By R.L. Bynum
CHAPEL HILL — Freddie Kitchens didn’t hide from the failures of North Carolina’s offense through five games of his first season as offensive coordinator and admitted there are things he could have done better.
“Some of the progress we’ve made hasn’t shown up on the scoreboard,” Kitchens said at a Wednesday press conference at the Kenan Football Center ahead of Friday’s 10:30 p.m. game at California. “We’ve made progress in different areas, and we just need to continue to stay where our feet are and get better each and every day, and eventually we’ll get the results that we want.”
So far, good results have been difficult to find.
Kitchens’ offense ranks near the bottom nationally in nearly every major category — 131st in total offense (264.8 yards per game, the second-lowest since 1970) and first downs (70; on pace for 178, which would be the fourth-lowest since 1970) among 134 FBS teams, 122nd in passing offense (162.6, the lowest since 2000 and sixth-lowest since 1985), and 119th in rushing (102.2, the third-lowest since 1970).
For a program that has prided itself on explosive offense under previous staffs, it’s been a jarring dropoff. Kitchens, whose only prior experience as an offensive coordinator came as an interim coordinator in the NFL, first for the Cleveland Browns in 2018 and later the New York Giants in 2021, is now learning the college version of that job.
Fans aren’t happy, and there have been calls on this website and elsewhere to move the play-calling duties elsewhere. According to Kitchens, he’s heard no such talk from within the program.
“That has not, that’s never been brought up, never been discussed,” he said. “I think we always look to see how we can get better each and every day that we go out to practice. There are, of course, things I could have done better. I think we can say that all the way down the line. But sometimes you’ve just got to keep your head down and go to work and try to get better.”
That sentiment — “keep your head down and go to work” — has become something of a mantra for Kitchens.
While the progress he sees doesn’t show up in the numbers, Kitchens said that communication has improved between every unit.
“I think the communication has gotten better, from the standpoint of the quarterback to the line, the line to the backs, the receivers to the quarterback,” he said. “There’s communication all over the field that happens every play. Each and every play is its own entity and has a different set of problems.”
UNC’s quarterback situation has been fluid, but Gio Lopez is expected to play Friday after not being listed in the initial injury report the ACC released late Wednesday night. Max Johnson is listed as the backup and Lopez as the starter on UNC’s unofficial depth chart.
“Both those guys offer leadership abilities, capabilities,” he said. “They both made plays in different parts. They bring a little bit different aspects to the game.”
The same uncertainty extends to the backfield. Kitchens praised the work ethic and versatility of his running backs.
“I really like the room,” he said. “I think we’re very versatile in that room. Everybody needs to do their job just a little bit better, communicate just a little bit better. And they would be the first to say that.”
Of freshman Demon June and redshirt sophomore Michigan transfer Benjamin Hall, Kitchens said, “Juju is still a freshman, so he hasn’t been to as many circuses and fairs that Ben’s been to. Just the experience aspect gives Ben some different aspects in protections and run keys and things like that that Juju hasn’t.”
Kitchens has also had to navigate injuries and inconsistency on the offensive line.
“Every year you deal with injuries and things like that; you make the best of the situation that you have,” he said. “Of course, it starts up front, but it also has to do with other positions as well. So, everybody has a hand in all the problems. But here’s the beauty of football: we’re all problem-solvers.”
The veteran coach, one of the few holdovers from Mack Brown’s staff, has also had to help bridge the gap between old and new leadership styles after Bill Belichick took over the program.
“I don’t see [friction],” Kitchens said. “What I see is a bunch of guys trying to come together and be one team. I think everybody here tries to work hard and tries to do the right thing.”
He brushed off comparisons between Brown and Belichick.
“You’re talking about totally different people,” Kitchens said. “I’m pretty sure my coaching style is not like a lot of people’s coaching style. Of course, they’re different, they’ve had different experiences and both are very successful.”
It’s been a rocky start for Kitchens in Chapel Hill, and he knows it. He was also the interim coach during UNC’s forgettable December performance in the Fenway Bowl last: a 30–10 loss that marked the beginning of the program’s reset.
Ten months later, the reset remains a work in progress.
“Everybody wants to be more consistent,” Kitchens said. “Now it’s just a matter of doing it.”
| 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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