Can UNC Find Balance in Running Game vs. Appalachian State?

Two’s a company, but three’s a crowd.

North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Mack Brown said the last names of his three running backs, senior Antonio Williams, sophomore Javonte Williams, and junior Michael Carter, sound like a law firm. But, making a case for who carries the ball has been no easy decision for the Carolina coaching staff.

And as of now, Antonio is the odd man out. The running backs have 83-125 rush attempts through the first three games, but Antonio has six rush attempts and did not carry the ball in their 24-18 loss last week to Wake Forest.

“Make no mistake about it,” said Carolina offensive coordinator Phil Longo, “(Antonio) is a weapon, and he is a running back that is in the rotation for us. He’s kind of in the same boat as Jace (Ruder). There’s an intention to use him every week. It’s just gonna be dictated by situation, and Coach Gillespie will handle our roles through the three running backs. Sometimes we use a guy based on how fresh they are. As I said last week, we’re gonna use guys based on how well they’re playing, occasionally. It’s by situation, so Antonio is always in the plan, and I think before long you will see him out on the field as well. It’s just hard to tell you when because it’s gonna be based on how the game goes.”

Antonio leads the team with 9.7 yards per rushing attempt, and he has only carried the ball on three drives this year. His explosive three-carry, 51-yard electrifying running display late in the third quarter when they trailed South Carolina 15-9 in the Belk Kickoff sparked a slumping offense. It changed the course of the game, and maybe the season.

What makes Carolina’s running situation so tricky is that all three running backs are performing at a high level. Javonte and Carter are averaging 5.5 and 5.1 per rush attempt.

So you can’t make the argument not to play one of them based on a lack of productivity.
North Carolina plays Appalachian State tomorrow in Kenan Stadium at 3:30 p.m. in the second meeting between the schools.

An equal distribution of touches between Willams, Williams and Carter is a deciding factor in the game. Most teams have two running backs they play, but having a third adds another layer. Opposing defenses have to gameplan for one more running back, and it wears them down physically throughout a game.

Brown said in an early press conference that football isn’t complicated: people are. Having three productive running backs is better than having two, but we’ll have to see wait to see the verdict on Saturday.

(Feature image courtesy of Landon Bost)