Drake Maye updates progress adjusting to new offensive scheme under Chip Lindsey

North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye achieved great success in his first year under center for the Tar Heels as a redshirt freshman, but can he do it again as a sophomore under a new offensive coordinator?

The Tar Heels hired former UCF offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Chip Lindsey this offseason, and on the ‘Move the Sticks with Daniel Jeremiah & Bucky Brooks’, Maye spoke about how he’s been adapting to his new offensive scheme.

“I think Coach Lindsey came in and did a great job of not kind of changing up, reinventing the wheel,” Maye said. “We threw it around a lot last year, a lot of success, so he’s bringing in some run game pieces just trying to keep what we did the same. We had some explosive plays in the pass game obviously, and build kind of a more balanced attack.”

In regards to the run and pass game, Maye did it all for the Tar Heels last season. His 4,321 passing yards and 38 touchdowns both ranked within the top five of the national standings last season, but he also ended the year as North Carolina’s leading rusher with 698 yards on the ground and seven rushing scores.

Achieving more offensive balance for the Tar Heels may mean taking a little bit more responsibility on Maye’s plate in 2023, something that Lindsey, Maye, and the offense are currently sorting through during fall camp.

“The main thing is finding our identity throughout camp. Finding what plays we love, what plays we’re best at, and what kind of things we can do to get easy yardage here and there,” Maye said.

The Tar Heels ranked second in the ACC in yards per game and third in scoring last season, as Lindsay will look to build on their solid offensive foundation established last season. But despite striving to achieve and maintain a balanced attack, Maye also made it clear that he still wants to stretch the field vertically this season with the deep ball.

“And also don’t be afraid to take the top off the defense, it’s always a great way to be honest, keep them honest,” Maye said. “Score one big play and that’s how you keep them honest.”

Lindsay did wonders with another dual-threat quarterback last season at UCF with John Rhys Plumlee, who like Maye also established himself as one of the best runners and throwers of the football last year. And it will definitely be interesting to see how the new offensive coordinator and quarterback duo in Chapel Hill perform in 2023.