UNC Scouting Report: Duke Blue Devils

After the debacle against Miami on Halloween, the Duke Blue Devils should enter Kenan Stadium upset and motivated. Saturday’s game is the most significant matchup between the Blue Devils and Tar Heels in recent memory. With a win, the Tar Heels are comfortably in the driver’s seat in the Coastal Division. But UNC is just 1-2 versus Duke in the past two seasons. The win will not be easy. When Duke plays well, they are a difficult team to beat. What Dave Cutcliffe has done with this program in Durham is truly a miracle.

Let’s take a look at the Blue Devils, highlighting their best players who will certainly make an impact on Saturday afternoon.

Solid Quarterback

Redshirt junior quarterback Thomas Sirk has done an excellent job of replacing Anthony Boone. Sirk has not been shy about passing the ball this season. He has attempted 268 passes and completed 168 of them – both rank first in the ACC. Even though his completion percentage is only 60 percent, he ranks third in the ACC with 1,788 passing yards, fourth in passing yards per game with 223.5, and fourth in passing touchdowns with 12. And more importantly, Sirk takes care of the football – he has only thrown three interceptions in 2015.

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The Blue Devils also rely on Sirk for a rushing offense. On the season, Sirk has carried the ball 105 times for 481 yards and three touchdowns – he leads the Blue Devils in all three categories. Sirk has 28 more carries than Marquise Williams, who seems to rush the ball every other play. Sirk is about the same weight as Williams, but two inches taller. He’s a serious dual-threat. Luckily, the Tar Heels have Mitch Trubisky and Williams to act as scout quarterbacks. There will be plenty of zone reads ran with Sirk, but it shouldn’t be anything the Tar Heel defense hasn’t seen.

Receiver by Committee

Not only can Sirk run and pass like Williams, but he also spreads the ball around like him. No receiver on the Blue Devils’ team has more than 35 receptions. Senior Max McCaffery leads the team with 34 receptions, 450 yards and three touchdowns. But junior Johnell Barnes isn’t far behind – he has 28 receptions for 336 yards and two touchdowns. Five other players on the roster have at least 10 receptions. This is much different from what UNC had to deal with last week in Tyler Boyd. It will be interesting to see if the Tar Heels’ secondary can force Sirk to make mistakes. They will definitely have their opportunities. 

Straight Cash Homie

Blue Devils safety Jeremy Cash is an unbelievable ball player. Since he transferred to Duke, he has legitimately become one of the most aggressive and talented safeties in the country. In the past two seasons, he has been named First Team and Second Team All-ACC. In 2014, he was voted Second Team All-America by the Walter Camp Foundation and Football Writers Association of America.

In 2013 and 2014, he had at least 100 tackles, nine tackles for loss and two forced fumbles. This season, Cash is on pace for his best statistical year – 69 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, and three forced fumbles. He leads the Blue Devils and the ACC in tackles for loss as a safety. That is unbelievable. Cash not only is scheduled to obtain his second First Team All-ACC honors, but he will also be a favorite to win more All-America honors.

Stay tuned to Keeping It Heel for more coverage of UNC Duke.