Weekly Report Card: Wake Forest

Carolina beat Wake Forest 50-14 on Saturday, overcoming a slow start to rout the Demon Deacons in Chapel Hill. Carolina showed that their offense is for real this year, beating up a celebrated Wake Forest defense. Marquise Williams started very slowly with two terrible interceptions in the first quarter.

On to the Grades:

Make them Throw: A

The Heels held Wake Forest to 2.6 yards per carry on 43 attempts. The Heels covered Wake receivers well as their quarterbacks were flushed out of the pocket and forced to scramble. Carolina generated a solid pass rush in this game considering they were down to their backups. The fact that Wake Forest needed to throw the ball to try to score and win exposed the limitations of their offense. Carolina was missing two of their top corners but still contained the Wake Forest offense. The Demon Deacons averaged 6.6 yards per attempt on their passes and never really threatened the Heels once the offense got rolling.

Avoid Turnovers: B-

When Wake Forest was in this game only when Marquise Williams was throwing the ball to them. Carolina cleaned it up after the first quarter, forced a Wake Forest turnover and rolled for most of the game. When Carolina is not turning the ball over the offense has looked as good as anyone's in the country. If Carolina continues to play mistake free football they have a real shot at the Coastal Division and ACC Championship.

No Let-Down: B

The Heels started the game flat, turning the ball over twice and failing to score in the first quarter. The Heels were able to rebound quickly and the game quickly ceased to become a contest. The Heels should be favored to win next week and if they avoid a let down against Virginia then the game against Pitt looms as one that could put Carolina in the driver's seat for the Coastal.