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#UNC coach Bill Belichick pre-Charlotte press conference
Sep 3, 2025
#UNC coach Bill Belichick pre-Charlotte press conference
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0:00
Okay. So, it's a, you know, quick quick
0:02
turnaround for us this week. Um, you
0:04
know, I think the guys have really, um,
0:06
you know, embraced the the short week
0:08
and, uh, we're, you know, going as fast
0:10
as we can to, you know, put the TCU game
0:12
behind us and and move on here to, uh,
0:15
Charlotte. So, um, as far as, uh, the
0:18
Charlotte, you know, we already kind of
0:19
talked about TCU. As far as Charlotte
0:21
goes, uh, they're probably feeling about
0:23
the same as we did. Um, you know, they
0:24
were in a really competitive game there,
0:26
you know, late into the second quarter.
0:28
uh kind of as we were and then it got
0:30
away from a little bit against App State
0:32
kind of like our game did against TCU.
0:34
So, um, you know, they sure both teams
0:37
will be looking to to rebound off of,
0:39
uh, last week's games. And, um, you
0:41
know, this is a team that again has a
0:44
lot of new faces, uh, new coaching
0:46
staff. Um, you know, we certainly looked
0:48
at a lot of what they've done, uh, Coach
0:50
Olivan has done, uh, at Ohio and and
0:52
some of the coaches, uh, that came with
0:54
them from there. Um, but they've also
0:56
put together a staff that, uh, you know,
0:58
has some people that weren't from Ohio.
1:00
So, um, you know, it's a little bit to
1:03
take in in a in a shorter time span, but
1:05
we knew what the schedule was. So, we we
1:07
did some work on these guys in the in
1:09
the offseason as well. So, um, you know,
1:12
they have a, you know, a real explosive
1:13
returner in Rutleach. Um, you know, he'd
1:16
probably be as, you know, one of the
1:17
best ones that we faced this year. Um,
1:19
obviously Harold, you know, quarterback,
1:21
we know about him and and u, you know,
1:24
the offense that that coach Alvin uh,
1:27
you know, runs theirs. Um, and also with
1:31
coach Fish, similar to what they they
1:32
did at LSU. And so, uh, similar to some
1:36
of the things that TCU did in terms of
1:37
going no temp, no huddle and tempo and,
1:40
you know, getting the players from the
1:41
sideline based on the defensive looks,
1:42
things like that. A lot of 11 personnel.
1:45
um sim similar to what TCG did. Not the
1:48
same, but I should but similar. And then
1:50
defensively, uh this is a disruptive
1:52
defense. Um you know, they really try to
1:56
uh you know, knock the offense back,
1:57
negative plays, um pressure, uh a lot of
2:01
stunning up front. Um and so they they
2:03
just try to cause disruption and they do
2:05
a good job of that. They can get you
2:07
into some long- guarded situations, some
2:08
second and 10, some third and 10, and
2:10
and put a lot of pressure on you. But uh
2:12
as I said in the kicking game, you know,
2:14
Rutled is the big guy in the return
2:16
game. Uh you know, Boyd, who of course
2:18
we had here, you know, is a solid player
2:20
and uh you know, they play hard on
2:21
special teams. So, um overall a good,
2:24
you know, well balanced team that's uh
2:27
picking up a new system and and kind of
2:29
finding, you know, finding their way. Um
2:32
like I said, maybe a little bit like we
2:33
are.
2:34
We can start right here at front center.
2:36
Bill Robb Observer coming out of the
2:39
film review. year in the film review.
2:41
What were your biggest points of
2:42
emphasis with the team?
2:44
Yeah, well, look, give TCU credit now.
2:47
That's a good football team. Uh, and
2:48
they played well. Um, but a lot of our
2:50
our problems were self-inflicted. You
2:53
know, the turnovers, we gave up two two
2:55
turnovers for touchdowns. U you know,
2:57
defensively couldn't convert on a couple
2:59
third and longs. Um, gave up a couple
3:01
long runs um that were just, you know,
3:04
just not well defended. So, um, our
3:07
special teams wasn't, they weren't, you
3:09
know, particularly good either. You
3:10
know, short punt and drop snap and so
3:14
forth. Block field goal or blocked extra
3:16
point. You know, we're lucky on that
3:17
one. So, um, just kind of in every area
3:21
things that we need to we need to
3:22
tighten up and and uh, as I said, TCU is
3:25
a really good football team. I think
3:27
that, you know, some of our deficiencies
3:29
got uh exposed and and we'll address
3:32
them and, you know, hopefully get them
3:34
to a level that um is is a competitive
3:37
level that they need to be at.
