North Carolina Football: Tarheels look to rebound in 2018

Defense

The offense was not scoring enough last season, but it wasn’t like the defense was helping much either. They gave up 31.3 points per game, good for last in the ACC. They have been particularly dreadful against the run in recent years, finishing last in the conference in rushing yards allowed the last five seasons.

Along the defensive line, plenty of experience returns with eight of the top nine linemen back. Defensive end Malik Carney has led the team in sacks each of the last two seasons so he looks to finish his career in Chapel Hill on a high note.

At the linebacker spots, Cole Holcomb returns for his senior year after pacing the team with 93 tackles a year ago. The rest of the linebacker corps does not have a lot of experience, except for junior Jonathan Smith. The coaches will rely on Holcomb and Smith to step up big. If the defensive front four improves, so will the linebackers.

In the secondary, cornerback MJ Stewart is gone but the other starters are back. The last two seasons, the turnovers generated by the secondary have been scarce. Seven interceptions in the last two years, with only one generated during the 2016 season. Generating more turnovers would help improve this defense.

All in all, it really comes down to line play. If the front can build a wall and improve in defending the run, the back seven will feed off of it and improve as well.