North Carolina boasts a likely high first-round pick in defensive end Quinton Coples and three more NFL candidates in ends Kareem Martin and Donte Paige-Moss and tackle Tydreke Powell. The “Goon Squad” is not afraid.
After helping Georgia Tech break an ACC record with 604 rushing yards Saturday against Kansas, the Yellow Jackets’ offensive line (dubbed the Goon Squad) is eager to test its mettle against possibly the best defensive line it will face this season. “The better the competition, the better we can shine, too,” center Jay Finch said.
Through three games, North Carolina is allowing 2.3 yards per carry and has allowed only one run longer than 15 yards. Tech coach Paul Johnson said that his players should have no reason to be overconfident if they watch video of the Tar Heels, calling them huge, athletic and strong.
“If we don’t play well, we’ll get embarrassed,” Johnson said.
Tech rushed for 372 yards against the Tar Heels last year, and 317 in 2009, both victories.
Not back yet
Johnson said that when A-back B.J. Bostic is ready to play, he’ll meet with him to make a decision about whether to redshirt. Bostic, who sustained a right arm injury in August, has a redshirt year available after playing as a freshman last season. But Johnson called it a moot point because he isn’t ready to play yet.
“He misses [playing], and we miss having him. He’s a fun guy to be around and you hate that he’s had to miss a lot of the fun that we’ve had so far,” A-back Roddy Jones said.
Johnson said he’ll watch guard J.C. Lanier, who has yet to play in a game this season after a stress fracture injury, to see if he can play. Offensive lineman Morgan Bailey, who played in the first game of the season but has missed the past two, did not practice.
“Hopefully he can come in and carve out some playing time,” Johnson said of Lanier.
Expansion talk
Athletic director Dan Radakovich said he is not averse to adding more teams to the ACC after Sunday’s additions of Syracuse and Pittsburgh. Radakovich also said that no scheduling decisions have been made, but he said he favors adding a ninth conference game when the two teams begin league play.
“We think it would be a positive for our fan base,” he said.
Up for grabs
Johnson said that the two offensive tackle positions and the kickoff job will be determined in practice this week. On Saturday, Ray Beno and Phil Smith started at tackle, rotating with Tyler Kidney. All three played a similar number of plays at tackle, and Beno also played snaps at guard. Justin Moore kicked better than he had in the first two games after replacing Chandler Anderson, including his first touchback of the season.
Quotable
Johnson, in response to a question on how he would scheme the Tech offense if he were an opposing defensive coordinator: “If I told you, I’d probably have to kill you, wouldn’t I?”
After the laughter subsided, Johnson responded that he wouldn’t do anything out of the ordinary, just play the assignments, adhere to the scheme and out-execute the offense.
“There’s nothing magical about what we’re doing,” he said.
Etc.
Tech’s historic offensive output against Kansas has been commemorated in a T-shirt. The athletic department is selling shirts listing the Jackets’ statistical accomplishments through its online shop. The shirt retails for $17.95.
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