News:Bryn Renner completed 29-of-36 passes for 315 yards and three touchdowns Thursday at Virginia.
Analysis: It's Bryn Renner's third straight game over 300 yards. He's settling in to Larry Fedora's spread offense, but his numbers aren't tremendously better than last season while running a pro-set scheme. He'll look to finish the season strong next weekend against Maryland, and head into 2013 as a solid option.
News:Bryn Renner completed 24-of-35 passes for 350 yards and two touchdowns Saturday against Georgia Tech.
Analysis: It's the fourth time Bryn Renner has topped 300 yards this season, and has hit the 350 mark in consecutive outings. Given the way the Heels defense is surrendering points, Renner's shoulder should get another workout Thursday night at Virginia.
News:Bryn Renner completed 19-of-32 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns Saturday at Duke.
Analysis:Bryn Renner hasn't topped 231 yards in his last four contests, and has only six touchdowns over that span. He's been surprisingly average in his first year in a spread offense.
News:Bryn Renner completed 17-of-30 passes for 194 yards and a touchdown Saturday against Virginia Tech.
Analysis: Simply put, Bryn Renner wasn't needed as the Heels ran at will against the Hokies. Through six games, Renner is on pace for over 2,800 yards and 28 scores, which aren't shabby numbers at all. However, they just aren't in line with the breakout owners had hoped for.
News:Bryn Renner completed 14-of-19 passes for 231 yards and three touchdowns Saturday against Idaho.
Analysis: This contest got out of hand quickly, and Bryn Renner didn't see enough action to post a truly monstrous day.
News:Bryn Renner completed 27-of-43 passes for 321 yards and two touchdowns Saturday against East Carolina.
Analysis: That's back-to-back 300-yard games for the signal caller, who's getting comfortable in the Heels' new spread offense.
News:Bryn Renner hit on 26-of-41 passes for 363 yards and five touchdowns Saturday at Louisville.
Analysis:Bryn Renner got off to a slow start, and looked completely out of rhythm early, but nearly led a miraculous comeback in the fourth quarter. These are the types of numbers he's capable of in this offense, but he's unlikely to sniff five touchdowns again soon.
News:Bryn Renner hit on 23-of-39 passes for 271 yards and a touchdown Saturday at Wake Forest.
Analysis: He was intercepted once, and didn't look like himself in the second half. He took a shot to the head late in the first half, and immediately signaled to the sideline for assistance, but returned to play the entire game. Things don't get easier for Bryn Renner next weekend as the Heels head to Louisville.
News:Bryn Renner completed 14-of-21 passes for 236 yards and three touchdowns against Elon on Saturday.
Analysis:Bryn Renner looked in complete control of the new offense, and took multiple chances deep. He's on the border of QB1 status in the right situation.
News: North Carolina quarterback Bryn Renner (concussion) was held out of practice until last Thursday, but will start this Thursday at Virginia Tech.
Analysis: The Hokies' defense has been gashed by injuries, so Renner doesn't get an automatic benching simply based on location and opponent. He just gets a near automatic one - as it's not worth risking your playoff life on Renner unless you start multiple signal callers.
News: North Carolina quarterback Bryn Renner (concussion) hasn't practiced this week, but is throwing on the sidelines as the 'Heels rest, and prepare for Virginia Tech next Thursday in Blacksburg.
Analysis: Another case of a bye week coming at a terrific time. Interim head coach Everett Withers said Renner could practice later this week, when UNC begins game preparations for the Hokies. If you've ever been to Blacksburg for a Thursday night tilt, you'll know Renner isn't a great start regardless of his health.
News: North Carolina quarterback Bryn Renner left in the second half of today's game against North Carolina State with what is being labelled as "concussion like" symptoms.
Analysis: Renner tried to gut things out after leaving late in the second quarter, but had to head to the locker room. He was awful while playing, hitting 9 of 17 passes for 76 yards and was picked off twice. Braden Hanson is on in relief.
News: A week after turning the ball over four times, North Carolina quarterback Bryn Renner threw for 338 yards and three touchdowns against Wake. He wasn't intercepted.
Analysis: Renner is up to 20 total touchdowns this year, and nearly 2,200 yards. That's a pretty nice pace with three games remaining. Turnovers aside, Renner is quietly turning in a solid statistical season in his first year as a starter.
News: Led by defensive end Kourtnei Brown, the Clemson defense intercepted North Carolina quarterback Bryn Renner three times, forced three fumbles and scored two touchdowns.
Analysis: They also gave up 38 points, but we'll forgive them for their indiscretions there. A struggling Georgia Tech offense is up next for a unit that is emerging as a fantasy force.
News: North Carolina quarterback Bryn Renner tweaked his ankle Saturday against Miami on numerous occasions, but isn't expected to miss practice time this week.
