North Carolina came out of Week 1 with plenty to like after beating TCU, and the safety group gave Bill Belichick another reason to feel good about where this defense is headed.
The Tar Heels’ back end was one of the biggest unknowns entering the season, but the opening defensive series answered that question quickly. Kaleb Cost, Jaiden Patterson, Tre Miller, Peyton Waters, and Greg Smith were the first five on the field for UNC in the secondary.
From there, the safety rotation started to take shape. Smith appeared to settle into the strong safety and box role, while Waters opened as the single-high/free safety.
That pairing held up well enough in coverage, even if the run-fit angles against outside zone were shaky at times. North Carolina also had trouble corralling TCU running back Jeremy Payne, who ran for 142 yards and averaged nearly six yards per carry.
Still, the Tar Heels kept mixing things up. Around the middle of the third quarter, Coleman Bryson moved into the single-high spot while Smith stayed at strong safety, whether because of injury or simply a personnel switch.
Belichick, calling the defense in this game, kept rotating safeties across all three levels to muddy things up for TCU quarterback Jaden Craig. For the most part, it worked, especially when it came to keeping explosive plays in check.
Bryson made his presence felt in some of the biggest moments. He finished with two tackles, delivered a physical hit on a TCU receiver that knocked the ball loose for an incompletion, helped force Payne out of bounds to set up a fourth-down stop in the fourth quarter, and some may argue he got a finger on the incomplete pass that "sailed" on the next-to-last game-deciding fourth down.
Smith also showed up around the ball. He was active making tackles from the box and driving downhill from depth, and while he’s a leaner player for that spot, he brought physicality and made a couple of stops. Waters contributed from deeper alignments too, closing off route patterns on the back end.
After one week, this looks like a safety room with real depth. Smith, Waters, Bryson, Javion Butts, and true freshman Jakob Weatherspoon give North Carolina options, even though Weatherspoon didn’t see the field against TCU. The rotation should keep moving, but Smith, Waters, and Bryson all showed their value on Saturday and could be key pieces for a defense trying to cut down on big plays from Week 2 on.
In Other News...
UNC Investigation Just Became A Bigger Staff Crisis Than Fans Feared
Michael Lombardis resignation as general manager added another jolt to an already unsettled stretch for UNC football, turning what had been a simmering internal issue into a broader staff problem. The Tar Heels are dealing with an ongoing investigation into alleged sexual misconduct and drug use involving staff members, and Lombardis departure only deepens the sense that this is now about more than one person or one role.
Steve Belichick and members of the recruiting staff have reportedly been part of the questions surrounding the inquiry, though no conclusive findings have been reported. For UNC, the unresolved nature of the case is what makes it so disruptive: the program is left trying to move forward while the investigation continues and the staff picture remains in flux. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Legend Tyler Hansbrough Rips NCAA As Tar Heels Wait On Crucial Decision
As North Carolina waits for clarity on Cameron Fens, Tyler Hansbrough made it plain he has little patience for the way the NCAA has handled eligibility disputes across college sports. The Tar Heels legend called the situation disgusting, taking aim at the governing body for rules that remain murky and for the slow pace of decision-making that keeps programs and players stuck in limbo.
For UNC, the issue is more than a philosophical gripe. Fens is currently ineligible and his case is still tied up in legal proceedings, leaving the Tar Heels without a final answer on a player they may need in the middle of their lineup. Until that ruling arrives, the uncertainty hangs over both the roster and the larger frustration Hansbrough voiced so sharply. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Football Faces Disturbing Questions As Staff Probe Deepens
North Carolina football is dealing with a widening internal probe that has put the program under an uncomfortable spotlight. The allegations at issue include improper sexual relationships and drug use, and the review has already reached some of the sports most visible staffers, with Michael Lombardi stepping down as general manager while the school continues to sort through what happened and who was involved.
Steve Belichick remains on medical leave as the investigation continues, leaving the Tar Heels to navigate a serious off-field situation with questions still hanging over the staff structure. For a program trying to move forward, the deeper concern now is not just the names attached to the inquiry, but how many people connected to the team may ultimately be swept into it. [Read more 🡒]