University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heels Prep For Virginia
October 23, 2014 | Football
by Emily Fedewa, GoHeels.com
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - After its 48-43 win over Georgia Tech last weekend, Carolina has a little more bounce in its step at practice this week.
Head coach Larry Fedora doesn't like to see a lot of ups and downs in attitude from his players throughout the season, preferring that they stay consistent from week to week, win or lose - but he does think the team's confidence is a higher this week.
"I think there's a little more confidence (this week)," Fedora said. "You always have that after a victory and that's always a good thing, but there were still mistakes made in that game (against Georgia Tech) in all three phases that we've got to get corrected."
Defensive end Dajaun Drennon agreed that practice this week has been good, but that there's also still room for improvement.
The redshirt freshman played well last week, racking up two tackles for loss and a sack against the Yellow Jackets, and he thinks the Tar Heels can carry the momentum from that victory into Saturday's game at Virginia.
"I feel like we've been getting after it. These last few games have been confidence builders for us," Drennon said. "(Beating Georgia Tech) was a very big confidence boost for us and I feel like we're just going to let that drive us into the next week."
Carolina hopes to ride that momentum into Charlottesville this weekend as they face what Fedora said is an improved Virginia team that has threats on offense, defense and special teams.
"You've got some age with that group, they've been there," Fedora said of the experience of the Virginia team. "I think those kids are fully immersed in what they're doing and they're having a good year. They're going to get after us."
Drennon believes that the defensive line will play a big factor against a Cavalier offense that has shown a solid running game so far this season.
"They've got a good running game, so that's one thing we're going to have to stop," Drennon said. "I think that's very important for us because the (defensive) line playing well determines the game."
UNC has defeated the Cavaliers each of the last four years, and the Tar Heels have put up 83 combined points in the 2012 and 2013 clashes.
But Fedora knows that these are two different teams and past results will have no effect on the outcome of Saturday's game - they'll need to be prepared for whatever happens this week.
"What's happened in the past will have nothing to do with what happens on Saturday," Fedora said about UNC's past success against the Cavaliers. "It's going to be (this week) that's going to make the difference."
