[quote]Posted on Fri, Aug. 08, 2003
ACC PREVIEW
Bunting continues rebuilding program at North Carolina
By Brian Murphy
Telegraph Staff Writer
John Bunting carries with him a linebacker's intensity, forged by 13 seasons in professional football. He has the icy stare, the gruff demeanor and the typical love of defense of those who played the position.
For someone with his defensive pedigree, watching his North Carolina defense get shredded last season must have been particularly painful.
The Tar Heels ranked 102nd among the nation's 117 Division I-A schools in points allowed, giving up an average of 35.1 per game. They were particularly bad at stopping the run, allowing opponents 221.2 yards per game on the ground. If not for safety Dexter Reid and his 166 tackles, tops in the Atlantic Coast Conference, North Carolina (3-9, 1-7 in the ACC) could have been much worse.
"We might be able to surprise some people," Bunting said. "It all hinges on our defense getting better."
The news on that front is getting worse. Defensive tackle Donti Coats, who started 11 games last season, announced earlier this week that he would no longer play because of persistent ankle injuries.
Reid is back, leading an experienced secondary that could be busy once again this year. North Carolina's linebacking corps is young and untested.
"We had a lot of problems stopping people," tight end Bobby Blizzard said. "Defensive wise we needed a lot of improvement."
If they don't get it, the pressure will once again be on the Tar Heels' offense - which set a school record for passing yards per game last season - to win a share of shootouts.
Quarterback Darian Durant led the conference in total offense despite missing four games with a broken thumb. The junior has been overshadowed by the league's bumper crop of quarterbacks, but that could change this season.
"A lot of people don't know how good he is," tight end Bobby Blizzard said.
Said Bunting of his junior signal-caller, "He's got all the tools to be a great quarterback, not a good one, a great one."
The Tar Heels have an entirely new receiving corps, but all five starters return on the offensive line. Four running backs, including returning starter Jacque Lewis and talented freshman Ronnie McGill, will compete for the starting job.
North Carolina, which played seven true freshmen last season, could double that number this year as Bunting continues his rebuilding job. The Tar Heels have 66 freshman and sophomores on their roster - including 18 in their two-deep depth chart. Bunting pointed to third-, fourth- and fifth-year players as the keys to winning in college football.
"That's what the good teams have," Bunting said. "We don't have that right now."
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