The Tar Heels head seven miles down the road on Saturday afternoon for a matchup against the Duke Blue Devils as they look to bounce back after a historically bad loss to James Madison and open conference play strong. Here is a look at everything you need to know about the 110th meeting between the Tar Heels and Blue Devils.
Team Breakdowns
Tar Heels
This Tar Heel team as a whole is in need of a reset after what happened last week. Offensively, cutting down on the turnovers will be incredibly important. Quarterback Jacolby Criswell seized the starting job last week with one of the best performances from a passing yards perspective we have ever seen from a Tar Heel quarterback, but he needs to do a better job of hanging on to the football after turning it over three times. The team should lean heavily on the run game again out of the gate as Omarion Hampton looks to continue what has been a tremendous start and build on his streak of three touchdown games. Davion Gause will provide the rotational snaps at the position once again as Darwin Barlow continues to nurse a lower body injury. Criswell’s performance last week unlocked struggling wide receivers J.J. Jones and Kobe Paysour, guys who should play key roles for the team on Saturday as well. In the slot, Nate McCollum is expected to return and is hoping that Criswell can do the same thing with him. Christian Hamilton’s absence for the next couple of weeks will hurt after he proved last week that he is capable of being the deep threat for this offense, but this means more snaps for the talented duo of Chris Culliver and Jordan Shipp. In the slot, Nate McCollum is expected to return and is hoping that Criswell can do the same thing with him. The tight end room has also been thriving with Criswell directing the offense, as both Bryson Nesbsit and John Copenhaver have been major contributors each of the last two weeks. The offensive line took a step back last week and there is some concern now about how this group will hold up against a Duke defensive front that is one of the most productive in the country out of the gate.
Defensively, it’s about starting over after allowing 70 points to a James Madison offense that was struggling coming into last week’s matchup. The defensive line that was so strong in the first three games of the season was pushed around for most of the day a week ago and struggled to get pressure on the quarterback in non-blitz situations. This week, they have to rebound against a Duke offense that has been trending in the right direction offensively and they’ll have to do it without Kaimon Rucker. At linebacker, Power Echols and Amare Campbell have been strong in the run game but have issues in coverage. They simply have to be better this week if this team has any hopes of slowing down this productive passing offense for the Blue Devils. The secondary must also show major improvement from what we have seen from them so far this year in this game on Saturday. The group allowed five plays of 29 yards or more in the passing game last week, continuing their struggles to stop the explosive plays. The team needs Alijah Huzzie to bounce back after his first rough performance of the season and the safeties have to be able to provide some help over the top, something they haven’t really done so far this year. The team also needs to see Kaleb Cost step up at the STAR position or they have to start looking in another direction to find some resistance against slot receivers. The most important element from this side of the ball as a whole is communication, which was lacking a week ago, especially in the secondary.
Special teams is still a strength, but they need to avoid some of the issues that the team ran into last week. The punt protection issue resurfaced last week and led to a scoop-and-score for James Madison and the kick return unit has to be better at handling surprises like the onside kick that derailed them last week. Noah Burnette’s return was a sigh of relief after a lower body injury kept him out of the game with NC Central. The return games seem to be in solid hands with Alijah Huzzie handling punts and Javarius Green handling kicks after the injury to McCollum.
Duke
The Blue Devils roll into Saturday’s matchup undefeated and are hoping to end a five-game losing streak to the Tar Heels. Offensively, the team has been rather average, but is coming off their most productive game from a scoring standpoint of the season. Quarterback Maalik Murphy has thrown for at least 216 yards in each of the four games so far this season and has thrown three touchdowns in each of the last three games, meaning this will be a tough task for this Tar Heel secondary. The team is struggling to run the ball as a whole, but Jaquez Moore could return this week and Star Thomas is a capable back that the Tar Heels need to be aware of. At receiver, Jordan Moore is off to a fantastic start to the season, as is Eli Pancol, especially in the red zone. At tight end, Nicky Dalmolin has made some big plays in the passing game, but hasn’t caught a lot of passes so far. The veteran offensive line led by right tackle Brian Parker II and center Caleb Krings has been very steady so far, especially when it has come to protecting Murphy.
