'We're more focused': UNC football not letting top-five ranking distract them from FSU

The North Carolina football team exploded for 56 points to outscore a potent Virginia Tech offense on Saturday. In a Monday press conference, head coach Mack Brown was proud of his team for executing well in both the passing and running game. The Tar Heels finished with 399 yards on the ground and 257 yards through the air.

“Offensively, we had great balance, and that’s who we want to be,” Brown said. 

But out of all the great performances on offense, the coaching staff named the offensive line as the offensive players of the game. 

The unit had its struggles in the past two weeks, so Brown was excited to see them do well, calling it their best game of the season. The group combined to only allow one sack after giving up six in the past two games.

Their protection gave sophomore quarterback Sam Howell lots of time to make the deep throws that were such a big part of North Carolina’s offense last year. The offensive line's blocking also kept holes open for the talented running back duo of senior Michael Carter and junior Javonte Williams to put together big runs like they did on Saturday. 

“The best teams in the country have great offensive lines,” Brown said. 

Offensive coordinator Phil Longo was also pleased with the offensive line's performance, citing the influx of returning talent from last season as a major key for the team going forward.

“They’re a representation of where our team is going,” Longo said. “They get better every single week.”

Brown also discussed the Tar Heels reaching the top five in the AP polls for the first time since 1997. He called it fun, seeing it as a great opportunity to promote fan excitement and player recruitment. But he doesn't pay attention to it this early in the season. He believes UNC still needs to prove more to be considered one of the top teams in the country.  

“We’re a team that has to play well every Saturday before we can have a chance to win,” he said. 

That 1997 North Carolina team was blown out, 20-3, by No. 3 Florida State, and knocked out of the top five. Reflecting on that game, Brown recognized how amazing both UNC and FSU were that year, but acknowledged that the Seminoles were a level ahead of North Carolina, calling that team NFL East.

This current UNC team now faces Florida State this week, a game Brown does not take lightly. He pointed out that the biggest difference between this year’s team and the 1997 group was the depth and defensive talent. UNC's defensive showing against the Hokies, allowing nearly 500 of offense and 45 points, concerned him. Brown knows that the team must improve defensively if they want to prove they deserve their ranking.

“We want to get back to having teams like we had then, especially on defense,” he said. 

Brown added that this year’s offense is much more explosive, but they still have a challenge with a Seminole defense full of skilled players. But Brown and the rest of his coaching staff are thrilled with what they saw out of their offense in Saturday’s crucial win.  

“We’re more focused, we’re making fewer mistakes and, obviously, we’re more physical up front,” Longo said.

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