Charlie NT 73

I reviewed the OL roster from MeanGreenSports.com this afternoon. I counted 14 players listed. Take out the 3 centers, Kelvin Drake, JJ Johnson and Brian Glass, that leaves 11 OL guys. Out of these 11, there are 4 players that saw action last year: OT Mathew Menard, SO; OG Tyler Bailey, JR; OT Esteban Santiago, SO; OL/OG/Center Chad Rose, SR. Another OL guy, Victor Gill, SO, was used mainly as a TE. Out of the next 7 players, OT Jacob Kaiser and OT Matt Tomlinson are coming off red shirts, and have the best chance to play in 2008. The remaining 5 players are 2nd year guys or walk-ons. Well, the way I see the OL, most of the starters will be back. The number one position open is RT (Venagas and Peachey handled this last year, but both are gone). I see Menard at LT, Bailey at LG, Santiago at RG, and JUCO Nate Jenkins at RT ( assuming he shows up). I do think, true freshman Troy Franklin has a good shot at this RT position, as well as R-S Matt Tomlinson. For Kaiser, I think he will B/U at LT for Menard. Guards, I do not see Bailey or Santiago getting beat out by JUCO HOLLIVAY, or by Rose. Both Hollivay and Rose will be 2nd team. Over all, the OT/OG positions will have some depth, some experienced players, and options. The real postion battles start with 2 a days, and will be fun to see how each position plays out. IMHO, the OL may just end up being better than we think. Suprise prediction, Franklin makes the 2 deep chart at RT.

M&M'S !! I like that ! Good catchy nick name for this tandem! I believe these two running backs will make history! Just like Cobbs and Thomas!

I was wondering what happen to Montgomery last year, so this story explains the situation as too why Montgomery was not playing. I viewed the recruiting videos on Montgomery, and was very impressed. This guy is a very, very, good RB. Combination of size, power and most of all speed! Very good receiver too. I do believe Montgomery will be a big factor in NT's running game for 2008. As Coach Dodge likes to say, Montgomery's abilities, "will give NT options". For Micah Mosely, I was very impressed with him coming in as a true freshman, and his performance. Mosely sure did not look like a true freshman last year. This kid is a power back, and as soon run over someone as to juking the guy out. No fear, just confidence. I can see Coach Dodge and Coach Ford dreaming up offensive scemes to take advantage of Mosely's and Montgomery's abilities. Last year, the running game seemed limited to what could be done. For the 2008 season, I see the runing game becoming a major weapon with Mosely and Montgomery in the back field!

Nice write up. But, I have a question about all the media stories on spring practice at North Texas. Every story that I have read always includes a reference to last years defense allowing 45 points per game. I am sick of seeing this pointed out in every sports news article from the media. Every North Texas fan already knows about how bad the North Texas defense was last year. Why keep reminding us about the 45 points per game allowed average? Geez!

I see all the sports media, and college football fans across the country expect Coach Dodge to be lured away to a BCS school, with tons of money on the table. Use North Texas as a steping stone to futher his career. I for one believe Coach Dodge really likes the whole big picture at North Texas. He is doing what he loves to do, building a great college football team, tons of talent to recruit, home and family right here, with fans and a school that will back him no matter what. Coach Dodge believes in the future of North Texas, can see the great environment he is creating, and clearly views North Texas at the next level. Coach Dodge, IMHO, will not leave. He has everything right here that he could want. (with the exception of the new stadium-but-that will come and he knows that too). Once Dodgeball starts rolling, the suitors will come. Why leave something you have built, that continues to grow, and progressing to even bigger acheivements, for a assistants job or a dead program that needs 4 to 5 years to develop? Coach Dodge has a great future right here! I say he stays at North Texas!

I just looked at Dave Campbell's Texas Football website. DCTF has a poll, for sub 500 teams in Texas, that will have the biggest turn around for the 2008 season. http://www.texasfootball.com Scroll down the page, on the left side.

The Police Files- Good Stuff! Thanks for the "inside" view of police work! I am sure you could write a book on what really goes on out in the public. Do you have any funny stories, or really dumb crook stories you could share?

Is this hire cool or what? Former player from Southlake that knows DodgeBall in and out. I sure Wasson will be a asset to the staff, and to the team.

I recived a email from http://www.arkst.com/board/index.pub that said a news conference will be held at 11am today to announce the hiring of former LSU coach John Brady as the new BB coach for Ark State. Di anyone else receive the same email?

