UNC DL Breaks Down How Team has Handled Adversity

Hear what North Carolina defensive linemen CJ Mims had to say ahaead of the Tar Heels' matchup vs. Cal.

To watch, check out video below:

A partial transcript from UNC defensive coordinator Steve Belichick's press conference.

Assessment of Defense Through Five Games …

UNC — North Carolina defensive coordinator Steve Belichick | Jackson McCurdy, North Carolina Tar Heels On SI

Um, had some ups and downs. Um, good having everybody week this week. Um, definitely have some things to clean up. Um, always need to, to work and improve, but, um, I had a couple of good weeks of practice, so looking forward to get back out, getting back out on the field. What were some of those areas of focus during the two weeks.

Um, always fundamentals, um, work on that every single week, um, communication, fundamentals, um, just keeping working, keep working through the guys on the roster and, um, yeah, just taking it one day at a time.

Getting Out to a Faster Start on Defense …

North Carolina defensive lineman Isaiah Johnson making a tackle vs. Clemson; Oct. 4, 2025 | UNC Athletic Communications

Just gotta be ready to go. Gotta be ready to go. Gotta be ready to go out there and play fast, not be thinking too much about the game and the calls and stuff like that, and just go out there and play free and so trying to do that every single week. So we've got some good starts when we've got some slow start. So it's gotta be more consistent

On Better Communication in the Secondary to Prevent Blown Coverages …

UNC — Oct 4, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels defensive back Jaiden Patterson (18) breaks up a pass intended for Clemson Tigers tight end Ian Schieffelin (18) in the fourth quarter at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Just making sure everybody spends spends enough time together, so that, so that everybody's on the same page and don't want to put too much on the plate, still building that those relationships out on the field where you need a little bit more verbal communication. Sometimes you can just have visual communication. Look at somebody and know, you know, know what's going on out there, but working through those things, and players been doing really good job with it. So to go improve.

On the Frustraion Within The Locker Room

UNC — Oct 4, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels wide receiver Nathan Leacock (82) with the ball as Clemson Tigers defensive end Will Heldt (13) defends the third quarter at Kenan Stadium. | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

I think we have had a really good week of practice. I think anybody who's a competitor is frustrated when they lose. So, you know, starts with me on defense, I can do a better job, and triples down through everybody.

So we all gotta do better. But I appreciate the frustration to a point, just because that means they care, putting in a lot of work to go out there and compete at a high level, and it hasn't always shown so we'll try and get out there and do better. But should be frustrated when you lose.

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