ShareThisIt has basically gone unnoticed -- understandably so -- but North Carolina quarterback T.J. Yates has spent a lot of time flattering the team's offensive line.
"It's the best we've had here during my career, easily the best," the senior- said recently.
That's exactly the way Yates described the same group near the end of July, a week or so before preseason camp even began.
Now, one day before a guess-who defensive unit will open the season against LSU in Atlanta, the status of that offensive line group is more important than ever.
With defensive line standout Marvin Austin suspended and other defenders possibly not playing as well, the Tar Heels' immediate and perhaps long-range dynamic is on the verge of a flip-flop.
Instead of depending on the defense to set the pace for a big season, most of the pressure suddenly seems to be on Yates, veteran tight end Zack Pianalto and the interior blockers -- veterans Mike Ingersoll, Alan Pelc, Cam Holland, Carl Gaskins and Jon Cooper -- along with a committee of running backs.
"We need to control the ball better this season," Yates said. "It's something we've paid a lot of attention to and put in a lot of time trying to improve. I think you'll see that emphasis pay off."
Among the blockers, only Gaskins, a sophomore, didn't start extensively last season. Pelc, the senior left guard, has started most of his career.
When healthy, Pianalto, a senior with 20 career starts, has been Yates' favorite target for much of the past two seasons.
Yates will face substantial pressure to produce right from the start against the Tigers. But so will running backs Shaun Draughn, Ryan Houston and perhaps Johnny White.
All of this is assuming that the bulk of the offense is not in danger of suspension. Standout receiver Greg Little is the only offensive player believed to have been interviewed by NCAA officials.
For bewildered Carolina fans, it's worth keeping in mind that Butch Davis and his staff has put in as much time grooming this particular offensive unit as the higher-rated and more-celebrated defense.
Starting with Yates, the offense has extensive experience and did have its moments in each of the past two seasons. There's no reason for the team and fans to write off Saturday night's opener as a hopeless venture.
(Contact Caulton Tudor at caulton.tudor(at)newsobserver.com.)
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
columnMust credit The News and Observer of Raleigh, N.C.