3:40
No, I stop touring 24/7. Of all the
3:43
newness that comes for you with coaching
3:44
in college, um you're new to coaching on
3:46
Saturday in a place that holds 15,000.
3:48
To me, is that the smallest venue you've
3:50
ever coached in? And how nice is it
3:52
knowing that there's still newness for
3:54
you at this point in your career to be
3:55
able to go out there and coach in a
3:56
place like that?
3:57
Oh, thanks. Um
3:59
uh well, you know, during a co year, I
4:02
mean, we played in front of a couple
4:04
hundred people um in bigger stadiums.
4:06
So, um you know, again, we we control
4:08
what we can control. Um so, we control
4:11
how we prepare, uh how we play, and
4:14
however many people are aren't there,
4:15
and whatever the weather is, and all
4:18
those things we have no control over. we
4:20
can just control our our our
4:22
preparation, our performance, um our
4:24
attitude and how competitive we play and
4:26
and that's what we're going to focus on.
4:27
But um yeah, well, I mean, whatever it
4:30
is, it is, you know, it's um we honestly
4:33
we take the approach we can, you know,
4:34
play anywhere, anytime, you know, day,
4:37
night, you know, home, away, in a
4:39
parking lot, in in Ireland, in North
4:42
Carolina, in California, wherever it is.
4:45
Just, you know, we got to be ready to
4:47
play when the games are scheduled. We'll
4:48
control what we can control.
4:51
Thanks.
4:51
Hey, Bill.
4:54
Um, you in the NFL where the top level
4:56
is a relatively flat record of salary
4:58
cap. You know, you were known for out
5:00
scheming teams, I would say. Now that
5:02
you've got one college team under your
5:03
belt, how do you kind of view how that
5:06
could work in college where the tackles
5:08
are so different and and you can't still
5:10
scheme? You just kind of understand what
5:12
I'm saying like scheming versus talent
5:14
would outweigh each other.
5:16
Well, I think as a coach, you always try
5:18
to do what's best for your team, period.
5:20
Whatever that is. So, um, you try to put
5:22
the players in the best position you can
5:23
put them in. That's your job as a coach.
5:25
And so, that's what I've always tried to
5:27
do is is give my players an opportunity
5:29
to go out there and and and play well
5:31
and do things that they're um confident
5:33
in doing and capable of doing. So, um,
5:36
and I'd say based on Monday night and I
5:38
need to do a better job of that. But
5:40
that that's always the goal is to is to
5:43
let the players look players win games
5:44
and we have to put them in position
5:46
where they can where they can be
5:48
successful and so we'll do that to the
5:50
best of our ability.
5:51
Right. Is that correct?
5:53
Bill Ryan Wl, what did you see out Gio
5:56
when they went back and watched the
5:57
tape? What is it the condition of his
5:59
injury and how do you pick a start for
6:01
this week's game?
6:02
Yeah. Uh, you know, I talked to Gio this
6:04
morning. You know, he's he's doing
6:06
pretty good. So, um, yeah, look, we all
6:09
have plays we'd like to have back from
6:10
the game. Um, calls, plays, passes,
6:15
tackles, you know, you name it. You
6:17
can't you can't participate in a game
6:18
like that and and not feel like there's
6:20
some things you could have done better
6:22
you'd like to do over again. So, learn
6:24
from those, move on, and get ready for
6:25
Charlotte. And that that's all we can
6:27
control. We need to learn some lessons
6:28
from, you know, what happened in the in
6:30
the TCU game, but at the same time, uh
6:33
there's nothing we can do about that
6:34
one. It's it's over with and, you know,
6:36
we're we need to move on.
6:39
And anticipate start.
6:41
Uh yeah, we'll see how it goes. You
6:43
know, we haven't practiced yet this
6:44
week, so we'll see what things look like
6:45
today when we get out there.
