Virginia Football Schedule Preview: North Carolina

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Receiver Canaan Severin and the Hoos will try to get a win in Chapel Hill this season. ~ Mike Ingalls

Charles Dickens may have loved the 2014 North Carolina football team. On offense, it was the best of times. On defense, it was the worst of times. As a result, the Tar Heels scored less than 20 only twice but gave up more than 30 nine times. Many of the offensive pieces return so Carolina figures to be strong on that side of the ball over the course of the season. Defensively, coach Larry Fedora addressed the issue by switching defensive coordinators. Enter Gene Chizik, former head coach at Auburn. If the Tar Heels can keep up their scoring ways and reduce the issues on defense, they could be a tough out in the topsy-turvy ACC Coastal Division.

UNC Peek

  • Head Coach (record at school): Larry Fedora (21-17)
  • 2014 Record: 6-7
  • Offense 2014 Total Yards/Game (National ranking): 429.8 (48th)
  • Offense 2014 Points/Game: 33.2 (38th – tie)
  • Defense 2014 Total Yards/Game: 497.8 (120th)
  • Defense 2014 Points/Game: 39.0 (119th – tie)

What To Expect On Game Day

Offense: Larry Fedora’s spread system can cause headaches for opponents when it’s clicking on all cylinders. UNC has averaged more than 425 yards per game since his arrival in 2012. This year’s version certainly will have a lot of experienced weapons at its disposal – the Heels return 10 starters. Leading the way is quarterback Marquise Williams, who set 18 school records last season. Williams logged 21 touchdown passes, 13 touchdown runs, and one touchdown reception a year ago. Williams entered the season with 4,893 passing yards and 1,510 rushing yards in his career.

Most of the top receiving targets are back this season too (UVa transfer T.J. Thorpe is the notable exception). There are only 16 returning players in the ACC with at least 400 receiving yards in 2014 and 25% of them play for Carolina. Ryan Switzer (757), Mack Hollins (613), Quinshad Davis (470), and Bug Howard (455) all can come up with key catches. Hollins, as Virginia fans saw last season, can be a huge home run threat on deep passes. Throw in running backs T.J. Logan (14 career starts) and Elijah Hood and it is easy to see just how much firepower the Heels can create on offense.

Carolina is one of just eight Power 5 teams to return all five offensive line starters. The Tar Heels return all-star candidate Landon Turner at right guard (28 career starts), Jon Heck at right tackle (24), Caleb Peterson at left guard (23), Lucas Crowley at center (13) and John Ferranto at left tackle (13). In six games with the starting offensive line in 2014, Carolina averaged 519 yards, 225 rushing yards and 42 points. With that said, Ferranto has been surpassed by Bentley Spain in the preseason.

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