University of North Carolina Athletics
Quick Lane Bowl Preview: Offense
December 17, 2014 | Football
By Adam Lucas
Prepare for plenty of points on the day after Christmas. Carolina's occasional defensive struggles this season have been well documented, but Quick Lane Bowl opponent Rutgers has also had some issues stopping opposing offenses.
The Scarlet Knights rank 95th in the country in total defense, allowing a whopping 439.5 yards per game. Over the last half of the season, Rutgers allowed an average of 40.2 points per game.
Much of that success was generated on the ground, where Marquise Williams and T.J. Logan should find plenty of success against a Rutgers defense that ranked 105th in the country in rushing defense, allowing 211.8 rushing yards per game. To put that into perspective, Carolina's much maligned ground defense allowed only slightly more, coughing up 232.2 rushing yards per game.
Not surprisingly, considering their difficulties stopping the run, the Rutgers defense has also struggled getting off the field. They're allowing opponents to convert 43.0 percent of their third downs, 96th best in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Adding to the possibility of a shootout, the indoor environment at Ford Field means the offenses won't be bogged down by the potentially dicey Detroit weather. Even in the moments after the bowl announcement last Sunday, Rutgers coach Kyle Flood was already concerned about the Tar Heel offense.
“I know they have been very good on offense,” Flood said. “I know they have scored over 40 points at least four times this season. They have beaten some good people, so it should be a very competitive game.”
Players to watch for the Scarlet Knights include defensive tackle Darius Hamilton, who has a team-leading 9.5 tackles for loss, highlighted by five sacks, and defensive end Kemoko Turay, who has a team-high seven sacks, which ranks third among freshmen nationally. The Tar Heels will also have to keep an eye on Turay on special teams, as he blocked three kicks this season.
Players Mentioned