6:47
Second row on the left.
6:48
Aaron Beard,
6:50
you mentioned about getting better and
6:51
technique, coaching, and all these
6:53
things, but I'm curious, how do you
6:54
address morale? I realize it's one game,
6:56
but I would imagine for a guy kind of a
6:58
shock to the system, the way things
7:00
unfolded, morale, confidence, those
7:02
things, how you want to approach them.
7:03
Yeah. Well, every day is an opportunity
7:05
and every game is an opportunity. So,
7:07
um, you know, we have a competitive
7:09
group and, you know, I'm I'm sure we'll
7:11
embrace each day we we have to get
7:13
better and improve and and our on game
7:15
day is the opportunity to go out there
7:16
and play.
7:18
Front row on the left, coach
7:20
Adam Smith inside Carol Hut. Yeah. Bill,
7:23
from the other night defensively, you
7:25
know, it seemed like a bit of a struggle
7:27
to get a consistent pass rush for you
7:30
guys. Like what would be your overall
7:33
philosophy in blitzing with this
7:36
particular group of players that you
7:38
have? And and you know, do you feel like
7:40
you might have to start adding guys to
7:43
the mix to to get more pressure?
7:47
Well, it's, you know, it's always hard
7:49
to, you know, talk about rushing the
7:51
passing when you're behind. It's a lot
7:53
easier to rush the pass when you're
7:54
ahead. So, you know, you get in a bunch
7:56
of pass rush schemes when you're behind
7:57
and they don't throw the ball, then you
7:59
just expose yourself to, you know,
8:01
running plays and, you know, different
8:04
gap blocking schemes and so forth that
8:06
might not necessarily be good against
8:07
some of those pass blitzes. So, um,
8:10
look, the best pass rush is when you
8:12
know they're going to pass. And if you
8:13
can dictate those situations, then then
8:16
that's when you should be able to, you
8:17
know, put your best forward in terms of
8:19
individual pass rushes and also, um, you
8:22
know, scheme rushes based on their
8:23
protection schemes. So, um, when when
8:27
you're not when you're playing from
8:29
behind, um, you know, you don't get as
8:32
many chances to rush a pass or you got
8:34
to make them count, but even when you
8:36
think you have them, they don't really
8:38
have to throw because, you know, scoring
8:41
situation.
8:43
Second row, please.
8:44
Hey, coach. Um, do you feel the Temple
8:46
of TU's offense exposed some
8:48
conditioning issues? And if they did,
8:49
how do you address that this week?
8:53
Um, yeah, I think it was more their
8:55
execution than the tempo. I don't think
8:56
the tempo was that that big of an issue,
8:58
but they look they do a good job with it
9:00
and, you know, we try to disguise
9:02
things. Um, but they, you know, look at
9:05
where they where we are and based on
9:07
their formation and and then try to pick
9:09
out plays that, you know, they feel like
9:11
are good against uh what they're seeing
9:13
from us. So, it's a little bit of a
9:15
cat-and- mouse game there. Um,
9:18
but it it I mean it is what it is and if
9:20
that's the style that the offense wants
9:22
to play, then we have to, you know, play
9:23
to that. Um, it's what we expected.
9:26
We'll definitely see some of that this
9:27
week. Um, but I think it's really more
9:29
the execution. You know, we I don't care
9:31
what defense we play, we have to tackle
9:33
better. We have to defeat blocks better.
9:35
Um, we've got to set the edge of the
9:36
defense better on those uh off tackle
9:38
and outside runs. So, um, and we can't
9:42
get the ball thrown over our head. So,
9:44
if those things don't improve, then, you
9:46
know, we'll be facing some of the same
9:48
issues, you know, against any team. Um,
9:50
if we can if we can fix some of those,
9:52
then then maybe we can play from ahead
9:55
and have more opportunities to rush
9:56
passing.
9:58
Front row middle.
10:00
Uh, Andrew started 24/7. You mentioned a
10:03
couple weeks ago when we had you here
10:04
that the evaluation process would
10:06
continue into the season with so much
10:08
newness sending you guys. looked the
10:10
other night that you guys are rolling a
10:11
lot of dudes in early. How heavy are you
10:14
still in the evaluation process with
10:16
this team?
