Even though they've been practicing together for about half a calendar year, the two sides of the North Carolina line of scrimmage stared down fresh opponents Saturday.
To further evaluate the depth charts and keep things fresh, UNC's coaching staff matched up the first team offense against the second team defense on the first drive.
"Sometimes you want to see how your second team players would have to play if they go into the ball game as a replacement for a starter, and they've got to play against somebody else's best player," head coach Butch Davis said after the scrimmage.
But the second defensive unit was no match for UNC's offensive starters. Tailback Greg Little ran the ball eight times before upstart sophomore Shaun Draughn bounced to the outside for the score.
Sophomore quarterback T.J. Yates also completed two passes on that drive, including a well-placed throw on third-and-15 that lofted over a defender and dropped into the hands of tight end Zack Pianalto.
"We worked on running the ball as opposed to passing the ball because we know we have a passing game," Yates said. "We did a good job - we marched right down the field the first drive and scored."
But the scrimmage was less about the scoreboard and more about player evaluation and depth chart movement. Several positions remain uncertain.
Kendric Burney has solidified his spot as a starting cornerback, but the rest of UNC's corners are what Davis calls "unknown commodities," including former running backs Johnny White and Richie Rich.
Backup quarterback is another unsettled matter. Junior Cam Sexton and redshirt freshman Mike Paulus are splitting snaps with the second and third teams.
