After a dismal four-win season, North Carolina's revival rests on Bobby Petrino’s power-run scheme to transform a stagnant offense into an ACC contender under Bill Belichick.
The North Carolina Tar Heels made some significant changes to the program after going 4-8 in Bill Belichick’s first season as head coach of the program.
The Tar Heels didn't have a prayer last year to compete in the ACC with a roster that was composed of talent typically seen in the Group of 6.
North Carolina added better talent in high school recruiting and the transfer portal for the upcoming season.
Arguably the biggest decision Belichick made to better the program was firing offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens. UNC replaced Kitchens with Bobby Petrino, who has a history of success building the offensive of virtually every college team he's coached for.
Paul Myerberg of USA Today gave UNC a sobering ranking for his most recent ACC power ranking. He listed the Tar Heels at No. 14 (out of 17 teams). Myerberg believes the Tar Heels’ season will come down to how effective Petrino is this year.
"Belichick’s second team looks stronger than his first, though that’s a low bar to clear. UNC spent the spring trying to get things meshing on offense under new coordinator Bobby Petrino," he wrote.
"The early results have been mixed. The Tar Heels won’t budge from the bottom third of the conference unless Petrino can add some juice to what was last season one of the worst offenses in the Power Four."
Earlier this spring, Petrino suggested he's trying to teach the fundamentals to the team and believes the running game will be the key to UNC's success.
“You have to do a good job of teaching and being able to get them to understand the principles of offense,” Petrino said, via the Fayetteville Observer. "We've always been a power-run team, and being able to run the football well. I think you have to run the football.
"You have to run it when you want to run it, so that when it's short-yardage, goal line, four-minute offense to end the game, you can run it when they know you're going to run the football. I think that's something we've always been very good at.”
The Tar Heels averaged 3.7 yards per carry and scored 11 rushing touchdowns last season. The running game is an area that had to be improved.
With questions at quarterback this offseason, running the ball will be ever more essential.