UNC vs. Minnesota 2024 season opener preview: Ross Martin, CBS Sports & 247Sports

joining us on the heer Automotive Group hotline as we talk Carolina and Minnesota CBS Sports and 247 Sports National College editor he is also the host of a fresh podcast minted recently called Big hitters only it is Ross Martin Ross thanks for jumping on with us here talk heels and Golden Gophers and the one thing for the question for M brownon the North Carolina Tar Heels I'm not sure if it's about really the and ores when it comes to quarterbacks and other positions uh Ross but I think it's more about was this team last year just all about Drake May because there's so many players coming back or was this a full team that was kind of hidden in Drake May Shadow lot in that question right there I would say yeah they're missing Drake may this is a team lack an identity they're gonna have a solid Run game because we saw what Amar and Hampton could do last year but look they're starting they got four new starters in the offensive line and unknowns at quarterback I thought we're going to go with uh I thought UNC was going to go with Max Johnson up until Friday when the press conference ma had a very weird exchange and and kind of brought up himself before a couple questions where he mentioned that they want to play two they're gonna play two and that might be the way for the whole season uh obviously you heard the uh keyboards tweeting out that news because it's rare you know for for Coach to say that but it sounds like that we'll see two quarterbacks against Minnesota um to kind of replace Drake but I think what is clear is they don't have a guy right now they trust um because after three years of Sam Hal and one and two years of Drake may they don't have that kind of talent so it's definitely a new team they're until we see it I think they're gonna miss what those two guys brought um in it's kind of a new era a quarterback eror right now in Chapel Hill Ross Martin joining us this morning on next up alongside Paul iander I'm grahe Hill Ross you and good friend of the program Adam Smith on your new podcast the big hitters podcast discussed the elevator pitch as you called it for this season when it came to UNCC football and the conclusion that I got from the episode was that this team has a lot more depth across the board at the position skills I guess the question is how do we see that depth show tonight against Minnesota yeah appreciate you listening Graham I I think that's true I think it on offense and this is you know you're six years into a rebuild into a into recruiting under m brown you would think they have some established talent and now the transfer portal if you don't you can go out and get talent but they know what Amar and Hampton brings I think he's one of the top three top five running backs of the nation probably GNA be a a top pick next year in NFL draft I mean he is a proven commodity at running back a guy that I think un fans want uh UNC to hand on the ball 25 to 30 times and feed him and keep him healthy and uh and save him for the home stretch but I mean he's going to have to carry this team but then behind him they have some some nice pieces with Darwin Barlo the the transfer from USC they get wide receiver there's some question marks because I don't think they have a star like they've had in the past there's plenty of names they've recruited really well um at wide receiver for under La Lonnie Galloway for the last six years um they have experience with with Nate McCollum JJ Jones I would throw Bryson nesi kind of as a tight end wide receiver hybrid um he's been great kind of a red zone threat they have guys they have depth um at the play at the skill positions they just don't know what they have at qub back yet um where they want to go with a pocket a pocket passer in Max who can probably distribute the ball and probably get it done or kind of look towards the future with Conor Herold more of a runner guy who doesn't have the experience of Max so yeah I think there's some things I like about the offense just we haven't seen m brown Coach without a NFL quarterback under Center Ross Martin joining us here on next up 999 the fan I'm Paul that's Graham Ross Martin CBS Sports 247 Sports National C College editor it up with us about the Tar Heels in Minnesota Golden Gophers tonight you can find that game on Fox 50 if you're looking to watch watch on television with an 8:00 kick what we forget about in this matchup is that we have two fairly veteran coaches it's not just m brown but also PJ Fleck the roow thebat guy that everyone forgets about who's really quietly put together one of the longest tenures when it comes to college coaching especially uh in in the conference that he's in and he also hit the portal as well also went looking for a new quarterback and he he also got himself a Max and a Max brosmer who was coming in from New Hampshire who we all know has a you know offensive pedigree when it comes to that school how does this Carolina Hills defense contain what brosmer can do he's incredibly efficient spreads the ball around and very rarely makes a