UNC football defensive keys to the game vs App State
The North Carolina Tar Heels are coming off an impressive 31-17 win over South Carolina to kick off their season, but what must they do to have a repeat performance in week two against Appalachian State?
Many projected Drake Maye to be the reason for UNC’s victory in a battle of two great offenses. However, that was not the case, with the defense mainly playing the hero role to save the game.
The defense displayed consistent pressure on the line, getting to Spencer Rattler repeatedly for nine sacks. The defensive effort was led by Kaimon Rucker, who earned Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week honors after finishing the game with eight tackles and two sacks.
Fans could not be more enthusiastic about the season following week one defensive performance. However, there is still room for improvement. Here are a few keys UNC will need to do on the defensive side to repeat their week one performance.
Don't take a game off
The first key is not taking a game off because of the opponent. App State is not the same team on paper they were a year ago, as they walk into this meeting with their backup QB Joey Aguilar at the helm.
Aguilar played in the second half for the Mountaineers in their 45-24 win against Gardner-Webb, showcasing arm strength and accuracy with four passing touchdowns, completing 11 for 13 passes. Treating Aguilar as just a transfer backup from Diablo Valley Community College could be a trap for the UNC’s defense.
Get to the quarterback!
The second key is to keep attacking the quarterback. UNC’s defense stacked up nine sacks in the win against South Carolina, and if it were not for Spencer Rattler’s shiftiness, they would have hit double digits.
Luckily for the defense, they do not play Rattler on Saturday. Instead, they are looking to get Aguilar’s jersey dirty. Keeping the same pressure from the defensive line while the linebackers sit in coverage will be vital in keeping Aguilar uncomfortable.
The few times South Carolina was able to make a big splash play, it was thanks to the creativity of Rattler that will be different for App State.
Stay disciplined and finish the job
The final key is to remain disciplined in coverage. Despite South Carolina only scoring three second-half points, it felt they could have climbed back into the game at any moment. Much of that was due to the breaks in coverage and the inability to keep Spencer at bay.
Ensuring discipline in coverage while preventing unnecessary penalties is the best way to finish the job.
