After a shocking, controversial home loss to Miami on Halloween, the Blue Devils travel to Chapel Hill Saturday at 12 p.m for this season’s game against No. 21 North Carolina. Although Duke was defeated in last year’s contest at Wallace Wade, this year’s team will look to recapture the Victory Bell in an enemy territory. Here are the three keys to the game for the Blue Devils:
Force the passing game
Duke’s strength this season lies on defense, and particularly in the play of senior safety Jeremy Cash. Cash and the Duke secondary must force North Carolina quarterback Marquise Williams to sit back in the pocket and pass, where Williams has thrown just eleven touchdowns to seven interceptions. The mobile signal-caller prefers to make plays with his feet and is less adept at threading the needle. The Tar Heels quarterback averages 202.9 passing yards per game, but the Blue Devil defense allows just 166, making the aerial battle a factor to watch Saturday.
Exploit the run defense
The North Carolina defense allows an average of 358 yards per game, but has been suspect on the ground, allowing 205 yards per game.
Fortunately for Duke, that plays right into its hands.
Behind the three-headed rushing attack of Shaquille Powell, Jela Duncan and Thomas Sirk, the Duke offense should find running room early and often. By carving up the clock and bruising the North Carolina defense, the Blue Devils should give their own defense some rest and keep an explosive Tar Heel offense off the field. Having Sirk play to his comforts as both a passer and a runner will keep the Tar Heels defense honest, opening up more room for big plays that Duke has been struggling to find in the last few games. By forcing the defense to overcommit, the Blue Devils should be able to take more shots down the field.
Contain Ryan Switzer
The Tar Heels junior receiver leads the team in receptions and receiving yards, but his real value is on special teams. Just two years removed from racking up 502 yards and five touchdowns off of punt returns, Switzer is pacing himself well again this season, with 200 yards and a touchdown off of 16 fielded punts. The Blue Devils have to find a way to keep Switzer quiet, especially after allowing multiple decisive returns for touchdowns against both Northwestern and Miami. Duke cannot afford to play poorly on special teams like it did last week and shutting Switzer down will be a big step in the right direction.
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