Hurricanes Begin Preparing For High-Flying Tar Heels
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CORAL GABLES (CBSMiami) – Get lined up! Get lined up! Get lined up could be heard throughout today's practice as the University of Miami prepares for North Carolina's lighting quick offense.
The Tar Heels play at race car speed and as a result are averaging 40 points per game.
UNC also averages 7.8 yards per play, 2nd best in the nation behind Baylor.
If Miami is to slow down this offensive juggernaut the defense has to get lined up properly before each play.
Miami has to get the defensive call in and the defense has to make impactful plays.
"There tempo is a big piece to what they do. We have to match their urgency and speed and be ready to execute our defensive calls," said interim head coach Larry Scott after practice. "We have to see the ball, get the call, get lined up and execute the call. That's what we have been preaching to our guys. We are going to push the tempo in practice all week to get them prepared."
North Carolina has a plethora of weapons. Quarterback Marquise Williams has thrown for over 2,000 yards and run for nearly 600.
He has a bevy of receivers led by Quinshad Davis with 36 catches and 23 career touchdowns and Ryan Switzer with 35 catches and 4 touchdowns this season.
Running Back Elijah Hood, a powerful runner at 220 pounds, leads the rushing attack with over 800 yards.
"This is a very explosive team with great skill at wide receiver. Their very good up front and Williams at quarterback can do a lot of things to help them be successful whether its' throwing the ball or using his speed to create plays," said Scott. The offense is centered on him and he has done a good job of managing and producing big numbers."
Under Scott the Canes have won 2 in a row and are gathering momentum, but North Carolina is red hot.
The Tar Heels have not lost since their first game of the year winning 8 straight games.
"They're playing at a high level right now. We have to go in there and match their confidence, play as hard as we can and as fast as we can for as long as we can and see what the results are," said Scott.
Listen to the Miami Hurricanes take on the North Carolina Tar Heels this Saturday at 3:30 p.m. on Sports Radio 560 WQAM, your official radio home for the Canes!
Follow Joe Zagacki on Twitter (@canesvoice)