Defensively, the team’s defensive front has absolutely dominated, albeit against some lesser competition. Edge rusher Vincent Anthony Jr. has been a force so far this year and will give the Tar Heel tackles hell, while Aaron Hall will be the challenge on the interior. At linebacker, Alex Howard and Cameron Bergeron are having outstanding seasons in the middle, with both having 6.5 or more tackles for loss. The secondary has shut down their opponents so far, but they haven’t exactly faced the best passing games out of the gate. Still, Terry Moore and Chandler Rivers are guys who could cause fits for these Tar Heel receivers if the team isn’t careful.
Special teams is a relatively solid unit. Kade Reynoldson is the star of the unit, averaging 46.8 yards per punt, while kicker Todd Pelino is a nice weapon for the offense. The return games haven’t really produced much so far and is the thing holding this back from being an elite unit.
Team Stats
Tar Heels
Off. PPG: 38.0 (T-23rd)
Off. PYPG: 246.0 (T-55th)
Off. RYPG: 221.8 (24th)
Off. TYPG: 467.8 (22nd)
Off. 3rd Down %: 45.8% (T-36th)
Off. 4th Down %: 25.0% (T-123rd)
Off. Red Zone TD%: 68.8% (T-40th)
Tackles For A Loss Allowed: 24.0 (T-99th)
Sacks Allowed: 8.0 (T-89th)
Def. PPG: 29.3 (T-99th)
Def. PYPG: 238.3 (93rd)
Def. RYPG: 106.8 (39th)
Def. TYPG: 345.0 (70th)
Def. 3rd Down %: 32.1% (37th)
Def. 4th Down %: 75.0% (T-112th)
Def. Red Zone TD%: 64.3% (90th)
Tackles for A Loss: 23.0 (T-50th)
Sacks: 12.0 (T-11th)
Interceptions: 1 (T-108th)
Fumble Recoveries: 3 (T-21st)
Turnover Margin: -3 (T-102nd)
Penalties Per Game: 9.0 (T-121st)
Penalty Yards Per Game: 72.5 (108th)
Duke
Off. PPG: 30.8 (66th)
Off. PYPG: 256.0 (49th)
Off. RYPG: 104.5 (111th)
Off. TYPG: 360.5 (93rd)
Off. 3rd Down %: 32.7% (108th)
Off. 4th Down %: 25.0% (T-123rd)
Off. Red Zone TD%: 64.7% (T-62nd)
Tackles For A Loss Allowed: 20.0 (T-74th)
Sacks Allowed: 4.0 (T-33rd)
Def. PPG: 15.3 (28th)
Def. PYPG: 132.0 (14th)
Def. RYPG: 127.3 (60th)
Def. TYPG: 259.3 (18th)
Def. 3rd Down %: 26.2% (13th)
Def. 4th Down %: 50.0% (T-53rd)
Def. Red Zone TD%: 55.6% (T-68th)
Tackles for A Loss: 46.0 (1st)
Sacks: 15.0 (T-2nd)
Interceptions: 3 (T-52nd)
Fumble Recoveries: 5 (T-4th)
Turnover Margin: 0 (T-52nd)
Penalties Per Game: 4.8 (T-23rd)
Penalty Yards Per Game: 43.5 (35th)
Keys to the Game
Start Fast
This was a key last week and it simply didn’t happen. This week, with the team trying to bounce back from a brutal loss, it becomes even more important to start this game off well. Even more so than the offense, this defense needs to be ready to go out of the gate, something they haven’t been each of the last two weeks. Getting in a hole early could spell trouble for a team that needs to run the ball to be firing on all cylinders, so the defense needs to make sure the Blue Devils offense doesn’t get rolling early.
