Game Day Questions: Canes at Tar Heels
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It’s game day for the Miami Hurricanes at North Carolina Tar Heels. The 7:30 p.m. kickoff has a lot of intrigue for Canes fans, and it’s a national game that the sports media is watching closely, too.
Here are three burning questions that the Hurricanes must answer to walk out of Kenan Stadium with a victory.
1) How does Miami take the UNC crowd out of the game, from the outset?
It’s been one of the most emotional seven days in Miami’s recent history. The Georgia Tech loss can be a galvanizing force, or it can be something that causes pause.
How does Mario Cristobal and Miami respond the first time UNC has a big play or touchdown? Perhaps it’s Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye hitting a 20-yard completion. Whatever it might be, The U must respond with positivity and immediately come back with a big play of their own.
That helps keep the crowd from going crazy, and helps build momentum. College football is emotional. Let’s see how the Canes handle adversity and turn it into a positive scenario.
2) Which Tyler Van Dyke do we see?
Tyler Van Dyke looked awful during several plays this last Saturday. That’s the honest truth. In particular, three poorly thrown balls that should have never left his right hand. If he comes out and makes clutch throws, the Canes are good. If, for whatever reason, he’s not seeing the field like he apparently was not versus GT, then Miami is in trouble.
UNC’s pass defense is No. 53 in the nation by giving up 216.8 yards per game. It’s certainly plausible that Van Dyke finds a rhythm and lights up the Tar Heels passing defense. Even if it’s just Van Dyke going for 225 and a couple of scores, as long as it comes without interceptions, it’s all good.
3) Pressuring Drake Maye with four defensive linemen will be enough?
Maye is one of the most prolific passers in the country. A Big-bodied signal caller with the ability to run as well, Miami must be able to pressure with only four down linemen if it is to consistently play good defense against a truly elite quarterback.
He’s excellent at reading defenses and adjusting on the fly. That’s why the Canes need seven defenders in coverage. If Miami blitzes once in a while, no big deal. Having to blitz over and over will lead to explosive plays for UNC.
Miami possesses one of the nation’s best pass rushing units, and today is an opportunity to truly shine.
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