How can a team be so different from one year to the next?

Harry · October 26, 2014

Scratching my head. I didn't expect to be world killers this season but 0-4 in CUSA? And I think it's more than just DT and the other seniors who graduated. Somehow this program lost their mojo in less than a years time. We need to figure out why and get it fixed real fast.

NM Green · October 26, 2014

It's so frustrating because I don't see us getting better in the proverbial rebuilding year. We have 4 games left and still no qb for today or the future from the looks of it.

Dark Days Denton.

GMG

NT03 · October 26, 2014

Piss poor recruiting

FirefightnRick · October 26, 2014

We're watching a perfect example as to why you don't jump the gun and extend contracts two years before they expire. Does that mean I think DMac doesn't care as much as last year? No. But there's Hungry and there's Pulling Up To The Table To Eat.

Rick

jacksondf · October 26, 2014

I get the loss of seniors and the impact of that. I even understand we still are looking for a QB. The two things I can't figure out:

1. Why is our experienced and senior filled offensive line playing so much worse this year? We never gave up sacks like this last year.

2. Why is our defense worse than it was at the start of the year? We are regressing.

Head scratcher.......

CMJ · October 26, 2014

Teams often change a lot from year to year. Not sure why this is terribly shocking. One could easily have said the same last year considering our dramatic turnaround from the season before.

Edited October 26, 2014 by CMJ

Ben Gooding · October 26, 2014

Teams change, but they don't change from 9-4 to 2-10. Of course there are exceptions, but it isn't the norm. Bad recruiting and coaching are the 2 themes of our 2014 season. The most discouraging part of all of this is that there is no reason to really believe we'll be any better next season, in year 5.

untwillrise · October 26, 2014

Zach Orr- playing in the NFL. Great leader

Trice- lot or heart fire passion.

Sarge- grown man

Abbe- had a great year

Wright- made plays

Chancellor- PLAYMAKER

We didn't lose great players. We lost great players who played special teams and were leaders on and off the field.

NT93 · October 26, 2014

Zach Orr- playing in the NFL. Great leader
Trice- lot or heart fire passion.
Sarge- grown man
Abbe- had a great year
Wright- made plays
Chancellor- PLAYMAKER
We didn't lose great players. We lost great players who played special teams and were leaders on and off the field.

Here is the answer you seek.

I'd include DT to the list not because he was great, but very good and a significant upgrade to anything we can roll out there. I was honestly never a big DT fan, but I don't think were 2-6 if he were the QB this year.

CMJ · October 26, 2014

Teams change, but they don't change from 9-4 to 2-10. Of course there are exceptions, but it isn't the norm. Bad recruiting and coaching are the 2 themes of our 2014 season. The most discouraging part of all of this is that there is no reason to really believe we'll be any better next season, in year 5.

Going 4-8 to 9-4 also is an exception.

Ben Gooding · October 26, 2014

Going 4-8 to 9-4 also is an exception.

yeah, kind of. Someone posted that 2013 is looking more and more like a fluke and I can't agree more with that. No signs of consistency are showing right now and that's extremely concerning.

jacksondf · October 26, 2014

UTSA fans are having the same conversation.

Travis · October 26, 2014

UTSA fans are having the same conversation.

Which blows my mind since they returned practically everyone.

FirefightnRick · October 26, 2014

I get the loss of seniors and the impact of that. I even understand we still are looking for a QB. The two things I can't figure out:
1. Why is our experienced and senior filled offensive line playing so much worse this year? We never gave up sacks like this last year.
2. Why is our defense worse than it was at the start of the year? We are regressing.
Head scratcher.......

Lemon is playing tackle rather than guard like last year and the year before. Remember we led the nation in fewest sacks allowed in '12 at one point, and had a great season last year too. So considering how much Lemon has been beat this year I'd guess it's destroyed the integrity of the whole squad and the coaches refuse to change? They had several breakdowns today that we rarely saw the previous two years. And I'll predict this will be where we will struggle badly next year as we replace the 4 seniors because if there was someone else waiting to step up and make a difference they would have played them by now.

Rick

greenminer · October 26, 2014

Has the staff even tried to move Lemon back to guard?

HoustonEagle · October 26, 2014

When you take that long to throw and can't step into the pocket sacks happen.

bleedgreen4ever · October 26, 2014

I was at athe game today and the team that played during the second half was a different team than the one that played in the first. Inconsistency is the main detriment to this team and I attribute that in part to inexpierence. Let's see if they can manage to win one more game or two in conference play and how much they improve for next season before we call for Mac's head. I still am, however, incredibily disappointed with the season so far.

