Mack Brown assesses state of UNC program, growth from last year

Roll your calendar back a year and expectations were high for head coach Mack Brown and North Carolina. Fresh off an 8-4 season with an Orange Bowl appearance, the Tar Heels were considered sleepers in college football. Instead, they finished 6-7 after a bowl loss and were one of the bigger disappointments of the season.

Brown recently admitted he didn’t feel good about his squad this time last year. But when speaking at the podium last week, he changed his sentiment. For a multitude of reasons, Brown was encouraged by the progress North Carolina made throughout the spring and expects his team to be better.

“Everything I didn’t like about last year, so far, I like about this year,” Brown said. “I did not feel good standing here last year about where we were headed. And the expectations were sky-high. The standard was set but I didn’t think our team and our staff were doing the things that we needed to do for some reason. I didn’t do a good job, didn’t get it changed. We’ve had the best spring, I think, we’ve ever had. I know since we’ve been here, the guys are hungry, they’re eager, they’re working so hard. And the leadership is better. We’re doing a better job teaching leadership and guys are stepping up.”

Mack Brown discusses new coaching staff

Coaching changes were made in Chapel Hill, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Gene Chizik was brought in to be the DC as North Carolina is in desperate need of a restart there.

Brown said the entire coaching staff is coming together for the better. He raved about how Chizik has hired a good, reputable staff and thinks the group is as “cohesive” as ever.

“The changes on the staff are all really cohesive as a group,” Brown said. “They’re having a lot of fun together. Coach Chizik knew most of the guys on that side of the ball. Tommy Thigpen worked with him and I think Dre (Bly) when he was here. Tim Cross he knew at Texas and then he’s got Dre Bly who worked with him and Charleton (Warren) when he was here before. And with Coach Bicknell coming in with the offensive line, working with Phil Longo and Larry Porter in the past, we’ve got probably a more cohesiveness on the staff than we’ve ever had.”

Depth will be a positive for North Carolina

The final point Brown made as to why North Carolina is in a positive spot is the team’s depth. He said if some players are not able to produce on the field, he feels confident with his backup players. The Tar Heels should have enough guys to constantly make plays, no matter the scenario.

“We’ve got more depth,” Brown said. “The bench is your friend and if a guy doesn’t play well, you change him. You move him up and move another one down. So, I really like this team heading into the fall.”

Spring practice is over and the Tar Heels will be back together later in the summer before going into fall. Brown and his squad will open the season against Florida A&M on Aug. 27.