DATE: Tuesday, September 23, 1997           TAG: 9709230412

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C4   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: FRANK VEHORN

LENGTH: 72 lines

FOOTBALL REPORT

Virginia's Welsh

is impressed with

Tar Heels' defense

CHARLOTTESVILLE - How good is the North Carolina defense that Virginia will face Saturday in Chapel Hill?

Cavaliers coach George Welsh says it's as good as he's ever seen, and in the same class as Virginia's great defense last year.

``Their techniques are good. Their talent level is good. They run well. They are hard to block one on one,'' Welsh said Monday.

``It is a big league defense, simple as that. Everywhere, at every position.''

The fifth-ranked Tar Heels lead the ACC in total defense (197.7 ypg) and scoring defense (12.3 ppg).

``They are just in that cycle, where they have mostly fourth and fifth-year players and they are very talented,'' Welsh said.

Strong supporting cast

has made Bly even better

Like everyone else, Welsh is impressed with UNC cornerback Dre' Bly, but he says Bly gets lots of help from his teammates.

``Bly is not as good if they don't have all those other guys,'' Welsh said of the sophomore All-American from Chesapeake.

``I don't care how good he is. ... nobody is that good.''

Welsh said Bly benefits from the tremendous rush that UNC defenders puts on quarterbacks.

``If you could put a double move on Bly. ... if you could, if you had time, you might be able to win one,'' Welsh said. ``But you don't have time.''

Who's at quarterback?

Welsh says it makes little difference to him who the Tar Heels start at quarterback.

Chris Keldorf started the first two games, but he was replaced by Oscar Davenport last Saturday against Maryland.

``It seems like Davenport has been doing better moving the team,'' Welsh said, ``but they run the same offense, no matter which one is playing.''

Mum on injuries

Virginia had a couple days of long and hard practices during the off-week, but Welsh is keeping mum on rumors of injuries.

``I'm not going to answer any questions about who got injured during practice. I never have,'' Welsh said.

He did say that receiver Bryan Owen, who injured a shoulder in the Richmond game, is healthy.

Looking for a '98 foe

The Cavaliers are still searching for an 11th opponent for next season.

``It is getting late and I am a little concerned,'' Welsh said.

The vacancy was created when a series against Arizona was canceled. Virginia thought it had Temple lined up but the Owls backed out before signing a contract.

``We would like to play a Division I-A team,'' Welsh said, ``but right now we don't know who it will be.''

One of the requirements is that the game be in Charlottesville. Otherwise, the Cavaliers would have only four home games.

Short kicks

Saturday's game will be the first since 1991 that Virginia has played UNC without being ranked nationally. The Cavaliers were No. 24 when they beat No. 6 UNC last year in Scott Stadium. ... Welsh's Virginia teams have a 6-11-1 record on the road against ranked teams.

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