There are several topics this article I found interesting, besides the competition with the redshirts and exisiting players. As per Coach Dodge: "Put the offense in earlier". With only 5 practices, the team must remember more than expected. Maybe there will be some new wrinkles this year that was not taught last year. "Take a longer look at the variety of ways opponents played the Mean Green", and "Focus on what the opponent is doing". This tells me, there will be new approaches to each game for the 2008 season, and the ability to break down more of the opponents game plan. "Starting to adapt Defensively" and "Gary brings tremendous LEADERSHIP and EXPERIENCE" Man, are these words of encouragement or what? Even with the defensive players NT has for 2008, the defense will be vastly improved. I am not expecting miracles, but if anyone can improve the Mean Green defense, DeLoach is the guy to do it.

I picked up these 2 stories from "GoTroyTrojans.com" this morning. FAU: News article from TC Palm news, regarding a fund raising function where coach Snelly states the ok has been passed to build a 30K, $62mil, FB stadium on campus, plus, FAU's goal to be in the Big East, SEC and- or ACC by 2012. http://gotroytrojans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9821 FIU: Picture of their new on campus stadium construction. http://gotroytrojans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9826

This is spring training. The coaches are teaching every part of the offense and defense, special teams, game management, plus finding out which players can play their position or change the player to a postion better suited to the needs of the team. I would not say, just after a couple of practices, a particular player is the starter. I am very glad to see the coaching staff is trying to place the right player at the right position, and I am glad to see players that are making progress, like Warren, at LB for example. I am sure other player changes will develop. The redshirt players are finaly getting to go full time, along with many players that did not play too much last year, so these players are getting more development time. I expect some very good developments with these players, such as finding new starters and depth at all positions. There are several JUCO's the coaches are counting on, that will not be here until the fall. Can these players learn DodgeBall in 3 weeks? Will all of these JUCO's show up? What happens if the key JUCO's do not come in? Maybe spring ball can provide answers to these positions now, before the begining of fall practice.

I was thinking about how all the Mean Green fans always want big OL/DL players. I would say the team has about 18 players that should be at or close to 300lbs by the fall season. So here is the current players that should make the 300lb club. 1. OG Esteban Santiago, 6-5, 302, in the 300lb club 2. Center, Kelvin Drake, 6-2, 300, in the 300lb club 3. OL Jacob Kaiser, 6-7, 295-- just 5lbs away 4. OG Tyler Bailey, 6-2, 295-- just 5lbs away 5. OL Chad Rose, 6-3, 285 6. Center/OL J.J. Johnson, 6-2, 280 7. OT Matthew Menard, 6-5, 280-- Menard must be around 295 by now? 8. DT Joseph Miller, 6-3, 280 9. DT Draylen Ross, 6-3, 280 (is he still with the team?) 10. OL/OT Matt Tomlinson, 6-5, 270 ? One full year in the system, should be 290 by now 11. DL/DT Jesse DeSoto, 6-2, 275 -- still growing 12. DL/DT Jordan Scoggins, 6-1, 275 -- still growing New recruits coming in- 1. OL/OT Nate Jenkins, 6-4, 335, in the 300lb club 2. OL/OG Gabe Hollivay, 6-3, 320, in the 300lb club 3. OL/OT Troy Franklin, 6-5, 270, I have read that Troy is at 305 now. 4. DL Tevinn Cantly, 6-4, 292 -- 8lbs away 5. OL Coleman Freeley, 6-4, 285 6. Center, Nick Leppo, 6-2, 285 This team could very well end up having the largest number of OL/DL players that hit the scales at 300lbs, that I can remember. I would say, this team will have the beef!

Interesting that J.J. Johnson was at LG, and Tyler Bailey was at RT, for the first day of practice. J.J. Johnson is a true shot gun center. I have read that one of the main goals for spring practice is to develop depth at certain positions, so maybe J.J. Johnson can play the OG postion also. I sure hope Johnson gets alot of reps at center during spring ball. I am sure center Kelvin Drake will recover from his surgery and will be ready for the fall. I would feel alot better knowing J.J. Johnson can step in at center if Drake were injured or does not recover enough from his ankle surgery.

I thought Greg Garden, transfer from Navy, would be in the mix for a CB position this spring.

Well, did AA receive a Super Bowl ring, and Super Bowl bonus money since he was on the NYG's football team?

