UNC offense vs Notre Dame defense will match familiar foes in Phil Longo, Al Golden

During Phil Longo’s first job as head coach, at a New Jersey high school in the late ‘90s, long before he became North Carolina’s offensive coordinator under head coach Mack Brown, he reached out to two coaches about installing a 3-4 defense.

One was Pittsburgh Steelers defensive guru Dick LeBeau. The other was Al Golden, who, at the time, was the linebackers coach at Boston College.

Golden, who also served as head coach at Miami from 2011-15, is now in his first year as Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator. So not only will Longo be reunited with him on Saturday at Kenan Stadium when the Tar Heels (3-0) face the Fighting Irish (1-2) at 3:30 p.m., he’ll be matching wits with him too.

“He may not even remember me now, but we spent a lot of time up there and I’ve got all this playbook stuff — I still have all the old stuff from 25 years ago,” Longo said. “So I doubt he’s running that stuff now. But I think you see his influence on the defense this year. And then you also see aspects of the Notre Dame defense that are no different than last year.”

It’s the third straight season Carolina and Notre Dame have played, thanks in part to the pandemic-altered 2020 season when the ACC re-did the schedule and the Irish joined the league as a temporary member.

The Heels lost 31-17 in Chapel Hill in 2020 after getting shut out in the fourth quarter despite trailing by just seven after three quarters. They lost 44-34 last season in South Bend, Ind., after entering the fourth trailing by four. In both cases, Carolina seemed to sputter in the fourth quarter.

Golden was hired when former defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman became the head coach, replacing Brian Kelly. Longo said Golden has continued the trademarks that have made Notre Dame’s defense tough the past two seasons.

“It’s obvious from the way they’re playing defense right now that the physicality piece and the continuity piece are two big aspects to their defense,” Longo said. “It’s been a part of their system for a number of years now. And I don’t think any of that has changed now that he’s there.”

Notre Dame has 10 sacks on the season, which is tied for 12th nationally, and it hasn’t had to bring a lot of blitzes to create pressure. Seven different players have been credited with at least half a sack led by Isaiah Foskey’s team leading 2.5 sacks.

Longo knows Golden to be “very meticulous” and “very organized.” He’s a coach who is confident in his scheme. So is Longo, who may get a boost from players coming off injuries.

UNC starting right tackle Spencer Rolland practiced last week after missing the Georgia State game with a lower body injury. Receivers Antoine Green, who hasn’t played in a game yet after a suffering a preseason shoulder injury, and Josh Downs, who missed the last two games after he injured his left knee in the fourth quarter against Florida A&M, could both be back in the lineup.

The Heels’ offense hasn’t been at full strength yet this season, in terms of personnel, but rank fourth nationally in scoring offense, averaging 51.3 points per game and are fifth nationally in total offense, rolling up an average of 547 yards per game.

Notre Dame’s defense will, without question, be a step up in competition for UNC. The Heels haven’t faced a front seven like the Irish this season.

“I feel like right now — whether they know it or not — that the team is dependent on the success of that front seven,” Longo said. “So we have our work cut out for us offensively. But I think that’s where the strength lies for Notre Dame.”

As for the weakness in the Irish’s defense, Longo might have to go back to his notes to find an edge.

When he reached out nearly 25 years ago, Longo said Golden was generous with his time and laid out their entire defensive playbook. The game has changed so much since Longo coached Parsippany Hills High from 1996-99. That the scheme is outdated. But perhaps there’s an advantage to be gained from knowing his philosophy?

Only Longo, who still has the notes from Golden in his attic, knows.

“It’s in the old gold folder from Boston College and it’s got all my notes on it and all his notes on it,” Longo said. “It’s a small world. In this business, you wind up retracing and seeing a lot of people over the course of years and Al Golden just happens to be one of them.”