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| Sunday, August 11 Updated: August 13, 10:18 AM ET Rebuilt defense key to Tar Heels' success By Gregg Doyel Special to ESPN.com |
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Outlook: Last season was supposed to be a tough one. This one is supposed to be almost impossible. After a remarkable turnaround from last year's 0-3 start, the Tar Heels face similarly long odds this season thanks to massive losses on defense. Only three defensive starters are back, and one of them, tackle Will Chapman, is coming off ACL surgery. Gone off the line are top-10 NFL picks Julius Peppers and Ryan Sims.
Who is back? The offense returns seven starters, but the team's best receiver (Bosley Allen, transfer) and lineman (Greg Woofter, left the team) aren't among them. Quarterback Darian Durant broke most of UNC's freshman passing records, but after leaving the team this spring he will have to hold off Florida transfer C.J. Stephens for the job. Key game: Nobody around Chapel Hill liked the way Mack Brown left for Texas after the 1997 season. Now is Chapel Hill's chance to show Brown its displeasure, courtesy of the Tar Heels, who welcome Brown's Longhorns to town on Sept. 14. Texas will be a big favorite at Kenan Stadium -- but Brown won't. Keep an eye on: The quarterback situation will make or break the Tar Heels. Last season, a two-quarterback system worked. This season, who knows? Everyone knows Durant can get the job done, but do teammates believe in him after he tried to transfer this past spring? It's a good year if ...: The Tar Heels can survive another difficult non-conference schedule and win enough games to qualify for the postseason. Doing it last season was considered an upset. Doing it this season, with all the new faces on defense, might be classified a miracle. Gregg Doyel covers the ACC for the Charlotte Observer.
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