UNT Mean Green

They have been employing Keronna Henderson as an H-Back type to block (don't think I've seen him out in a route but could be wrong) where he is lined up essentially where a Tight End would be except off the LOS and it seems to just bring one more guy in the box and make it more difficult to run the ball, especially in short yardage situations. Now if there were a pass catching threat there, teams may defend it differently. I am with you though as I do like the usage of a Tight End because they give you options, and Stickler may be our player best suited for that spot, but 6'3" 220 is certainly not an ideal TE. It seems like a majority of the Spread teams that put up big numbers (Oregon, Mizzou, Penn State, OK State, etc (not Tx Tech)) use a combination of different formations that utilize a Tight End and an H-Back type, and at the same time can line up with 5 WR's as well. The TE gives you a different look, brings an extra blocker into play to protect on passes or use on runs and if you have one that can also catch passes, it makes you tough to defend. I'm not sure we have a guy on the roster that fits that mold (though we may have a true freshman that is hurt in Forrest Rucker who may could do that eventually). As far as being under center, I can see your point to a degree (especially in 4th and 1), but don't expect it to happen.

Great post, agree 100%.

He has a good core of players, but needs to add to his coaching staff to go along with DeLoach, Leftwich, Buckles, Gandy, and Petersen in order to take a giant leap forward and continue to recruit the above mentioned caliber of players and possibly better with the new stadium and more wins.

Don't you mean another Pat White? He already has a commitment from dynamic dual-threat QB from Wichita Falls Rider in Shavodrick Beaver, who will play there in 2009 as a true Freshman. He will team in the backfield with fellow Texan Sam McGuffie (Houston Cy-Fair, 2008 Army All-American) to begin their rise to the top of the country in offensive production. Wolverines fans need to be patient, because they will be a force again.

Good find on that article.

Agree 200%. He has some wonderful assistant coaches but there are a few that need to be evaluated.

I don't think Coach Dodge is in over his head, I do though believe some of the assistant coaches/position coaches don't have the knowledge or experience to adjust to this level of play (without naming names or position(s) coached). Every team we play seems to do the little things well, and we don't seem to do those. I know we make a lot of mistakes young football teams are going to make (penalties, turnovers, special teams), but the little things seem to be missing that could make a big difference in the outcome of games. Coach Dodge is a great man, a good leader, and a good football coach, I just believe he needs a few more assistants with legitimate Division 1/Professional coaching experience in order to take some of the weight off of his shoulders. We have 3-4 assistants with little to no Division 1 coaching experience and that could be making a huge difference in the players doing the little things and/or executing proper technique.

Wasn't that Colleyville Heritage and/or Plano West? (I may be mistaken)

I understand as I grew up in Southlake and saw it transform from a farming community to a wealthy suburb, but there are problems everywhere. My question was what made the national news other than the football team winning a bunch?

What were those problems that made the national news?

Don't you think having DeLoach talking about the game again and re-living that would just make him mad enough to untuck his shirt and start yelling (ie sidelines)? He could twist off on a fan or something which would raise a different problem. What big programs are you talking about have their coordinators available? If you watch press conferences and/or coaches shows (which by the way are on ESPNU during the day) the only coordinators I have seen speak is Steve Sarkisian of USC or Dan Mullen of Florida. Unless the TV program is doing a special on that coordinators part of the team (like on ESPN Gameday on Sat. Mornings) then the coordinators don't talk to the media often, at least from what I have seen.

KSU will be competitive in the Big XII North. LSU is #3 in the country. Tulsa should contend for the C-USA title while having a top 10 offense and could be on the verge of Top 25-30 team. Rice should contend for the C-USA West Division title while having a top 10 offense. The schedule has been tremendously difficult. Coach Dodge said last night that even last year we had an extremely difficuly time in non-conference games, but we were within striking distance in all Sun Belt Conference games except for Troy where we had like 6 turnovers (ring a bell?). He has said that if you could change 7 plays last year, we would have won 5-6 ballgames which is interesting. I have a good feeling about Saturday and that is where we have to begin this 'new season' of conference play. The coaching staff seems to believe we match up better with FIU than with any team we've played so far, so that's very encouraging.