10:18
Uh yeah, I think some some players are
10:20
pretty well established and I think
10:21
there's others that, you know, we're
10:23
kind of trying to figure out what their
10:24
roles are and that could change from
10:26
game to game regardless of what their
10:29
skills are. It could be just the way
10:30
we're playing the game or what we're
10:31
doing in a particular, you know, game
10:33
plan strategy for that week. Um so there
10:37
there are a lot of roles that are still
10:38
evolving on the team. Yes, no question
10:40
about it. Um, that'll probably continue
10:44
for a while. You know, again, I always
10:45
felt like in the NFL, you know, you need
10:48
about a third of the season, so call it,
10:50
you know, five to six games to really,
10:53
you know, know who what what you're
10:55
really what your team really is. So, you
10:57
know, we're probably looking at, you
10:58
know, four or five games before we, you
11:00
know, feel real good about, you know,
11:03
the best group we can put out there. I
11:05
think we're putting the best people we
11:06
can out there right now, but that may
11:08
change and it could certainly change
11:09
when some of the players um get more
11:12
comfortable, improve, get a little more
11:13
playing time, gain more confidence.
11:15
We'll just have to see how that goes.
11:16
But clearly some players have
11:18
established themselves as the best
11:19
players at their position. I wouldn't
11:21
expect any changes there.
11:22
If I can stay on real fast, you finally
11:25
had a chance to see your team get
11:26
somebody that was a very good team. Did
11:28
you get a lot of intel? You got an awful
11:29
lot of intel for you and your bas.
11:33
Yeah, as I said, I think that, you know,
11:35
some of our uh deficiencies were
11:37
certainly exposed by by TCU. Um there
11:40
were other things that were, you know,
11:42
pretty competitive. Um, we need to, you
11:45
know, shore up the things that that we
11:46
need to shore up and and overall just
11:48
some fundamental execution of, um, you
11:52
know, just basic football snaps and
11:55
catching the ball and tackling and
11:57
finishing blocks and getting the proper
12:00
depth on pass routes and all those
12:02
things that are not um,
12:06
we've done before. We know how to do
12:07
them. We didn't do them consistently
12:09
enough in the game. We we need to we
12:11
need to be better at that.
12:13
Second row on the way here. Bill Dave
12:15
Nathan with the Tar Hill Sports Network.
12:17
When there's a sudden change opportunity
12:19
in a game, whether it's a turnover or an
12:21
injury, what are the best tactics to use
12:23
in practice to prepare for those so
12:25
everybody knows what to do in the
12:28
U we sprinkle those into practice, those
12:30
sudden change situations, especially in
12:32
training camp. Um, but it's really, you
12:35
know, a mentality uh for the players and
12:38
the coaches and and especially the play
12:40
callers not to get into a rut, but you
12:42
know, something happens uh and changes
12:44
things dramatically in in a few seconds
12:47
uh to be able to shift into the new, you
12:49
know, the new situation. So, um, you
12:52
know, we we hit a long pass or or they
12:54
hit a long play and now we're in the red
12:56
area or they're on the goal line or
12:58
whatever it is or there's a turnover
13:00
and, you know, you think you're going to
13:03
they're going to punt and you're going
13:04
to get the ball here and you get a
13:06
turnover and now you get it, you know,
13:07
in good field position or vice versa.
13:09
You know, you you think we're going to
13:11
punt and, you know, we'll have them
13:13
backed up and something happens and now
13:15
you go in and they got the ball in the
13:16
red zone. So, we practice those
13:18
situations during training camp and and
13:20
sprinkle them in during the season. But,
13:22
it's it's really a mentality uh to uh
13:26
recognize quickly what where we are,
13:29
forget about how we got there, where we
13:31
are, and what we need to do going
13:33
forward.
13:34
Second row middle. Two more here.
