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Our Football Package Launches : August 17, 2010 @ 9:00 A.M.
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#23 North Carolina Tar Heels
Offense
The injury bug has bitten the North Carolina offense the last two seasons as neither QB TJ Yates nor RB Shaun Draughn has been able to complete a full season. However, a bigger problem for the Tar Heels has been the constant struggling by the Tar Heel offensive line. Since Butch Davis has taken over UNC’s offensive line has paved the way for a horrendous 118 yard per game. And keep in mind this is with a running back in Shaun Draughn who has rushed for 1,433 yards in just 15 career starts. This must improve!
However, I do expect an offensive turnaround in 2010. Draughn returns and Yates has a talented and experienced wide receiving corps at his disposal headlined by stars Greg Little and Jheraine Boyd. The offensive line also returns four starters while adding highly touted OT freshman James Hurst. So despite heavy underproduction in Davis’ tenure expect solid improvement in 2010.
Defense
The most talented defense in the country may actually lie in Chapel Hill, NC. The group returns 6 starters who turned down early entry into the NFL draft. The defensive line returns NFL projected starts Marvin Austin and Robert Quinn who were the frontline of a unit that only allowed 96 yards per game on the ground in 2010. It just gets better with the linebackers and secondaries as LB stars Quan Sturdivant is back along with strongside backer Bruce Carter, who has blocked 5 kicks in his career at UNC. The secondary may be even better as the groups return startingCB Kendri Burney who returned 3 INTs for TDs in 2010 and had a career day against Miami in 2009 when he had 170 INT return yards. This unit will fun to watch in 2010!
Overall
If you would have asked me a month ago where I would rank UNC coming into the 2010 season, I would have said somewhere near the top 10. However, there are tons of uncertainity in Chapel Hill due to the NCAA looking into Tar Heel players Marvin Austin and Greg Little for taking improper benefits from agents. It is believed the two could have to miss some time in 2010 so this is why I have ranked the Tar Heels towards the bottom of the top 25. There’s just too much uncertainity.
However, even without Little and Austin there is still a lot of talent at UNC. The schedule sets up pretty good for the Heels as two of their bigger divisional games against Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech will be in Chapel Hill. North Carolina must travel to Miami and Tallahassee, but these games due fall in good spots on the schedule. The Tar Heels will play Miami after what should be a cake walk win against a horrible Virginia team, and they get the Noles the week following a game with FCS opponent William & Mary.
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