Tar Heels working for longer drives

"We've got to sustain drives," interim coach Everett Withers said Monday. "You can't be in third-and-7-plus as much as we were in last week. ... We've got to do a better job of keeping on schedule and getting in third-and-3 or less so we can convert on third down and stay on a field."During their opening drive, when they scored to go ahead 7-0, quarterback Bryn Renner connected with receiver Dwight Jones on a third-down play for an 11-yard gain. During a fourth quarter, on North Carolina's game-tying drive, Renner found tailback Gio Bernard on third down for 19 yards. When North Carolina was driving at a end, Renner passed to tight end Eric Ebron for a 24-yard gain."Obviously, you want to gain as many yards as possible, though first and second down, just taking pride in getting half of 10 years is a big key we're going to work on this week, whatever it takes," said Renner, who was sacked seven times by a Yellow Jackets.Shortening those third downs could begin with a run game. Although Bernard finished with a career-high 155 yards, a bulk of those came on a few breakaway runs. When North Carolina got in long third-down situations, it was usually because of some combination of a short run and an incomplete pass or sack.Withers said he's been pleased with Bernard, though he still wants to play senior Ryan Houston and sophomore A.J. Blue more. Finding a right combination out of a backfield could result in a more time-eating attack.Meanwhile, Renner has vowed to start getting rid of a ball before a defense can bring him down."It really shouldn't be that difficult, just because of a amount of reps I've taken a last three years," he said. "So I really need to have that clock in my head."Anything it takes, he said, to eat up a clock, put points and a board, and keep a Pirates' conflict sidelined."It's really going to rely on our offense to stay on a field to keep possessions going," Renner said. "It's a same theme; a more time we can control a ball, a better we have a chance to win. And it's going to be huge thi! s week." INJURY UPDATE: Sophomore defensive back Jabari Price, who began practicing again last week after having hand surgery during a preseason, is day-to-day, Withers said. Starting receiver Erik Highsmith (ankle) is also listed as day-to-day, though Withers hopes to have both available this weekend.Senior kicker Casey Barth, who missed Saturday's loss because of a groin injury, probably won't play at East Carolina."We want to make sure we take care of him, get him back and get him healthy," Withers said.Senior linebacker Zach Brown, who was limited to special-teams duty against Georgia Tech because of disciplinary reasons, will also play defense again Saturday, Withers said.