AJ: Yes, The Schedule Is Tough, But That's What Carolina Should Want

[andrew jones]

TarHeelIllustrated - AJ: Yes, The Schedule Is Tough, But That's What Carolina Should Want

Carolina's 2023 schedule came out Monday night, and while it's challenging, it's also what the program needs.

northcarolina.rivals.com

 

[Archer2]

It‘s time for Mack to put up or get out. 8 wins is going to be very difficult to achieve and I could see us going .500.

 

[midline]

But in reality, for a team that has any significant aspirations the schedule isn’t that tough. At least not for what UNC has the capability to be in football. It’s the ACC, which isn’t thought of as anything but a fairly mediocre football conference

 

[Archer2]

But in reality, for a team that has any significant aspirations the schedule isn’t that tough. At least not for what UNC has the capability to be in football. It’s the ACC, which isn’t thought of as anything but a fairly mediocre football conference

Agreed. The conference has exactly one good football program. One. The rest are mediocre to just plain bad. That’s why it’s embarrassing to think we’ll probably go .500 against that schedule.

 

[tarheel0910]

We need to consistently beat a mediocre schedule before we play a tough schedule. If we can't beat average teams regularly, then playing hard schedules dosen't help. Hard schedules aren't really a thing in the ACC, though.

 

[NBBears20124ACHAMPS]

Think I’ll go with my total from last year of 8/9 wins. Think the OL will be better. Think the FSU transfer and Fox will be big on the DL. WR core should be better as a whole as well.

 

[gteeitup]

i don’t think the schedule is tough…maybe the bye could be later, but if you’re healthy it won’t really matter…the ending is difficult, but it’s great to see and to have in front of you…if the o-line and secondary are better after the changes, it sets up to be really interesting.

 

[WoadBlue]

i don’t think the schedule is tough…maybe the bye could be later, but if you’re healthy it won’t really matter…the ending is difficult, but it’s great to see and to have in front of you…if the o-line and secondary are better after the changes, it sets up to be really interesting.

Compared to an SEC schedule, it certainly is not tough.

 

[randman1]

I don't see it as tough but we really need to win the opener, imho. Have to show we have some grit, play physical and can clean up the mistakes.

SC came on strong late season, and they just may well be a pretty good football team. That being said, bet we're favored.

Complaining about App State doesn't cut it, btw. Yeah, they always play us tough and so this time be ready.

A stronger schedule is what this team needs. They need to learn consistency, and this schedule isn't really so tough anyway. It's strong enough to make or break them but honestly, if we play to our potential, we'd be favored in every game but Clemson assuming Clemson gets their house in order.

 

[strummingram]

UNC Football fell flat on its face in 2022. It was an embarrassing ending to a decent season. It changed the decent season to a "SSDD" season. Losing 4 games in a row doesn't bode well, in my opinion.

I guess Campbell is about the only sure-fire W on the schedule. All the others are "might/might not." There are several "should win" games, but, with UNC... should means "might".

I dunno why UNC plays App St every year.

I guess the upside is that The Tar Heels rarely leave the state of NC for the entire season. Pittsburgh, Atlanta and Clemson are the only OOS locations.

I'll continue to be surprised if they win and expect them to lose. Nothing has really changed that has me any more hopeful than when they lost the last 4 games. We'll see if Drake Maye can continue to dazzle or if there's enough film of him now that defensive coordinators know how to neutralize him. I don't think he can carry the team again, like he did in 2022. For one thing, because he'll be missing Josh Downs and Antoine Green. JJ Jones just had surgery. New OC, new OL Coach. A lot of "new" and plenty of old that should be new!

6-6 is my most optimistic prediction. They could easily finish below .500

 

[strummingram]

This Mack Brown 2.0 experiment should be over soon.

 

[WoadBlue]

This Mack Brown 2.0 experiment should be over soon.

It never should have started, for reasons I exlained in detail back then. But yes, it should end with 2023 if the regular season is any worse than 9-3.

