Notable storylines for Saturday's scrimmage

There's a long way to go, but a few stories will begin to take shape

Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

Mack Brown and and the Carolina coaching staff will get their first look at the Tar Heels at game-speed (well, almost game-speed) with Saturday morning's scrimmage at Kenan Stadium.

There's a long way to go before things truly begin taking shape for the season, as Brown pointed out he doesn't expect to see any separation at quarterback before the second scrimmage (Aug. 17). 

Still, there's plenty to be gained for a team eager to show how far its come since the end of spring practice.

"I want to see physicality on both sides of the ball; that’s something we’ve brought every day in practice and just continue on that," linebacker Jake Lawler said. "I think we have a really good team … I want to see competition. That’s what it’s all about; it’s about competition, it’s about seeing and separating who’s going to be out there on the 31, so I’m excited to see it."

The scrimmage is closed to media, but players will be available afterward to discuss what they saw inside Kenan Stadium. Meanwhile, Brown will be available to the media on Sunday after he's had a chance to review the film.

A few storylines we'll be asking about:

Brown hasn't revealed anything about his quarterbacks beyond the fact that he likes all three to this point. Players have complimented their competitiveness, their approach as teammates and their individual talents, but none have so much as hinted toward one having the lead. 

And although we're unlikely to get any information for another week, we'll ask again because that's what we do. 

The offensive line isn't settled as Carolina continues to mix and match combinations, largely hinging on the center position with Nick Polino, Brian Anderson and Ty Murray all getting reps. Charlie Heck is set at left tackle, and it seems Ed Montilus has a good handle at left guard, drawing rave reviews from teammates this week. Jordan Tucker is likely the guy at right tackle, while William Barnes and Billy Ross are in the mix at right guard. 

Whether either ends up there comes down to whether Polino ends up at center.

Dazz Newsome is the top dog at receiver, but who fills in behind him? Carolina has a total of 19 players listed at the position, and although several are reserves unlikely to play a major role, it's a crowded room.

Corey Bell, Dyami Brown and Toe Groves have earned praise from teammates in camp, as has Beau Corrales offering a big, physical presence. Among the youngsters, Dyami Brown and Welton Spottsville have been mentioned as standouts. 

Whoever wins the quarterback job will have a host of speedsters at his disposal.

A major talking point for the defense has been cross-training players at several spots, and to this point, they're universally in favor. Not only do they have an opportunity to get on the field in a different spot, an intimate understanding of a teammate's role can only improve how they approach their position. 

Jay Bateman will throw his guys — particularly in the secondary — all over the place. Brown has repeatedly said he wants the best 11-man unit on the field, and that could include moving players. Will anyone emerge as a difference-maker that causes a shift?

There won't be any overreactions. At least, there won't be from coaches or players. Scrimmages are always a double-edged sword.

If Jace Ruder throws eight touchdown passes, is it because he was amazing or because the defense was a disaster? It's never that cut and dry, and especially not based on second-hand accounts.

The takeaways will come in the details like consistent execution and effort for both units and a continuation of the fun, positive culture that's been obvious in camp. Why should fans believe a porous run defense is going to finally turn the corner? How did the offense handle the complex nature of Bateman's defense and disguised coverages at game-speed? Did any of the quarterbacks get comfortable in leading the offense?

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