FirefightnRick · October 26, 2014

Last year we had 5 to 6 blowout wins depending on your definition of a blowout, that this staff REFUSED to get many of the inexperienced some experience.

For example, last year we beat Southern Miss 55-14. Yet Thompson was the only QB to attempt a pass, and as best I recall didnt leave the game until the second to last or last possession of the contest.

So if someone wants to attribute the losses to inexperience, which is valid, then that lays at DMac's feet.

I predict next year we'll be having the same concerns as to why it is by week 4 or 5 that our O line still looks like a colander out there and our QB keeps having to pick himself up off the ground.

Rick

bleedgreen4ever · October 26, 2014

Last year we had 5 to 6 blowout wins depending on your definition of a blowout, that this staff REFUSED to get many of the inexperienced some experience.
For example, last year we beat Southern Miss 55-14. Yet Thompson was the only QB to attempt a pass, and as best I recall didnt leave the game until the second to last or last possession of the contest.
So if someone wants to attribute the losses to inexperience, which is valid, then that lays at DMac's feet.
I predict next year we'll be having the same concerns as to why it is by week 4 or 5 that our O line still looks like a colander out there and our QB keeps having to pick himself up off the ground.
Rick

Well, I think it's a mixure. We are, after all, one of the youngest teams in college football. But, I agree that many of these players could have had more experience in some of the last year's games. I am not, by any means, a blind believer in coach Mac and staff. So far I haven't seen anything outstanding from his tenure and his overall career record is there for a reason. If we want to take this program to a new level, we might need a new coach...and perhaps a new AD who can make better hires.

GOMG2013 · October 26, 2014

Last year we had 5 to 6 blowout wins depending on your definition of a blowout, that this staff REFUSED to get many of the inexperienced some experience.
For example, last year we beat Southern Miss 55-14. Yet Thompson was the only QB to attempt a pass, and as best I recall didnt leave the game until the second to last or last possession of the contest.
So if someone wants to attribute the losses to inexperience, which is valid, then that lays at DMac's feet.
Rick

This. We had plenty of opportunities to get guys some meaningful snaps.

GOMG2013 · October 26, 2014

...because if there was someone else waiting to step up and make a difference they would have played them by now.
Rick[.
It takes a long time for Mac and staff to make adjustments. There may be better options, like with buyers and jjones. They made those adjustments too late in my opinion.

UNTexas · October 26, 2014

The thread title is good but I always ask myself why UNT can't get its act together as a program in general. The last few years infrastructure and student support is much much better but this product is unacceptable.

H-towngreen · October 26, 2014

Defense, special teams and the running game carried us last season.

We need to create 20 more TOs to catch last season(half of this seasons came in 2 games, SMU and Nichols).

We need 1300+ more rushing yards in the last 4 games to reach last seasons mark.

I have no idea how many specials teams TD's we had last season compared to this season but I would venture to say its more

MeanGreenZen · October 26, 2014

Why do people keep saying this is a young team? It is NOT! What positions are we playing freshmen and sophomores? A couple guys on the defensive line and Kishon McClain? And I'm tired of hearing people crying about losing last year's seniors. Did you think they were going to play here forever? EVERY college team loses seniors EVERY year. If EXPERIENCED COLLEGE COACH Dan McCarney with his "big ass ring" from Florida could recruit as well as TODD DODGE we could replace a senior class that included such IRREPLACEABLE players as 1 undrafted free agent that made an NFL roster. You know, some teams at our level have to replace multiple high NFL draft choices AND they keep winning. Coffee is for closers, McCarney! If you can't sell North Texas football to playmaking recruits with these facilities, this student support and the fantastic educational opportunities here, you can shove that "big ass ring" up your own rear and walk back to Iowa.

GMG24 · October 26, 2014

Why do people keep saying this is a young team? It is NOT! What positions are we playing freshmen and sophomores? A couple guys on the defensive line and Kishon McClain? And I'm tired of hearing people crying about losing last year's seniors. Did you think they were going to play here forever? EVERY college team loses seniors EVERY year. If EXPERIENCED COLLEGE COACH Dan McCarney with his "big ass ring" from Florida could recruit as well as TODD DODGE we could replace a senior class that included such IRREPLACEABLE players as 1 undrafted free agent that made an NFL roster. You know, some teams at our level have to replace multiple high NFL draft choices AND they keep winning. Coffee is for closers, McCarney! If you can't sell North Texas football to playmaking recruits with these facilities, this student support and the fantastic educational opportunities here, you can shove that "big ass ring" up your own rear and walk back to Iowa.

Bet you won't go to rudys Monday and say that to his face.