Filmographie » .Meares and Morton said they would not change an

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- While North Carolinas record-setting offense commanded headlines, the Tar Heels defensive improvement from awful to merely adequate was a key factor in matching a school record with 11 wins.For defensive coordinator Gene Chizik, the next step for that unit is obvious entering the opener against Georgia and beyond.We have to get better at stopping the run, Chizik said, and we know that.Its easily the biggest focus for the Tar Heels defense in training camp. They ended last year by giving up nearly 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground in their last two games against high-powered offenses, and finished last in the Atlantic Coast Conference against the run.It was not a recurring thing of any sort, Chizik said. Sometimes it was (game) situation. Sometimes it might have been a missed tackle. Sometimes it might have been a guy that wasnt placed correctly in his gap. I think those are all the kind of scenarios you would encounter when youre not playing the run as well as youd want to.After building elite defenses at Texas and Auburn before winning a national title as the Tigers head coach, Chizik added another line to his resume in his first year in Chapel Hill just by getting the Tar Heels to stop giving up big plays all over the field.North Carolina surrendered more points and yards than any team in school history in 2014, allowing 497.8 yards and 39 points per game while also surrendering 11 touchdowns of at least 40 yards. Chiziks overhaul cut those numbers to 24.5 points and 435.9 yards with just five 40-yard touchdowns for a bend-but-dont-break unit.The biggest improvement came against the pass, where the Tar Heels ranked 12th nationally in pass efficiency defense, while the rush defense finished 121st nationally by allowing 247.4 yards per game.Those numbers were skewed by the final two games, first when then-No. 1 Clemson ran for 319 yards in a 45-37 win. Then Baylor ran for 645 yards -- the most ever allowed by UNC -- and seven scores in a 49-38 win in the Russell Athletic Bowl.The Tar Heels had allowed about 198 yards in their eight ACC regular-season contests.We played at a good level, but we have to step it up and play great, linebacker Andre Smith said. So we cant just keep settling for that but we have to raise the bar.Chizik pointed to other factors, too, such as time-and-score situations that sometimes had UNC playing conservatively while protecting big leads. Of note: Miami ran for 91 of its 99 yards after falling behind 45-0 in the third quarter, while rival North Carolina State ran for 265 of its 308 yards after UNC rolled to a 35-7 first-quarter lead.The Tar Heels will get an immediate indication of whether theyve improved in 2016. Theyll face star Bulldogs running back Nick Chubb in his return from a knee injury in the Sept. 3 opener in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff in Atlanta.If they can get 80 yards down the field and cant score, its not a big deal to us, cornerback Des Lawrence said of stopping the run this season. The yards are what the media is interested in. We dont really care about that.---Follow Aaron Beard on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/aaronbeardap and the APs college football site at http://collegefootball.ap.org Thorgan Hazard Jersey . After the whistle, Thornton skated the length of the ice, pulled Orpik to the ice from behind and punched him in the face several times. Dries Mertens Jersey . Pierce was ejected in the third quarter of Indianas 103-86 win Monday. George Hill stole a bad pass and was going in for a layup, and Pierce hustled back and appeared to be trying to wrap him up. http://www.soccerbelgiumteamonline.com/Yannick-Carrasco-UEFA-European-Belgium-Jersey/ . The Clippers were angry about blowing a big lead; the Kings didnt like being in that kind of hole and nearly digging themselves out only to lose. Leander Dendoncker Jersey . 8 Kansas to a 64-63 win over Texas Tech on Tuesday night. The freshman from Vaughan, Ont. Leander Dendoncker Belgium Jersey . Still, Brewers manager Ron Roenicke thought taking him out before the fifth inning was an unusual move. "Im looking up at the board and hes got two hits given up and one run, and Im taking him out after the fourth inning," Roenicke said. Australian team flag bearer Anna Meares started her Olympic campaign with an agonising near-miss.Meares and Stephanie Morton were leading the bronze medal ride against Germany until well into the second of their two laps.But Kristina Vogel overhauled Morton late to give Germany the win, 32.636 seconds to 32.658.China broke the world record on the way to beating Russia for the gold medal, with their 31.928 the first sub-32 second ride.So close - Id be lying if I said I wasnt disappointed, Meares said.Thats brutally disappointing to finish that close to an Olympic medal.At the same time, Im really proud of the performances that Stef and I put forward.Meares and Morton said they would not change anything about how they rode against Germany.Its agonising to come so close, but to get three really quality rounds, Im really happy, Morton said.We dont usually race three rounds, thats the first time Ive donee it.dddddddddddd.So Im really happy with my rides ... I left it all out on the track.The Australian men also narrowly missed the bronze medal on Thursday.Meares admitted she had struggled with the focus of being the team flag bearer, but had welcomed the gap between the opening ceremony and her first event on Friday.I had maybe one day when I felt it quite significantly - I found it very hard to come to training and focus, she said.I just felt the pressure and expectation.But I didnt hit the panic button, which is what Id normally do in competition.Meares was asked whether anything less than a gold medal would do from here in the sprint and keirin.I will tell you after - I have two goals for these Games, she said. The two Australians will race in the keirin on Saturday. ' ' '