Oct. 17, 2003

Several Carolina fans have inquired the last couple of weeks about the defensive line and its performance this season. The D-line has clearly been one of the crucial rebuilding projects on the team, and it was a major recruiting focus for coach John Bunting and staff during the 2002-03 recruiting season.

Carolina signed eight players slated to play the defensive front. Four are currently at Hargrave Military Academy (with stated intentions to re-sign with the Tar Heels). Two are playing reserve roles--Isiah Thomas and Shelton Bynum. One of the best of the bunch would be playing but prefers to red-shirt this year--Kyndraus Guy.

Bunting has singled out junior tackle Chase Page the last two weeks for his excellent performances, and No. 41--worn by red-shirt freshman end Alden Blizzard--was visible last week in the Tar Heels' 28-17 win over East Carolina.

Defensive line coach Brad Lawing noted several highlights of the defensive front halfway through the season.

"Alden Blizzard has gone from a guy no one had heard of in August to a guy who got to the quarterback three times on Saturday," Lawing says. "His athletic ability is obvious. What was holding him back earlier was learning our scheme. That was not very important to him at one point. He struggled with it. But he understands now that learning the scheme is what he's got to do if he wants to play at this level.

"Isiah Thomas has come on in the last few weeks. At the first of the season, I was not sure if he'd help us this year or not. But we've thrown him in the mix and he's responded pretty well. He's using his hands much better now to fight off blocks. Most kids coming out of high school don't know how to use their hands because they're so used to overpowering people.

"Chase Page at the beginning of the year was playing okay, but nothing special. The last two weeks, he's played like we need our defensive tackles to play. He's playing better fundamental football.

"Shelton Bynum has made some good plays the last two weeks. He's in a position where he can help us. He's making progress.

"Overall, I'm encouraged with what we're doing. We're getting better. The challenge for us is to take it to the field every game. We've had some weeks where we've played well in practice but haven't taken it to the field."

End Madison Hedgecock is getting better in his first full season on defense after moving from fullback.

"Madison's still learning the position," Lawing says. "One of his problems in the pass rush has been running past the quarterback--he overruns him and the quarterback slips back inside. On Saturday, he got level with the quarterback on one play, held his position and worked back to the quarterback and made the sack. That's just a fundamental issue he had to learn."

Arizona State's quarterback, Andrew Walter, in this week's press conference said, "I remember they (UNC) were all over the field. They were in the backfield a lot and we had to get the ball out fast. We will see the tape here soon, and I will remember it a little better. I remember getting hit a few times in the game last year, so I know they are in the backfield. I know they are pretty athletic." How likely do you think the Tar Heels will repeat this defensive part of last fall's win? Often in press conference lingo, saying a team is "athletic" usually means great potential but far from developed. Do you agree? Phil Wood, Winston-Salem

There is no question that calling a team "athletic" is a generic catch-all that sometimes might be used sincerely and at others might used because nothing else nice comes to mind. The fact that Arizona State moved the ball for 657 yards a year ago in Tempe--an average of 8.2 per snap--would lead one to believe it's the latter case. The truth is the Tar Heels were very lucky to win that game, 38-35. But the Sun Devils lost two interceptions and three fumbles and missed four field goals. In six games this year, Walter has averaged more than 250 yards passing per game, has completed 53 percent of his passes and has 12 TDs.

Is UNC good enough to play in the ACC? It seems that the teams get poorer each year since Mack Brown's departure. Should we not play more 1-AA teams? How will we fare when Miami, Virginia Tech and Boston College enter the league? Stanley C. Jordan, M.D., Los Angeles

The Tar Heels have not looked as if they belong in the ACC the last year and a half, that's for sure. But as I've written on Fridays this year and in the Monday Extra Points newsletter, Carolina's program has suffered from a variety of ills over the last six years. There have been two head coaches and far more turnover in assistant coaches than is good for recruiting stability. Some recruiting decisions didn't work out--injuries, academics, homesickness and any number of reasons. The simple bottom line is that Carolina does not have enough players and, in particular, enough mature players to challenge for the ACC. Following is an amazing statistic that vouches for the problems the Tar Heels have had juggling personnel on defense--Carolina has had a different starting lineup on defense in 18 consecutive games, dating back to the start of the 2002 season. Contrast that to the Heels' four best seasons during the 1990s:
1992 (9-3, Peach Bowl win over Mississippi State) -- Eight players started 11 or 12 games. The only times the lineup was juggled was to account for injuries.
1993 (10-3, Gator Bowl loss to Alabama) -- Nine players started all 13 games. Another started 12 of 13. The only tinkering came at one defensive tackle slot where Greg Black, Marcus Jones and Mike Payne competed for the starting job.
1996 (10-2, Gator Bowl win over West Virginia) -- Six started all 12 games. Five others started 10. The only changes were due to injuries after Greg Williams beat out Jomo Legins for one starting safety spot after two games.
1997 (11-1, Gator Bowl win over Virginia Tech) -- Eight started all 12 games. Three others started at least 10. The only changes were due to injuries. For the first nine games of that year, only one change in the starting lineup was made--that when Nate Hobgood-Chittick started for an injured Russell Davis against Virginia.

The lineups those four seasons were athletic, mature and mentally tough. Can the Tar Heels field similar lineups in the future, ones that can successfully compete against the ACC of future? Absolutely - provided the Tar Heel coaching staff makes good decisions in the recruiting arena.