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Miami Hurricanes Five Keys to Victory Against North Carolina
Sep 17, 2016; Boone, NC, USA; Miami Hurricanes head coach Mark Richt looks on during the third quarter against the Appalachian State Mountaineers at Kidd Brewer Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Coming off a heartbreaking 20-19 loss to Florida State last week, the Miami Hurricanes host North Carolina Saturday. The Tar Heels lead the all-time series 10-9 and throttled Miami 58-21 last season.
The Hurricanes face a tough task against North Carolina’s high-powered offense. The Tar Heels rolled up 487 yards of offense last season. They raced out to a 31-0 halftime lead and scored twice in the first five minutes of the third quarter to take a 45-0 lead on their way to the blowout win.
The Hurricanes were able to move the ball last season but had two turnovers and a missed field goal in their first three possessions in North Carolina territory. The need to be more efficient and take better care of the ball to defeat the Tar Heels this season.
Sep 10, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes running back Joseph Yearby (2) carries the ball past Florida Atlantic Owls during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium. Miami won 38-10. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Establish the Run
The Hurricanes running game was putrid against the Tar Heels last season. The three Hurricanes that carried the ball against the Tar Heels last season, Joseph Yearby, Mark Walton and Tyrone Gray had 45 yards on 15 carries in the first half against UNC in 2015.
They did better in the second half after Carolina built the big lead. They finished the game with 134 net rushing yards on 28 carries between Yearby, Walton, and Gray. Yearby finished with 74 yards on 13 carries as the Hurricanes scored 21 points in the second half.
After being on the best teams in the country running the football through the first four weeks, the Hurricanes have struggled the last two weeks against Georgia Tech and Florida State. They still average 198.4 rushing yards per game but have averaged just 88 in the last two games.
Sep 10, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes running back Mark Walton (1) carries the ball during the second half against Florida Atlantic Owls at Hard Rock Stadium. Miami won 38-10. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Get Mark Walton Going
Walton was on the fringe of the Heisman Trophy contenders through the first three weeks. Walton average 127 yards in the first three games. He has only 83 yards rushing in the last two weeks.
Yearby picked up for Walton’s struggles against Georgia Tech with nine carries for 65 yards and a touchdown but ran for just 39 on ten carries against FSU.
Yearby and Walton both ran for over 100 yards in wins the first two weeks against Florida A&M and Florida Atlantic. Walton added a third consecutive 100 yard game against Appalachian State in week three. They have not been able to generate as much on the ground as they did in the first three weeks.
Nov 7, 2015; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels wide receiver Ryan Switzer (3) with the ball as Duke Blue Devils safety Jeremy Cash (16) defends in the second quarter at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Limit North Carolina Wide Receiver Ryan Switzer
Corn Elder is likely to draw the assignment against Switzer. Switzer has 49 receptions for 589 yards this season. That makes up 32.4 percent of the Tar Heel receptions and 32.7 percent of their yards. Switzer was a dangerous punt returner as a freshman and a junior with seven returns for touchdowns. He struggled as a freshman and
Switzer was a dangerous punt returner as a freshman and a junior with seven returns for touchdowns. He struggled as a freshman and has just 53 yards on seven punt returns this season.
North Carolina has good balance on offense with Elijah Hood and T.J. Logan both averaging over five yards per carry and combining for nine touchdowns. Quarterback Mitch Trubinksy has contributed four rushing touchdowns.
The Tar Heels average 299.8 yards through the air which is 23rd nationally and third in the ACC. Trubinsky has plenty of options behind Switzer to throw to. Six Tar Heel receivers are on pace to catch 20 passes this season.
Oct 17, 2015; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies quarterback Brenden Motley (9) is sacked by Miami Hurricanes defensive lineman Chad Thomas (9) during the second half at Sun Life Stadium. Miami won 30-20. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Consistent Pass Rush
Manny Diaz has changed the culture of the Miami Defense. He has installed an attacking defense that has paid dividends early. The Hurricanes lead the country with an average of 10.8 Tackles for loss per game (40 total) and are ninth in sacks with 3.6 per game (18 total).
North Carolina has protected Trubsinky well. They have allowed just ten sacks on 208 pass attempts. The Tar Heels were far more adept at protecting the Quarterback last season. They allowed 16 sacks in 14 games last season.
Four out of the five Tar Heel lineman were received votes for the All-ACC preseason team. Guard Caleb Peterson and Tackle Jon Heck were second team All-ACC last season.
Nov 15, 2014; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes place kicker Michael Badgley (24) kicks a field goal against the Florida State Seminoles in the first half at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Manning-USA TODAY Sports
Limit Mistakes
The Hurricanes are 100th in the nation with 366 penalty yards and 113th with 73.2 penalty yards per game. Against Florida State, the Hurricanes had ten penalties for 110 yards. When they occur is just as important. The “Canes have had far too many in opposing territory this season, stalling drives.
North Carolina has also struggled with penalties. They are 107th in the nation with 396 penalty yards and 100th with 66 penalty yards per game.
Turnovers and special teams are also critical. Florida State blocked Michael Badgley’s potential game-tying extra point with 1:38 left last week. That cost the Hurricanes a chance to potentially send the game to overtime. Badgley made both field goals last week but has only made four of six attempts on the season.
A big play on special teams can turn the course of a game. Braxton Berrios has been outstanding on punt returns this season. Berrios is averaging 13.4 yards per return and has one for a touchdown. Carolina has given up just one yard on six punt returns against this season.
The Hurricanes are averaging 22.6 yards on kickoff returns. While Spitzer hasn’t lived up to being the kick returner on the All-ACC team, they have been outstanding overall on returns.
Austin Proehl had the only other punt return this year. He had a 28-yard return in the Tar Heels win over Illinois. Logan is averaging 27.2 yards per kick return with one going for a touchdown.
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