The Canes have spent UNC week playing some QB carousel, first opening with N’Kosi Perry beginning practice with the first team offense on Monday, then switching things up for Tuesday with Malik Rosier starting the day with the first team. UM is trying to keep people guessing, but offensive coordinator Thomas Brown offered his take on who will start when the game kicks off on Thursday.

“I am (laughs). I’ll start.”

But seriously, though?

“Whoever gives us the best shot to be able to win,” Brown said. “We feel really good about having as much depth as we can at any position, including the quarterback spot for guys who can help us perform well. The guys that practice the best will play and help us win.”

When will the team know who the starter is?

“It’ll be some time before the game,” Brown said.

He added: “I say it all the time – I think competition solves most of your problems. I think competition makes everyone better. No one guy at any spot should ever feel comfortable like, ‘it’s my job, no matter what happens.’ Obviously, the more depth we have, the more guys that are prepared to play to help us win, the better we’ll be down the stretch.”

Even though there has been a slightly different dynamic in practice this week, Brown has found that both QB’s have handled things pretty well.

“I think both of those guys have had really good attitudes,” Brown said. “I think they’re both rooting for each other and celebrating with each other when guys have success. Obviously, everybody wants to play, I don’t care what role you have – whether you’re a starter, second-string guy – those guys have done a really good job of coming together and helping each other out. Attitude has been good.”

On Malik’s reaction to being benched vs. FIU: “He’s been the same he’s been throughout this week, he’s had a really good attitude,” Brown said. “He did a really good job of talking to Kosi, encouraging him when he did well, kind of telling him what he can improve upon, being a great teammate.”

In leading the Canes to the victory over FIU last week, Perry had himself quite a day, going 17-25 (68%) for 224 yards, 3 TD’s, and 1 INT.

“I think he played well,” Brown said on Perry. “He had, I would say, one ill-advised throw. He kind of underestimated his arm a little bit on the scramble to try and take a shot. But other than that, I thought he was very accurate. I thought he ran the offense very well. I think he showed some escape ability, at times, when the pocket kind of broke down and holes opened up. I thought it was a pretty good day for him, for the most part.”

Miami plays UNC on Thursday night and Brown doesn’t see the 1-2 Tar Heels being a push-over like many expect.

“Last year they flat out beat us up across the board,” Brown said. “I think their D line is really, really good. They’re a well coached football team... We have to raise to the challenge. That (game against UNC last year) we had like 17 third downs, had zero third-and-shorts, maybe three third-and-mediums. The rest were third-and-long, third and 10 plus. And that’s a recipe for a loss. We were lucky enough to get out of there (with a win) because of some big shot plays. But we have to do a better job of sustaining drives, moving the ball, converting on third down and putting points on the board.”

**Jaquan Johnson (hamstring) and Ahmmon Richards (knee) remained out of practice today and continue to be questionable for UNC on Thursday.