North Carolina Vs. LSU: Don't Count Out The Tar Heels Just Yet

They say you can find out the true character of a team when their backs are planted firmly against the wall and their support group is all but diminished.

Well North Carolina, it’s time to find out what your made of!

The Tar Heels are still about an hour away from kickoff at the Georgia Dome for their game against LSU, but they have already faced great challenges to their mental strength and composure.

News came down this week that some key North Carolina players will be forced to sit out the much anticipated match up, for reasons related to multiple ongoing NCAA investigations into various violations. It started with highly regarded defensive tackle Marvin Austin, who was suspended by head coach Butch Davis for a separate infraction, and then it snowballed from there.

Reports surfaced that the team would indeed be without many of their star names including their only true dependable offensive playmaker, wide receiver Greg Little; as well as some of their most dominant defenders defensive end Robert Quinn, cornerbacks Charles Brown and Kendric Burney, and safety Da’Norris Searcy. The team will also be without the services of their top two rushers from a year ago, Shaun Draughn and Ryan Houston.

In total, there are thirteen players who are ineligible and one, Austin, who is suspended indefinitely. The absences have hung a dark cloud over a game that was one of the most hyped and anticipated contests of opening weekend.

There’s no question that this is undoubtedly a team in turmoil right now. With so many distractions and personnel losses, many are wondering if the team can respond and come up with a valiant, gutsy performance.

I, for one, believe they can.

Will it be an uphill battle? Yes, but this is a team that can accomplish it. North Carolina may be down, but they still have the pieces left to pull out a victory.

The pressure will fall on senior quarterback TJ Yates, who can no longer just sit back and let the defense make stops. Yates has a solid and experienced offensive line in front of him, but he needs to come up big in the passing game now that Houston and Draughn are gone. The ineligible Greg Little was Yates’s favorite target last season, but he has two talented sophomore receivers in Erik Highsmith and Jheranie Boyd, who can both make plays; as well as tight end Zack Pianalto, who is a solid check down option.

The defense will still be fierce, but they will have to work around the holes on the line and in the the secondary. That means the linebacker unit will have to step up big. It’s a talented bunch led by seniors Bruce Carter and Quan Sturdivant, who are both terrific tacklers.

And let's not forget that their opponent isn't  exactly the picture of consistency. LSU had some mighty big struggles offensively in 2009 even though they had some great weapons in Rueben Randle and Terrance Toliver. For the Tigers, it will come down to how much junior quarterback Jordan Jefferson has matured, and how well his line can protect him.

I’d expect a defensive battle in this one, something along the lines of a 20-16 affair. If that’s the type of game it turns out to be then North Carolina certainly has a shot no matter how dismal the outlook may be or what the naysayers have to say.