Aldo

I feel sad like this Raider fan...

Since when does a rivalry need logic? Since when does a rivalry come to the defense of the other? UNT90 might be being a big ol' jerk here, but dammit he's talkin' trash. About the other team, I mean. Go Mean Green. Team Not Mean Green can suck it.

Tennessee because we played them a longer timer ago-er. Or Florida State. Oh! What about Texas? Those are good schools right?

In regards to Driskell, he might have huge games, he might have bad games. Not sure if his injury affected his 2014 play at Florida (mentally). Pros: Very good runner Rocket arm When he's on, he is on. SEC-level QB coaching Doesn't have to deal with SEC level defenses LaTech RBs Cons: Doesn't have SEC-level receivers Inaccurate/inconsistent beyond 10 yards Doesn't deal with pressure well Locks onto receivers Inconsistent touch passing (bullet passing on screens leading to dropped passes or rushed passes in the face of pressure) Decision-making under pressure Not sure which Driskell LaTech is going to get on game days. He's a good dual-threat QB, but he's definitely got some glaring weakness if exploited properly.

I don't see this panning out for the Roadrunners...

I didn't understand the hype either.

I know Andrew Jones is still a RS FR, but what about Chad Davis making an impact soon? He's a junior now.

There's just no way he wins the QB job. This year. Huge project at QB.

Jay Culter anyone?

If Marcus Smith is our pass-catching TE, I could see Kelvin Smith getting time early. Great blocker on tape, and could help out OL if there are any concerns going into the fall. I haven't scoped out any of the other TEs on the roster, but Reinhardt's a big dude on paper.

I didn't put QB on the list because it's under "I know what I know". My concerns are filed under "I don't know what I don't know". In regards to 2013, it was a seminal year that I don't think we will see any time soon with this roster.

Oh for sure I don't think he gets any offers as anything other than a rb (he's got all that natural rb ability), but I think in our own system where the slot receiver has recently been our best offensive playmakers he'd make a good fit. He has those additional skills that warrant a look there.

Good point. Yes I'd probably say my concerns going into spring would rank as follows: 1. OL 2. LB 3. DB I know our discussion has been how our middle-of-the-pack D could be improved this season and potentially prop up McNulty to push us into closer games, but w/out an o-line to improve our rush yds/attempt and our 3rd down conversions, I guess it's a moot point.

I agree with most of what you said. Can't improve upon Akunne but it's not unrealistic to improve upon the LB group as a whole. Nor do I expect any all conference players at D. We are still reeling from some bad recruiting cycles, but I think a donut is an improvement upon a flat tire. The LB unit should take pressure off the DBs having to come in and mop up missed assignments and tackles.

Call it "from the gut", or "just trying to convince myself", but on paper (through this last recruiting cycle) I see an improvement in depth and talent (tackling ability and speed). I'm leaning on an overall improvement of talent within the LBs and DBs. Of course I speak with the assumption that the JUCOs win the starting jobs, leaving some of last year's starters as depth (I'm especially looking at the LBs here). Most of the tackling was being done by the DBs (4 out of the top 5). Akunne accounted for a sizeable amount of production, while Scott and Marshall couldn't combine to equal his production. Aside from missing Orr this year, we dearly missed Will Wright. I think Cosh focused on finding starting talent here to fit in this zone d. Orr, Akunne, and Wright where tackling monsters. We didn't have that this year, and so I see that as the baseline (or as bad as it gets).

imo if he had Jeffery Wilson's vision, he'd be pushing 4 stars.

The way he attacks the LOS is not the way I'd expect a kid that is already at 195lbs and 5'11". He's not following his tacklers - either overrunning, or just running around the corner. Rather than pounding the ball through, he's not reacting to creases and just trying to beat everyone around the line. That makes me think the way he sees the field is a little suspect, or he doesn't know the playbook. But once he gets in open field he's got great agility, balance, quickness, and strength. And he's got some great hands. And Harris is a senior. Not saying he won't make it as a rb, he's got a lot of natural ability, but he needs some work on reading the line, running the play, and reacting to a developing play.

Well it was meant more as a funny. But with their size they are better suited at 50/50 throws and tossups to bail out an inconsistent McNulty than Harris (because of his size). Darius Terrell turned out to not be that guy. For sure a more consistent qb at the helm would avoid depressing questions like "but can they catch dead ducks?" Based on his film, Smith is very accurate in the short and intermediate range, and puts his guys in a position to win in 50/50 plays. I was not terribly impressed (though not concerned either) by Greer film last offseason like I am by Smith, and Smith is on a different level than all the qbs currently on the roster. Talent's there, just depends on mentality.

Great change of direction, nice balance, good size. I just think he'd make a really great slot receiver here. Needs to work on between-the-tackles/following the play. Hope he focuses on that GPA too.

Like you said, McNulty's success is predicated on our defense/ST. And I think we are better defensively. ST is consistent. And I think Goree and Thompson are really good at catching off-target throws.

No one wants us to take our time. I want to win now. We aren't beating enough OOC mid-majors to matter, period. And when we talk about beating the big dudes, we have to go way back. Like anecdotes. UNT needs to handle UNT's business first (recruiting, staffing, facilities). Recruiting has improved overall. Staffing has improved overall. Facilities have definitely improved. We are on the way up, we just aren't there yet. Give me a tough fight at home against Wyoming or USF instead of a 30 point loss to Texas or a win over Texas Southern. Here's a MacMahon tweet that sums this up: Rajon Rondo whipped Rick Carlisle in Connect 4. Rick: "He got all excited afterward. I told him to learn how to make a shot."

I dig the SMU/Army series, but I agree 20 years seems...odd? (Also, does that include previous Army games?) I mean, in that time span, SMU and Army will be up and down, so interest will wax 'n wane. But it would be better to have some scheduling diversity. Both schools are notable football schools. They have brands whether we as UNT fans believe it or not. UNT does not have a football brand nationally or regionally. 2 bowl wins in 101 seasons. Tbh, we still won't get a brand by bringing in a P5 that people are familiar with. Historically, we have barely been competitive against OOC mid-majors. We need to prove we can win first. I'm glad we are getting G5 OOC schools in, but need more variety. Bring in some MWC or more MAC schools home and aways or 1 and dones at home. So 20 years was lazy weird, but I can deal with SMU and Army, though I'm not entirely satisfied. Those will be good games. Just needed better scheduling as it ties us up in the long-term and hampers our ability to bring in schools like Houston, Cincy, Nevada, or Memphis. Heck I'll even contradict myself and say a lower-tier P5 like Illinois or Purdue.

This. But they're no NDSU either.

If the season starts out horribly, I think the earliest we see him is October. I think we will be able to keep our heads above water, though. First five games I can see at best 3-2, at worst 2-3.

I'd rather talk helmets than chicken or portland state.