As I've warned from the start, the biggest problem with hiring Mack might be that he coaches exactly as he did when Texas fired him (he has). The biggest problem then would be that Mack is so charmingly persuasive, and that Sally is so deeply loved around Chapel Hill, that he might not get fired even for back to seasons as bad as Fedora's last pair.

So, if this team is 4-8, I have no doubt there will be people with major say who are screaming: 'How can we fire a beloved Hall of Fame coach? That will make us the laughing stock of college athletics. We aren't Bama or Ohio St or even Clemson, and we never can be. Fans just need to be realistic and satisfied with what UNC football is.'

 

[NBBears20124ACHAMPS]

It never should have started, for reasons I exlained in detail back then. But yes, it should end with 2023 if the regular season is any worse than 9-3.

As I've warned from the start, the biggest problem with hiring Mack might be that he coaches exactly as he did when Texas fired him (he has). The biggest problem then would be that Mack is so charmingly persuasive, and that Sally is so deeply loved around Chapel Hill, that he might not get fired even for back to seasons as bad as Fedora's last pair.

So, if this team is 4-8, I have no doubt there will be people with major say who are screaming: 'How can we fire a beloved Hall of Fame coach? That will make us the laughing stock of college athletics. We aren't Bama or Ohio St or even Clemson, and we never can be. Fans just need to be realistic and satisfied with what UNC football is.'

These two lines are a little contradictory, no? Fans need to be realistic and satisfied with 8-9 wins, because that is exactly what UNC football is whether Mack is the coach or not.

 

[blazers]

The schedule looks tough because this team plays down to competition. Thus every schedule is going to feel tougher than it really should.

We should be competitive in every game except Clemson. But it will take a defensive miracle (or the same luck we had this yr) to get 9+ wins.

 

[strummingram]

It never should have started, for reasons I exlained in detail back then. But yes, it should end with 2023 if the regular season is any worse than 9-3.

As I've warned from the start, the biggest problem with hiring Mack might be that he coaches exactly as he did when Texas fired him (he has). The biggest problem then would be that Mack is so charmingly persuasive, and that Sally is so deeply loved around Chapel Hill, that he might not get fired even for back to seasons as bad as Fedora's last pair.

So, if this team is 4-8, I have no doubt there will be people with major say who are screaming: 'How can we fire a beloved Hall of Fame coach? That will make us the laughing stock of college athletics. We aren't Bama or Ohio St or even Clemson, and we never can be. Fans just need to be realistic and satisfied with what UNC football is.'

Brown managed to get two incredible quarterbacks back to back. Other than that, I'm not very impressed.

 

[blazers]

I can't see our D getting any worse, but even if Huzzie is a lockdown corner and Shaw shows up in shape, it is hard to see the D improving enough to be good.

I think our O will probably be about the same in that we go as far as Maye's arm goes. Tez Walker is getting hype and Andre Green has potential to be better than Antoine Greene.
The Gaynor, Barnes, Rolland, and Montilus ceiling is just so-so. I think it is going to take some miraculous leap from a new face for the OL to take a big step forward to make the run game improved.

Sept. 2 South Carolina Coin-flip cuz they lose a bunch and we bring a ton of experience into this opener, but football gods usually cast this type of game for us as an L
Sept. 9 App State WIN
Sept. 16 Minnesota Coin-flip
Sept. 23 at Pitt Probably should win, they lose a bunch, but wtf knows
Oct. 7 Syracuse WIN coming off our bye
Oct. 14 Miami Coin-flip, just cuz
Oct. 21 Virginia WIN
Oct. 28 at Georgia Tech SHOULD WIN
Nov. 4 Campbell WIN
Nov. 11 Duke Coin-flip, i think Duke will be tough this yr and they get xtra days off since prior gm is Thurs 2nd.
Nov. 18 at Clemson LOSS
Nov. 25 at NC State Coin-flip, on paper we should win this won, they lose a bunch.

 

[WoadBlue]

These two lines are a little contradictory, no? Fans need to be realistic and satisfied with 8-9 wins, because that is exactly what UNC football is whether Mack is the coach or not.

You do not read well, at all. You may pronounce each word to yourself, but meanings beyond perhaps simple short declarative sentences elude you.

