First I must say I CANNOT WAIT ANY LONGER FOR FOOTBALL TO START!!!

Wall of text inc.

OK, anyway, I have been looking at UNC’s D a lot lately as they are loaded with NFL talent, at least that’s the word on the streetzzz.
The more I look, the more LSU’s 2009 D looked very, very comparable.
First I want to point out that the SEC had 3 teams in the top 25 in total O last year to the ACC’s 0.
The SEC also had 5 teams in the top 25 for total D with LSU coming in a close 26 to the ACC’s 3.

SO the first major point is that LSU, obviously, played better teams week to week.

After an extremely long argument with a UNC fan at work, he mentioned how Bama posted a good 400+yrd game on us. After looking into it, LSU gave up 400+ yards 3 times in 2009. Upon further viewing of the two teams, UNC also gave up 400+ yards 3 times in 2009. Maybe the most alarming and yet satisfying stat of all was the number of games that UNC’s secondary got trounched.. They gave up 395 in the air to Florida St and 320 to Miami. North Carolina state ( who was 5-7) also put 259 on them in the air. GT put 317 on them on the ground and about 200 in the air. LSU only allowed Jake locker to throw for over 300 yards in 2009. Bama got close with 276, but I will continue to say that 70 yrds of that was b/c PP was out on that play….. J

Whatever happened to the secondary in those games, LSU must key in on that. While we will need AT LEAST 100 yards rushing, I think they way we beat this UNC D is in the air…
UNC’s D allowed teams 4.2 yards per play to LSU’s 4.7.
It is hard to really look at their D, to me at least, and say they are better. They are stiff against the run and have good talent, but we are equal at the least.
For LSU, we need to get the D’line up to snuff this year. Being on turff helps our secondary and I don’t see to many plays in the air being made on us.
It seems that Yates is the starter for UNC AKA 2008 J LEE. Last year he threw 15 ints to 14 TD’s. His completion % is 60%, but all that tells me is that he is either hot or VERY cold like J Lee was. I would asume PP could get 2 picks and maybe one for a runback…

Anyway, my thoughts one their D vrs ours…Not so different and we have the younger talent!!!

sounds good on paper. but what are their reports out of summer workouts and fall camp? there is certainly room for improvement, especially considering how many of their guys opted to return for this season.

likewise, however, i think LSU can totally kill this team through the air. the coaches and some of our players are saying that jordan needs to just air it out and not worry about the possibility of an INT. with our receiving corps, possibly a better line and running attack, this game has the potential to be a high-scoring affair for us. and, unless their offense is infinitely better, i don't think they score much on us. while LSU's offense was pitiful last season, it was not because of a lack of athletes and talent. not sure what UNC's problem was.

Their QB threw a lot of Ints and there running game was just ok. I have looked through their forums a bit and it seems they had some key injuries so we shall see...

FWIW, here's what Lindy's and Phil Steele say about North Carolina's D and LSU's D.

Lindy's

1st Team All-Americans: Sturdivant (LB, UNC); Peterson (CB, LSU)
2nd Team All-Americans: Quinn (DL, UNC); Burney (CB, UNC)

Top DL: #3 DE Quinn (UNC); #3 DT Austin (UNC); #9 DT Nevis (LSU)
Top LB: #11 ILB Sheppard (LSU); #2 OLB Sturdivant (UNC); #4 OLB Carter (UNC).

Top DBs: #1 CB Peterson (LSU); #3 CB Burney (UNC); #5 S Williams (UNC)

So clearly Lindy's thinks LSU and UNC both have a few stars on defense, but UNC has 6 to LSU's 3.

Phil Steele

1st Team All Americans: Austin (DT, UNC) Quinn (DE, UNC), Carter (LB, UNC), Peterson (CB, LSU)
2nd Team All Americans: Sturdivant (LB, UNC), Sheppard (LB, LSU)

Top DL: #1 DE Quinn (UNC); #1 DT Austin (UNC); #8 DT Nevis (LSU)
Top LB: #1 ILB Sturdivant (UNC); #1 OLB Carter (UNC) #6 ILB Sheppard (LSU)
Top DBs: #1 CB Peterson (LSU); #2 S Williams (UNC); #4 CB Burney (UNC); #13 CB Brown (UNC)

So - again, Phil Steele gives Peterson, Sheppard and Nevis some respect, but UNC has 7 to LSU's 3.