mistake yeah and I think the important thing to note there is she barely made mistakes at New Hampshire I think uh that's going to be a little bit different level competition when you talk about the Big 10 you talk about the ACC and that's a completely different level of football and so I think what UNCC is going to do I think it's what they're going to do all season is they do have really good pieces on the edge um in Cayman Rucker in uh bo ainson in Dez Evans who everyone's been waiting for to have a breakout year and what we're hearing from Jeff Collins and kind of what he's done in the past as a defensive coordinator is he likes to attack he likes to bring pressure um he likes to let the defensive line and linebackers play loose and play free and I think you go after the quarterback um which I mean I think everyone says that right you always every defensive coordinator says yeah we're going to be aggressive we're going to attack the quarterback I think UNCC has the potential to be able to win with four uh Cayman Rucker is a proven commodity he's a pre-season all all ACC player has a chance to kind of really establish himself as one of the best defensive ends in UNC history from a from a production standpoint and then you have two 66 you know 260 um get off the bus first time type guys and bow and Dez as long as UNC can kind of stop the run and get into you know third and five third and six passing situations and you're gonna have a good shot to um to get after Minnesota's quarterback and what's funny PJ Fleck I mean God what's the age difference between Fleck and mat Brown Ian he must have been hired I didn't know that he was the longest ten one of the longest ten coaches there he must have been hired in his mid-30s right because you can't be much older than 42 43 it's kind of a it's always funny comparing the ages of the coaches versus background he one of oldest in uh in power power four football right now Ross Martin is joining us on next up this morning he is the host of the new podcast big hitters only which you can find on Apple Spotify wherever you find your favorite podcast all right Ross going back to what you just said about how MC Brown has never coached or this will be the first time in about five seasons that Coach Brown has had a team that has not had a quarterback that's projected to go to the NFL or the NFL level and what I found interesting was that he talk about how confident he was in the offensive line this past Friday his press availability but then when you look up a stat provided by Greg BN a UNC Athletics Legend he talked about how there has been no other team over the past five seasons that has given up more sacks in college football than the North Carolina Tor Hills what do you make of that God that's incredible that just kind of it's all I think it's just kind of the theme for UNC football they have a great I mean I think Drake May was one the best quarterbacks college football last year and Sam house certainly was a top five guy when he was in Chapel Hill and they just didn't have the line protect him so you had these stud quarterbacks and stud receivers St running backs but an offensive line that couldn't protect maybe couldn't block as much as you would have liked yeah it's just it's honestly it's kind of sad it's sad they can't put together a line they had you know the starting left tackle got paid by Old Miss to leave um they had to bring in some guys graduated they had to bring in four guys that are now going to be starting it's a whole new group that's got to be kind of scary the um the lack of experience another stat is there's only one guy on the offensive line who has um started that's Willie lamin the 5 foot 11 uh I think he play his left or right guard out of Coastal Carolina his second year they love him but he's 5 foot 11 which had some limitations so that' be I think an early concern is offensive line and that's kind of been the story with uh unc's under background well if it can hold up perhaps they can get to the the the bar that has been set in terms of preseason prognostications whether it was too many pints or whether it was just that they were just dealing with jet lag Nick Sabin thinks they're going to win tonight hands down herb Street believes this heels team can be eight- 0 to start this season I'm struggling to see the eight I can see six and0 maybe but I'm struggling to see the eight where do you where where you at on on herb Street whether not he was drinking too much so is that right before Florida State I'm imagining I kind of I only look I compartmentalize the schedule so I only know up to Duke um this is a big one I think Minnesota will tell you a lot I think this is a tough road match up against a big 10 opponent I mean anytime you play a power four team especially how some of these big 10 teams recruit um it's definitely a challenge even she's favored which was surprising that line shifted about three points I think there might be some injuries that Minnesota is holding for us uh yeah I can I could see them winning the the first five games they get past Minnesota they have a Duke on the