Here Comes Carolina Tar Heels: 2008 Defensive Preview

The 2007 edition Tar Heels finished the year ranked 35th in the nation in total defense; a drastic improvement from a year ago and a pleasant surprise for Butch Davis' young squad.  In 2008, with twelve significantly experienced returnees, the Heels look to make the jump to a top 20 defensive squad.

While Chuck Pagano has left for the NFL, Davis' new hire Everett Withers has seen plenty of success from the 4-3 scheme.  His stint at Texas with Mack Brown from 1998-2000, as well the stint with the NFL's Titans from 2001-2006, have truly proven Withers' worth as a coach. 

With Everett Withers at the helm this still young but now tremendously experienced unit, looks to propel the Heels into the top of 2008's NCAA defensive rankings.

Defensive Line

Let's start up front with the foundation of any defensively sound team, the d-line.  At the interior spots the Heels have both talent and depth.  Marvin Austin showed flashes justifying his status as an elite defensive tackle last season; registering 26 tackles, 6 tackles for loss and 4 sacks in 2007.

Aleric Mullins and Tydreke Powell will help fill out the rotation and should both play as advertised; meaning very well.  In Mullins, Powell and Austin the Heels can expect to get a serious surge from the interior line, helping to push the pocket back and disrupt the quarterback.

Another major player in this defensive tackle rotation is redshirt junior Cam Thomas.  The 6-3, 325 pound junior is a pure run stuffing tackle who will keep his linebackers clean.  Thomas will be one of the key cogs in UNC moving up in the rankings by lowering rushing numbers.

Defensive end is another story as the only known commodity heading into 2007 is redshirt junior EJ Wilson.  Wilson showed inklings of brilliance in 2007, as he was a johnny on the spot defender piling up 5 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries and 9.5 tackles for losses.  Wilson, once a reserve fullback and tight end has settled nicely into the defensive end spot and looks to push for an All-ACC season.

Auditioning for the role of Wilson's bookend will be the highly touted trio Darrius Massenburg, Darius Powell and Greg Elleby.  Currently the three sophomores' combined production is a pedestrian 18 tackles and 3 tackles for loss.  They'll all three need to blossom with more field time in order to rotate fresh bodies at the end position and spell Wilson.

Overall the defensive line is a solid unit, especially at the interior.  Should one of the younger ends emerge as the clear dominating force needed opposite Wilson the Heels should cause problems for opposing quarterbacks and running backs.

Linebackers

The loss of Durrell Mapp to graduation and Wesley Flagg to a dismissal have left the Heels thin in terms of linebacking depth with game experience.  Only Quan Sturdivant, Bruce Carter, Chase Rice and Mark Paschal have seen true, in game experience. 

It'll be up to this group to lead the youthful, inexperienced linebacking corp for the Heels.  The cerebral leader Rice, the bull doggedly reliable Paschal and the two athletically gifted, fast learning sophomores Quan Sturdivant and Bruce Carter. 

Chase Rice, the cerebral elder statesman returns focused and grounded after a tumultuous offseason, and an injury that caused him to miss 2007, his true senior season.

Paschal is another four-year contributor and is an old school downhill player who could be key in Carolina's run stuffing in 2008.  He gets to the line in a hurry and he's at his best playing the run and attacking the line of scrimmage.

Sturdivant and Carter are solid linebackers who also have good wheels, they'll be crucial in the UNC coverage game as well as the blitz packages. These two young guys are converted high school quarterbacks still learning to play the college defensive game.  Their continued development will be crucial to Withers' defensive success.

Look for young talent such as Kevin Reddick and Zach Brown to make their way into the rotation as Butch Davis continues to work to put the most talented group of players out there on the field.

Defensive Backs

While Butch Davis' great defensive teams at Miami featured names like Johnathan Vilma, Dan Morgan, Kennard Lang and Vince Wilfork, the secondary play was always the calling card of Davis' teams.  Slowly Davis is bringing that to the Tar Heels squad. 

Entering 2008 the Heels have arguably the second best defensive backfield in the ACC (Clemson's mature, experienced group is without a doubt the current league gold standard).

Fifth year senior Trimane Goddard returns to anchor this young talented group.  Goddard has played in some 35 games in his three seasons on the field and is without question the most experienced Heel on the defensive side of the ball.  He's a steady player at the safety spot and is as reliable as they come.

Cornerbacks Kendrick Burney and Charles Brown have emerged as the cocky, confident stoppers at the edge that every successful defense requires.  Both are capable of forcing the issue, evidenced in their combined totals of 109 tackles and 9.5 tackles for loss in 2007.

Their coverage ability lives up to their run stopping, as they both were successful in the back end last season.  They will need to up both their interception numbers and passes defensed in order to progress to the next level.

But as these sophomores grow into their roles that should not be a problem.  Having Withers, an experienced teacher will surely aid in their continued development.

While Goddard, Brown and Burney have improved the Heels' backfield the addition of ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year Deunta Williams has truly galvanized the Tar Heel secondary.  The sophomore looks to build upon his successes of a year ago and move into the realm of the elite safeties in the country. 

Butch Davis, a man who has been around all-pros Ed Reed and Sean Taylor, knows great safety play and has had nothing but glowing remarks concerning the play of Williams.  This sophomore season Williams has to take that major step in living up to the lofty expectations that come following a strong rookie campaign.

The former receiver's versatility in coverage, ball skills and insatiable taste for big hits should give the Tar Heels the lift they've needed in the back end.

As a unit the secondary is the best the defense has to offer and this group has a chance to do something special in Chapel Hill in 2008.  Along with the four returning starters expect to see names like Johnny White and Richie Rich, two converted running backs and Jordan Hemby get into the Tar Heels secondary rotation.

White and Rich have shown promise after being switched to defense during the 2007 season.  Hemby has battled injury problems, but when healthy has shown serious potential, albeit on the practice fields.

Due Up Next The UNC Special Teams Preview...