Breaking Down the Defense

It is evident to anyone that has followed Carolina football closely in the 2005 season that the defense has clearly carried the team. However, on Saturday, the Tar Heels lost their second original starter for the rest of the season. Below is a breakdown of Carolina’s depth at both the middle linebacker and cornerback position after these injuries.

Going into the season, everyone was familiar with Doug Justice, a three year contributor for the Tar Heels. Justice had started 20 games in his Carolina career and was slated to be the “quarterback” of the Tar Heels defense. When Justice went down with injury, Victor Worsley moved into the starter’s role. Worsley, a junior, was highly recruited coming out of High School and rated as a three star prospect. However, he had yet to make a significant impact before this season. Worsley has surprised many and played well this season, recording 20 tackles. Yet, he himself would succumb to injury, giving the starter’s job to sophomore Durell Mapp. Mapp is a former walk-on who played primarily on special teams last season. At the beginning of 2005, he was listed as third-string at both outside linebacker positions. The loss of Justice sparked the move of Mapp over to middle linebacker to provide depth behind Worsley. Mapp got his first start on Saturday against Virginia and played very well. Currently working behind Mapp at middle linebacker is freshman Mark Paschal. Paschal has seen time this season primarily on special teams. Currently, the starting linebackers are Mapp, Tommy Richardson, and Larry Edwards. The second unit features Paschal, Chase Rice, and Jeff Longhany. Richardson and Garrett White are the nickel linebackers.

Carolina suffered another devastating injury on Saturday when Jacoby Watkins went down with a broken bone in his leg. Replacing Watkins in one of the starting cornerback spots will be former nickel back Quinton Person. Person is a sophomore who saw time last season on special teams and at cornerback against Miami. He has played well so far. After the injury, Trimane Goddard, who had just won the starting strong safety position, moved down to nickel back and Mahlon Carey came back in at strong safety. Goddard played nickel back all of last season and is very familiar with the position. Cedrick Holt is the other starting cornerback at the moment. The primary backup at cornerback will now be Bryan Bethea. Bethea is a sophomore who primarily played halfback in High School. Also helping out will be Linwood Williams. Williams is a walk-on senior who started a few games last season at free safety.