Out
AJ Blue TB/QB Knee
Carl Gaskins OT Knee
Matt Merletti S Knee
Trevor Stuart DS Knee
Jamal Womble TB Wrist
Doubtful
Jordan Hemby DB Concussion
Ryan Taylor TE Knee
Questionable
Joshua Adams WR Shoulder
Cam Holland C Shoulder
Probable
Jonathan Cooper OG Ankle
Lowell Dyer C Shoulder
Linwan Euwall LB Ankle
Kyle Jolly OT Ankle
Zack Pianalto TE Concussion
Devon Ramsay RB Knee
It appears UNC might be getting Lowell Dyer back which means his career ends this season one way or the other should he step foot on the field. Zach Pianalto is listed as probable despite suffering a concussion against FSU. Over at ACC Now they ask the salient question: How is this possible?
Scott Trulock, the team’s head athletic trainer, said there are various degrees of concussions, just like ankle or knee injuries. After Pianalto sustained his concussion, he was examined by the team doctor Mario Ciocca. After the game, he was examined again, and the symptoms appeared to already be gone. The following day – Saturday – Pianalto went through a neurocognative test that examined things such as memory and balance; that was compared to the baseline test players undergo each summer, and he passed. Finally, Pianalto was put through a battery of cardio “stress” tests to see if the symptoms would return. When they didn’t, he was cleared to practice Sunday.
By comparison, defensive back Jordan Hemby, who also sustained a concussion against the Seminoles, is listed as “doubtful” for Thursday’s game because his symptoms persisted for several days.
Pianalto’s concussion must have been so borderline it barely qualified as one considering he was cleared to play three days after it happened. UNC needs all the help they get on offense so having Pianalto available is important since T.J. Yates will be running for his life and dumping off to the TE might be his only option. The offensive line stands to be as healthy as it has been all season. Not that I think it will matter against the Hokie defense. Yes, I am feeling a tad pessimistic about this one.
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I expect UNC to put a good fight before falling just short in this one — hey, if Nebraska could do it in the Hokies’ house, then so can we. Having watched the second half of the Florida State game again, it was apparent that the defense didn’t play that badly (for the first part of the half, anyway; once Carter went out with injury, his replacements had a lot of blown assignments), but we were simply torched by a great quarterback who got great protection from his line (credit FSU’s offensive coordinator and offensive line coach for that). We’re not going to see that from Virginia Tech, as both their OC and QB are far, far worse than what FSU had; so as long as we shut down the run (and I have faith that our front seven can do that), VT isn’t going to hurt us much offensively.
Of course, our offense will continue to be our downfall, but I expect them to play better Thursday, since the line will be the healthiest it’s been since the first week of the season, and since Yates has a track record of playing well against VT. I expect the O to score points in this one, just not necessarily enough to match the Hokies in their house.