By R.L. Bynum
Consistency was the word Bill Belichick kept coming back to as North Carolina comes off the open date and heads into Saturday’s ACC opener against Clemson.
The Tar Heels’ first-year coach said the Tigers’ 2-2 record didn’t tell the whole story, and his team would need to be sharper in every phase if it wanted to keep pace.
“There are things that the guys are doing well and need to be more consistent at,” Belichick said ahead of the noon game (ESPN). “And there are certainly things that we all can do better. Coaches, players, head coach, coordinators, play-callers, everybody.”
Belichick called Clemson “a very experienced team” with explosive players on both sides of the ball. He pointed out that turnovers had swung the outcome in each of their early losses, a reminder that his team could not afford similar mistakes.
“Turnovers have hurt them in a couple of those losses, really, probably all of them,” he said. “So, a couple plays here or there, this team could easily be 4–0. So, we need to play a solid game all the way around.”
That ability to play clean, mistake-free football has eluded the Tar Heels through four games. Injuries and shifting personnel have made it difficult to build chemistry, especially on the offensive line. Belichick said the unit’s problems go beyond issues of any one player.
“I think, ultimately, the conversation comes down to getting your five best players on the field,” he said. “Also playing the best combination — the five players who, in combination, would play the most effectively. It’s not just the individual player, it’s who you play next to and how you work in conjunction with that player.”
One bright spot in the UCF loss was the return of lineman Austin Blaske, who can play all five positions. Belichick said his versatility has eased some of the uncertainty.
“He gives a lot of flexibility, and I think it will help us find the rest of the line consistency,” Belichick said. “He hadn’t played in several weeks, but I thought he handled himself pretty well, and he looked better last week. I’m sure he’ll get better as he gets more reps.”
Quarterback remains another question mark. Starter Gio Lopez missed practice last week dealing with a right leg injury, forcing others to take the bulk of the snaps, including Max Johnson.
“I don’t know what I’m gonna see from Gio, so it’s a tough question to answer,” he said. “But Max is getting reps. All three quarterbacks are. We’ll see how that plays out.”
Belichick noted that the program has two experienced quarterbacks and two freshmen, and that the younger players have been making steady progress. Still, he stressed the need to prepare with whoever is available.
As for Clemson, Belichick said he has deep admiration for the way Coach Dabo Swinney has built and sustained the Tigers’ program. He described conversations with Swinney at ACC meetings as helpful in his adjustment to the college game.
“I have a ton of respect for not only what he’s accomplished on the field and his record, but the way he’s done it,” Belichick said. “The players that he’s turned out, you can tell that they’ve come from a program that’s very well run.”
Belichick said his focus isn’t on long-term program building, but on helping his current roster improve from week to week. Still, he acknowledged the importance of recruiting and player development as UNC lays its foundation.
“I don’t look at it as anything other than the best I can do to help the team today, help the team prepare for Clemson and play well on Saturday,” he said. “But at the same time, we’re going to recruit and try to bring in high school players that will really be the foundation of the team.”
Saturday’s game, he said, will be a “get up and go game” with a noon kickoff — and an immediate test of whether his team can take the next step.
“We need to play a solid game all the way around,” Belichick said. “That’s what we’re getting ready to do.”
| Team | ACC | All |
|---|---|---|
| No. 16 Virginia | 7–1 | 10–2 |
| No. 12 Miami | 6–2 | 10–2 |
| No. 25 SMU | 6–2 | 8–4 |
| No. 24 Georgia Tech | 6–2 | 9–3 |
| Pittsburgh | 6–2 | 8–4 |
| Duke | 6–2 | 7–5 |
| Louisville | 4–4 | 8–4 |
| Wake Forest | 4–4 | 8–4 |
| California | 4–4 | 7–5 |
| Clemson | 4–4 | 7–5 |
| N.C. State | 4–4 | 7–5 |
| Stanford | 3–5 | 4–8 |
| Florida State | 2–6 | 5–7 |
| North Carolina | 2–6 | 4–8 |
| Virginia Tech | 2–6 | 3–9 |
| Syracuse | 1–7 | 3–9 |
| Boston College | 1–7 | 2–10 |
Friday’s result
No. 4 Georgia 16, No. 24 Georgia Tech 9
Saturday’s results
N.C. State 42, North Carolina 19
No. 12 Miami 38, Pittsburgh 7
Louisville 41, Kentucky 0
Clemson 28, South Carolina 14
Boston College 34, Syracuse 12
Duke 49, Wake Forest 32
Florida 40, Florida State 21
No. 16 Virginia 27, Virginia Tech 7
California 38, No. 25 SMU 35
No. 9 Notre Dame 49, Stanford 20
Saturday’s ACC championship game
No. 16 Virginia vs. Duke in Charlotte, 8 p.m., ABC
| Month/ date | Score/ time | Opponent | Record/ TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| September | |||
| 1 | L, 48–14 | vs. TCU | 0–1 |
| 6 | W, 20–3 | at Charlotte | 1–1 |
| 13 | W, 41–6 | vs. Richmond | 2–1 |
| 20 | L, 34–9 | at UCF | 2–2 |
| October | |||
| 4 | L, 38–10 | vs. Clemson | 2–3, 0–1 ACC |
| 17 (Fri.) | L, 21–18 | at California | 2–4, 0–2 |
| 25 | L, 17–16, OT | vs. No. 16 Virginia | 2–5, 0–3 |
| 31 (Fri.) | W, 27–10 | at Syracuse | 3–5, 1–3 |
| November | |||
| 8 | W, 20–15 | vs. Stanford | 4–5, 2–3 |
| 15 | L, 28–12 | at Wake Forest | 4–6, 2–4 |
| 22 | L, 32–25 | vs. Duke | 4–7, 2–5 |
| 29 | L, 42–19 | at N.C. State | 4–8, 2–6 |
Photo by Joshua Lawton
tarheeltribune.com 