By R.L. Bynum
CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina offensive line coach Will Friend made it clear Thursday that improvement on offense isn’t about wholesale change. It’s about fundamentals.
He was the offensive coordinator last season at Western Kentucky, which averaged 29.2 points per game and 373.5 yards of total offense for the FCS program that was ranked No. 11 in the country.
Friend obviously knows offense, but Carolina hasn’t come close to those numbers this season. The Tar Heels are only averaging 21 points (11 against FBS teams) and 263.5 yards per game (224½ against FBS teams), ranking third-to-last among FBS teams.
“I think fundamentals have been the biggest focus we’ve had,” Friend said ahead of UNC’s ACC opener at noon Saturday at Kenan Stadium against Clemson (ESPN). “Pad level, hand placement, getting off the ball with quickness, angles to your assignment — those are the things that matter.”
The Tar Heels (2–2) went into their first weekend off with questions at quarterback and struggles with consistency, but Friend brushed aside the idea that quarterback uncertainty affects the line’s preparation.
“It really doesn’t matter who’s at quarterback,” he said. “We’ve got guys that can execute their job. Our responsibility is in the protections and the runs, and that doesn’t change.”
That same no-excuses mentality extends to the challenges of Clemson’s defensive front, which the Tar Heels face this weekend. Friend praised the Tigers’ line for both talent and discipline.
“They’re really good players, and they’re coached well,” he said. “When you have talented guys that play hard and smart, that usually means they’re pretty productive. It’s a good matchup and a challenge for our guys to see where they’re at.”
Part of North Carolina’s progression has come from players stepping into unexpected roles. Chad Lindberg has been getting a lot of snaps at center despite not being projected as a starter in the offseason. Friend called him “a smart guy” who has improved each week.
The bigger picture for the offense, though, isn’t coming from a dramatic “reset,” but from daily growth.
“Every week you’re trying to get better,” Friend said. “The process is stacking days. Things we do well, we want to do better. Things we need to improve, we work to improve. The results will take care of themselves if we prepare the right way.”
Friend’s perspective comes with a wide coaching background that includes coaching at 10 colleges before deciding to work for Coach Bill Belichick.
“You see every day why he’s been as successful as he has been,” Friend said of Belichick. “But at the end of the day, once you get into the season, you’re just coaching ball.”
For Friend and his group, that means keeping the focus narrow — on technique, execution and consistency. The offense may be searching for answers, but the path forward, he said, isn’t complicated.
“You want to be better next Thursday than you are right now,” Friend said. “That’s the goal.”
| 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 via @UNCFootball
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