UNC postgame clipboard

INSIDE THE GAME

Improvement, North Carolina football coach Butch Davis said Saturday, is kind of like eating an elephant: "Sometimes it's one bite at a time."

So while he was disappointed that the Tar Heels lost their fourth straight game, this time 17-10 at No. 17 Virginia Tech, he saw signs that his team was nibbling toward its goal.

"Yesterday, I thought in some respects, was a positive step," Davis said Sunday. "You're not playing for seconds, you're not playing for moral victories, but the positive things were we ran the ball a little better [with a season-best 124 yards], we did some good things on defense. The defense was challenged late in the ballgame, but they got three straight three-and-outs and kind of gave us a chance to get back into the game."

In the end, the Tar Heels (1-4, 0-2 ACC) finished with more yardage and possession time than the Hokies (4-1, 1-0), but familiar problems remain: Quarterback T.J. Yates was sacked six times; the Heels committed two key turnovers; and when they had opportunities to win down the stretch, they failed to capitalize.

Giving them plenty to chew on this week, again.

GREAT CALL

Sticking with the running game. It's still not clear whether one "top dog" will emerge from UNC's running back corps, but freshman tailbacks Johnny White, Ryan Houston and now Anthony Elzy (who led the Tar Heels with 74 yards, all in the fourth quarter) are showing progress.

"We're making great strides," Elzy said. "We're learning to be one team, one heartbeat ... I think we made the greatest strides in this game [against the Hokies] than we have all year."

THIS WON'T MAKE THE COACH'S SHOW

When offsetting penalties were called in the fourth quarter, the referee was greeted by boos at Lane Stadium. One was called on No. 77 from Georgia Tech. Not only did the official get the school wrong, but the number; with Ed Wang out with a broken leg, no Hokies player was wearing 77. The official corrected his mistake.

MATCHUP THAT MATTERED

Hokies quarterback Tyrod Taylor vs. UNC's defense. Before Virginia Tech's play-calling inexplicably turned to the air, the Tar Heels had trouble stopping the slippery freshman on the ground. Two defensive linemen had him in their grasp -- then lost him -- on his 5-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. No wonder he reminds people of former Hokie Michael Vick.

GAME BALLS

* VT LB Xavier Adibi -- one interception, one sack, game-high 15 tackles

* UNC safety Deunta Williams -- one interception, team-high nine tackles

PENALTY MARKERS

* VT's offensive coaches -- for opting to call passing plays so often after racking up 112 rushing yards in the first quarter

* UNC's offensive line -- for allowing QB T.J. Yates to be sacked six times

LOOKING AHEAD

Saturday at noon, Davis will face his former Miami Hurricanes team for the first time since leaving after the 2000 season to become head coach of the NFL's Cleveland Browns. UNC is 5-5 all-time against the Hurricanes; the game will be played at Kenan Stadium. The Hurricanes are 4-1 this season.