Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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GAME PREVIEW: NORTH CAROLINA "The results don't show it, but the big plays are signs of the secondary allowing receivers run down the field, allowing guys uncovered, just com‑ plete mental breakdowns. A lot of big plays and a lot of points." In the East Carolina loss, North Car‑ olina surrendered an unfathomable 789 yards of total offense along with the 70 points. In the first four games, the Tar Heels' secondary allowed an average of 353.0 passing yards per contest, with only Bowling Green (387.6) worse among Football Bowl Subdivision teams. "Part of it is UNC plays really up‑ tempo on offense," Carter said. "The offense hasn't been playing all that well either. The Clemson second half was probably the best we've seen the offense play. When the offense is go‑ ing three‑and‑out and not sustaining drives, it's really easy for the defense to get worn down. "The defense hasn't been playing well obviously, but the aspect that plays into it, too, is the fatigue factor. When the offense doesn't do well, the defense is back on the field and gives up a long drive. Then the offense will come back out and go three‑and‑out again. Even when UNC is playing well on offense and scoring points, the idea is to move quickly and score quickly and that kind of thing. That hurts the defense a little bit, too, and you see that." North Carolina redshirt junior quar‑ terback Marquise Williams threw for eight touchdowns and four intercep‑ tions through September, but he is at times plagued by inaccuracy. "The Liberty game, the season opener, he under threw a couple balls. If they were on target, they should've been touchdowns," Carter said. "That's been an issue all season. He's not the kind of guy who's going to be a really accurate quarterback and can put the ball in a tight spot. That's just not really him. He's more of an im‑ Facts & Figures NOTRE DAME VS. NORTH CAROLINA Game Info Date: Oct. 11, 2014. Site: Notre Dame Stadium (80,795). Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. Television: NBC. Radio: This broadcast can be heard live on SIRIUS Satellite Radio (channel 129). Series Facts: This is the 19th meeting between Notre Dame and North Carolina. The Irish lead the all-time series 16-2. Coaches: Notre Dame — Brian Kelly (42-15, fifth season); North Carolina — Larry Fedora (17-13, third season). Noting North Carolina: The Tar Heels came back from a 17-6 deficit against Notre Dame in 2008 to win 29-24 at Chapel Hill, N.C., in the most recent meeting between the programs … Four different North Carolina players led the team in rushing through the first four games … In the Tar Heels' first four games, 15 different players caught a pass … North Carolina scored on 17 of its first 18 red-zone trips this season, with 13 converted into touchdowns … North Caro- lina's last trip to Notre Dame Stadium resulted in a 45-26 Irish win on Nov. 4, 2006 … Starting right tackle Jon Heck is the son of 1988 Irish All- American/captain Andy Heck.