on Cal. It’s been a tumultuous week and start in general to the Bill Belichick era, but this weekend, we’ll
see if they used the bye to figure out how to get the team back on track.
Of note is also that this will be the Tar Heels’ first trip out west as part of the expanded ACC. UNC didn’t play either Cal or Stanford anywhere last year, but this week, they’ll have to go to Berkeley. As Carolina looks to get something going in their favor, here are some things to look out for against the Golden Bears.
Can the Heels force turnovers?
With a 4-2 record, Cal has gotten off to a pretty solid start to the season. However even in their wins, one thing the Golden Bears have done plenty is turn the ball over, especially in the passing game.
Cal quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele has seven interceptions in six games, which is the highest mark in the ACC, and the team in total has committed 10 on the year. Admittedly, seven of those 10 have been interceptions that have come in just two games, and both ended up being their two losses: to San Diego State and Duke two weeks ago. However, considering they’re averaging over 30 passing attempts per game, that’s certainly going to lead to more interception chances.
UNC’s defense hasn’t been great on defense, although they’ve hardly been the main issue with this team, but they have managed to force seven turnovers in their five games. If they can take any chances they can get, they could potentially use them to help flip the field for what has been the biggest issue for this year’s team: the offense.
Can UNC get pressure on the QB?
A non-zero part of when Sagapolutele has as many interceptions as he does is that Cal has allowed 14 sacks on the season. Not shockingly, 10 of those have come in the aforementioned San Diego State and Duke losses when the Golden Bears threw seven of their INTs.
As a team, UNC haven’t been especially effective in that area, as they have just six sacks combined on the year. However so far, Cal’s opponents have had opportunities to get after the quarterback. This weekend, UNC will badly need to take whatever chances they can get. History so far this season has shown that when you can put pressure on Sagapolutele, you will get opportunities to create mistakes. If UNC wants any chance of winning this weekend and turning their season around, that’s something they really need to do.
Be careful around Cal’s Hezekiah Masses
On the other side of the ball, the Golden Bears have created some interceptions for themselves, or at least one player in particular has done that. Cal DB Hezekiah Masses has an ACC high four interceptions on the year. In addition to that, he has seven passes defended, which leads the team. When Masses has come up with INTs, he’s also shown a proclivity to flipping the field, as he’s returned those four interceptions for 91 yards in total. None of them have gone all the way for a touchdown, but that’s a good amount of field position added after the interceptions.
UNC has relied on Jordan Shipp pretty heavily so far this year — he has 18 catches with the next highest player at 10. It wouldn’t be shocking if Masses is regularly in the area around Shipp, so it’s clear that if you’re going to go that way, be careful, because the consequences if things go poorly could be very dangerous.
