North Carolina defense changes focus to defending pass

By Aaron BeardThe Associated Press CHAPEL HILL - North Carolina spent the past week preparing to face an offense that runs the round almost every play. Now the Tar Heels' defense has to change focus to face the opposite extreme: an offense that loves to throw the ball. The Tar Heels struggled to stop Georgia Tech's triple-option running attack in the 35-28 road loss over the weekend, allowing nearly 500 total yards. When they transport to East Carolina on Saturday, they'll face the senior quarterback directing the spread offense that has generated plenty of big scoring performances since being installed last season. Interim coach Everett Withers could at least find one similarity. "I think they're similar in the fact that they both have the philosophy that you have to work on," Withers said Monday. "This week it'll be about being able to line up against the bunch of different formations that really spread the field and being able to stop the run and obviously stop the pass - because this team will have the little bit more importance on throwing the football down the field." The Pirates (1-2) averaged 37 points per game last year behind Dominique Davis, who threw for nearly 4,000 yards and 37 touchdowns last year. He threw for 260 yards and four touchdowns in the opening loss to South Carolina, though his season averages took the hit when Virginia Tech held him to 127 yards on 20-for-38 passing in the second game. Davis regrouped last week by throwing for 361 yards and three touchdowns in the 28-23 home win against UAB, though he threw three interceptions and the Pirates finished with the school record-tying seven turnovers. Compare that to the Yellow Jackets, who earned 312 of their 496 total yards on the ground. Georgia Tech quarterback Tevin Washington threw just fourteen passes, though he finished with 184 yards and the touchdown. While the Yellow Jackets spread their rushing yards between four players who racked up at least 59 yards, East Carolina will spread the prod! uction a cross the fleet of receivers led by Lance Lewis and redshirt beginner Justin Hardy. The Pirates also rely on the lot of short passes to supplement their ground game, allowing Davis to often get rid of the round so quickly that defenders barely have time to mount much of the pass rush. That could make things tougher for the Tar Heels (3-1) up front.