Improved football defense to face Virginia

Following a crushing loss to then-No. 10 Miami, the North Carolina defense turned a corner, and helped UNC to its first winning streak of the season — one the Tar Heels hope to carry through Saturday’s game against Virginia.

The Cavaliers (2-7, 0-5 ACC) have shown flashes of potential but have yet to beat an ACC opponent.

Defensive end Kareem Martin said the talent of the Virginia offense, which is led by dual-threat quarterback David Watford, isn’t reflected by the team’s record.

“When you look at them on film and see their record, you think it’s two different teams,” Martin said. “On film they look really great — great quarterback, great size on their line.”

Watford has run for 283 yards this season — more than any UNC running back — but has thrown 10 interceptions and lost two fumbles already this season.

Coach Larry Fedora said the Cavalier offense has a different look this season.

“They’re doing much more with the quarterback,” he said. “They’ve got a kid that can run and throw, they’ve got a very talented running back and they’re finding a lot of different ways.”

Though the UNC defense has made improvements against the pass, the team has continued to struggle with opponents’ run games. N.C. State amassed 212 yards on the ground. Preventing big plays on the ground will also be critical if UNC hopes to avoid an upset on Homecoming.

The UNC defense has been burned by seven runs of more than 25 yards this season, including a 56-yard touchdown run by Boston College running back Andre Williams two weeks ago.

“Early on that was one of the things that was really hurting our defense because you started taking away those huge plays that we were giving up and we were playing really sound,” Fedora said. “And it was just getting our guys to focus each and every play and understand that there’s never a time where you can take a mental break in a game.”

Virginia junior tailback Kevin Parks, a Salisbury native, is third in the ACC in rushing yards with 696 and has broken runs of 61, 32 and 27 this season.

The Cavaliers also have a playmaker in freshman running back Taquan Mizzell, a former Rivals.com five-star recruit, who Fedora said can be dangerous in space.

The UNC defense helped itself get off the field in its last two games, allowing opponents to move the chains on third down just 33 percent of the time. Virginia has struggled on third down this season, converting just 36 percent of its opportunities.

Missed assignments haunted the Tar Heels as they limped through the first half of their schedule, and Fedora said Virginia’s offense can confuse defenses with pre-snap adjustments.

“There are a lot of formations, lot of motion shifts, lot of movement to get you out of position and create problems for you,” he said.

Fedora said he has stressed the need to avoid complacence in keeping its winning streak alive.

“Now you’ve got people who want to pat you on the back,” he said. “If you do, you better watch out. Better just stay the course, keep doing what we’re doing, focusing on one game and let’s try to be 1-0.”

sports@dailytarheel.com