13:36
Shelby Swanson with the Raleigh News and
13:38
Observer. I'm curious, you spoke today
13:40
and you've spoken a lot about just um
13:42
Monday to the fundamentals and those not
13:46
being where you wanted to be. Um to what
13:48
extent do you feel like that's a result
13:50
of just so much of a roster overhaul
13:53
bringing in new guys being so active in
13:56
the spring transfer portal window? And
13:58
are those fundamentals just in general
14:01
where you expect them or where you'd
14:03
like them to be at this point this
14:05
season? Yeah, I think it's more really a
14:07
question of consistency. It it isn't
14:10
that they don't exist. I mean, there are
14:11
plenty of plays where, you know, we're
14:14
doing things well and then the same
14:16
fundamental will come up maybe a little
14:18
bit later or maybe came up earlier and
14:20
then we got it right. But just the the
14:22
overall consistency of, you know,
14:24
playing at um, you know, 60 or 70%
14:26
efficiency versus playing at at 90%. And
14:30
you know, when you have 11 guys out
14:31
there, if you have one or two that
14:33
either it's a miscommunication or a lack
14:36
of awareness or uh a slow to process
14:39
some adjustment that we've made or a
14:41
poor fundamental and then you have one
14:43
or two breakdowns, you can have eight or
14:45
nine guys doing the right thing really
14:47
well and then if you have one, you know,
14:49
one mistake, it can, you know, can blow
14:51
up the whole play. So, um there was
14:54
certainly plenty of those too where
14:55
there's a lot of things that were right,
14:56
but one thing was wrong and and it cost
14:58
us. So, we just we need more consistency
15:01
and you know, we'll we're working on
15:03
that. We'll get better. Um, but that's
15:06
what we need to work on. It's it's not
15:07
we don't know how to do it. It's not
15:09
that we don't do it. It's there are
15:11
just, you know, some breakdowns and and
15:13
I'd say, you know, schematically, we
15:14
need to as a coaching staff, you know,
15:16
do a better job of finding the things
15:18
that each of our individuals players do
15:20
well and and try to play more into their
15:22
strengths um as they become more
15:25
apparent what those are. or conversely,
15:28
you know, not put them in situations
15:29
that aren't particularly favorable to
15:31
them. Try to avoid those. We can do a
15:33
better job of that, too. So, that that
15:35
part of that's on us.
15:36
And then really quick, just to follow on
15:38
that, as part of that, too, just the
15:39
again, you said it might take five, six
15:42
games or so for the
15:43
Well, I said in the NFL, that's kind of
15:45
what we we were working with. Um I I you
15:48
know, I'm not saying it takes you six
15:49
games, but I'd say I felt like in the
15:52
question was about the NFL or related to
15:54
the NFL. I so I said after about six
15:58
games I think you really know your team
16:00
in the NFL like this is who we are and
16:03
not too much is going to change going
16:05
forward unless there's some dramatic
16:07
injury or something. Um and then you
16:10
kind of play for the strengths or andor
16:12
weaknesses of that team. I'm not sure
16:14
exactly how it's going to go here. I
16:16
really don't know. But in that context
16:18
my experience was you know about a third
16:20
of the season. So, you know, third of
16:22
the season here, four three or four
16:23
games. You know, at some point things
16:25
will settle in where this is going to
16:26
be. This is who we are. This is what we
16:29
can do. This is what we're going to have
16:30
trouble doing. You know, things like
16:32
that. I don't think we're quite there
16:34
yet. It was just not enough evidence.
16:36
Last one for her on the right.
16:38
Uh, Bill Michael, welcome.com.
16:41
the short week is a unique challenge
16:42
from Monday to Saturday. But do you feel
16:45
after a game like Monday that it's
16:48
actually a good thing that you can get
16:49
back on the field and sort of flush that
16:51
game as soon as possible?
16:52
Yeah, 100%. I agree with that. Yeah, I
16:54
think we're all we're all going to be
16:56
anxious to to play again. Um yeah,
16:59
veterans sitting around two weeks, you
17:01
know, feeling like we feel after that
17:03
game. Uh you got to move on anyway,
17:05
right? And we moved on. We moved on
17:07
yesterday. So, um here we are. It's it's
17:09
Charlotte, but uh we got to we have to
17:12
recognize what what things would need to
17:14
change uh in order for the results to
17:16
change. But yeah, I think everybody will
17:17
be excited to play Saturday. I don't
17:18
think anybody wants to to wait an extra
17:20
week to to get back on the field.
17:22
Thanks.
17:23
Thank you, guys.
17:24
All right. And I go.
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