Defense Hopes to be up to Speed
Dec 18 | Football
By Tom Luicci
ScarletKnights.com
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - It's the only way the season could end for a defense that has seen it all this year, from the nation's leading passing team (Washington State) to the nation's leading rushing team (Navy) to everything in between.
It's not so much the impressive offensive numbers that North Carolina, Rutgers' opponent in the Dec. 26 Quick Lane Bowl at Ford Field in Detroit, has put up this year.
It's how the Tar Heels do it.
Think an Eastern version of Oregon.
"I think they're going to be the fastest team we've played all year," said junior defensive tackle Darius Hamilton. "They're very fast. They do a great job of -- after the play is finished -- running to the ball and getting the play off. I think they're going to be the fastest no-huddle team we've played all year."
Middle linebacker Kevin Snyder had to reach back to the 2013 season opener for a point of comparison when it comes to the tempo North Carolina plays at.
"They move really fast. They anticipate beating you to the line of scrimmage and beating you before you can get lined up," he said. "They play fast and they have a lot of talent. Like a Fresno State (last year). But this North Carolina team moves even faster than that. It's something you have to be ready for."
Rutgers' defense has seen more than its share of variety this year already. The unit has faced a pair of 2,000-yard rushers (Melvin Gordon and Tevin Coleman), the Big Ten's best young quarterback (J.T. Barrett) and opponents where the quarterback is also the leading rusher.
That was the case most recently in the season finale against Maryland. It's the case again with North Carolina. Marquise Williams (2,870 passing yards with 20 touchdowns) is also the Tar Heels' leading rusher with 737 yards and 12 touchdowns.
"It's been really unique to go from a team that throws the ball every play to teams that only like to run the ball, a triple option team, to teams where the quarterbacks are the leading rushers and are also good passers," Hamilton said. "It tests your character and your focus."
Williams' complementary talent is impressive, with four wide receivers having 34 or more catches, topped by Ryan Switzer's 55 for 703 yards. But it's still the frenetic tempo that opposing defenses have to be most wary of.
"As a defense, you've got to communicate," Hamilton said. "If the offense moves one piece, and they do it so quickly, your whole defense can change. You've got to be able to relay calls before the ball is snapped. Everybody has to know their assignments a lot quicker than usual.
"Football is a huge physical game but when you play a no-huddle team that plays this fast you really have to be focused mentally."
The head-scratching part about the Tar Heels' offense, which averages 34.2 points and 425.4 yards per game, has been the fluctuation in scoring at times. The final two games are an example, with North Carolina scoring 45 against Duke on the road and then seven at home against N.C. State.
"It's similar to what we went through last year as a 6-6 team," Snyder said. "You have talent, you have the tools to be able to do it offensively and defensively but you're just not consistent. That was us last year. We had games where we played really good football and games where we played poor football. The same thing happened this year. It comes down to consistency."
Hamilton says it also gets back to what football usually does: Execution.
"They're really talented, but they can go from having a bad game to putting up 50 points on people. It's crazy," he said. "They're either hot or they're cold. I think one thing with them is you have to jump on them early. You can't let them run away with a lead."
