Nick Saban sees Charlotte as a must-win game for Bill Belichick after UNC’s defensive collapse in the coach’s college debut.
The former Alabama coach offered his assessment of Belichick’s rocky start at North Carolina following last Monday’s opener. The Tar Heels allowed their worst defensive performance under any Belichick-coached team.
“I think the most important thing is that you win with people,” Saban said on the Pat McAfee Show. “You’ve gotta have a good roster and you’ve got to have an opportunity to develop that roster.”
Saban acknowledged Belichick’s late arrival hurt his roster construction efforts. The timing left UNC “behind the eight-ball” in building depth.
The on-field execution needs immediate improvement too.
“The tackling on defense wasn’t very good, obviously the turnovers for two scores wasn’t very good and there are a lot of things they need to work on and improve on,” Saban said.
“I do think also that people need to have patience in the fact that you have to have the chance to get good players and have a chance to develop those players as a group. (Charlotte) is a must-win. No doubt.”
UNC faces Charlotte this week in what Saban considers a critical early test. A loss would drop the Tar Heels to 0-2 against a school within the UNC system.
Both coaches have strong cases as the greatest football coaches ever. Belichick dominated the NFL while Saban built college dynasties. Now Belichick’s college experiment faces its first real pressure point.
The foundation that brought Belichick to Chapel Hill could face serious questions if his team can’t bounce back quickly.
