(Photo: Kevin Roy/TH247, 247Sports)
CHAPEL HILL - Bill Belichick sometimes makes it clear what football era he comes from with the most recent example taking place during his Pre-Richmond press conference at the Kenan Football Center.
Belichick received multiple questions about the Tar Heels' offense, including some about what appears to be a cluttered running backs room. Five different players got snaps through North Carolina's first five possessions of its 20-3 win at Charlotte last Saturday night.
The most impressive back was the fifth one to enter, as true freshman Demon June led the Heels with 52 yards on nine attempts. So, one might say having five backs means the Tar Heels don't have any backs, at least in an identified pecking order. Not yet!
Belichick says the room is working itself out because nobody has stepped forward making a clear case as RB1.
"Well, none of those players really had very many carries going into the year, and they've gotten some in the early part of the season," he said before noting one of the sport's stars of the 1960s. "So, we'll see how all that goes. I've always said, if Jim Brown was my running back, I would leave him in a game on every play. I'm not looking for anybody else. And they kind of did that with (Omarion) Hampton here last year, which, again, I can certainly understand."
Hampton was UNC's feature back the last two seasons before being a first-round pick by the Los Angeles Chargers last April. UNC's leading returning rusher was Davion Gause, who as a true freshman ran for 329 yards and four touchdowns. None of the newcomers were more productive. Benjamin Hall ran for 72 yards on 29 attempts at Michigan, holdover Caleb Hood had 81 yards on 18 carries, and Charleston French picked up 84 yards on 10 runs in his first season at UNC. June was in high school last fall.
"We've given the players a chance and we'll continue to evaluate them, but, and we'll see how it turns out," Belichick said. "But I think they're all capable. They've all shown some good things and flashes, and I have confidence in all of them, but we'll see how the competition plays out."
Belichick also used multiple backs in the NFL, but not always, he was quick to point out.
"Again, if I had Jim Brown, I'd play Jim Brown," he said, a slight grin appearing. "If I had Barry Sanders, I'd play Barry Sanders. But, you know, sometimes there are players that have similar levels of ability, but maybe different skills. When I had Kevin Faulk and James White, those guys were very good third-down backs, some of the best that have ever played.
"And so, we use them in that role. We used other players on early downs. So, it just kind of depends on, you know, what you have and how it fits into your offensive system."
Carolina hosts Richmond on Saturday for a 3:30 pm kickoff. Will five backs get into the game while it's still competitive? Four? Three?
Thoughts of Brown, Sanders, and Hampton are fun for Belichick and any UNC fan, but so is the idea of settling on two or three that are multifaceted and marching forward with them. Maybe a big step is taken this weekend.