North Carolina Tar Heels vs Virginia Tech Hokies Preview

For the North Carolina Tar Heels, the last two weeks have been an exercise in frustration. The positional weaknesses that existed at the beginning of the year have only been augmented by injuries. Yes, Landon Turner comes back this week, but the veteran guard can only do so much. He affects the Carolina defense not at all.

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The other problem has been the lack of pressure on the defensive line. This position group has also been hit with youth and injury, but it is the primary culprit to why Shane Carden and DaShaun Watson were able to put up such gaudy stats in consecutive weeks. Sure, the defensive backs forgot the unwritten rule of secondary: “Don’t get beat deep.” However any cover unit can only cover for so long.

The final issue of the Tar Heels is tackling. The first guy has to make a play. So many times over these four games, the first guy has missed or decided to bump the ball carrier instead of wrap him up. I don’t know how quick a fix that is.

So enter Virginia Tech, a team that is sorting out its own offensive issues. Yet their defense held ECU to 28 points and would likely use a similar strategy against the Heels. Can the Tar Heels hold the Hokies under 30? That will be the question tomorrow in Chapel Hill.

Day: October 4

Time: 12:30 PM

TV: ACC Network

Venue: Kenan Memorial Stadium

Last Time: 2013

It was the first game for the Heels coming off of Bryn Renner’s injury. Marquise Williams surprised many people, simply because he had never been asked to do much before that game. It was a normal Virginia Tech Beamerball game. The Hokies won the turnover war, including a fumbled punt. Quarterback Logan Thomas had a good game with 293 yards and 3 touchdowns for the Hokies.

Opponent: Virginia Tech Hokies (3-2)

Sep 13, 2014; Blacksburg, VA, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies wide receiver Isaiah Ford (1) runs the ball during the third quarter against the East Carolina Pirates at Lane Stadium. East Carolina defeated Virginia Tech 28-21. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

For years Virginia Tech was known as the practitioners of Beamer-ball, where they beat you with great defense and special teams turnovers. It was not unusual, and still isn’t, for defensive coordinator Bud Foster to stick nine in the box and dare you to run or dare you to throw on man coverage with a really good group of defensive backs over the years.

This year has not quite gone to plan, except for the Ohio State game. The Hokies have an offense with a lot of new pieces, and they have been hurt by turnovers from their offense. However, some of these pieces are really good. One only has to look at freshman wideout Isaiah Ford, who is something like a track star. If North Carolina still has images of Watson hanging deep balls to Clemson receivers, the Hokies will try to spring Ford a lot.

Attacking the Hokie offense will probably mean bringing pressure to Texas Tech transfer Michael Brewer from the left side of the defense against the younger linemen on the right side. Coach Frank Beamer prefers a conservative power running attack when he can get it, so don’t be surprised if the Hokies simply try to pound the 4-2-5 defense of the Heels.

Sep 6, 2014; Columbus, OH, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies cornerback Kendall Fuller (11) against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium. Virginia Tech defeated Ohio State 35-21. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

On defense, Foster likes to live and die by the man-to-man. He usually has enough good defensive backs to make it work. It is not unusual for the safeties to come up and play man as well. That means a Tar Heel attack will have to find a favorable matchup and exploit it the way ECU did with Cam Worthy. That would seem to put importance on the bigger receivers, Quinshad Davis and Bug Howard for the Heels.

An effective Tar Heel running game would help, but the standard Hokie stack against the run combined with a still shaky offensive line for the Heels suggests that the Heels leading rusher will be Marquise Williams.

Prediction:

In the end, I am hoping that the Heels have a burr in their rear to fix things against a Coastal Division opponent. The Hokies are one the few teams that should not run away from the Heels on the scoreboard. I still think they will find points against the Tar Heel defense. So what gets the score to 28-27? Either Ryan Switzer in the return game or surprise success running Elijah Hood behind Landon Turner right at the Hokie defense. You can’t really run wide on these guys.

ONJ Season Prediction Record: 16-2