Striking Similarities
South Carolina travels to Charlotte on Thursday to face a North Carolina Tar Heels team that very much mirrored last year’s Gamecocks.
The Tar Heels put up big numbers on offense last year but finished with a 6-7 record after a blowout loss to Rutgers in the Quick Lane Bowl.
The Tar Heels were 38th nationally in scoring average but gave up fewer points per game than just nine Football Bowl Subdivision teams last season.
While statistically South Carolina’s defense was better — ranking 92nd in points per game — the Gamecocks struggled to slow opposing offenses. Both teams struggled to put pressure on the quarterback, with the Gamecocks and Tar Heels registering 14 and 16 sacks, respectively.
Both teams hired former SEC coaches as defensive coordinators as South Carolina hired former Florida defensive coordinator Jon Hoke and North Carolina hired former Auburn head coach Gene Chizik to up their denfensive prowess.
Potent Offense
The Tar Heels return every starter on offense except tight end Jack Tabb, who caught just 21 passes last season.
In addition, North Carolina returns every player who recorded a rushing attempt last season and all nine offensive linemen that started at least one game.
Second-team All-ACC quarterback Marquise Williams will be under center. The senior completed 63.1 percent of his passes last season for 3,068 yards and 21 touchdowns. He also led the tar Heels in rushing with 788 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground.
North Carolina is loaded at every skill position. Five-foot-ten junior Ryan Switzer led the Tar Heels in receptions and yards last season, notching 61 catches for 757 yards and four touchdowns.
Sophomore running back Elijah Hood took over the starting position from junior T.J. Logan this fall, but the duo should put up huge numbers this season. Hood, a 220-pound power back, came on strong at the end of the season last year and will be complemented by Logan’s speed.
Question Marks on Defense
North Carolina’s defense was atrocious last season. The Tar Heels surrendered 497.8 yards per game including 789 to an East Carolina team that only managed 23 points against South Carolina two weeks earlier.
Head coach Larry Fedora essentially made the choice to start over after last season, hiring Chizik in January to implement an entirely new defensive system.
The Tar Heels return two of their top three tacklers from a year ago and seven defensive starters overall. Two of North Carolina’s three leading tacklers last season were defensive backs, including Tim Scott, now an undrafted free agent signed by the Cowboys.
Both teams will be going through growing pains on defense, and the game’s biggest storyline will be the next defensive coordinators.
Players to Watch
Marquise Williams is a trendy pick for All-ACC Honors again this season. The senior says he is the healthiest he has been since high school and could put up big numbers this season with his above-average receiving corps.
Williams will look first to receivers Ryan Switzer and Bug Howard. Howard, a six-foot-five junior, is the Tar Heels’ deep threat and will start opposite of Switzer and senior Quinshad Davis. Fedora will rely mostly on his passing attack and will rotate Logan and Hood at tailback.
North Carolina is dangerous in the redzone with Hood, a 225-pound quarterback in Williams and five six-foot-four or taller receivers.
The passing attack will be a challenge for what seems like a much-improved Gamecock secondary.
South Carolina is favored by three points and this game provides a good test for both teams. The Gamecocks won 27-10 when these teams met in Columbia two years ago.