North Carolina Football: 2017 season preview, predictions

Defense

The North Carolina defense in the Larry Fedora era is not a strength. It has been a liability. This year that needs to change in a big way. With the offense looking to replace nearly every skill position player, the defense will need to carry a larger load.

The good news is they may be up to the task. The passing defense was 12th in the nation last year at 180.8 yards per game. Carolina brings back their top corner, senior MJ Stewart, and strong safety, senior Donnie Miles. The one oddity is UNC only had one interception all of 2016. Stewart was tied for second in the ACC with 11 pass break-ups but didn’t have an interception.

The front seven is almost wholly intact. Leading tacklers senior Cole Holcomb and junior Andre Smith will return to anchor the linebacking corps alongside senior Cayson Collins. Defensive tackle Nazir Jones is the biggest loss along the defensive line, but the the rest will remain largely unchanged. Defensive end Malik Carney returns after he led the team with 5.5 sacks last season. The continuity should help an improving, but still porous run defense. The Heels were last in the ACC and 109th in the country giving up over 225 yards per game on the ground.

Same defense, new lead

The biggest change for the Carolina defense is who will lead it. Gene Chizik stepped down to spend more time with his family. Defensive Assistant and Linebackers Coach John Papuchis will take over the defense.

Chizik joined Fedora’s staff in 2015 and completely remade the defense. He dropped UNC’s points per game allowed nearly two touchdowns in his first season. He shaved nearly 70 yards per game from the passing defense. In 2016, the Tar Heels improved again in nearly every defensive category.

Papuchis was hired by Fedora just after Chizik. He previously was the defensive coordinator for Nebraska from 2012 to 2014. Because he has been involved in the overhaul working directly with his predecessor, there is less concern of a drop-off with Chizik’s departure. Papuchis is not making major changes to the defense.

MJ Stewart said there wasn’t anything to worry about at the ACC Kickoff:

"It’s been a really smooth transition. Coach JP was there last year, so all the guys respect him. He has the respect of all the guys, and it’s really not a big change between Coach Chizik and Coach JP."

It’s a little scary to be relying on the defense to make another jump to make up for an offense in flux when they have a new coordinator, but the continuity of scheme and personnel should make it an easy transition.