Lawrence Jordan: There is nothing easier and less pressurized than armchair coaching. Reclined position? Check. Food and beverage? Check. The benefit of hindsight? Check...
The UNC coaching staff deserves credit for utilizing the Tar Heels' strengths Saturday afternoon after being questioned on so many decisions earlier this season. The Tar Heels are at their best when they focus and the ground game, control the clock, and use their talented defense to win the field position battles. It's conservative, yes, but it has proven to be a winning strategy with the current personnel.
Ryan Houston shined as the focal running back after Daughn went down with a broken shoulder blade on the first play of the game. Houston's 164 yards on 37 carries is the best rushing performance by a Tar Heel this year.
TJ Yates managed a good game and minimized mistakes by only throwing one interception. Yates stat line, 16/28 for 118 yards, is about what should be expected from the QB. Anytime the Heels need to rely on Yates to win the game, the Tar Heels are in trouble.
Duke entered Chapel Hill with a pass-happy offense that ranked second in the league in yards per game. Duke is capable of scoring quickly and in bunches. Duke managed to score only 6 points on Saturday - none in the second half.
Robert Quinn, Quan Sturdivant, and Marvin Austin led the defense that held the Duke offense to only 125 total yards and a meager 11 first downs. The athletic defense harassed and disrupted Thad Lewis and the Duke receivers into a final total of 113 yards receiving and only allowed 12 yards rushing.
The Tar Heels strength is their defense. If the offense can minimize turnovers and occasionally put together a drive, the defense can and will put them in a position to win the game. Butch Davis and coaching staff deserve credit for implementing and executing a winning game plan against Duke.
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