’Canes bracing for fast-paced Tar Heels
CORAL GABLES — Two weeks ago, it seemed almost unfathomable Miami would be in this spot.
After a 58-0 loss to Clemson and the midseason firing of coach Al Golden, many fans and college football pundits wrote off the Hurricanes, figuring this to be another disappointing, lost season.
But after a pair of ACC wins — including a thrilling upset over a then-ranked Duke team on the road and a solid effort at home against a Virginia team that has given them fits in recent years — the Hurricanes are still in the hunt for their long-stated goal of winning the conference’s Coastal Division.
There is no more room for error, though, and it’s with that in mind that Miami (6-3, 3-2) has begun preparing for a North Carolina team that has won eight straight and sits atop the division standings alone, unbeaten in conference play.
The Tar Heels (8-1, 5-0) have shown the ability to pick up yards in big chunks, with 62 plays this season going for at least 20 yards and 29 going for at least 30. Fifteen times they’ve had a play go for at least 40 yards, with four of those coming in last week’s 66-31 win over Duke.
The Hurricanes, meanwhile, have given up 41 plays of 20 yards or more this season.
North Carolina has also outscored opponents 361-167 and averages 40 points and 496 yards per game. So how do the Hurricanes, who have at times struggled defensively, plan to keep up?
“You have to be disciplined. You have to be disciplined on the back end. You have to deal with the fact that [North Carolina quarterback Marquise Williams] can throw a really good deep ball and they have people that can go get it,” Hurricanes defensive coordinator Mark D’Onofrio said. “And then you have to be disciplined with the run game portion of it and the rush lanes, either the designed runs or the scrambles. Obviously, they present a big challenge and it seems more and more, you’re going to play a guy that can do those things. It’s just a matter of practicing, understanding who you’re playing, what their strengths are and being focused on taking those away.”
Added cornerback Corn Elder, “They have a great quarterback, great receivers, so big plays are waiting to happen. We just have to do our jobs. We’re ready.”
Williams, who earned ACC Offensive Back of the Week honors after accounting for a school-record 524 yards of total offense in less than three quarters against the Blue Devils, paces the Carolina offense. He has thrown for 2,117 yards and 15 touchdowns for the season, while rushing for another 558 yards and six touchdowns. But it’s not just Williams who will challenge Miami’s defense, which allows an average of 401 yards per game.
It’s North Carolina’s uptempo, quick style that could keep the Hurricanes on their toes.
Miami struggled at times against Duke’s quick pace, and earlier in the year FAU had success against the Hurricanes when its offense moved quickly.
The Hurricanes managed to overcome those issues and win both those games, but the Tar Heels will present an even greater challenge.
Interim coach Larry Scott said he and his staff will do their best to get the Hurricanes prepared, because with their goal of playing for their first ACC title is still on the line.
That means picking up the pace not just on the practice field, but in meeting rooms and in film study.
“Everything has to quicken up and everything has to be sharper,” Scott said. “You do the best you can to create that, but when it’s their offensive system and how they operate, you never quite get it to the actual speed that it’s going to be in the game. But you put your kids on alert and you train them to the fact that it’s going to be fast and we have to be alert.”