CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) β North Carolina’s defense is still trying to solve the same defensive problems, from poor tackling to missed assignments that lead to big plays.
Barring an unlikely turnaround, the Tar Heels will have to play through and overcome that unit’s struggles as they try to return to bowl eligibility.
Associate head coach for defense Vic Koenning said the defense is making incremental improvements but those small steps haven’t stood out on gamedays for UNC (4-5, 2-3 Atlantic Coast Conference), which is on a bye before hosting Pittsburgh.
The Tar Heels are allowing 510.3 yards to rank 121st out of 125 teams nationally in the bowl subdivision and 41.9 points to rank 122nd nationally.
Those numbers are about 90 yards and 14 points more than the next-worst teams in the league.
