It finally appears that the University of North Carolina Football team is beginning to find out exactly which players they will be without for the rest of year. After the relative “black eye” the program received on Monday following news of the dismissal of Marvin Austin and permanent ineligibility of Greg Little and Robert Quinn, the Tar Heels received some good news as senior Ryan Houston was cleared and will play on Saturday.
Entering Saturday’s match up against the Cavaliers, it has been 29 years since UNC won a game in Charlottesville. For UNC to stop that streak they must continue to play with the same aggressiveness and precision that has allowed them to rattle off three consecutive victories. Going up against the number ten ranked pass defense in the country , UNC needs to establish the running game early with running backs Johnny White, Shaun Draughn and Ryan Houston, in order to take pressure off T.J. Yates and the Carolina passing attack.,
As for the defense, North Carolina needs to continue being able to get pressure on the quarterback with it’s front four and allow defensive coordinator Everett Withers to dial up some coverages to confuse the UVA passing game.
This embattled North Carolina program, which has certainly gone up against more than they bargained for this year, looks like they are finally ready to surprise some people and the ACC. With the addition of the bruising running style of Houston, look for UNC to pull this one out in Charlottesville 20-7.