Coach Al Groh may have put it best in his weekly presser with the media.

“This is definitely the most explosive North Carolina team that we’ve been challenged by probably since the ’01 season,” said Groh. “They are very explosive offensively. The three receivers are very explosive. They’ve had seven or eight plays this year over 50 yards already. A lot of it is off of some very intricate schemes and a lot of play-action to try to minimize the rush on the quarterback. It’s very challenging, they have a very talented group there and they have done a very good job of putting together a plan that enables them to really feature those players.”

Not much more to add is there? Thus far the Heels have proven to be a high-octane offense, especially through the air. Let’s take a closer look.

Statistics

• The Tar Heels scored 37 points against James Madison and 31 the following week at East Carolina. It marks the first time Carolina has posted back-to-back 30-point games since the 2005 season. The last time Carolina had three consecutive 30-point games was 1997. Last year, the Heels scored more than 30 points just twice the entire year.
• North Carolina is second in the ACC in passing offense (285.5 YPG), fourth in scoring offense (34 PPG), fourth in third-down conversions, and first in passing efficiency (191.7).
• The 344 yards passing the Heels recorded against ECU was the first 300+ yard game in 16 contests. The last time Carolina passed for more than 300 yards was against Maryland in 33-30 overtime win in 2005.
• While the passing game is sailing high, the running game is flying under the radar. UNC is eighth in the league in rushing offense and have yet to produce a 100-yard rushing day from its backs.

Coach Groh Says …

“Quarterback [T.J. Yates] has been excellent. He’s very accurate; I mean his quarterback rating, I think, is 196 and that’s an unreal number for any college quarterback to have. They have been very, very effective in taking full advantage of what obviously is a very strong position on their team and I think their average yardage per catch is 16 yards per catch for the season, which is unbelievable.”

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