Written By: Nathan Skinner
Canes Rising Contributor
Name: The University of North Carolina
Mascot: Tar Heels
Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Home Stadium: Kenan Memorial Stadium(Capacity: 63,000)
Conference: Atlantic Coast Conference(ACC)
Athletic Director: Bubba Cunningham
Head Coach: Larry Fedora
Time Capsule
Time may be running out for Larry Fedora. Once upon a time, Fedora was a up and rising coach, with an exciting offense, and a record of achievement at Southern Miss. That record hasn't helped him at North Carolina, a program struggling to recapture their late 90s glory era. The Tar Heels have been one of the worst teams in the FBS this season, especially on defense. Following wins over Liberty and San Diego State, the 'Heels have hit the skids, losing 4 of their last 6, with the two wins coming after 4 consecutive losses. This isn't the first time Carolina has gotten hot towards the end of the season. This happened last season as well, with Fedora's team winning 6 of their last 7 games, including a Belk Bowl win over Cincinnati.
What To Expect on Gameday
Offense
This offense is dynamic, and exciting to watch. This offense is a fast paced, spread offense that relies on short passes and frequent pre-snap shifts. UNC's offensive philosophy centers around getting players into one on one situations, so fans should expect a plethora of tunnel screens and quick flares. This offense requires an athletic, accurate quarterback, and Marquise Williams is a perfect fit. Williams is a player who can extend plays with his feet, but can complete a ton of passes, as evidenced by his 63% completion percentage. In previous years, Williams was more likely to throw an interception, than a touchdown, that's no longer the case. Williams has a 2.5:1 touchdown to interception ratio this season, which is a significant improvement from previous seasons. UNC has struggled to run the football, with T.J Logan being the main back. Logan isn't the team's leading rusher, a label held by Marquise Williams, which is indicative of Logan's struggles. Where UNC is good is on the perimeter, where they have a plethora of weapons, led by Ryan Switzer. Switzer is an undersized receiver, but he's extremely versatile. He's a dangerous player in the slot, and is used on fly sweeps. Switzer has to be accounted for before the snap, because he will be in motion more often than not. Bug Howard, Mack Hollins, and Quinshad Davis are big, fast receivers that are extremely dangerous in the red zone. Last season, UNC had an elite tight end in Eric Ebron, who was selected by the Detroit Lions in the NFL draft. The 'Heels have struggled to find his replacement, with Jack Tabb taking a majority of the snaps at the position. Tabb is athletic, but he hasn't been able to harness that talent, and be a consistent contributor. It's safe to say that this offensive line is one of the worst in the country, especially after viewing the rushing statistics. This offensive line is very inexperienced, with only 2 upperclassmen listed as starters. Their struggles are minimized thanks to play caller Larry Fedora's reliance on quick pass plays, and Williams' ability to escape pressure.
Defense
With all due respect to Bart Scott, this team can't stop a nosebleed. That isn't an exaggeration, for UNC is arguably the worst defense in the country. The 'Heels are allowing over 40 points per contest, good for 125th in the country. Keep in mind that there's only 128 schools in the Football Bowl Subdivision(FBS). North Carolina struggles in every aspect, and there's very few bright spots. What was once a dominant defensive line led by future NFL draft picks Quinton Coples, and Kareem Martin has become a unit that rarely stops the run, and rarely pressures the quarterback. The D-Line is led by defensive end Jesse Rogers, a solid player who has 4 sacks so far this season. Ethan Farmer, and Greg Webb make up the rest of the defensive front. The linebackers aren't overly active, and have lacked the speed of previous units. They are led by Travis Hughes, who is 4th in total tackles with 46. The Carolina secondary has racked up impressive stats, not because of overwhelming talent but because someone has to make tackles, and the front seven is unlikely to do so. When a team has a cornerback as the leading tackler, it's not a good sign, and Des Lawrence holds that dubious distinction. Tim Scott is a solid safety, but there's little to get excited about with this group.
Special Teams
UNC hasn't been able to breathe easily during field goal attempts, as the 'Heels have been somewhat bad in this area. Kickers Thomas Moore and Nick Weiler have combined to go 5/10 on field goals, with Weiler take a majority of the attempts. Punting has been a bright spot, with Tommy Hibbard averaging over 40 yards per punt. Ryan Switzer is the key returner, and has been solid during his career.
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