Football's crucial but least glamorous position

He doesn't get any stats. His effectiveness doesn't register on the box score.

To accurately grade a day at the office for Kyle Jolly look no further than the the quarterback's jersey.

If it is covered in mud and grass stains Jolly most likely lost his battle against the pass rush. If the shirt is as pristine as it was when it came out of the dryer UNC's left tackle had another silent yet productive day.

And so goes life for the man entrusted with protecting Cam Sexton's blind spot — the area in which he can't see the opposing pass rush coming.

Seal off a defensive end and no one aside from a few coaches notice. Make a mistake or miss a block" and bad things usually happen.

Then people start to pay attention.

""It's just a little different from the other ones just because he can't see anybody coming off that edge" Jolly said.

I have to be that much better than the other ones just because if he gets hit from where I'm blocking" it's most likely going to be a fumble or result in injury.""

For the third consecutive weekend"" a tough task awaits Jolly and the rest of his fellow linemen. UConn leads the Big East in sacks with a potent rush bookended by defensive linemen Cody Brown and Lindsey Witten.

""They're playing well" UNC coach Butch Davis said.

They've got 15 sacks thus far in just five games so they're an aggressive defense that puts a lot of pressure on the quarterback. They've got a really fast" athletic defensive line — guys that can really get after the quarterback.""

There lies the key to any potential success moving the ball Saturday. The offensive line's ability — specifically Jolly's — to hold the pass rush at bay could determine who wins. It doesn't matter how potent the Tar Heel receiving corps is or how good Sexton looked against Miami. If Sexton spends his day getting chased by Huskies" all that game-breaking potential will be for naught.

Although North Carolina has struggled against the pass rush — No. 9 in the ACC in sacks allowed — they have shown improvement at that position throughout the year.

And if there were any questions whether a connection was lost between the quarterback and offensive line when T.J. Yates went down the Miami game answered them.

UNC only allowed two sacks" and Sexton had ample time in the pocket during the second-half comeback.

That kind of performance could give Sexton the confidence that his lineman will provide him the time he needs to find an open target.

""I think it's more of him trusting me"" Jolly said. He has to believe that I'm going to do my job so he can stay in the pocket and make the throws he needs to.""

And on the instances when the pocket collapses" Sexton has the athletic ability to scramble outside and make plays downfield. On those plays the offensive line has a chance to regroup and pick up defenders as the play breaks down.

Those are the rare plays when the offensive line fans out and a tackle can possibly land the big hit. Then a left tackle can go from being unseen to being on the center stage.