The first sentence you highlighted is my assessment. The second is in quotation marks and very clearly set up to express what I know a bunch of Mack defenders among the powers that be will say to keep him, even if he has another losing season.

The two sentences mark two very different viewpoints on Mack Brown and what UNC can be.

 

[WoadBlue]

Brown managed to get two incredible quarterbacks back to back. Other than that, I'm not very impressed.

As you are suggesting here, it's very important that if a coach has what clearly are the 2 best QBs in program history, both of them NFL level, and the best team he can produce is an 8 win team, because then that coach in question has wasted golden opportunities.

That's Mack - Mr February. Mr Used Car Salesman. Golden Tongue who has mastered soothing, feel good charm. And delivers much less than he talks.

 

[NBBears20124ACHAMPS]

You do not read well, at all. You may pronounce each word to yourself, but meanings beyond perhaps simple short declarative sentences elude you.

The first sentence you highlighted is my assessment. The second is in quotation marks and very clearly set up to express what I know a bunch of Mack defenders among the powers that be will say to keep him, even if he has another losing season.

The two sentences mark two very different viewpoints on Mack Brown and what UNC can be.

There we go with you thinking you're the professor of the classroom. Hire Gattis!

There were no quotation marks on the second one. Try again.

 

[WoadBlue]

I can't see our D getting any worse, but even if Huzzie is a lockdown corner and Shaw shows up in shape, it is hard to see the D improving enough to be good.

I think our O will probably be about the same in that we go as far as Maye's arm goes. Tez Walker is getting hype and Andre Green has potential to be better than Antoine Greene.
The Gaynor, Barnes, Rolland, and Montilus ceiling is just so-so. I think it is going to take some miraculous leap from a new face for the OL to take a big step forward to make the run game improved.

Sept. 2 South Carolina Coin-flip cuz they lose a bunch and we bring a ton of experience into this opener, but football gods usually cast this type of game for us as an L
Sept. 9 App State WIN
Sept. 16 Minnesota Coin-flip
Sept. 23 at Pitt Probably should win, they lose a bunch, but wtf knows
Oct. 7 Syracuse WIN coming off our bye
Oct. 14 Miami Coin-flip, just cuz
Oct. 21 Virginia WIN
Oct. 28 at Georgia Tech SHOULD WIN
Nov. 4 Campbell WIN
Nov. 11 Duke Coin-flip, i think Duke will be tough this yr and they get xtra days off since prior gm is Thurs 2nd.
Nov. 18 at Clemson LOSS
Nov. 25 at NC State Coin-flip, on paper we should win this won, they lose a bunch.

I don't see how there can much improvement on D without the DL stepping up in a big way. And I have no reason to believe that Cross magically now is ready to be a super DL coach.


We need upgrades also in DL coach and Strength&Conditioning.

 

[WoadBlue]

There we go with you thinking you're the professor of the classroom. Hire Gattis!

There were no quotation marks on the second one. Try again.

So you are blind as well as semi-literate in the new fashion.

 

[NBBears20124ACHAMPS]

So you are blind as well as semi-literate in the new fashion.

You really thought that i was being serious that you actually would admit that we all need to be realistic and satisfied with UNC football? Lol. We know you better than that! Just give us more of these hot fire Gattis takes, old man! Talk to us about how that Miami staff was ripe for the picking in the down ACC and couldn't even get to a damn bowl game. More Mr. "Professor!"

 

[tarheel0910]

I can't see our D getting any worse, but even if Huzzie is a lockdown corner and Shaw shows up in shape, it is hard to see the D improving enough to be good.

Assuming Drake can still play as well as he did, we don't really need a good defense. A bad defense would be enough to win nine. I'm just not sure we can go from dog shit to bad. A lot of new faces, so I guess it's possible.

 

[uncboy10]

My guess is the defense will continue to be horrendous and the offense will backslide towards average. I wouldn't be surprised at all if they won 6 or 7 games next year.

Maybe the defense progresses and Drake carries the offense... I guess we'll see.

