Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Tar Heels' 2nd-team defense lacks experience

North Carolina's first-team defense has nine regular starters returning and a combined 213 career starts.

The second-team defense has a combined six career starts, all by one player (linebacker Zach Brown).

That imbalance in experience is why UNC coach Butch Davis made an effort in training camp to give the younger players the bulk of the repetitions in scrimmages.

"Part of this training camp has been about these players and getting them more experience," Davis said.

Given the uncertainty created by the NCAA investigation into the program, and UNC's own investigation for academic fraud, a number of backups could be pressed into game-duty on Saturday against Louisiana State in the season-opener.

UNC did not release a depth chart on Monday but based on the preseason depth chart from the media guide, the second team consists of five sophomores, four juniors, one senior and one redshirt freshman. Brown, a junior, started six games in 2009.

Safety Jonathan Smith is the only senior on the second team. The first team features six seniors, five of which have been starting since their freshman season.

Davis was pleased with how his younger players performed in training camp.

"We've got a lot of young kids that are inexperienced but we think that they've got talent," Davis said.

Senior defensive Marvin Austin, who has been at the center of the NCAA investigation for improper contact with an agent, has been practicing with the second team. Unless he's cleared by the NCAA before Saturday, it's unlikely he will play against LSU.

In Davis' opening remarks on Monday he indicated UNC would not jeopardize the investigation or put itself in a position to have to later forfeit games for using an ineligible player.

"I'd like for this to be perfectly clear: there is no one single game that is more important, winning, than the character and integrity of this university and this football program," Davis said.


1st team
2nd team
DE94 Mike McAdoo, jr.098 Donte Paige-Moss, so.0
DT90 Quinton Coples, jr.178 Jordan Nix, jr.0
DT91 Tydreke Powell, jr.497 Jared McAdoo, fr.0
DE42 Robert Quinn, jr.2555 Linwan Euwell, jr.0
Will52 Quan Sturdivant, sr.3147 Zach Brown, jr.6
Mike48 Kevin Reddick, so.741 Shane Mularkey, so.0
Sam54 Bruce Carter, sr.3357 Dion Guy, so.0
CB12 Charles Brown, sr.227 Mywan Jackson, so.0
CB16 Kendric Burney, sr.3837 LeCount Fantroy, jr.0
SS21 Da'Norris Searcy, sr.1428 Jonathan Smith, sr.0
FS27 Deunta Williams, sr.3825 Matt Merletti, jr.0
Career starts213
6


-- J.P. Giglio

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ahhh, they grow up so fast! It seems like just last Fall they were playing for their high schools. Coach Butch will have them ready for the Tigers and playing as well as the boys that messed up their careers cheating and taking illegal gifts. What doesn't kill them will make them stronger and ready to kick some ACC Butts!

Anonymous said...

GO TARHEELS! WE LOVE U NO MATTER WHAT THE MEDIA LIES ABOUT. I JUST GOT MY NEW T-SHIRT FROM WALMART AND AM READY TO SCREAM FOR THE HEELS, OH YEAH BABY. WE WILL BEAT ANOTHER SEC TEAM WITH OUR 2ND TEAM D!

Anonymous said...

It's a shame that many of the fine young men on the 2nd team are having their college careers ruined by a few bad apples. This is NOT the Carolina way! Unacceptable!

Anonymous said...

Wow, I thought there would be more suspensions and demotions by some of those listed as starters. Way to go Coach clearing this mess up and getting ready for LSU. Hopefull, this will all just blow over and get back to good times

Anonymous said...

"Media Lies." HA HA HA HA HA! Best one ever.

How ignorant does it get?