Citadel-UNC Preview by Chad Floyd
04 Sep 2009
Introduction
Here we are, ladies and gentlemen. As it is 69 degrees in beautiful Chapel Hill right now, football season must be upon us. For the first time since the 1998 season, the Tar Heels boast a preseason Top 25 ranking as they check in at #20 on the USA Today Coaches’ poll. Expectations are high in Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels boasted one of the largest turnarounds in the country last year, improving their record by 4 wins and losing 4 additional games by a combined nine points.
Back is a total of 15 starters for the Tar Heels, including 9 from a defense that promises to take major steps forward in its second year under defensive coordinator Everett Withers. Withers’ first UNC defense finished tied for 8th in the nation with 20 interceptions. While that number may not improve from last season, the defense should be more aggressive and dominant for longer stretches this year.
For those who are unfamiliar with The Citadel, it is a military school located in Charleston, SC that plays its football in the FCS Southern Conference. They will run a spread option offense similar to the one McNeese State had success with in last season’s opener, but don’t expect The Citadel to have the athletes or the success that the Cowboys had against UNC. Both of the players expected to contribute at running back for the Bulldogs are walk-ons, as injuries have derailed the team here in the preseason. QB Bart Blanchard is also struggling with an injury but is expected to play.
Stats and Trends:
Since this is the first game of the season, the only notable statistics to watch are those posted by players returning from 2008’s teams. A few to keep in mind:
– LB Quan Sturdivant led the nation with 87 solo tackles last year. He has since moved to middle linebacker, but look for the junior to continue to make plays.
– Although QB T.J. Yates missed 5 games due to injury last season, he is up to 6th on Carolina’s all-time passing yardage list with 3,823 yards. With a couple of productive (and injury-free) seasons, he could break Darian Durant’s all-time mark.
– Carolina has struggled in recent years with FCS opponents going back to 2oo4. They trailed for significant portions of a 2004 49-38 win over William & Mary, a 2006 45-42 win against Furman, and last year’s 35-27 win vs. McNeese State. Hopefully, this year’s first FCS game (the Heels face Georgia Southern October 10) will be more like the 37-14 win against James Madison in 2007, not any of the others mentioned.
Players to watch:
My hope is that we don’t have to watch the starters for much longer than a half, and we get a chance to see a lot of the second and third teamers get a taste of game action. I would love to see backup QB’s Mike Paulus and Braden Hansen both get a significant amount of snaps because you just never know with T.J. Yates’ health.
RT Mike Ingersoll is one of the keys to the season, in my opinion. How adequately he replaces Atlanta Falcon Garrett Reynolds will go a long way to the stability of the offensive line, which also lacks depth. Expect to see at least two of Travis Bond, Brennan Williams, and David Collins, all of whom are true freshmen, getting some game experience.
Also, keep your eye on Charles Brown at cornerback. He wrestled the starting job away from Jordan Hemby, and his ability to shut down receivers opposite Kendric Burney will be key this season.
For North Carolina to win:
Remember Appalachian State/Michigan 2007. No team is invincible, and the Bulldogs aren’t likely to roll over and die.
For The Citadel to win:
A rousing pregame speech by Citadel alum and famous author Pat Conroy, 9 T.J. Yates interceptions, a sit-in on the 50-yard line by UNC employees forced to leave work two hours early to accommodate Florida State traffic (most likely scenario), and Ron Cherry calling the game. And that still may not be enough.
Fearless Prediction:
The Heels’ highly publicized ‘problems’ at wide receiver are solved, we roll up about 500 yards of offense, and the starters get to the showers early. Carolina 48, The Citadel 13.