 

[blazers]

Assuming Drake can still play as well as he did, we don't really need a good defense. A bad defense would be enough to win nine. I'm just not sure we can go from dog shit to bad. A lot of new faces, so I guess it's possible.

Awesome O with dog shit or even bad D means every game is a shoot-out though. This yr shootouts could've pretty easily resulting in fewer than our 9 wins.

We have our heisman-worthy qb, but unfortunately the other team's QB's looks heisman-worthy too, so the dog shit kinda cancels out our strenth.

 

[strummingram]

My guess is the defense will continue to be horrendous and the offense will backslide towards average. I wouldn't be surprised at all if they won 6 or 7 games next year.

Maybe the defense progresses and Drake carries the offense... I guess we'll see.

As much as fans disliked Longo, there's no way that Chip Douglas, his successor, is going to be better than him. So, I look for the offense to be even less effective next year. I just hope Drake Maye doesn't get hurt before he exits for the NFL. That's really my biggest hope and expectation for the season is that he gets out of there in one piece, in good health. I don't expect the team to do very much at all.

 

[tarheel0910]

Awesome O with dog shit or even bad D means every game is a shoot-out though. This yr shootouts could've pretty easily resulting in fewer than our 9 wins.

We have our heisman-worthy qb, but unfortunately the other team's QB's looks heisman-worthy too, so the dog shit kinda cancels out our strenth.

A defense in the 80s would have been enough for us to have an 11-1 season last year and probably not a lot of shoot outs.

 

[blazers]

A defense in the 80s would have been enough for us to have an 11-1 season last year and probably not a lot of shoot outs.

Definitely, but I don't see our D sniffing anything close to 80s unless there are scheme changes in addition to IQ/Heart/physicality changes.

 

[tarheel0910]

Definitely, but I don't see our D sniffing anything close to 80s unless there are scheme changes in addition to IQ/Heart/physicality changes.

Not really sure what to expect with the D because there's so much turnover. I think there will be some improvement, but I have no clue how much improvement. Cross still being here doesn't give me much hope we can break into the double digits, but maybe Chizik can figure something out like he did last go around.

I do think the locker room could be better because most of the guys coming in weren't really considered great players out of high school, so they've had to work their way into the conversation. No entitlement mentality. Hopefully that spills over onto the field.

 

[blazers]

Not really sure what to expect with the D because there's so much turnover. I think there will be some improvement, but I have no clue how much improvement. Cross still being here doesn't give me much hope we can break into the double digits, but maybe Chizik can figure something out like he did last go around.

The Cross thing is still mind-boggling. Probably the most underwhelming DL in the nation given the recruiting hype, size, the amount of depth, the experience....

I do think the locker room could be better because most of the guys coming in weren't really considered great players out of high school, so they've had to work their way into the conversation. No entitlement mentality. Hopefully that spills over onto the field.

I could be talked into believing this. Hope springs!

 

[Roady]

A lot of tough schedules...

FSU opens with LSU and plays Clemson also in September.. with rivals Miami and Florida in November,

 

[uncboy10]

As much as fans disliked Longo, there's no way that Chip Douglas, his successor, is going to be better than him. So, I look for the offense to be even less effective next year. I just hope Drake Maye doesn't get hurt before he exits for the NFL. That's really my biggest hope and expectation for the season is that he gets out of there in one piece, in good health. I don't expect the team to do very much at all.

The new OC is my biggest concern. He does not seem to have a particularly impressive track record. Despite Longo's shortcomings, his offense was a high volume producer that consistently put up big numbers. Longo choked in big(ish) games but the offense has consistently put up enough points to win almost every game we've played for the past few years, even with a terrible defense.

Ole Chip better bring his A game or this team could easily backslide into a .500 record with the best QB in college football.

 

[strummingram]

The new OC is my biggest concern. He does not seem to have a particularly impressive track record. Despite Longo's shortcomings, his offense was a high volume producer that consistently put up big numbers. Longo choked in big(ish) games but the offense has consistently put up enough points to win almost every game we've played for the past few years, even with a terrible defense.

Ole Chip better bring his A game or this team could easily backslide into a .500 record with the best QB in college football.

His A game isn't going to be enough.