Can Mack Brown’s Air Raid Work with Current Tar Heels Offense?

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – North Carolina football head coach Mack Brown answered more than enough questions at the 2019 ACC Kickoff about Carolina’s “Air Raid” offense, but how will this new system fair with the current roster?

Air raid is in quotations, because the offense won’t look like the regular 5-wide, bomb-throwing, offense people think of when they hear the name. 

“We probably should change the name,” Brown said, “because when you say ‘air raid’, everybody thinks of the Mike Leach throw-it-every-time. That’s not what we’re doing. It’s really a different concept than what it sounds like it is. But I think it’s the best way. 

“To me, you need to be able to run the ball to win all the games. The best teams in the country can run the ball. That hasn’t changed for years. It’s not going to change.” 

With questions around who’s going to start the season opener against South Carolina at quarterback, either redshirt-freshman Jace Ruder, or true-freshmen Donovan Brewington or Vincent Amendola, and depth issues at wideout, the running back core is undoubtedly the strongest part of the offense.

“I don’t think it should be much of a surprise,” said senior offensive lineman Charlie Heck, “but I think our running backs, all three of them can be some of the best running backs in the county.

“A name that people might not have heard too much would be Javonte Williams, one of our running backs. He’s lighting in a bottle. Antonio Williams and Michael Carter, they’re great running backs. People have heard of them, and Javonte have really come into his own this past spring and he’s also going to be great contributor.” 

Despite receiving the least touches in the backfield, 43, Javonte averaged 5.2 yards rushing per attempt and lead the team with five touchdowns rushing. 

The quarterback struggles during the spring camp have been well document, but senior safety Myles Dorn brought up an intriguing point. 

“(The offense) didn’t have no turnovers in the spring game, and I thought that was big. I’m so proud of them for doing that: no fumbles, no picks. That just comes with confidence and just knowing the plays and just being in the playbook, because that’s all turnovers are – just not wanting to turn the ball over.” 

The offensive line returns a lot of veterans, but the most worrisome part of the new offense are the wide receivers. Brown believes his offense from the wide receiver position isn’t hard to grasp, but he is worried about depth. 

“Our senior class is good. We have some voids in sophomores and juniors, because the young ones coming in we think have a chance to play. We’ve never seen them on the field together because we can’t see them in the summer. We haven’t been able to watch those wide receivers. One of the things in this offense, playing wide receiver is very simple. So a young guy can play mentally. He has to make sure he plays physically.”

The only senior wide receiver is Corey Bell, Jr., who transitioned from defensive back last year. Junior Wide Receiver Dazz Newsome had 44 receptions last year; however, he’s the only returning receiver with more than 20 catches, and Carter was the only other Tar Heel with 20+ catches. The wide out core still possesses a balance of big down-field targets and speedsters despite their lack of experience. 

“Honestly it’s just putting us in positions,” Dorn said when asked a question about Mack Brown’s coaching, “We got good players. We got talent, it’s just putting us into positions to show that, to put that on display, and I think he’s done that.” 

(Feature photo courtesy of Tsega Kidane)