Bill Belichick highlights 'good job' UNC football offense is doing in certain area
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CHAPEL HILL — UNC football’s offense hasn’t been consistent, but it’s been better in one particular area.
Following the Tar Heels’ 20-15 win against Stanford on Nov. 8 at Kenan Stadium, coach Bill Belichick highlighted where the offense has done a “good job” during the two-game winning streak.
UNC (4-5, 2-3 ACC) is 4-0 when scoring 20 or more points. After averaging 13.4 points in its first five games against Power 4 competition — all losses — the Tar Heels have averaged 23.5 points during their winning streak.
While the overall offensive consistency hasn’t been there, UNC has improved at creating explosive plays, particularly explosive scoring opportunities in wins against Syracuse (3-7, 1-6) and Stanford (3-7, 2-5).
After producing three explosive plays for TDs in the first seven games, with each of those coming against Richmond and Charlotte, UNC’s offense has supplied four explosive plays in wins vs. the Orange and Cardinal.
“I think our guys have done a good job on some of the open-field running opportunities that they’ve had,” Belichick said.
“So, just emphasizing running with the ball when it’s in our hands on the short routes, under routes, slants, things like that, gaining those yards after the catch with good running skills.”
Belichick mentioned each of the big plays that occurred in the last two games, pointing to yards after contact as a major factor in giving the offense some increased firepower. Running back Demon June ignited the spark vs. Syracuse with a 72-yard touchdown on a catch-and-run opportunity. Wide receiver Jordan Shipp followed with a 21-yard catch against the Orange.
In Week 11 against the Cardinal, after UNC had 47 yards in the first half, the Tar Heels got a pair of big plays in the second half to kickstart the struggling offense. Running back Davion Gause scored on a wheel route for a 20-yard TD and Shipp got loose in the open field on a 55-yard TD early in the fourth quarter to give the Tar Heels a 20-3 lead.
“That’s a play we’ve been repping for a while,” Shipp said. “. … We’ve hit that route so many times in practice, so when (quarterback Gio Lopez) called it, I just knew I had to get out of my break and just go make a play.”
Those “catch-and-run plays,” Belichick said, have been key in getting the offense trending in the right direction.
“Those guys have done a good job of that,” Belichick added. “And our backs have done a good job when they’ve had a chance.”
With a chance to even their record at Wake Forest (6-3, 3-3) on Nov. 15, the Tar Heels will try to build on that improvement with more big plays and better overall consistency offensively.
“A lot of things we can still improve on, keep working on,” Belichick said. “And that’s what we’ll do going forward.”
Rodd Baxley covers North Carolina Tar Heels athletics for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding UNC? Send them to rbaxley@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Bill Belichick highlights ‘good job’ UNC offense is doing in key area
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