UNC Identifying Playmakers, Still Looking For Rhythm On Offense

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — North Carolina will make its return to Power Conference competition this week when it plays UCF in Orlando, and in the last two weeks against Charlotte and Richmond, it has tried to figure itself out on offense.

Things got out of hand against TCU in the opener, and the Tar Heels didn’t face the most resistant defenses against the 49ers and Spiders. But even so, despite the victories, they weren’t overly impressive from an offensive standpoint.

As the offense continues to find its rhythm, the team is learning who its most productive assets are in game situations.

North Carolina’s offensive unit as a whole remains a work in progress. The Tar Heels have accumulated just 837 total yards so far, the second-lowest mark in the ACC. Their average of 279 yards per game ranks dead last in the conference. The team is averaging 25 points per game and has produced eight offensive touchdowns. UNC’s offense has gone three-and-out 11 times — five times each against TCU and Charlotte, but only once against Richmond.

UNC’s schedule last season through three games was set up similarly — a game against a Power Conference team (Minnesota on the road), a matchup with Charlotte and a home bout with an FCS team (North Carolina Central). After that opening trio of games, UNC had totaled 1,255 yards of offense (with two games of 400+ yards), 34 points per game and 12 offensive touchdowns. And while this year’s TCU team appears to be much better than last year’s Minnesota team, the other two games in 2024 were better offensive showings than games two and three of this season.

North Carolina has had far fewer offensive plays, too, going for 49 plays, 58 plays and 50 plays in the first three weeks, respectively. Last season, the team opened up with 64 plays, 71 plays and 70 plays on offense.

Like last year, UNC didn’t name a starter at quarterback until game week. North Carolina has stuck with Gio Lopez through three games, and he’s still finding his footing individually. So far, he’s completed 58.5% of his passes for 343 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Lopez hasn’t yet topped 155 passing yards in a single game. He’s also accumulated 74 rushing yards with one touchdown, flashing his running ability more so in UNC’s last two games.

The South Alabama transfer looked the most comfortable and efficient against Charlotte, with the Tar Heels getting him on the move more often both with moving the pocket and running up the field without ever taking a sack. He completed 68% of his pass attempts (17 for 25) and showed his arm strength with a 74-yard connection to Chris Culliver for a first-drive touchdown.

Against TCU, Lopez and the offense as a whole struggled to get going, as he completed just four of his 10 passes for 69 yards without really getting to showcase his mobility before getting hurt. His accuracy took a step back from the Charlotte game to the Richmond game, as he connected on 55.6% of his passes (10 for 18) for 119 yards.

“I think we’re getting more comfortable with him, he’s getting more comfortable with us,” Bill Belichick said on Saturday. “There are things that he obviously does really well. We want to try to feature those. (There) are some other things that we need more work on, and some timing and things like that. But he’s done a good job protecting the ball, done a good job making decisions in critical situations for us, and so that’s allowed us a chance to win.”

UNC ranks 16th in the ACC with 148.7 passing yards per game. Though the Tar Heels lag behind as a passing offense, they’ve found a steady weapon so far. Of Lopez’s 119 passing yards Saturday, 52 went to Jordan Shipp. Shipp provided a scoring boost, too, finding the endzone twice against the Spiders.

Through three games, Shipp leads the team with 10 catches, 149 yards and two touchdowns. To put the sophomore’s usage increase in perspective, Shipp caught nine passes all of last season. Wide receivers coach Garrick McGee spoke on Thursday about finding dependable players in the wide receiver room, mentioning Shipp as one of the key players in that group. He’s looked like it thus far, starting from the offense’s first drive of the season when Lopez found him for two strikes against TCU.

Javarius Green is behind Shipp with six catches for 88 yards, and Culliver has four catches for 89 yards.

Though Shipp has come through for UNC, he’s statistically in the middle of the pack among the ACC’s top-50 in both catches and yards so far. But in a receiver room without a high number of career catches, his consistency will go a long way for Lopez and the offense.

On the ground, Demon June’s been a welcome surprise for the Tar Heels in the last two games. After not receiving a carry in the opener, he is now the team’s leading rusher after combining for 200 yards against Charlotte and Richmond.

Caleb Hood started at running back in the first two games, but he didn’t touch the ball on Saturday. He was even used as a fullback to block for Davion Gause in goalline situations.

North Carolina entered the Richmond game with only one tight end, Jake Johnson, getting a pass or even a target. Tight end usage picked up some on Saturday, with Johnson catching three passes for 30 yards and Jordan Owens getting one catch for three yards.

Johnson, Owens and Connor Cox have seen the field plenty but haven’t been big pieces in the passing game, as they’ve mostly been used to run block and pass block. It’s a stark difference from watching Bryson Nesbit serve as a reliable pass game option, and John Copenhaver right along with him.

Austin Blaske remains out for the Tar Heels, and injuries have slowed down Holy Cross transfer Christo Kelly as well. Aidan Banfield has logged the most snaps on the line with 157, followed by Jakai Moore’s 156. Kelly and Blaske were projected starters coming into the season, and their improved health down the line should help the Tar Heels solidify their offensive outlook.

Understandably, North Carolina’s offense isn’t fully put together a quarter of the way into the season. UNC will face a 2-0 UCF team in Orlando on Saturday coming off an early bye week, a chance to gauge its offense against a team closer to its level.

Through the refining of roles and an increase in shared reps, Belichick’s Tar Heels should discover their offensive identity over time.