CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The playbook continues to expand for the North Carolina offense, as Jacolby Criswell gains more comfort and finds more continuity as the starter at quarterback.
Some new wrinkles were seen in Saturday’s loss to Pittsburgh, including the use of quarterback draws. The Tar Heels used those designed running plays three times, picking up gains of 7, 15 and 4 yards (totaling 26 yards). And two of those Criswell runs generated first downs, with him falling forward to finish all three of them.
“I think the more confidence your quarterback has, and I think some of it is dictated by the look you get (from the defense) in those formations,” UNC offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey said Monday. “We thought it would be a good call. It was a good thing for him, because the timing of it, he timed it up great. Lot of times quarterbacks rush through it, and they don’t give the O-line the time to set and the D-line time to get in their rush lanes. They’ll rush it sometimes and it’s muddy. He did a great job of being really patient, I think, on both of them…