Keeping It Heel
Fansided

ACC Football: Coastal Division Power Rankings Preseason

By Brandon Griffin

CHAPEL HILL, NC - OCTOBER 08: The UNC Tar Heels take the field against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Kenan Stadium on October 8, 2016 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC - OCTOBER 08: The UNC Tar Heels take the field against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Kenan Stadium on October 8, 2016 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images) /
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TALLAHASSEE, FL – OCTOBER 01: Head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels Larry Fedora watches his team before the game against the Florida State Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium on October 1, 2016 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Jeff Gammons/Getty Images)
TALLAHASSEE, FL – OCTOBER 01: Head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels Larry Fedora watches his team before the game against the Florida State Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium on October 1, 2016 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Jeff Gammons/Getty Images) /

Two of a Kind, Workin on a Full House

Record versus ACC Coastal: 4-2

UNC Projected Record: 8-4 overall, 4-4 in the ACC

Returning Starters: 12 (5 on Offense, 7 on Defense)

Lowdown: After winning the ACC Coastal in 2015, expectations were high for the Tar Heels going into 2016. Despite having a record setting year from Mitch Trubisky, UNC stumbled out of the gate, losing three of their last four.

The Tar Heels will hope for a rebound this year but will do so despite losing Trubisky, Ryan Switzer, Mack Hollins, Bug Howard, TJ Logan, and Elijah Hood from last year’s offense. UNC opens the season against Cal looking for their first non-conference power five season opening win since 1997.

Strengths: Secondary. The past two seasons, UNC has ranked 26th and 14th nationally in passing yards per game. Last season they even finished first in the ACC.

With so many questions on offense, the defense, particularly the pass defense, will be expected to keep things close for the Tar Heels.

Weaknesses: The skill positions. In the lowdown, I mentioned how much UNC lost from last years team. To put that into numbers the Tar Heels lost 3748 passing yards, 1879 rushing yards, 2688 receiving yards, and 71 touchdowns.

How the team replaces all that will have the biggest impact on the outcome of the season.

Best Case Scenario: Brandon Harris becomes Marquise Williams 2.0 as the Tar Heels win their first seven games of the season. After a close loss at Virginia Tech, UNC runs the table for an 11- record and a second Coastal Crown in three years.

Worst Case Scenario: UNC never settles on a quarterback and teams stop the once unstoppable Fed Spread offense. The Tar Heels lose their first five games on their way to a 3-9 season, most fans will have stopped watching come November.

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