To elaborate on the offense grading out deal, he stated that through the First Quarter things were going well and 'feeling like they should' in this offense in terms of efficiency, tempo, distribution of the ball, etc. Then came the 2nd Quarter when we made them punt the first time and muffed it and Rice scored. Following that we drove the ball right back down the field only to gain 9 yards on a 4th and 10 from their 40 yard line or so, and that was the beginning of the snowball. The offense did grade out at 91% as a unit in the first half.

All good points.

Well Said. The South Florida analogy is a good one to use to be optimistic.

It's interesting this Saturday morning as I read the Dallas Morning News, FW Star Telegram, and the Denton Record Chronicle. SMU has a game review in the Morning News from Tulane and there is not a tone of negativity from their beat writer, but rather a tone of optimism and a realistic perspective on expectations for June Jones and his new program this season. TCU's game preview in the Star Telegram leads you to believe they will defeat the mighty Oklahoma Sooners tonight. The Denton Record Chronicle makes it sound like UNT should forfeit their game and not show up. I know that not many college programs care for their beat writer, but I have personally thought Brett has done a very nice job covering Mean Green Athletics. Not knocking him as a person or anything, but today's game preivew in the Denton Record Chronicle seems to go the extra mile in knocking Coach Dodge and his team. Yes, there are statistical facts that aren't pretty, and it seems that Vito goes the extra mile to present the poor stats over and over rather than expound on the positives in this particular journalism piece.

I would agree on this. Roberson has been open 5-7 times this year and Giovanni has missed him. He should have a TD catch against Tulsa, however the QB took forever to get rid of the ball allowing the corner to catch back up by the time the ball was thrown. Roberson was wide open on the play, and it looked like Giovanni may not have seen him until it was too late. Just for discussion, but does it look like Giovanni locks onto Casey and Dibrell as soon as he catches the snap on a passing play? An All-American and his old high school teammate...can't say I blame him too much, but Lott and Roberson are extremely capable receivers as well.

Does it concern anyone else in watching Rice Saturday night as to how good of an athlete Chase Clement is? He looked fast a few times he broke the LOS saturday against the Horns. On a side note, Chase Clement was the QB at Alamo Heights before Giovanni Vizza's tenure. Should be a good game Saturday in Houston, and hopefully we bring a large Mean Green contingent down there to root the Mean Green to a victory.

I would agree with you that would be bad coaching IF the above mentioned actually happened. However, it did not. There were levels of the coverage and players were getting to their 'landmarks' in fanning the field. They had a tape of the game on last night on one of the college sports channels FYI.

Watching a game in November in TCF Bank Stadium whether it's 29 Million or 290 Million would be miserable with the weather! I would much rather see the Mean Green play in their $60 Million new stadium!!!

Tulsa has a very good football team and it will be interesting to follow them this season. I certainly don't see anyone stopping their offense. Man, that thing is fun to watch.

What makes you jump to this conclusion? The fact that you assume I didn't see a need to make a change at Defensive Coordinator following last season 1) has nothing to do with this topic, and 2) is very far from the truth. This discussion has nothing to do with last year's defense...nothing. It is in regards to the special teams this year. What was mentioned was Holliday's quote following the game. You and GrayEagleOne must be under the impression that North Texas is a team loaded with big, strong, fast athletes that given the proper coaching can do anything you want them to on the field (ie tackle Holliday on punt coverage, be on top of the returner as soon as he catches it, etc). My point was strictly that even if the punt team was in the proper position to make a play on Holliday last Saturday night, the lack of speed/athleticism of those covering was not even close to the abilities of LSU's punt return team, and in particilar their return man; and the lack of those attributes led to some big plays in LSU's return game. Again, this has nothing to do with the defensive coordinator piece from last season, but nice try.

The coach does not cover punts, return kicks, punt, or kickoff. The players have to execute when they are on the field, and coaches put them in the best position possible to succeed. To answer your question where was the contain players and the personal protector on the punt unit against LSU? They were eating Holliday's dust because they WEREN'T FAST ENOUGH TO TACKLE HIM.

So when Holliday is quoted saying, "I was just running by their players, Then I looked back to see where the coverage was. I was wondering where the coverage was after I passed the first level." That is a coaching problem, not a talent problem?

Anyone else think we just don't have the depth for a bunch of backups to be playing on Special Teams? ESPN mentioned Saturday night that even Fresno State (mind you a top 25 program) plays a slew of starters on their Special Teams...and I guarantee you they have a lot more depth than North Texas does in terms of quality athletes.