Defense Savoring Its Moment Following UNC Football’s Win Over Miami

Up until the UNC football team’s 20-13 win over Miami on Saturday, it had become common practice for anyone talking or writing about the Tar Heels to mention the major deficiencies on defense.

After that same defense saved the game against the Hurricanes, though, defensive tackle Jeremiah Clarke wasn’t afraid to admit that the criticism helped them savor their moment that much more.

“It felt great to finally win one on defense,” Clarke said at Monday’s press conference. “But like [Defensive Coordinator Gene] Chizik and the guys have been saying, it’s a golf swing mentality.

“A perfect hit or hitting it in the water is one golf swing away,” he continued, lifting his hand to show his thumb and index finger scrunched together. “It’s literally this small of a chance, and we’ve been right there.

“I feel like we’re finally playing as a defense that’s making less and less mistakes.”

The dominant theme for UNC’s defense in 2016 has been its struggles stopping the run. The Tar Heels spent the early part of the season ranked among the worst run defenses in the entire nation, let alone the ACC.

Following the win over James Madison in Week Three—a game against an FCS opponent where the Tar Heels gave up 209 yards on the ground, and trailed after the first quarter—Clarke said things began to change in the locker room. Guys on the defensive side of the ball started getting upset over the thought of being a burden to the team.

Pitt came in to Kenan Stadium the next week and gashed the Tar Heels for 281 rushing yards, but since then UNC has improved in each of its last three games—including holding Miami’s running game to just 139 yards.

“We really didn’t feel like we performed good in that game [against James Madison],” Clarke said. “So we all kinda had to look at ourselves in the mirror and go ‘How are we gonna look and go forward as a defensive line? Are we gonna keep hindering the defense or are we gonna make the improvements we have to make?’”

It hasn’t all been bad news defensively for the Tar Heels this season, however. They rank 31^st nationally in passing yards allowed behind the strength of talented cornerbacks MJ Stewart and Des Lawrence.

The problem is that opponents have taken advantage of the spotty defensive line play whenever they’ve needed to move the ball.

This has, at times, turned the secondary into glorified linebackers—evidenced by the fact that strong safety Donnie Miles leads the team in tackles for the second straight year.

Now that the big guys have made good on their efforts to improve in recent weeks—including Malik Carney’s game-saving strip-sack against Miami–head coach Larry Fedora decided it was time to give them each the individual praise they’ve earned.

“Naz [Jones], especially [has been playing well],” Fedora told reporters. “His game is getting better and better and better.

“Jalen Dalton, same thing–he’s starting to understand that role of moving inside,” the coach added. “Aaron Crawford, playing much better. Jeremiah Clarke, playing better. And the guy now who’s really starting to be a factor is Malik Carney.”

Despite having two losses, the Tar Heels have found themselves back in the top 25 and in a tie atop the ACC Coastal Division.

With an offense as strong as the one UNC already possesses, the way it finishes the season will likely come down to whether the defense can continue building on its gradual progress. The Miami game certainly put some people back on notice as to what the Tar Heels are capable of defensively, but it’s not likely to change everyone’s opinions overnight.

That, Clarke said, will have to happen the old-fashioned way.

“I think people underestimate the Carolina team,” Clarke said.

“You know, you see the beautiful UNC blue color and they assume it comes with soft players and actions,” he added, flashing a bright grin. “We’re just out here to prove that we’re just as good any team in the ACC and that people and teams should stop underestimating us.

“Maybe if we keep beating top opponents and ranked teams we’ll finally get the respect we deserve.”