2009 ACC Football Outlook Team Previews: North Carolina

Offense: C+



Clearly the biggest question mark for this offense will be the wide receivers. They lost three to the NFL Draft in Hakeem Nicks, Brandon Tate, and Brooks Foster. The only experienced player entering this season will be Greg Little who is talented but still adjusting to the switch to receiver from running back. Talented young players Dwight Jones, Joshua Adams and Jheranie Boyd both figure to play major roles in the receiving corp this season and how fast they get up to speed will be a major part in how successful the passing game will be for the Heels in '09. Junior TE Zach Pianalto is poised for a breakout season as he figures to be a focal point for QB TJ Yates with the question marks at the WR position. Yates played well at the beginning of the year but struggled after returning from injury which had many people calling for coach Butch Davis to put senior Cameron Sexton, who had played serviceably in Yates absence, back in. While staying with the struggling Yates may have hurt the team last year, Davis should be rewarded this year as Yates will benefit from the confidence boost from his coach sticking to him. The line should be solid as they return the entire left side of the line and that will be key in blocking for a talented stable of running backs including the speedy Shaun Draughn(4.4 ypc) who carried most of the load in 2008, the 245 lb wrecking ball Ryan Houston(8 TDs), and the talented redshirt freshman Jamal Womble. That running game will be the key to the offense in 2009 as it will be huge in helping to open up the passing game.



Defense: A



This is going to be the best defense in the ACC next year and really has no glaring weaknesses. The Heels return 9 starters from 2008 and should be improved. The defensive line returns the entire two-deep and adds Rivals 5-star recruit Donte Moss to the fold so the pass rush should be excellent in '09. That's good news for the secondary that led the country in interceptions last year. Seven of those came from safety Tramaine Goddard whose eligibility has run out but Da'Norris Searcey should be serviceable as his replacement. The rest of the secondary remains intact for 2009 and should still be one of the best in the country led by All-ACC cornerback Kendric Burney. The linebacking corp should be better in 2009 despite the loss of Mike linebacker Mark Paschal. Tackling machine Quan Sturdivant moves inside to take over for Paschal. Taking over for Sturdivant will be sophomore Zach Brown who runs a sub 4.3 40 yard dash. At the other outside 'backer spot will be rock solid Bruce Carter who was a monster blocking kicks last year when he blocked 5, including 3 straight over a two game span.



Prediction:

Carolina enters 2009 thinking about a possible ACC title and the BCS bowl berth that goes with it. The Tar Heels should start the year off 3-0 in games against the Citadel, at rebuilding UConn, and in-state rival East Carolina before traveling to Atlanta to kick off their ACC schedule against Georgia Tech. Clearly the Heels biggest stretch this season will be late in October when UNC faces the favorites in the ACC's Atlantic and Coastal Divisions on consecutive Thursday nights. They start this stretch by hosting Bobby Bowden's FSU squad before traveling to Lane Stadium to face Virginia Tech in a matchup of the Coastal Division's top two teams. UNC's November schedule features two key games, at home against Miami and at rival NC State. Sandwiched between these two is a meeting in Boston with a BC squad that doesn't figure to be very good but will be looking to shatter Carolina's ACC title hopes in an obvious trap game. These three games are preceded by the annual meeting with their archrivals from Durham who should be improved in Year 2 under David Cutcliffe. UNC definitely has the ability to win the ACC but unfortunately for Tar Heel fans, I think that it's going to come down to a Thursday night road game at Virginia Tech and I think the homefield advantage will prove to be the difference in that game and in the Coastal Division. I'm going predict that there's another loss somewhere else in the schedule giving them a 10-2 regular season record and their first double digit win season in many years. Tar Heel fans can expect a New Years Day bowl game or Chick-fil-A bowl appearance.