Monday night began with plenty of excitement, but ended in severe disappointment. TCU obliterated UNC, 48-14 , spoiling Bill Belichick's collegiate coaching debut.
To make matter worse, North Carolina (0-1) starting quarterback Gio Lopez left with a back injury in the third quarter. Luckily for the Tar Heels , initial 2024 starter Max Johnson was ready to go, providing some hope for his team's offensive future.
After a couple days without practice, Belichick has a tough decision to make at quarterback . During media availability Wednesday, Belichick delivered good news for one of his QBs, saying Lopez avoided a serious injury.
Upon initially looking at his stats against TCU (1-0), your first judgment might be that Lopez struggled. He did, completing four of 10 passes for 69 yards, plus a pick six that quickly shifted momentum. However, UNC's playcalling became extremely conservative after its first drive as offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens shifted from effective, play-action passes to inside runs.
Johnson fared much better upon his second-half entry, completing 9-of-11 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown. Johnson's TD pass provided a special moment , as he connected with his brother, Jake, for a 2-yard score that proved Jake's first as a Tar Heel.
Rushing players back from injury can prove to have serious consequences. Just look at what Kevin Durant did in the 2019 NBA Finals.
Regardless of whether Lopez is healthy enough to start Saturday at Charlotte , Johnson earned himself a start with Monday's performance. North Carolina fans are expecting instant results with Belichick, something that'll take extended time, but Johnson gives his teammates the best chance to win right now.
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: Bill Belichick says UNC QB Gio Lopez is fine, undecided on Week 2 starter