I included the #13 CB because I think it's relevant that they are supposed to have a weaker secondary according to some posters, yet Phil Steele has 3 of the 4 ranked very high, and 2 of the 3 LBers as well. Hell, only 4 of their starting 7 on defense are NOT ranked in the top 13 at their positions.

Some of that is hype, no doubt, and we can point back to examples on LSU's roster in recent years. But it's not all hype.

Of course, Austin may not play against LSU,which will help immensely. But I haven't been able to confirm that.

All in all - this is going to be a very good defense, and LSU will not find as many weak links as some hope (secondary). It's going to be a great test for the OL and Jordan Jefferson.

Here is how CFN rates LSU and UNC:

UNC Offense (avg: 6.75)
QBs -- 6.5
OL -- 6.5
RBs -- 7.0
Receivers -- 7.0

LSU Defense (avg: 7.83)
DL -- 8.0
LBs -- 7.0
DBs -- 8.5

7.83 - 6.75 = 1.08 difference

-----------------------------------------


LSU Offense (avg: 7.50)
QBs -- 7.5
OL -- 7.0
RBs -- 7.5
Receivers -- 8.0

UNC Defense (avg: 9.33)
DL -- 9.5
LBs -- 9.5
DBs -- 9.0

9.33 - 7.50 = 1.83 difference

-----------------------------------------


LSU
Scout.com: 2010 LSU Preview
UNC
Scout.com: 2010 North Carolina Preview

Rushing, rushing, rushing.. and I'll say it again.. Rushing. If we have a decent rushing game, the passing yardage will come. If you got no rushing game then you're a 1 trick pony.. Last year was proof of that. What I'd like better than 100 yards rushing, is one player with 100 yards rushing. Dating back to 2000 or so, when LSU has a 100 yard rusher in a game, we're 33-1 according to my quick checking. It's actually way more impressive the further back you go.

Good post btw.. and I agree, NC mirrors LSU in a lot of ways...

Yes, we shall see. Last year, Jevan Snead had 20 INTs and threw for 54.4% and the year before that he had 13 INTs and threw for 56.3% -- but against LSU and Patrick Peterson, he completed 64% of his passes for 274 yards, 2 TDs and no INTs in 2008... and then 67% of his passes for 206 yards and no INTs in 2009. So when you have one of those QBs that is hot and cold, you don't know what you will see, and you can't assume anything.

Yates is legit enough to be leading a Top 25 team. He is a 5th-year senior that is beginning his 4th year as the starting QB for UNC. He is already #1 or #2 all the main passing stats in UNC school history (completion percentage, passing yards, TDs, completions), and he still has a year to go.

This is how NFLDraftScout.com ranks him compared to the LSU QBs:

J.J. -- #12 of 110 QBs (top 10.9%) for the 2012 Draft (QBs with two years of eligibility left)
J. Lee -- #18 of 110 QBs (top 16.4%) for the 2012 Draft (QBs with two years of eligibility left)
Yates -- #23 of 126 QBs (top 18.3%) for the 2011 Draft (QBs in their last year of NCAA eligibility)

I thought I'd share some more about Yates. His best year was '08 when he had 11 TDs and 4 INTs, but he had great receivers(still had Hakeem Nicks) and he was out a lot of the year. The best game he had all year was a 2 TD 0 INT performance against ECU. He threw an interception in 10 of 13 games last season.

I see us eating this kid up. JJ has more experience against Defenses as good as UNC's. Alabama and Florida last year were probably on the same level if not better than UNC is this year. I like our chances because our D should shut their offense down all day.:lsup:

I know the players UNC has, but its not about that. My point was how similar our D was to theres with out all the hyped players. I also believe we have more than 3 star players on D, or at least more than 3 that will see sundays.