Game Day: Quick Lane Bowl vs. UNC
Dec 26 | Football
By Tom Luicci
ScarletKnights.com
QUICK LANE BOWL
RUTGERS (7-5) vs. NORTH CAROLINA (6-6)
WHEN: Today
Kickoff at 4:30 p.m.
WHERE: Ford Field, Detroit, Mich.
TV: ESPN
RADIO: Rutgers IMG Sports Network
710-WOR, 1450-WCTC, 610-WIP
SERIES: The series is tied at 3-3, with North Carolina winning the past three meetings (in 2008, 2010 and 2011).
WHEN RUTGERS HAS THE BALL: You won't have to listen closely at all to hear the sounds of opportunity knocking for quarterback Gary Nova and the offense. This says it all about North Carolina's historically-bad defense: An average of 38.9 points and 495.7 yards allowed per game.
For Nova and a suddenly-healthy passing game coming off perhaps their best half of the season in the comeback against Maryland, yards and points are there to be had - just as they were in the opener against Washington State. Nova and company took advantage of that to score 41 points in a victory.
Even if the Tar Heels focus on Leonte Carroo - which they should - breakout performances by Andre Patton and Janarion Grant against the Terps are proof that the Scarlet Knights' passing game has plenty of other dangerous key elements to it. The return of Andrew Turzilli (34.8 yards per catch) and the presence of tight end Tyler Kroft give Nova more than enough weapons to exploit North Carolina's soft pass defense. On paper, the surprise would be if Nova doesn't get the 310 passing yards he needs to become Rutgers' career passing leader.
The running game is less reliable, but freshmen Josh Hicks and Robert Martin, along with Justin Goodwin, have proven to be capable of providing just enough production to keep the Tar Heels' defense honest.
Nova, moving around without any restrictions, looks like he will have a chance to finish his career with a flourish, with this game having a similar vibe for Rutgers' offense that the Washington State and Maryland games did.
WHEN NORTH CAROLINA HAS THE BALL: Marquise Williams, Marquise Williams, Marquise Williams. Did we mention Marquise Williams?
The Tar Heels' junior quarterback is this team's offense, having thrown for 2,870 yards and 20 touchdowns while rushing for a team-leading 737 yards and 12 scores (making him one of just seven players in the country to lead his team in rushing and passing). He also has a touchdown reception.
One more example of how he dominates this offense: Of North Carolina's 5,105 yards this year, Williams accounted for a school-record 3,607.
Just as much of a source of concern for Rutgers' defense, though, is the Tar Heels' fast pace, since they look to run a play every 12 to 13 seconds and average 76.6 plays per game (about 13 more on average than the Scarlet Knights). That makes substituting and rotating in nickel and dime packages - which Rutgers likes to do - more challenging than usual.
Though Ryan Switzer is this team's leading receiver with 703 yards on 55 catches, Williams does a masterful job of spreading the wealth in the passing game. North Carolina is one of just three schools (Washington State and Arizona are the others) to feature at least 10 players with 10 or more receptions.
T.J. Logan (472 rushing yards, a 4.5-yard average) handles the leftover carries in the running game. But the Tar Heels are clearly pass-oriented, with a nearly two-to-one ratio of passing yards per game (279.2) to rushing yards per game (146.2).
SPECIAL TEAMS: There are two major reasons for concern for Rutgers here. One is the injury to placekicker Kyle Federico that has him listed as questionable. The other is Switzer, who doubles as the Tar Heels' punt returner.
Though Switzer has done little damage on punt returns this year with a 4.9-yard average, he led the country in that category a year ago and scored five touchdowns on punt returns.
The uncertainty surrounding Federico could mean that Nick Borgese will have to handle the placekicking with Nick DeLouisa taking over on kickoffs. Borgese has not attempted a field goal since 2012; DeLouisa's only game action in four years also occurred in 2012.
The Scarlet Knights have also seen Grant become more of a factor lately on punt and kickoff returns (though he has just six punt returns for the season) than he had been for most of the year.
DID YOU KNOW?
The inaugural Quick Lane Bowl, hosted and operated by the Detroit Lions, is one of just two bowl games run by NFL teams. The other is the Advocare V100 Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium in Houston (run by the Houston Texans).
