Keys To Victory Against The Hokies
UNC is coming off a two-game losing skid against two very strong teams, East Carolina and Clemson, but have played poorly in both contests. Who am I kidding? The defense has been horrendous. We’ve all seen it. Clemson’s true freshman Deshaun Watson set a Clemson record with six touchdowns on UNC’s pass defense. East Carolina, who we perennially do well against, hung 70 against Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels’ offense isn’t the issue in the upcoming matchup at home against Virginia Tech; the keys to victory are defense-minded.
Key #1: Keep It Close Early
The Hokies sit at 3-2, 0-1 in the ACC with close losses to Georgia Tech and East Carolina. In the loss against GT, the Yellow Jackets put up 17 fourth quarter points to rally from behind and win. In the loss against East Carolina, the Pirates lit up the scoreboard for 21 points in the first quarter against Virginia Tech. However, the Hokies came back—but it wasn’t enough as ECU put another touchdown on VT and took the victory.
So what do these two losses Virginia Tech took say about them? It says they give up fourth quarter touchdowns. While ECU laid the proverbial wood to the Hokies, Virginia Tech came back. They’re a scrappy team. It took a fourth quarter end zone dance to seal a victory for the Pirates. And against the Ramblin’ Wreck from Georgia Tech, it took a scoring monsoon to top the VT Hokies.
If Carolina can keep this game close and remember to save room for the defense on the team bus this go around, they stand a great chance against a VT team that topped the #8 Ohio State Buckeyes in Columbus, Ohio. Every one of Tech’s victories have been by more than a touchdown. Every one of their losses have been by less than one. UNC needs to capitalize on this simple math.
Key #2: UNC’s Secondary Must Have A Huge Game
Virginia Tech averages 247 passing yards per game. Junior quarterback Michael Brewer has nine touchdowns and 1223 yards to his 2014 resume. The Hokies currently sit 58th in the national in average passing yards per game.
Chapel Hill must curb these stats if they hope to get a victory at home. UNC sits an abysmal 126th in the nation in the “Points Against” category. Virginia Tech will expose the Tar Heels through the air if the secondary doesn’t lock down—or at least slow down the Hokies enough for Chapel Hill’s offense to put points up.
The one bright spot for UNC is that Va. Tech’s quarterback Michael Brewer has already thrown 10 interceptions this season. That number sits one above his 9 touchdowns. Chapel Hill’s corners and safeties must zero in on this man’s shaky TD-to-pick ratio in order to turn the tide in UNC’s favor.
Key #3: The Defensive Line Must Rattle VT’s QB
The Hokies’ Michael Brewer has thrown 10 picks this season. Interceptions like that come from both being confused and being rushed. Chapel Hill’s big boys up front have the responsibility to get in Brewer’s face early and often.
By them getting his jersey roughed up with grass stains from the onset of the game, they set, in his mind, a tone for a shaky afternoon. Interceptions stem from that unsure psychology and VT should struggle if Chapel Hill can complete this mission. It all begins up front with the ends collapsing his scrambling terrain to the left and right. When those guys get going on his peripheral, it starts feeling a lot more hectic in the pocket and that spells out positive things for Chapel Hill.