Watching UNC’s defensive unit take the football field, most of the time, is unbearable to watch. There’s be countless missed tackles, breakdowns in coverage and hardly any pressure at the line of scrimmage.
If the Tar Heels had any semblance of solid defense in either 2022 or 2023, I feel confident they win the ACC. Such wasn’t the case, though, with a unit performing so bad in 2023 that Gene Chizik lost his defensive coordinator job.
Through just one game in 2024 under new defensive coordinator Geoff Collins, North Carolina’s defense looks significantly better.
UNC escaped Minnesota with a season-opening, 19-17 victory on Thursday, Aug. 29. While the Golden Gophers took advantage of a few Tar Heel mishaps on their final drive, it was the Tar Heel defense who helped the Tar Heels limit a Power 4 program – on the road – to under 20 points.
North Carolina’s strong defensive output can be attributed to virtually everyone, though defensive tackle Jahvaree Ritzie and defensive back Jakeen Harris played the largest roles.
Ritzie, who is a full-time starter this year after playing all 13 games in a reserve role last season, led all players with three sacks and tackles for loss apiece. Harris, who transferred from rival NC State in the offseason, led all players with 10 tackles.
Last season, it’d be a miracle if UNC could keep a team under 20 points in one half. The Tar Heels did that over an entire game Thursday night.
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