Slept On It (3x) : Carolina dominates in Full Speed Scrimmage Against A&T

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I rushed this post cause this week's been a madhouse. Apologies for any grammatical errors and/or fragments. 

Carolina dominated North Carolina A&T on Saturday Night, capping a rain soaked evening where play looked both great and sloppy. We saw a return of the Quarterback Rotation which led to many on the Twittersphere to complain about it's use. What did Carolina want to accomplish in this glorified scrimmage? Let's take a look:

1. The first goal should be a no-brainer: WIN. There's nothing more embarrassing than losing to an opponent you have zero business losing to. Carolina made sure this one was well out of reach for the Aggies by the half. Kudos to the squad for taking care of business.

2. Get Quality Reps for the Backups - Carolina because of the lead they jumped out to got to work in numerous backups in the first and second halves. In fact, we saw Mitch Trubisky early on on the third offensive series following a turnover. Folks have voiced their dissaray with playing rotating the QBs and had this game been a competitive game then I would agree. There was nothing wrong with getting Mitch first team reps against an FCS squad. Those reps will pay dividends down the stretch, especially with Quise's proneness to getting banged up because of the physical nature of his play. 

@CarolinaBlue's Ross Martin was nice enough to compile a list of the backups who played:

- Freshman CB Mike Hughes - ended up leaving with a concussion 
- Junior RB Khris Francis - 5 rushes for 14 yards
- RS sophomore QB Mitch Trubisky - 5 for 7 for 37 yards and a TD, 3 rushes for 36 yards and a TD
- RS freshman QB Caleb Henderson - didnt throw a pass, 2 rushes for 24 yards
- Sophomore S Allen Artis - 2 tackles
- Sophomore WR Austin Proehl - 1 reception for 13 yards, 1 rush for 13 yards
- Junior DT Ian Dibble - 2 tackles
- Freshman RB Ty'Son Williams - 4 rushes for 19 yards
- RS freshman WR Josh Cabrera 
- Junior CB Kedrick Davis - 1 tackle
- RS freshman LB Ayden Bonilla - 1 tackle
- Junior S Dominique Green - two tackles 
- Junior RB Charles Brunson - 4 rushes for 11 yards, 1 catch
- Freshman S J.K. Britt - two tackles
- Sophomore LB Hunter Crafford -
- Freshman CB Corey Bell Jr. 
- Senior WR Damien Washington - 1 reception for 13 yards
- Sophomore LB Cole Holcomb - 4 tackles
- Junior LB Dan Mastromatteo - played at LB and saw goal line work as a FB
- RS Freshman DE Malik Carney - 5 tackles
- Freshman LB Andre Smith - 4 tackles
- RS freshman TE Brandon Fritts - 3 receptions for 11 yards and two TDs
- Sophomore OG Brad Henson 
- Sophomore OT R.J. Prince - replaced Spain
- RS freshman TE Caleb Samuel 
- RS freshman WR Devin Perry 
- Sophomore WR Jordan Fieulleteau 
- Junior WR Dalton Strogner 
- DT Aaron Crawford - saw a bunch of action 3 tackles
- RS freshman DT Robert Dinkins - 3 tackles, one sack

3. Everyone Stay Healthy - The injury report, which is never released by Head Coach Larry Fedora appeared as follows pregame:
UL (Utility Lineman) John Ferranto, DT Tyler Powell, DE Junior Gnonkonde, DT Jason Strowbridge, LB Joe Jackson, and C Tommy Hatton were no where to be found
- Mike Hughes left with what looked like to be a concussion
- Bentley Spain left with what looked like to be an ankle injury early in the third quarter. Word is he would have continued to play if this was a game not against FCS
- Clarke looked banged up after the second quarter 

There are lots of significant contributors on the list above which is concerning. Carolina's already thin offensive and defensive lines do not need 3 members each to be out out going forward. While the game against A&T presented a unique opportunity to play some young guns, the fact that Bentley Spain hurt his ankle when the game was well out of reach is in my opinion a mismanagement of your resources. Call with Coach on the Couch but I kept asking for the staff to pull all of the main rotation guys out early and often. 

Up 29-0......

Just noticed all 2s at the skill positions were in on that drive. Hope to see the OL2 in soon

— Frattisimo (@FootbawFrat) September 12, 2015

Late in the second quarter, up 36-0...

UNC Defense forces another punt. Hope there isn't a starter on the field when the O comes back out.

— Frattisimo (@FootbawFrat) September 12, 2015

up 46-0....

Aight. I hope the starters are done for the evening. Time to develop some depth. #UNC

— Frattisimo (@FootbawFrat) September 13, 2015

/Spain gets hurt 

Get the first team OL off the field, Carolina

— Frattisimo (@FootbawFrat) September 13, 2015

then 1st team OL gets pulled after Trubisky races to 53-0 

I'm from the school that when you go up 4-5 scores against a clearly inferior opponent you start yanking guys that are regular contributors and insert the guys that need the reps.  

4. Get into a rhythm and work out the kinks - Carolina looked to establish a sound mix of rushing vs passing this past Saturday and their commitment to this blend let to an early onslaught of points in the first half. As the starters took a seat and the reserves or "reinforcements" got the opportunity to get better. Carolina's still has questions on the edge and the back end of the defense that wont be answered until down the road. I was excited to see the defense force multiple turnovers. It was long overdue that the defensive unit flipped the field for the offense. 

5. Begin Prep for the next opponent - The only way Carolina was able to get ready for Illinois was to get reps for the backups. The first two games have not served the pass defense very well for what lies ahead against Illinois. Illinois raids the air the way we've seen with ECU the last half decade. The passing offenses that Carolina's faced so far (Sakerlina and NC A&T) are not one's the beat your chest about. We're talking about the 94th passing in country in South Carolina and and A&T squad that's lower ties in the FCS ranks.

Long and the short, it's good to be on a winning streak headed into what the coaches are calling, Carolina's biggest test of the season to date. 

A look at Illinois' up next.

WFP