North Carolina Team Report
INSIDE SLANT
North Carolina and Pittsburgh have played six times, with the Tar Heels holding a 4-2 advantage in the series, including wins in the last two games.
But their meeting in the Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte, N.C., the day after Christmas does feature one first.
This will be the first time that Tar Heels coach Butch Davis and Panthers coach Dave Wannstedt, former colleagues under Jimmy Johnson at Oklahoma State and Miami and in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys, will be on opposite sidelines from each other.
Wannstedt was the defensive coordinator and Davis was a part-time coach when they were first together at Oklahoma State in 1979.
“He’s a outstanding football coach,” Davis said of Wannstedt, whose time with the Miami Dolphins also overlapped Davis’ six-year stint with the Hurricanes. “His teams are extraordinarily well-coached. He’s got an excellent assistant coaching staff, guys who have lots of experience. Some of them have been with Dave for many years.
“The trademark of teams that he has coached collegiately and his background professionally is that they are a very, very physical football team. This year they lead the nation in sacks. They’ve got one of the nation’s premier running backs, which I think fits the personality of Dave as well as Tony Wise, the offensive line coach who does a phenomenal job.”
That running back is freshman Dion Lewis, who ran for 1,640 yards to finish third in the country among players on the 120 Football Bowl Subdivision teams.
The Tar Heels will counter him with a defense that gives up only 93 yards a game to opposing rushers, ninth best in the country. That’s about half the 185 yards the Panthers average on the ground.
The problem for the Heels is that the Panthers also are producing about 206 yards a game passing, which gives them a nice run-pass balance.
The Heels are running for only 137 yards a game and passing for only 174. Their hopes ride with a defense that is limiting opponents to 268 yards a game, sixth best in the country.
NOTES, QUOTES
SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: The Tar Heels struggled with their running game but have been more productive over the second half of the season despite the loss of TB Shaun Draughn to a shoulder injury. Overall, however, they rank 11th in the league in production at 311 yards a game. Only Virginia and run-oriented Georgia Tech throw for fewer yards than the Heels’ average of 174 a game.
SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: Defense keyed the success for the Tar Heels. They ranked tops in the conference both overall and against the rush, allowing opponents only 268 and 93 yards a game, respectively. That ranks the Heels sixth overall and ninth against the run nationally. They also have 19 interceptions, second in the league and ninth nationally.
MATCHUP TO WATCH: North Carolina CB Kendric Burney vs. Pitt WR Jonathan Baldwin—Burney, a junior, had five interceptions for the Tar Heels. His potential matchup with the sophomore Baldwin (54 catches, 1,080 yards) should make for an entertaining evening.
Other Key Matchups
North Carolina’s defensive front four vs. Pittsburgh’s offensive line—The Heels need to keep Pitt’s front blockers from breaking through to get to their linebackers. LBs Quan Sturdivant, who has thrived since being moved back outside; Kevin Reddick and Bruce Carter need to be kept clean to be able to get to Pittsburgh RB Dion Lewis. The Panthers have two first-team all-Big East performers up front, LT Jason Pinkston and RG John Malecki, to go against Carolina’s defensive front of DE Robert Quinn, DT Marvin Austin, DT Cam Thomas and DE E.J. Wilson.
North Carolina’s secondary vs. Pitt WR Jonathan Baldwin and TE Dorin Dickerson—Baldwin was Pitt’s leading receiver with 54 catches for 1,080 yards and eight touchdowns, and Dickerson was an exceptionally productive tight end with 45 catches for 508 yards and 10 touchdowns. CB Kendic Burney (five interceptions) and SS Da’Norris Searcy (one pick) will have primary responsibilities, but FS Deunta Williams (six interceptions) and CB Charles Brown (three) also are big-play guys in the secondary.
North Carolina’s offensive line vs. Pitt’s front seven defensively—The Tar Heels face a mammoth task in keeping QB T.J. Yates upright. The Panthers had 45 sacks, tops in the country and six more than the No. 2 team, Texas Tech. It was pretty much a team effort for the Panthers, who got sacks from 14 players, with DE Greg Romeus leading the way with eight. The Tar Heels gave up 23 sacks for the season.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “Our players are excited to continue their season and play so close to home.”—Coach Butch Davis, after his Tar Heels were invited to play Pittsburgh in the Meineke Car Care Bowl in nearby Charlotte.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
BOWL BREAKDOWN: North Carolina vs. Pittsburgh, Meineke Car Care Bowl, Dec. 26, Charlotte, N.C.—The loss to N.C. State in the finale of the regular season no doubt was a factor in the return trip to nearby Charlotte for the Meineke Car Care Bowl. The Tar Heels lost to West Virginia in this game last season. The Heels and Panthers have played six times, with the Heels holding a 4-2 advantage. The last meeting was in 2000, with the Heels winning 20-17.
Roster Report:
• TB Shaun Draughn (shoulder) remained on the “out” list when the Tar Heels began workouts preparing for the Dec. 26 bowl game against Pittsburgh.
—S Gene Robinson (back) is questionable after sitting out the season finale against N.C. State.
