Big-time nail-biter for the Heels last week. In a game where the Huskies held Carolina to less than 50 yards rushing and under 300 yards of total offense, the defense stepped up big-time to help the Tar Heels sneak out of East Hartford with a victory. UConn was almost as unremarkable on offense as UNC, tallying less than 200 yards of total offense which was no doubt impacted by their starting QB Zach Fraser going out at the end of the first half with a knee injury.

Quick take: the Heels were absolutely lucky to win this game. I would not have been surprised if they had lost 10-0, or if they had won 13-0 the way both teams played last Saturday. The offense simply had no rhythm the first three quarters; they couldn't establish the running game (the leading rusher for the Heels, Ryan Houston, had 30 of his 33 yards on one drive in the fourth quarter) and T.J. Yates continued to make some questionable decisions with the football while throwing two interceptions, one of which was converted by the UConn offense for a touchdown.

With ECU coming to Kenan Stadium this week, the Heels absolutely MUST play better if they want to have any shot of beating a Pirates team hell-bent on proving their last-second 2007 victory was no fluke. The Carolina defense was absolutely stellar in both the Citadel and UConn games, and must continue to play at that level to keep the Heels in their upcoming games. The offense simply must execute better, especially on the offensive line; missed assignments and blown blocks killed any effectiveness that the Heels could hope to create for the majority of the game, and as a result UNC could not gain any traction against the tough Husky defense for the majority of the contest. I hope that the offense gets it in gear this week, or else East Carolina will have even more to crow about.

Quick note: On a crucial 4th down with 0:32 left on the clock, defensive coordinator Everett Withers made his best call of his UNC career when he blitzed the UConn backup QB Cody Endres. The play resulted in a sack and Carolina got the ball back, along with the ability to run out the rest of the clock and seal the victory. It was a gutsy call, and one that I absolutely applaud, especially considering that late-game scenarios has not exactly been Withers' specialty since he arrived in Chapel Hill. Kudos to him and the defensive staff on a tremendous performance last week.