OFFENSE

The success of North Carolina’s offense will depend largely on its new quarterback. The Tar Heels finished last season in the middle of the pack offensively in the ACC, relying heavily upon the arm and mind of T.J. Yates, a four-year starter who set 37 school records before graduating.

Sophomore Bryn Renner is bigger and faster than Yates and has a stronger arm, but he has thrown only two passes in his college career. The team can’t afford Renner to make major mistakes as he gains experience, and Renner knows it. His primary goal during the spring was to minimize turnovers.

Fortunately for Renner, he has some talent around him. Dwight Jones is one of the ACC’s top wide receivers, averaging 105.3 yards in the last eight games in 2010. Jheranie Boyd excels at getting open deep down the field, while Erik Highsmith is adept on intermediate routes. Plus, Renner’s blind side will be well-protected by standout left tackle James Hurst.

At issue is how well the Tar Heels will be able to run the ball, particularly behind a pair of first-year starters on the right side of the line. Ryan Houston, who returns at tailback after sitting out last season, has a knack for getting tough yards in between the tackles. Houston sat out the spring following shoulder surgery but should be ready to go in the fall.
 

DEFENSE

The Tar Heels should be in good shape defensively up front. The line is strong with ends Quinton Coples and Donte Paige-Moss rushing the passer and Tydreke Powell and junior college transfer Sylvester Williams clogging the middle.

Kevin Reddick enters his third season as the starting middle linebacker. He has a potential star next to him in speed demon Zach Brown, who has waited his turn behind departed studs Bruce Carter and Quan Sturdivant.

The secondary is a much bigger area for concern. The Tar Heels welcome back cornerback Charles Brown, a former starter who sat out last season, but the rest of their defensive backs have only 21 starts combined. Youngsters Jabari Price, Mywan Jackson and Tre Boston each got opportunities at cornerback last season, probably before they were ready. Boston has since moved to safety. The Tar Heels need a couple of the unproven players to show improvement in 2011.
 

SPECIALISTS

Kicker Casey Barth has proven to be reliable, making 19-of-22 field goal tries last season, but he was the lone bright spot of North Carolina’s special teams in 2010. The Tar Heels have brought in former LSU special teams coordinator Joe Robinson as their defensive line coach to help out, and they also should benefit from avoiding the depth-sapping suspensions that hurt the team a year ago.

FINAL ANALYSIS

North Carolina’s hopes of winning the ACC crown took a hit with the dismissal of head coach Butch Davis in late July. The timing of Davis' firing did not make a lot of sense and defensive coordinator Everett Withers will step in as the interim coach. The Tar Heels players still believe they have a realistic chance at the Coastal Division title and the ACC championship. None of that is outside the realm of possibility, but plenty of things have to go right to make it a reality: Renner has to excel from the beginning, Withers has to be a solid coach, the Tar Heels have to come up with answers in the secondary, and the team must stay healthy.

The heartbreaking truth for North Carolina fans is that their legitimate chance for a championship was last season, which got short-circuited by off-the-field trouble. This year’s team looks like a solid bet for a fourth consecutive winning season, but inexperience at key positions and a late coaching change could keep the Tar Heels out of ACC title contention.