North Carolina, despite a good showing last week against Idaho, has been a slow-starting, fast-finishing team. The same could be said for Virginia Tech, this week’s opponent, who has struggled early in games.

UNC coach Larry Fedora said starting fast is a concern. “I know it’s something that they put a lot of emphasis on,” Fedora said during his weekly media teleconference. “I think both teams will be working on trying to get out there and get after it from the beginning, not waiting to see what happens, but actually make something happen.”

The Hokies have been turning the ball over a lot, especially early. “Doesn’t matter who you are offensively, what type of offense you run, if you turn the football over, it’s going to make it difficult for you,” Fedora said.

Fedora said his squad needs to take care of the football as well and keep up their offensive tempo. The no-huddle offense has worked on occasion and been suspect at other times.

“I think we’ll know a lot about this football team after this game,” Fedora said. “Obviously Virginia Tech is a very good football team. They’ve always been great on special teams. They’re known for their defense and they’re going to play hard-nosed football, be a physical team. We’re going to find out a lot more about the identity of this football team Saturday somewhere around 4 o’clock.”

One big key might be whether or not Carolina can continue to get to the opposing quarterback. This will be a tougher assignment against 250-pound Virginia Tech QB Logan Thomas.

Fedora said that the Heels’ defense only has two players that weigh more than Thomas, and neither one is a defensive end. “It’s tough,” he said. “When you go to get that guy down on a pass-rush or a sack, it’s going to take seven or eight guys to get him down. It’s something we understand, our guys are going to have to fly to the football, we’re going to have to get there, we’re going to have to gang tackle.”