In a game that was not nearly as close as the final score indicated, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights used a dominant rushing attack to roll over the North Carolina Tar Heels 40-21 in the Quick Lane Bowl on Friday afternoon.
The Tar Heels once again displayed why they are one of the worst defenses in the country, as Rutgers’ true freshman duo of Josh Hicks and Robert Martin combined for 302 yards on 38 carries (7.94 yards per rush), and 3 touchdowns in the victory. Rutgers senior quarterback Gary Nova finished up his collegiate career by throwing for 184 yards in 2 touchdown passes in one of the most decisive wins of the bowl season so far. UNC’s two turnovers, coupled with two touchdowns negated by pass interference, just added to the misery that was a 40-7 drubbing before quarterbacks Marquise Williams and Mitch Trubisky threw two touchdown passes in the final 7 minutes to pull to the final of 40-21.
Big picture, the Tar Heels will need to fill their defensive coordinator position with an individual who has philosophy of stopping the run. This has been North Carolina’s achilles heel all season long, and it is what ultimately led to the dismissal of former coordinator Vic Koenning, prior to the bowl game. In an interim role today, Dan Disch did little to prove his worth as the defensive play-caller, and he will likely be delegated back to his original post of Cornerbacks Coach, or he could be let go. Today was the 6th time in 13 regular season games that the ‘Heels gave up at least 40 points, and they have gone 1-5 in those contests. Defense appears to be at a premium in Chapel Hill, which is not a good sign considering the offensive culture that is overwhelming the college game at the present.
Additionally, and without question in my mind, Head Coach Larry Fedora is on the hot seat, and if he is not let go in the off-season, expect him to be in extremely hot water, should the Tar Heels come out flat to start the 2015-2016 football season. His job is in jeopardy, and who could blame UNC for considering going in a different direction? After going 8-4 in his first season in 2012, Fedora’s bunch has lost at least 6 games in the last two seasons, with this season’s 7 losses and losing record being firsts in his tenure at the school. Not good news for a program looking to improve upon a shaky football past.
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