Big thanks to Brandon from Tar Heel Blog for answering some questions this week. Hopefully, BC can beat the Tar Heels and become bowl eligible in the first season under Bill O’Brien.
BC: It’s no secret UNC did not have a great start to the year. Minnesota was a nice win, but giving up 70 points to JMU in a loss was certainly not what Mack Brown and the Tar Heel fans want to see. The Tar Heels have now won 3 in a row. What went wrong early in the season that seems to be fixed now?
UNC: I think the number one issue that the Heels had at the beginning of the season was the absence of defensive end Kaimon Rucker. He missed some time with an injury, and that is when we learned just how important his role was on the defensive side of the ball. It just felt like the Heels weren’t able to get pressure on quarterbacks like they should’ve been able to, and once he returned suddenly we were one of the better teams in the ACC when it comes to sacks.
I think the other issue was Mack Brown and Chip Lindsay playing the “We do not know who is starting at quarterback” game, ultimately starting Max Johnson, and then not knowing how to use Conner Harrell and Jacolby Criswell once they needed to use them. One of the things that bother me the most about Mack Brown is his insistence of there being this open competition when it is clear that it wasn’t. Max Johnson was the guy, he had planned on him being the guy, so when he got hurt they were lost. It ultimately resulted in some frustrating losses.
BC: Obviously the loss of Drake Maye, left a hole in the Tar Heels offense. The injury to Max Johnson also put a wrench in this season’s offensive outlook. How has the QB situation worked out?
UNC: I touched on that a bit in my previous answer, but I would say at the end of the day the quarterback situation has worked out well. Jacolby Criswell has a big arm and he isn’t afraid of contact. I still miss Drake Maye quite a bit, but I think Criswell has been able to do most of the things he has been asked to do successfully. It’s not often when your third-string quarterback is good enough to keep your season afloat and keep you bowl eligible.
BC: Who are some players for BC fans to watch out for this weekend on offense and defense?
UNC: Omarion Hampton is the #1 player to watch out for this weekend on the offensive side of the ball. A lot of UNC’s success on that side of the ball hinges on his ability to gash defenses for large chunks of yardage. On the defensive side of the ball, I would say Rucker and also Beau Atkinson, who has been getting after quarterbacks quite a bit this season as well.
BC: The Tar Heels are now bowl eligible with 6 wins. Could this season be salvaged as a “good year” with a bowl game win?
UNC: I think things are really interesting in Chapel Hill right now. Fans were sold a very different product than what the Heels have gotten since Mack Brown returned to campus, which I know how crazy it sounds to complain about seasons that involved Sam Howell and Drake Maye. The problem, though, is that it has felt like they have underachieved with their roster pretty much every year, and that’s a big problem. I would say if they manage to win a bowl game this year it might satisfy some fans, but I know a lot of fans that regardless of what happens are pretty much ready to explore head coach options. Still, I think ending with a bowl win would mean ending the season on as good of a note as they probably realistically could. Like I said, things are really interesting in Chapel Hill haha.
BC: What’s your prediction for Saturday?
UNC: The Heels have had a good win streak going, but I get the feeling things might go sideways this weekend for them. I think Boston College will likely hold up at home 35-31.