Analysis: Renner was sacked early, and then again on the second to last play of the game, reinjuring the ankle. He'll be fine to play Saturday against Clemson, but defensive end Andre Branch is probably licking his chops.
News: North Carolina quarterback Bryn Renner tossed for 288 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Miami.
Analysis: The end was better than the sum of its parts here, as Renner missed quite a few opportunities throughout the contest. He also injured his ankle early, which was made worse by a last second sack by Miami linebacker Sean Spence. Renner will be OK, and should post average numbers next week at Clemson, but I expected more from the sophomore against a bad Miami defense.
News: In four games not against Ohio State quarterback Joe Bauserman, the Miami Hurricanes' defense has yielded some staggering numbers to opposing signal callers: 89 of 125 passing, 994 yards and seven touchdowns.
Analysis: That's a 71% completion percentage. The 'Canes have also given up an average of 57.8 yards rushing and four scores on the ground. North Carolina quarterback Bryn Renner, and wide receiver Dwight Jones must be licking their chops.
News: North Carolina quarterback Bryn Renner went 13-of-20 for 230 yards against East Carolina. He had four touchdowns and no interceptions.
Analysis: It's just the second time in five outings he hasn't been picked off, and despite a 75.7% completion rate, he's averaging just 15.7 completions. Tough to expect huge numbers from a guy with so few chances weekly. Renner is only an option in ACC circles.
News: North Carolina quarterback Bryn Renner was an impressive 20-of-26 passing against Rutgers, but he was intercepted three times.
Analysis: Renner has now been picked off four times this year, but has only had three passes hit the ground in two games. He went for 273 yards and a score, and still looks like one of the best new signal callers in the ACC.
News: North Carolina quarterback Bryn Renner couldn't have asked for a better debut, finishing 22-of-23 passing for 277 yards and two touchdowns against JMU.
Analysis: Renner's only incompletion was an interception on a deep pass into double-coverage. JMU's defense returned ten starters, making this that much more impressive. Renner has weapons around him, and is going to surprise quite a few folks this year.
News: With the lack of experience and depth at the North Carolina tight end position, freshmen Eric Ebron and Jack Tabb will get a shot to see the field. Ebron snared 28 passes for a staggering 682 yards and 10 scores in his senior year, while Tabb was also productive upon exiting Red Bank Catholic in New Jersey.
Analysis: ![CDATA[Freshmen tight ends are usually not viable fantasy options but if quarterback Bryn Renner starts to key on either of them early, snatch that big fella up.
]]
News: Some think that if a team has a new quarterback that it will be a rebuilding year but that is not always the case. Rivals.com analyzed which new starting quarterbacks could lead their teams to conference championships. The ACC has E.J. Manuel, Bryn Renner, and Logan Thomas. Braxton Miller and Russell Wilson represent the Big Ten. Brock Osweiler is the only new starter who could contend in the PAC-12. Alabama and Arkansas have guys who could take them to the top in A.J. McCarron (or Philip Sims) and Tyler Wilson, respectively. The non-AQ candidates are Tyler Lantrip (Nevada), Derek Carr (Fresno), and Casey Pachall (TCU).
Analysis: Even if a team has a new starter at quarterback, if there is enough talent around them and on the other side of the ball, it can certainly help them along so the team doesn't skip a beat. Manuel should emerge as a star who will makes others around him better. Thomas is so athletic he will be hard to stop. Wilson's arrival in Madison made the Badgers immediate conference contenders. Wilson has already showed the ability to run Bobby Petrino's offense in Fayetteville while McCarron or Sims have a stifling 'D' to bail them out if need be.
News: Renner announced Thursday that he is quitting baseball in order to devote his energies to football, where he is expected to push three-year starter T.J. Yates for the starting quarterback position, ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Renner's move is an interesting one, as his continuing to play baseball would not have interfered with his pursuit of starting quarterback. Still, that he has elected to focus on football does send a strong signal about his willingness to embrace the role completely once awarded the opportunity and could play strongly in his favor if Yates struggles to any significant degree out of the gates come this fall.
News: Renner completed 15-of-21 passes for 184 yards this past weekend as North Carolina held its annual spring game, ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Despite the impressive showing this past weekend, head coach Butch Davis says that T.J. Yates still retains the upper hand because of his overall playing experience. Davis noted as well that Renner played as well as he did due to the fact that he faced "generic, basic" defenses, not the complex ones he'd face come the fall.
News: North Carolina head coach Butch Davis said that he has not ruled out playing Renner, who is a true freshman.
Analysis: Renner had been expected to redshirt this season. If he's going to get on the field anytime soon, this week's game against Georgia Southern might be a good opportunity.
