We run a mailbag on Thursdays during the season. If you have any questions about it patriots, NFL, or you want to complain about previous replies, email [email protected] or tweet @bychrismason. Now let’s get to this week’s questions!

Will new Tar Heels coach Bill Belichick succeed in North Carolina? –Patrick

Depends on your definition of success.

Do I think Belichick will ever bring a national championship to UNC? No. I think the (chapel) hill is too steep to climb.

Do I believe Belichick can turn the Tar Heels into a respectable program that actively competes in the ACC? Absolutely. Belichick would not have taken the leap back to college if that goal had not been achievable. Say what you will about the man, but when have you ever seen him unprepared for anything? Belichick has done his research and knows he has a real chance here.

In North Carolina, Belichick doesn’t have to be exceptional to compete. Ultimately, the Tar Heels didn’t play a single top-25 team this season. No, that’s not a typo. This isn’t the SEC. With Belichick on the sideline (even at 73 next fall), the Tar Heels will absolutely outscore their opponents and pick up some wins that way.

Those who laugh at Belichick coaching teenagers, despite his gruff reputation, have always known that different players need different coaching styles. A clear example of this for me was the quarterback. Belichick knew he had a complete underdog in Tom Brady. Brady always felt overlooked and was motivated by insults – hello, Johnny Foxborough Digs — and Belichick used that to fuel him. It worked for almost two decades and that tough coaching training rubbed off on the rest of the squad.

When Cam Newton arrived in 2020, Belichick was softer. The coach recognized that much of Newton’s game was based on confidence – the No. 1 overall pick has always been the tallest kid on the playground – and gave him more positive reinforcement. At the college level, Belichick will inevitably adapt to the kids he coaches.

It will be bizarre to see Belichick on the NCAA sidelines next fall. I’m sure a lot of it has to do with the control that was taken away from him at the NFL level, but in the end I think he’ll build a competitive program. In North Carolina, this feels like a success.

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Why North Carolina for Belichick and not somewhere like Navy or Ohio State? —Miller

I don’t think the Navy job will become available, and he’ll likely have more control and an easier path to respect at North Carolina than he would have at a place like Ohio State or a move to SEC land.

Don’t Patriots fans realize we have the worst OL in the league? Both running and passing? Drake Maye is basically a wizard out there – @mikenh603.bsky.social

I don’t think fans pay enough attention to it – and that’s partly because Maye minimized the damage – but New England’s offensive line has been truly abysmal this year. According to ESPN’s Next Gen Stats, the Patriots rank last in both run block win rate and pass block win rate.

In free agency and the draft, Eliot Wolf will need to aggressively bolster this unit.

Currently, Mike Onwenu appears to be the only starter who will definitely return, and he has been underwhelming this season. Over and beyond? Maybe Layden Robinson will develop into a starter at guard? I think you’re looking for new starters at both tackle positions in 2025 – Vederian Lowe could be a good option at swing tackle – and even at center, David Andrews will be trying to come back from a very, very serious injury at 33 next Season.

“In (2021) I tore my rotator cuff off the bone. Now I’ve torn it to the core,” Andrews said in October. “So they’ll try to explain a – that’s someone who doesn’t have a college degree – but they’ll try to put a cover over it and hopefully the muscles will grow back.” It’s not 100%, but it gives me the best chance to continue my football career and that’s all I could ask for.”

Wolf’s top priority this offseason must be aggressiveness throughout the offensive line.

Do you think the Pats will at least provide some competition in the final month of the season? I am sure that our opponents will have at least a touchdown advantage – Conor M.

I actually think the Patriots will play hard across the board.

Even if the game plan seems challenging at first glance – the opponents’ overall record is 34:18 – there is a bit of paper tiger in it. They start with the Cardinals, who have lost three in a row and are not playing good football right now. They host the Chargers in Foxborough, who have been poor on offense so far and are a California team that plays a game in Foxborough in December. They end the season at home with the Bills, who may have nothing to play for at all.

The only game that looks truly daunting is Week 16 at Buffalo. This could be a blast. But on the other hand, there could be a biblical storm or something that levels the playing field. It’s happened before, so we don’t forget it.

And with the 3rd pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots select…? —Alexander S.

…no one! They trade down.

(Travis Hunter would be a lot of fun, but at this point I don’t think they will. Need more help in the trenches)