University of North Carolina Athletics
RAMblings - The Defense in Focus - Rams Club
RAMblings 8.25.09 - The Defense in Focus
by Lee Pace
The onus is clearly on the Tar Heel defense in 2009 to be the team's anchor as it searches for ballast on offense (three receivers gone and a myriad of personnel issues along the line) and in the kicking game (punter and one place-kicker departed, two key coverage guys injured). It's lockdown and shutdown time on defense; pray for some low-scoring games early in the year.
"We could be something special," cornerback Kendric Burney says. "We're flying to the ball better than we ever have. Our defense reminds me of how the Baltimore Ravens play-they are all over the field, talking and communicating and making plays. Last year, we didn't play like we were supposed to play. We've corrected a lot of things. We trust each other more. We've cleaned up a lot of stuff that hurt us last year."
Carolina fielded a curious defense in 2007 as the Heels posted an 8-4 regular season before being scalded by QB Pat White of West Virginia in a bowl game defeat. The Tar Heels were opportunistic and made scads of big plays. Their 29 turnovers were the 20th best total in college football, and through half of the year they were at the top of the national rankings for forcing turnovers. Interceptions returned for touchdowns were integral jolts in wins at Rutgers and over Notre Dame, and collecting so many takeaways made their scoring defense total of 21 points yielded a game quite respectable (32nd in the country).
Otherwise, though, the unit was decidedly pedestrian:
Rushing defense: 56th in the nation with 139 yards a game.
Passing defense: 84th with 226 yards a game.
Total defense: 64th with 365 yards a game.
Sacks: 80th with 22.
Third-down conversion defense: 88th with 43 percent converted.
The Tar Heels at times in 2007 were playing as many as seven first-year starters. They had good speed but not great speed. They got in a pickle at linebacker with injuries and at cornerback when opposing quarterbacks picked on Jordan Hemby frequently. And who has forgotten the late-game defensive meltdown at Virginia?
If nothing else, a year's maturity across the board should pay enormous dividends in 2009 for a defense that has excellent talent across the board.
"Last year, there were a lot of things on our minds every snap," says end Quinton Coples, one of three freshmen who played the position. "We had to think a lot. This year, we know the playbook. We are more comfortable. We can go out and make plays. We're making progress every day. We're faster and stronger. Our goal is to be the best defense in the nation, and I think we can be."
The Tar Heels are two-deep along the front four with athletic players, though left end E.J. Wilson lacks the speed you'd like to have on the perimeter. They are loaded at tackle with Cam Thomas, Marvin Austin, Tydreke Powell and Aleric Mullins.
"We have a lot of expectations from that group," Butch Davis says. "I'm a firm believer that the personality of your football team is reflected somewhat by your defensive front four. They have a chance to carry the message for the entire defense, a chance to set the tone, to play aggressive and dominate up front."
The linebacking corps returns two starters in juniors Quan Sturdivant and Bruce Carter. Sturdivant moves to the middle to replace Mark Paschal, and Carter will start at the "Sam" (strongside) spot. Through two weeks of preseason camp, sophomore Zach Brown and freshman Kevin Reddick were locked in a battle to start at the "Will" (weakside) position.
Speed will be their stock in trade.
"I haven't seen a group of linebackers this fast since I've been following college football," Wilson says. "All of our linebackers run a 4.4 and one of them runs a 4.2 That's unheard of."
Quarterback T.J. Yates notes opposing defenses are likely to look a step slow after he's gotten used to watching the Carolina linebackers.
"You won't find three faster linebackers than our's in the country," Yates says. "They're not only fast, but they are strong and physical. I really think we have exceptional linebackers."
The secondary returns two starters in Burney and safety Deunta Williams. Da'Norris Searcy is running with the first team to replace Trimane Goddard, and Charles Brown appears to have won the cornerback slot opposite Burney. The unit was disheartened when safety Matt Merletti was lost for the year with a knee injury. Melvin Williams and three freshmen cornerbacks-Terry Shankle, Mywan Jackson and Gene Robinson-are all getting looks as parts of the nickel and dime packages.
"Each of our returning players is better than they were last spring," Davis says. "And those three freshmen all have excellent football skills. If you put them at wide receiver, you'd say, 'Oh man, that's pretty good.' They have speed, quickness, good hips. They have the awareness to make big plays."
Shankle, Jackson and Robinson have impressed their elders.
"The freshmen are going to be a wreck," says Burney, a senior. "The next couple of years, if we can get some safeties, we're going to have the best secondary in the nation. It will be fun to come back and watch them. They are smart and athletic. Once they get their technique down, they're going to be something special."