road hit and Georgia Tech I think they lose one of those that's why I think the first off either comes to Knight or against Duke pit or Georgia Tech um yeah I don't I don't think this team has the the kind of elite offense to carry a team that's why the defense has to either be spectacular which we've never seen in Chapel Hill in a long time or Max Johnson or Conor harell have to be you know go out and win games because Drake and Sam won games they would win about you know 1.5 two games a year I mean Sam how carried UNCC against W farest a couple times they go out and score three touchdowns in the fourth quarter type stuff but I'm not sure UNCC has that this year so it's either gonna be a heavy dose of Marin Hampton with a line that maybe just focuses on run blocking put two tight ends in there and just go Um was Mak some playmaking moves on defense so we'll we'll learn a lot tonight I think this is the you got to see it first you can't really believe what anybody says until you kind of see what it's going to look like especially the new defensive coordinator at UNC all right Ross Martin host of the big hitters only podcast CBS Sports 247 Sports National College editor find him Ross Martin NC onx appreciate you hanging out with the Ross we'll check in with you later on the season I appreciate it guys enjoy the football tonight all right North Carolina Minnesota 8 o'clock kick you can catch the action on one of our family member stations that is Fox 50 on television I just realized I did have another question for Ross who has the better who has the better pullover fit is it PJ Fleck or is it Ma Brown well so I wonder if m brown so I just read PJ Fleck borrows his like fashion sents from Jim Trestle former Ohio State uh coach so yeah I know right they're both going to look like youth softball coaches on the sidelines did you did you see the photo of Matt getting off the airplane yesterday wearing the pit vipers I did not I did not hey what's going on my youth it's not about hey it's not about it's not about what you wear right but look good play good feel good get paid good what did Dion say gram Hill with three things you need to know right now from 999 the fan the Durham Bulls continue their Series against the buffalo bison tonight following their 14 to8 win last night you can listen to play byplay coverage on 99.9 FM HD2 and 620 a.m. buz sports radio pregame coverage began at 6:21 in the first pitch at 6:35 the NC State W pack faces the Western Carolina cadam outs tonight at 7:00 to kick off the 2024 season listen to pregame coverage on our sister station mix1 a 1.5 with play-by-play coverage beginning at 7 p.m. and also join Tim Tim Donley in the drive live from Carter finy Stadium this afternoon for the pack home opener thank see the Carolina Ale House back the pack at Carolina Ale House this season with award-winning wings and ice cold pints with wall to wall TVs Carolina Ale House is the go-to spot for every game H yeah find these stories and more on wosports fan.com it's a game day out getting your provisions gassing up the generators or plugging in your stuff whatever it is it's going to be a good day going to be a good night going to be hot out there though those of you tailgating headed to the rooftop bars and things like that just make sure you hydrate all day today doesn't matter the bathroom lines are always going to be long just take your time you'll be better off alive than dead at least you'll be hydrated put it put it out there right now all right the decision has been made in New England it was the wrong one but the decision was made in New England is New England Patriots will start jacobe brassette for former State stud as the team's starting quarterback apparently Drake may had made it a competition but not enough of a competition quote jod Mayo head coach of the New England Patriots we have decided comma or I have decided that jacobe Bret will be our starting quarterback this season in saying that as an organization we are 100% behind jacobe there is no you got a guy right here you got a guy right there we're 100% behind jacobe it's a mistake it's a mistake and I know I fly in the face of others I think it's a mistake because we always talk about the future and stability and whether or not guys are ready for the moment can you step up into the spotlight be the guy and as an organization the England Patriots did Drake May wrong he should be starting as quarterback and while I understand that this front office in New England picked the right guy at number three they did nothing to help the guy they picked at number three it's a starting offensive line that isn't the best it's fairly clear that in terms of waivers you were going to get the third best guy that two other teams passed on like if you're were going to fix your offensive line and you were going to get waiver guys it was they were going to be passed on by the Carolina Panthers and the Washington commanders you were going to get the third best on the waiver wire so you weren't going to get any help there did you go out and extend some offers to some free agents who could have