CHAPEL HILL - Bill Belichick has spent nearly three decades making rookie quarterbacks look overwhelmed, and the numbers from his NFL run tell the story: 34 rookie passers got their shot against him, and only nine came away with a win.
When asked Monday what has made him so effective against young quarterbacks, Belichick offered the simplest answer possible.
"Play good [defense]," Belichick said with a smile.
That mindset has already shown up in his first season at North Carolina. The Tar Heels saw California true freshman Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele and came up short on the road, though UNC nearly pulled it out before Nathan Leacock’s late fumble as he seemed on the verge of scoring.
Two weeks later, Belichick’s defense handled Syracuse true freshman Joseph Filardi in a much different way. In his first career start, Filardi - who also plays lacrosse for the Orange - finished 4-of-18 for 39 yards with no touchdowns in 60 minutes, and UNC rolled.
Now Belichick gets another first-time starter. Clemson quarterback Tait Reynolds will make his first career start Saturday in Death Valley, becoming the third freshman to face Belichick.
Belichick already knows a bit about Reynolds. He and then-offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens, now an offensive assistant at Clemson, got involved late in Reynolds’ recruitment and spent time evaluating him before he committed elsewhere. That gave Belichick a close look at the Tigers commit’s game before he ever stepped on a college field.
"Tait is someone we spent some time on last year in the recruiting process," Belichick said. "Really athletic kid.
Very, very productive. I'm sure he's going to be a really good quarterback in the ACC… Hard guy to tackle, has a good arm, and can make all the throws."
Reynolds’ path to this moment has been unusual. At Queen Creek High School, his first college commitment was to Arizona State as a baseball player, not a quarterback.
He later reopened his recruitment to chase football opportunities, and at Clemson he’s also playing baseball. He skipped spring baseball to focus on winning the Tigers’ starting job.
He didn’t beat out senior Christopher Vizzina right away, but Dabo Swinney is now turning the offense over to Reynolds after two games. Reynolds entered both of Clemson’s first two games, including one appearance because of an injury to Vizzina.
Through 83 snaps, Reynolds has completed 60.6% of his passes for 200 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. He has also carried the ball 19 times for 29 yards.
Even with that limited body of work, Belichick said there’s enough film to prepare for what Clemson wants to do with him. The clearest point of emphasis, at least from the tape, is pressure.
Against Georgia Southern, Reynolds was pressured on 10 of his 35 drop backs. On those snaps, he went 1-for-4 for one yard, took three sacks and averaged 0.3 yards per play.
"In this case, he's going to continue to run and improve his execution on the Clemson offense," Belichick said. "That's why they got him in there.
What we can see is what they've done. I'm sure they'll add new things.
I'm sure that they'll put some wrinkles in for us, but you can't predict those. There's plenty on tape."
Belichick may not spell out the formula in much more detail than that, but the pattern is clear: against young quarterbacks, he trusts what has worked before. On Saturday, that means the same old approach - and the same old demand for "good defense."
In Other News...
Bill Belichick's Viral UNC Interview Just Added To A Growing Problem
Bill Belichicks arrival in Chapel Hill was always going to bring a national spotlight, and UNC has gotten plenty of it since he took over on a five-year deal. The first season was a rough one, with the Tar Heels finishing 4-8, but the new year has at least opened with some signs of life, including a recent win over East Tennessee State that gave the program a small lift after a difficult debut.
Still, the attention around the program has not been limited to what is happening on the field. UNC is dealing with an internal human resources investigation, and the ripple effects have already been felt in the building, with general manager Michael Lombardi resigning and defensive coordinator Steve Belichick on medical leave. For a program trying to steady itself under a high-profile coach, the off-field backdrop has only made the next steps more complicated. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Football Now Faces A Troubling Availability Question Before Saturday
Four North Carolina football players were involved in a traffic stop in Chapel Hill this week, adding another layer of uncertainty to a Tar Heels program already trying to sort out its availability picture for Saturday. During the stop, one player was arrested on a misdemeanor gun charge and another was cited for speeding, while marijuana was also seized, according to the facts available. The university has said it is cooperating with officials and has not yet announced any disciplinary action.
What matters most for the Tar Heels now is how the situation filters into game day preparation. Two of the players involved are already listed as unavailable for the upcoming game, leaving UNC to manage the on-field ripple effects while the off-field review plays out. For a team trying to keep its focus on the next matchup, the timing is far from ideal, and there is still an open question about whether the availability list will change again before Saturday. [Read more 🡒]
Tar Heels Suddenly Have A Roster Fight That Could Change This Season
A new eligibility fight has put several Tar Heels back in the middle of the NCAAs shifting rules, with Rece Verhoff, Ryleigh Heck, Dani Mendez and Sietske Brning joining an amended complaint in Monroe Circuit Court. The case is centered on the NCAAs new five-for-five age-based model, and the players are asking for a fifth season after arguing that athletes from the high school Class of 2022 who played four straight seasons without redshirting were left out of the extra-year window.
What makes the case worth watching from North Carolinas side is the timing. The court has already taken testimony on a preliminary injunction request, and the ruling is still pending, leaving the Tar Heels in a holding pattern as the season picture comes into focus. For a program trying to sort out its roster and its competitive ceiling, this is the kind of off-court development that can ripple quickly once a decision finally lands. [Read more 🡒]