Has there ever been a season opener with so many unknowns? Perhaps the transition from Dick Crum to Mack Brown is the closest comparable, but Monday night will be much different.
The transfer portal has transformed college athletics, and it has certainly changed the North Carolina Tar Heels roster this year. There are 72 new Tar Heels on the roster, with 41 transferring to the team.
Oh, and a six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach who has never coached college football is the man in charge of the program.
Monday Night Football in Chapel Hill. Bill Belichick on the sidelines. There will be a lot to watch in the opener versus TCU. Here are the top three.
Josh Hoover and the Potent TCU Air Raid
Last season, TCU quarterback Josh Hoover threw for nearly 4,000 yards. The Horned Frogs’ Air Raid offense ranked in the top 10 in the nation in total passing yards and passing yards per game.
Hoover threw for at least one touchdown in 11 of 13 games last season, including five games of three TDs or more. Hoover had plenty of opportunities, with TCU averaging nearly 38 passing attempts per game.
Four receivers had more than 600 yards receiving last season, demonstrating Hoover’s ability to spread the offense among several targets. Senior Eric McAlister is the lone returnee from that group, as the others are rookies in the NFL this fall.
However, Hoover did throw 11 picks last season. Fortunate for him, five other Big 12 quarterbacks shared the conference lead with 12 interceptions.
A contributing factor was the TCU offensive line. The Horned Frogs allowed the fourth-most sacks in the Big 12 last season. In games in which more than one sack was allowed, Hoover threw an interception.
It is hard to know until the defense takes the field, but a more aggressive and strategically complex UNC defensive front is expected under Belichick. If the Tar Heels can disrupt Hoover, Carolina may slow down the air attack and come up with a turnover or two.
If Hoover has time to operate, he has the arm talent to pick apart any secondary.
Carolina’s Offensive Line
The UNC offensive line has been hit hard by injuries, with guard Austin Blaske out for months, and center Christo Kelly is listed as questionable with an undisclosed health issue. If Kelly cannot start, expect Rice transfer Chad Lindberg to get the nod.
The depth chart seems to be in flux due to some switching by the coaching staff, but there are a few constants. South Carolina transfer Jakai Moore and Troy transfer Daniel King were taking reps at right tackle, the blind side for lefty quarterback Gio Lopez.
On the left side, expect to see Aidan Banfield at left guard and Eidan Buchanan at left tackle. Banfield started 11 games as a true freshman, and Buchanan is a monster freshman at 6-foot-9, 330 pounds.
Belichick and general manager Mike Lombardi emphasized building the team from the inside out. This was evident by the overhaul of both lines during the offseason. No matter who starts on Monday, quality depth (yes, that ol’ phrase) was a goal of the rebuild.
No matter who is on the field, the Tar Heels will take on a Horned Frogs team that had 26 sacks last season, good for fourth in the Big 12. TCU’s blitz-heavy defense will pressure Lopez and will seek to disrupt the run attack behind the line of scrimmage.
The offensive line must gel quickly to protect their new quarterback and establish a consistent rushing attack, a goal for the Freddie Kitchens offense.
A New Era of UNC Defense
Happy Groundhog Day. The Carolina defense faces a new season with the same mandate: improve from last season. And improve a lot if the team wants to compete.
Can this happen under the Belichick system? Whether Belichick can implement his disciplined defensive schemes is a burning question for UNC. Again, the unknowns with the roster overhaul make this difficult to predict.
Perhaps, first and foremost, Tar Heels fans want to see a fundamentally sound defense. Toughness in each group, don’t get beat downfield, and no arm tackles.
And let’s hold them when it’s third and long.
It’s been 14 years since a defensive-minded coach led the Tar Heels. According to all reports, the culture is changing within the UNC locker room. Will this translate into results from an untested defense?
