A season removed from being in the driver’s seat to win the division, UNC finds itself tabbed for 3rd place in the Coastal tucked behind league champion favorite Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech. The ACC sports writers put Miami fourth, Virginia 5th and Duke in 6th to round out the division. In the Atlantic, folks have fallen in love with Florida State again though I am not sure how they have enough eligible players to be contenders. Behind the Noles you find Clemson, NCSU, Wake Forest, Maryland and Boston College.
A 3rd place pick for the Heels basically rests on the uncertainty of the receiving corps. If that group performs above expectation then the Heels could overtake Georgia Tech for second. If they underperform then UNC ends up trailing Miami. No one is probably going to catch Virginia Tech though it is football and stranger things have happend. As much as I would like to look at different angles, for UNC is really does come down to how the receivers perform. That is all Butch Davis seems to be talking about, when he is not discussing Kenan renovations. In short the defense is experienced, the running game has some known commodities being handed the ball by T.J. Yates who is fairly reliable, assuming he stays healthy. The question is the receivers and hopefully in the next 2-3 weeks, training camp will give us an indication on the development of the passing game.
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I think this preseason prediction is very reasonable. Certainly every team has question marks before the season begins. I think the Heels need two recievers to step up and if Draughn and company hold on to the ball this year, our offense could be effective.
The Heels do have nine starters returning with talented, yet inexperienced depth at every position. Here’s hoping the defensive schemes allow these guys to be successful. I mentioned turnovers and keeping the D off the field to stay fresh will be a key.
Injuries are always the wild card and I think the Heels are deep throughout the roster except the OL and maybe the QB?
Interesting note from Raleigh that Glennon will see lots of time as Wilson is injury prone and this looks like his last year.