ACC Football Power Rankings, Week 9: What should we make of Miami?

(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
BLACKSBURG, VA – OCTOBER 19: Head coach Mack Brown of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts during a timeout in the second half against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Lane Stadium on October 19, 2019 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Michael Shroyer/Getty Images)
BLACKSBURG, VA – OCTOBER 19: Head coach Mack Brown of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts during a timeout in the second half against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Lane Stadium on October 19, 2019 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Michael Shroyer/Getty Images) /

Maybe the Virginia Tech game was a trap? They do have rival Duke this week. Maybe, just maybe, we’re learning about who these Tar Heels are. A team with a new coach, and not a plethora to talent. You have to love the way they are playing for coach Mack Brown.

They haven’t been blown out this season as all of their loses have come by one possession. They’ve been in their fair share of dramatic last play games this season. It’s important to keep in mind, however, they are doing this with a true freshman quarterback in Sam Howell. The Duke game takes on a new importance since a win keeps them afloat in the Coastal.

Duke has two issues: injuries and a lack of speed. The Blue Devils don’t have the talent to plug-in players when their front line starters get injured. They are missing players on both offense and defense as all of them will miss significant time or the rest of the season due to injury. Some of those injuries, including running back Brittain Brown have limited their play-making ability at running back.

Defenses have squeezed the field against the Blue Devils in their last couple of games. They don’t respect their down-field passing game and when quarterback Quentin Harris runs their option game, they don’t respect anyone he pitches to. I suspect the Tar Heels will employ a similar defensive tactic next week.

Last week was a tough one for the Louisville Cardinals. We were reminded that although they’ve come a long way, they have a long way to go. They had a plan to stop Trevor Lawrence, but not to stop the entire Clemson offense. However, after a tough home game against Clemson, the Cardinals schedule looks manageable the rest of the way.

It’ll be interesting to see if they play two quarterbacks the rest of the way. Both Micale Cunningham and Evan Conley have played well after starting quarterback Jawon Pass went down for the season.

Where the Cardinals need the most improvement is the defense. The Cardinals are surrendering 44.5 points per game in their last four including 59 against Wake Forest. I know that it will take a few cycles for them to get the talent they want, but they’ve gotten worse on that side of the ball not better.