Two struggling defenses meet in Syracuse-North Carolina game

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - Which team will get its defense together first? <br> <br> That&#39;s the burning question heading into the Syracuse-North Carolina matchup Saturday a game that pits teams searching for ways to stop opponents. <br> <br> The Tar Heels (0-1) finished 108th in the nation in total defense last season and didn&#39;t show much improvement in a 37-0 season-opening loss to No. 11 Florida State, allowing more than 550 yards. <br> <br> Meanwhile, Syracuse spent the offseason trying to improve a defense that was the country&#39;s worst in 2002. <br> <br> ``You definitely take it personally. It wasn&#39;t the best of years for us on defense last year, to say the least,&#39;&#39; said Syracuse middle linebacker Rich Scanlon. <br> <br> ``We&#39;ve got a lot of seniors, so we can share the responsibility. I think we&#39;re taking it a lot more personal because we have so many seniors, and we can spread out that responsibility. We&#39;re looking forward to the challenge and we&#39;re looking forward to having it on our shoulders.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Syracuse&#39;s secondary, which allowed more than 300 yards a game last season, will get an early test in its opener, facing veteran UNC quarterback Darian Durant. <br> <br> ``We&#39;ve just got to play the game that we&#39;ve been talking about all preseason, which is tough, hard-nosed tackling,&#39;&#39; Scanlon said. ``The best way to neutralize somebody who runs around as much as he does is just get 11 guys to the football. With our team speed, that&#39;s pretty much all we should have to do.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Syracuse&#39;s 4-8 record was the program&#39;s worst since a 5-6 mark in 1986. One of the losses came at home to North Carolina. <br> <br> ``The only way you can get over a rough season is to start a new one,&#39;&#39; senior quarterback R.J. Anderson said. ``Thank God it&#39;s here. We can just put all this talk to rest. When you&#39;re the cause of a rough season, you just want to resolve it.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> North Carolina&#39;s defense had problems tackling last weekend and at times were out of position against the speedy Seminoles. Coach John Bunting said he plans to make a few changes on that side of the ball before Saturday. <br> <br> ``I have said from day one that my expectations are high on defense,&#39;&#39; said the former NFL assistant. ``I don&#39;t assume anything. I am going to play players who compete, players who produce.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Syracuse should pose an interesting test for the North Carolina defense. <br> <br> ``They are not tricky with personnel, but they have a million formations,&#39;&#39; Bunting said. <br> <br> Syracuse coach Paul Pasqualoni has geared his preseason practices toward facing possible high heat and humidity Saturday afternoon. <br> <br> ``You have to have a plan,&#39;&#39; he said. ``You&#39;ve got to play the way you practice, and we&#39;ve practiced with different combinations being in the game so that if it turns out to be one of these warm, humid days we&#39;ve got guys who are fresh to play in the second half. <br> <br> ``But our guys are in great shape. It&#39;s not like we&#39;re going down there unprepared. We&#39;ve done all the running you can do, and we&#39;ve done that purposely.&#39;&#39;