Editor’s Note: Every week The Daily Illini football staff will chat with a sports reporter from the opposing team. This week, our staff chatted with The Daily Tar Heel’s sports editor, C Jackson Cowart. 

The Daily Illini: What’s the biggest thing to improve on after the Georgia game?

C Jackson Cowart: UNC needs to seriously reassess its strategy against the run. The Tar Heels have been gashed on the ground in three straight games dating back to last season — and it’s started to affect the offense, which took desperate shots downfield to combat Georgia’s advantage in field position. If North Carolina’s rush defense can hold its own against Illinois, the team should perform much better than it did this past Saturday.

DI: What types of defensive looks can slow down Elijah Hood?

CJC: The best defense against Hood is a good offense. Coach Larry Fedora turned to the passing game when Georgia started to take control of the game, even as Hood averaged 7.2 yards per carry. If Hood is on a roll, he’s hard to stop — but he can’t gash the Illini defense if he doesn’t touch the ball.

DI: Who’s the biggest challenge that Illinois presents?

CJC: Wes Lunt could pose a threat to the UNC defense. North Carolina showed a solid pash-rush against Georgia and boasts one of the best cornerback tandems in the country in Des Lawrence and M.J. Stewart. But, if the Tar Heels are forced to load the box Saturday, Lunt could pick them apart.

DI: How many players are gonna try to meet Lovie before/after the game?

CJC: UNC has produced a pretty decent pipeline to the pros in recent years, so I don’t think many North Carolina players will be awestruck by a former NFL coach. But you can never underestimate the power of connections, right?

DI: Do Tar Heel fans see the Illini as a big threat?

CJC: Not from what I can tell. Most people on campus were cautious heading into the Georgia game, so the performance against the Bulldogs didn’t come as much of a surprise. But it’s reasonable to assume North Carolina won’t come out flat two weeks in a row. And after the Tar Heels throttled Illinois in 2015, I think most fans expect a similar result this season.

DI: Do North Carolina fans feel the same rivalry that Illinois fans feel with them (from the March Madness Final)?

CJC: Not in football. North Carolina fans have minor rivalries with different basketball programs (Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan State), but they typically don’t carry over to the football field. As the football program builds upon its success, I’m sure more gridiron rivalries will develop.

DI: What’s it like since the Tar Heels are getting more and more prominent in football, when you’ve been a basketball school for so long?

CJC: People are certainly paying more attention to the football team recently. It doesn’t rival the basketball fever, but there’s a buzz around this team. Every loss brings out the doubters, sure, but every win builds momentum for a program that seems to be heading in the right direction.

DI: How many wins are you projecting for the Tar Heels this season?

CJC: Before the Georgia game, I would have said nine wins with an outside shot of a 10-2 finish. I’m not sure I’d quite go that far after how poor the run defense looked in Atlanta, but I think an eight-win regular season is a pretty safe assumption for this squad. And don’t be surprised if the Tar Heels sneak into the ACC Championship game and make some noise in the postseason.

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