Win in the Trenches
Last week’s performance in the trenches was concerning, but both groups need to rebound this weekend. The Blue Devils' defense has created a ton of havoc plays so far this season both in the run game and pass rush situations. The Tar Heel offensive line has to do a better job of protecting Criswell than they did a week ago if this offense wants to consistently move the football. On the other side of the trenches, the defensive line needs to shed blocks and get pressure on Murphy because if not, he will pick apart this secondary.
Communicate Defensively
The biggest issue for this defense a week ago was the lack of communication and that simply has to change on Saturday. Explosive plays have been the Achilles heel of this defense so far this year and a big part of that has been a lack of communication. This group has to communicate well and limit the explosives if they want to have a shot to actually win this game.
Injury Report
Tar Heels
OUT- Darwin Barlow (lower body), Christian Hamilton (lower body), Max Johnson (leg), Kaimon Rucker (lower body)
PROB- Nate McCollum (lower body)
Duke
OUT- Jeremiah Hasley (leg)
QUEST- Jaquez Moore (leg)
Projected Starting Lineup
Tar Heels
Offense
QB#12 Jacolby Criswell, Jr.
RB#28 Omarion Hampton, Jr.
WR-X# 5 J.J. Jones, Gr.
WR-SL# 6 Nate McCollum, Sr.
WR-Z# 3 Chris Culliver, So.
TE#81 John Copenhaver, Gr.
LT#79 Howard Sampson, So.
LG#68 Aidan Banfield, Fr.
C#58 Austin Blaske, Gr.
RG#53 Willie Lampkin, Sr.
RT#78 Trevyon Green, So.
Defense
DE#10 Des Evans, Sr.
NT#98 Kevin Hester Jr., Gr.
DT# 5 Jahvaree Ritzie, Sr.
RUSH#40 Tyler Thompson, RFr.
WLB#23 Power Echols, Sr.
MLB#17 Amare Campbell, So.
CB#28 Alijah Huzzie, Gr.
BS# 1 Stick Lane, Gr.
FS# 2 Jakeen Harris, Gr.
CB#29 Marcus Allen, Jr.
STAR#21 Kaleb Cost, So.
Special Teams
PK#98 Noah Burnette, Sr.
P#96 Tom Maginness, Jr.
KOS#37 Liam Boyd, So.
LS#62 Spencer Triplett, Gr.
H#96 Tom Maginness, Jr.
KR# 6 Nate McCollum, Sr.
PR#28 Alijah Huzzie, Gr.
Duke
Offense
QB# 6 Maalik Murphy, So.
RB#17 Star Thomas, Gr.
WR# 4 Eli Pancol, Gr.
WR# 2 Shamir Hagans, Jr.
WR# 8 Jordan Moore, Gr.
TE#81 Nicky Dalmolin, Gr.
LT#75 Bruno Fina, Gr.
LG#71 Caleb Krings, Gr.
C#72 Matt Craycraft, So.
RG#77 Justin Pickett, Jr.
RT#53 Brian Parker II, So.
Defense
VYPER#97 Wesley Williams, So.
NT#99 Aaron Hall, Jr.
DT#91 Kendy Charles, Gr.
DE# 7 Vincent Anthony Jr., Jr.
MIKE#36 Nick Morris Jr., Jr.
WILL# 3 Alex Howard, Gr.
STAR# 4 Cameron Bergeron, Sr.
CB# 0 Chandler Rivers, Jr.
CB#26 Joshua Pickett, Sr.
FS# 1 Terry Moore, Jr.
ROVER# 2 Jaylen Stinson, Sr.
Special Teams
PK#29 Todd Pelino, Jr.
P#41 Kade Reynoldson, Fr.
KOS#48 Ryan Degyansky, So.
LS#57 Curtis Cooper, Sr.
H#41 Kade Reynoldson, Fr.
KR# 5 Peyton Jones, So.
PR#14 Que’Sean Brown, RFr.
Game Information
Kickoff Time: 4:00 PM ET
Weather: 81℉, 0% chance of rain, SSW at 7 mph
Betting Line: Duke -2.5
TV: ESPN2
Radio: Tar Heel Sports Network
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