North Carolina HC Bill Belichick Explains How Team is Improving

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Credit North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick for being adaptable.

The Tar Heels got off to a slow start in recruiting during the last offseason, leading to an embarrassing 4-8 record for the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach in his first season coaching at any capacity at the college level.

The offense was a failure, prompting quarterback Gio Lopez to transfer to Wake Forest this offseason. Lopez noted that it wasn't fun to play under Belichick's staff last year, and he wasn't allowed to play the way he knows how to be effective as a mobile quarterback.

Belichick did much better recruiting players this offseason, and he fired offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens and hired legendary offensive mind Bobby Petrino to develop and call plays for that side of the ball. 

During ACC Kickoff media days in Charlotte on Friday, Belichick explained how Petrino will better the offense this fall. He believes the passing game will be much better under the former Louisville and Arkansas head coach.

“I just think overall, we’re better in the passing game,” Belichick said, via a transcription from On3. “Hopefully we can mirror that in with the running game, and have a good, well-balanced offense.

"Bobby (Petrino)‘s done a good job with that, and we’ve got two experienced quarterbacks in Miles (O’Neill) and Billy (Edwards Jr.). Billy more than Miles on the field, but they’ve both played quarterback in college football. I think they’ll both be very competitive.”

In addition to having a better passing game, Petrino likes to have a strong running game to balance the offense. UNC should be more complimentary this season.

Belichick noted that Petrino's style will be one he's more familiar with running, as it's close to what the New England Patriots ran when he was the head coach.

It’s been great. I’ve known him for a long time,” Belichick said of Petrino. “A lot of things he does offensively are similar to what we did in New England.”

That should be a plus for UNC. 

The defense was solid under Belichick for most of last season. If the defense can get better to complement a vastly improved offense, North Carolina could pull off a surprise and make a bowl game this season.

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