The interior DL depth does concern me also. The are 2 SR's, and 2 FR that will have the majority of the playing time. A injury here or there to any of the interior DL guys will really create a weak point in the defense. But not all is bleak. I am sure the coaching staff has considered the options at NG/DT, so the spring training program will be very important to developing options on personell at NG/DT. I believe both Desoto and Scoggins will have growing pains in 2008, but they need to be on the field to gain experience. Man, losing recruit DT Tim McGee to Minnesota was tough. If North Texas had landed McGee, the DL worries would be over. Recruitng, Coach Dodge is building the North Texas football program piece by piece. The 2007 class focus was offense, 6 WR's and a QB. The 2008 class focus was defense, DB's, DE's plus some OL guys, 2 RB's and PK. The 2009 class, I believe will focus on linemen again, both DL and OL. Good OL and DL players need two years to develop anyway. So all the North Texas fans will have to wait for these new guys to develop. The wait will be well worth it!

None of the guys I mention are leaving. I am just saying there are very good players on this roster that can play.

Coach Dodge and his staff have been on quest to rebuild the whole North Texas football program. The rebuilding is going to take time, so any "new" problems that come up will be addressed, including personell and position changes. As far as DT, I am looking forward to see Jesse Desoto, listed at 6-2, 275, and Jordan Scoggins, listed at 6-1, 274 during the spring. Both of these SO's to be, have been weight training for a year now, so I would guess both just may be in the 295-300lb range now. Not too bad for DT's! Add in C Brown, D Ross, and who know who else, I believe the DT position will have quality players and depth to go along with the starters. For center, J.J. Johnson, a true shot gun center, listed at 6-2, 278, I would say he is in the 290-300lb range right now. Plus, Nick Leppo, another true shotgun center is 6-2, 285, out of HS. I do believe the center position will have good depth too, to help Drake and Rose down the road. Someone mention that Tyler Bailey is now 6-2, 295. This guy will turn out to be a very good OG. I wonder how Matt Tomlinson is doing. As a true freshman, 6-5, 270, he has had a full year of weight training. I bet he is in the 285-295 range now. The OL and DL is progressing IMHO.

I have always liked Charlie Brown. Tremendous athlete that needs to be on the field. Came to NT as a TE. Mean Green Pop always said, "Throw the ball to Charlie, and he will do the rest!" Looks like to me, Charlie just keeps growing and growing. The last I read about Charlie he was up to about 250-260lb range last year. If Charlie keeps growing like he has, he may be up to 280 now, entering his junior year. Tough kid, and a natural at football. Charlie can be a very good DE or DT, or even TE.

Last season, I thought Stickler was a very good receiver. The bad part of his season was he was wide open countless times for TD's or 1st downs, only to have the pass sail over his head. Most of these over thrown passes were due to Vizza running for his life. With the improvement in the OL, I do expect Stickler and Vizza to have a great 2008!

Looks like he has a good background. What do you guys think? I am wondering if he is leaving NMSU for NT, or is he out of a job at NMSU and looking for a job? Buckles also was NMSU's recruiting coordinator. Honestly, I was hoping for Ramon Archie.

I remember Tim McGee. Monster DT! Heavily recruited by many schools, Big 12, SEC, and others. I did not know that NT was close to landing this guy! Man, McGee would have been the # 1 recruit! I thought he signed with K-State?

I thought a new CB coach was to be named today? Any news on this? I read that Coach DeLoach will handle the LB's as well as DC.

Here is my list of top 10, in order of importance to the future of North Texas football: Number 1, QB Riley Dodge-- no need to say anything about Riley Number 2, DE Alonzo Horton-- immedeate help from a big time DE Number 3, OT Nate Jenkins-- immedeate help at OT, dominates line Number 4, OL/DL Troy Franklin-- too much talent not to play some where Number 5, PK Jeremy Knott-- only if NT had him last year Number 6, DB Adryan Adams-- immedeate help in the secondary Number 7, DB Justin Edwards-- see above Number 8, DB DaWaylon Cook-- much better than advertised Number 9, DB Royce Hill-- special teams, very fast Number 10, WR,KR,DB James Hamilton-- very fast, can play several positions, very good at returning kicks Sleeper-- DT Tevinn Cantly, very raw talent, could be a big time DT quickly All of these recruits in the class of 2008 are outstanding players! Congratulations to Coach Dodge and to the Staff! Outstanding! Thank you for your hard work and for rebuilding North Texas football!