helped you up front no you did not did you go out and sign a sure-handed wide receiver that's a veteran that could help a Young quarterback go do his thing no so not only did you do Drake Made Dirty by picking him number three and not helping him you also threw jacobe Brett out there to the Wolves so as a veteran quarterback you're like yeah I'm the starter I'm the right guy and great I hope jacobe brassette is successful in New England to a point to where he is upright and healthy at the end of the season but I think for the New England Patriots to not start Drake May shows you how just they just couldn't make up their minds they didn't have the right plan in place they couldn't figure it out and when push came to shove the future for the New England Patriots Still Remains the future it is all about hypotheticals and we have been frustrated to this point sports fans about talking about hypotheticals I am tired of talking about what to expect I want to see what I want to see now I want to see Drake May operate as a quarterback in the NFL and now we're sitting on potential and now we're just letting the guy sit is he going to learn something by sitting no we always talk about game day experience I will not waver from that about having Bryce Young play in the preseason to have him take the test Drake May was picked number three for a reason if he takes his lumps and he's resilient great if he takes his lumps and has a sucky first year great guess what not every player that enters the NFL is in it to win Rookie of the Year offensively or defensively they just want to play and get through it jacobe brassette has had his time he has had his time the Patriots are not Super Bowl champions this year what's the best scenario for the New England Patriots if you actually feel like you have a future and want a future start Drake May error number one I think the ultimate expectations for the or I mean achieving expectations for the Patriots this year is if you just finish above 500 and I I'm kind of with you at this point there's no more use of crying over spiled milk just because when you look at the Newland Patriots I I don't see jacobe brette being the starter throughout the entire season because when you look at the beginning of the Patriots schedule I think within the first eight games they could start one and seven I mean Cincinnati being the Cincinnati Bengal you got to play the Jets twice they got to go to play the 49ers they got to play the Dolphins the Texans the Jaguars I mean I I get that you can make the case that as you said throwing Jakob Bret to the wolves and you wouldn't want to do the same thing with Drake May I'm just under the impression with you know what you're going to get out of this team and it's not going to be playing in the playoffs it's not not going to be winning the division so at that point what's Drake May really gaining from staying on the sidelines that he wouldn't be just getting real game action play well Drake May is going to develop that chemistry with uh taquon Thorton he's going to learn how to work the tablets KJ Osborne yep you're working with the twos Jim Bell Austin Hooper fine fine enjoy the practice reps that'll get him to where he needs to be with this team they did him wrong New England Patriots made a bad choice and a bad decision and I will stand on that one because I've always said get them in to play don't care about your development plan and they don't care about what I have to say blah blah blah Paul go away go crawl back in your hole whatever you think but I think they did wrong this is a wrong decision this is not the correct decision for the New England Patriots if they actually feel like they have something in the tank and you picked him three for a reason CU you believed in him but do you believe him in year three or year four what does that progression look like you might as well tip your hand right now just tell us right now because you're not winning the damn Super Bowl I guess they just believe in the long-term plan for Drake May great whatever it is is Alex Van Pelt if if this team finishes dead last in the AFC East is Alex velt still the offensive coordinator does his plan because it's not gerro Mayo's plan it's hey Alex Vel you're the offensive coordinator be the quarterback Whisperer bring Drake May along if Alex Van Pelt is fired after year one where does that leave him not everyone is as quick to grasp as Justin Herbert and Justin Herbert's already getting blasted guy had a monster season one monster season two year three it's like ah who's he going to throw to oh he's slipping he doesn't have those running back now we really prove it guy had three 's in three years Drake may could end up in that same boat do you want to see that him already behind in one year now he's got to learn a new install and a new system I hope the Patriots are keeping everybody around for another season they don't have a quick hook like they do just down the 40 here with the Panthers oh God error number one there you go that's it last we have to talk about Drake May until he actually starts a game so there you have it