The majority of the talk surrounding the Miami Hurricanes this week has been who will start at quarterback on Thursday night against North Carolina. The Tar Heels have their own quarterback controversy to deal with.
Chazz Surratt who led North Carolina in passing in 2017 returns from a three-game suspension in time to face the Miami Hurricanes Thursday night. The Charlotte News and Observer reported that Tar Heels Head Coach Larry Fedora named Nate Elliott the starter for Miami’s ACC opener. UNC defeated Pittsburgh in their’s last week.
Both Elliott and Surratt and played last season for North Carolina. Surratt completed 58.5 percent of his passes for 1,342 yards eight touchdowns and three interceptions in 2017. Surratt also ran for 210 yards and five touchdowns.
Like Miami’s seemingly former starter Malik Rosier, Elliott has struggled with accuracy. In 2017 he completed 51.4 percent for 925 yards, ten touchdowns and five interceptions. He also ran for 134 yards.
In Surratt’s absence this season Elliott has completed 56.7 percent for 669 yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions. Elliott also has 51 yards rushing.
Again, Nathan Elliott was on point against Pitt. Here was his 1st and 2nd half passing chart “white pad” style pic.twitter.com/p6x4ugCeGy
— Jonathan M Alexander (@jonmalexander) September 25, 2018
It’s hard to imagine Surratt not getting playing time on Thursday if Elliott struggles. The Tar Heels are averaging 228 yards passing per game. That’s 72nd in the country.
The Miami Hurricanes enter Thursday’s game sixth in pass defense allowing 145 yards per game. It’s tough to see North Carolina’s offense doing much against the Miami defense.
North Carolina began the season with road losses to East Carolina and Pittsburgh. Their week three game against number 18 Central Florida was canceled due to Hurricane Florence. The Tar Heels rebounded by winning their ACC opener last week against Pittsburgh 38-35 at home.
Elliott has improved significantly each week this season. He had the best game of his career against the Panthers. Elliott finished 22 of 31 with career-highs of 71 percent and 313 yards. He also had two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Elliott was abysmal in the season opener going 15 of 35 for 137 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions in a 24-17 loss at California. Elliott played most of the way against Miami last season. He was 16 of 39, 173 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions in a 24-19 Miami win.
According to the News and Observer Elliott was put in better position to succeed last week against Pittsburgh than he was in the first two games.
"“UNC utilized a lot of passes in the flat and screen plays to get its best play-makers out in space with defenders, allowing them to rack up yards after the catch. The ball left Elliott’s hands a lot quicker and he wasn’t pressured as much.”"
That is going to have to be North Carolina’s game plan against Miami. Although the Hurricanes haven’t rushed the passer as well as they did last season, they lead the nation in tackles for loss. Miami is living in the opponent’s backfields at a blistering pace in 2018.
Through the first four games, Miami has 46 tackles for loss to lead the nation. They had 111 all of 2017 and are on pace for 138 this season. If Miami gets out to an early lead as they should as a prohibitive favorite at home that will set up the Hurricanes pass rushers nicely. Expect the turnover chain a few times.