Get to know Duke Football ahead of Week 7 matchup vs. UNC

The North Carolina Tar Heels are fresh off an upset win over Pitt last week, getting a huge win to go to 1-1 in Atlantic Coast Conference play. Using a big performance from the defense, it was the first ranked win in the Bill Belichick era.

Now, the team looks to build on that momentum as the season winds down.

Next up for the Tar Heels is a game against rival Duke on the road. The Blue Devils suffered their first loss of the season last week, falling on the road at Georgia Tech. But this will be a tough game for the Tar Heels being on the road and against a rival.

To get you ready for the upcoming game, we talked to Brian Stultz of Duke Wire to get the inside scoop on the Blue Devils:

Duke suffered their first loss last week in a weird game on the road, how deflating was that for them? What's the vibe around the program after the loss?

It was a surprising loss, and not just because Georgia Tech had struggled to do anything successful all season going into the game. It was the fact that Duke's defense, which had been on lock down since the first half of the Illinois game, struggled to get off the field and gave up big plays. I'm certain the vibe in the facility this week is to clean up what happened and not let that kind of bad loss happen again, or this season could turn into a disaster fast. Manny Diaz has been around long enough to get a team through a disappointment like that, but it has to start against the Tar Heels.

We know how good Nate Sheppard is. But who is one player on offense who will make an impact?

Tight end Jeremiah Hasley. If anyone has found rhythm with first-year quarterback Walker Eget, it has been Hasley. He leads the team in receptions (19) and receiving yards (234), but surprisingly doesn't have a touchdown yet. It's critical for Duke's passing attack for him to be productive. 

What area is Duke the strongest in overall?

It's a combination of the offensive line and, as you mentioned above, Nate Sheppard. Duke leads the nation by allowing just one sack, which makes Eget feel comfortable in the pocket, but once the offensive line gets going and gives Sheppard any room at all, the running back shows why he's one of the best backs in the country. 

What area can UNC try to exploit in this game as a key to success? Can you see UNC having success in that particular area?

Duke's secondary is still a question mark despite improved play, and there's reason to believe that Billy Edwards Jr., given time, should be able to pick apart the third level of the Blue Devils' defense. If that happens, and the Tar Heels put up some points, it would be hard for this Duke team to keep up as it is not an offense that wants to get into a scoreboard battle. 

What's the vibe around Manny Diaz? He seems to be doing well at Duke, but if a big job like FSU opens up, would he be a candidate?

You won't find many complaining about the job Diaz has done in two-plus seasons in Durham, especially after the unthinkable ACC title last season, but with success at a school that doesn't have the resources that the top programs do, that success can definitely lead to Diaz to being poached by another school. Although it's a tough part of not exactly being a football school, it beats the alternative of not winning. 

Yes, I do think he would be a candidate for the Florida State job considering his Florida roots and knowledge of the recruiting prowess in that state.

This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: Get to know Duke Football ahead of Week 7 matchup vs. UNC