NFL draft expert speaks on Gio Lopez's struggles, calls UNC football a "nightmare"

There's a very good chance that Max Johnson will be the starting quarterback this week for the Tar Heels against Clemson and, depending on how that goes, moving forward.

Gio Lopez, who has started the first four games for UNC, has been limited in practice with an injury. He is listed as a starter on the official depth chart this week, but in Bill Belichick's world, that doesn't mean very much.

Through four games, Lopez has completed 62.7 percent of his passes for 430 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions. His 16.3 QBR is nothing to brag about, and it's primarily boosted by his games against Charlotte and Richmond. Against P4 competition, Lopez statistically ranks among the worst quarterbacks in the nation. 

One person that was high on Lopez going into the season was NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay. McShay, who formerly worked at ESPN, saw Lopez throw during the Manning Passing Academy and felt like he had a chance to be a difference maker for the Tar Heels this season.

McShay appeared on the "God Bless Football" podcast with Jon "Stugotz" Weiner and said that Lopez showed him a lot over the summer, but it hasn't translated t the fall.

"It might have something to do with the people around him.... Yes, I did praise him and there were a lot of praiseworthy throws that he made. But we're in shorts and a T-shirt. I'm trying to keep it in perspective," McShay said. "He was making throws that some of the other guys couldn't make. I think Bill Belichick knows what a good quarterback looks like. And I think the people on that staff saw him at a smaller level and said that 'we've got a chance with this guy'."

McShay also added that the roster-building process at North Carolina hasn't been helpful for any kind of on-field success.

"You bring in 70 new faces. That thing is a nightmare. And then you've got Jordon [Hudson] on the sidelines bringing all the negative attention. It's been hard to watch," McShay concluded.