What Connor means to UNT

Harry · July 29, 2015

A lot of the discussion leading into the 2015 UNT Football season revolves around the quarterback position. Returning starter Andrew McNulty and juco transfer DaMarcus Smith are usually the main focus of attention and rightfully so. Not as much is said about Josh Greer, but he like Smith as a junior will have two more years left to play The Mean Green really need to win this year and it most likely would depend on these upperclassmen and their ability to move the sticks. Or maybe not?

So in hoping that Andy and DaMarcus or Josh are able to right the ship, you have to think about next year... and the year after... and the year after that...

McNulty is graduating after this season. Smith has one more year as does Greer. And then barring another transfer situation we are back to the drawing board.

Which gets me back to Connor Means who will be a redshirt freshman this year. Yes he will have 4 more years to play in the program. But why not find out what he can do now?

I really like what I have seen in Means and what he brings to the table. He has a good arm and good size at 6-4. He is not a sprinter but he can move pretty darn well for a QB. He has been in Chico Canales' system for awhile, having transferred into UNT his senior year at Deer Park and participated in spring practices. i like his fire and and spirit. He's steered clear of trouble and made good grades. With Dajon Williams leaving the program I think this is a young man that UNT really needs to give a long, hard look to and not just in warmups.

Think back to 2013 - which was by all accounts a great year - I felt UNT made a big mistake by not getting quarterbacks other than Derek Thompson reps. There were times in games that UNT had well in hand where they could have easily put another guy in. Sometimes UNT seems so concerned with ball control and turnovers that it leads them away from developing the younger guys. 2014 proved that out as there was literally not one QB with any significant game action in 2013 and it showed.

I am not saying that they have to start Means against SMU. However, with Means sitting behind McNulty, Greer and most likely Smith on the depth chart, I worry that he won't see the time of day in terms of real game action in 2015 and I think that would be a big mistake. A player like Means - if handled correctly - could impact UNT's offense in a positive way for a long time.

In this era of college teams seemingly using transfer QB's from one year to the next I hope that consideration will still be given to the talented younger guy who could develop if given the right opportunities are provided to build up his confidence and succeed.

Edited July 29, 2015 by Harry

Army of Dad · July 29, 2015

Would it hurt so bad for Means to come down with some tendinitis, severe ankle sprain, or a bruised septum?

I mean, if he's hurt "bad" enough that he can't play then he could ask for a waiver (medical redshirt). Fall practices are usually closed and we will just have to believe whatever Mac says about any injuries Means (or Chumley) might pick up...

foutsrouts · July 29, 2015

Yep, three and sometimes four year QB's can pay off in a big way, and of course I'm referring to talented FBS caliber QB's Coaches Mac/Chico. We've just got to get that position fixed going forward.

BillySee58 · July 29, 2015

Would it hurt so bad for Means to come down with some tendinitis, severe ankle sprain, or a bruised septum?
I mean, if he's hurt "bad" enough that he can't play then he could ask for a waiver (medical redshirt). Fall practices are usually closed and we will just have to believe whatever Mac says about any injuries Means (or Chumley) might pick up...

In order to get a medical redshirt/hardship waiver for this season he would also have to prove that his initial redshirt (last season) was taken because of injury as well. I don't think we can prove that with him having been suited up for every game.

UNTexas · July 29, 2015

A couple of thoughts:

- McNulty is a journeyman backup who knows the system. He isn't going to light it up but at least he knows the plays.

- Greer looked absolutely terrified last season. You can't coach swagger and I've never seen a QB play so scared. (Well, maybe the guy on Necessary Roughness who was screaming "Blow the whistle!") I hope he's matured, gained confidence, urgency, and aggression.

- Smith is new to the system but that doesn't mean a lot to me. He very well may be our guy. If all reports are accurate, including Mac himself, then he's got his head on straight, talented, but has a bit of a learning curve to deal with. He could be the man for the job.

- Means is on the active roster now. He has the size. He's got a year under Mac and had a good spring according to most reports. He sounds level headed and has potential with a lot of time left to shine.

The first two guys we're given chances and both failed. The second two are unknown and unproven. I say give the two guys a chance to prove themselves and see what they can do.

Harry · July 29, 2015

The first two guys we're given chances and both failed. The second two are unknown and unproven. I say give the two guys a chance to prove themselves and see what they can do.

That is all that I ask. Please don't let these guys dwindle away on the bench all year. Don't let a written test keep them off the field. Give them a shot.

GreenTexan13 · July 29, 2015

- Greer looked absolutely terrified last season. You can't coach swagger and I've never seen a QB play so scared. (Well, maybe the guy on Necessary Roughness who was screaming "Blow the whistle!")

haha, that's a good comparison. I think another good Greer comparison is the QB off the movie waterboy, that Bobby Boucher envisioned a head on him talking bad about his mother. And the QB was pleading with him about how he didn't talk bad about his mother in a scared voice and then gets chased down the field for a safety. (I wish I could find a clip)

NorthTexan95 · July 29, 2015

The biggest problem since McCarney has been here is that we've yet to bring in a decent starting quarterback. Perhaps Smith will be that guy ... perhaps Means. I believe the can defense take a big step forward this season. I'm hopeful that the offensive line will be at least average. I'm praying that Smith or Means prove to be the answer at quarterback.

NT91 · July 29, 2015

New black trim on the helmet?

GTWT · July 29, 2015

Judging from the experts on this board (that's right UNT90, I called you an 'expert') Mac is under pressure to win now. That means all meaningful minutes go to McNulty or Smith. Any available mop-up minutes will be used to evaluate whichever of the two didn't start.

Neither Greer nor Means get live action, and neither get many reps n practice.

FirefightnRick · July 29, 2015

Judging from the experts on this board (that's right UNT90, I called you an 'expert') Mac is under pressure to win now. That means all meaningful minutes go to McNulty or Smith. Any available mop-up minutes will be used to evaluate whichever of the two didn't start.
Neither Greer nor Means get live action, and neither get many reps n practice.

Mac is not under any pressure to win now. That's what the extension we gave him last year relieved him from....pressure.

Rick

UNTcrazy727 · July 29, 2015

Mac is not under any pressure to win now. That's what the extension we gave him last year relieved him from....pressure.

Rick

He should be under pressure, but I agree, he's not. However, if we struggle this year his seat will be very hot in 2016.

Mean_Green09 · July 29, 2015

Mean has the size, tools, and talents, but....

Can this staff develop him? I have serious doubts about this staff's ability to develop and get a QB to play a high level. They have failed to do it since their arrival. If your a HS QB and you do your homework why would you come here? Yes there is the chance to start right away, but can the coaches get me to the next level?

Travis · July 29, 2015

I don't expect to see any of means this year barring injury or a QB collapse like last year. It is McNulty or Smith. I do expect to see Means next year though.

UNT 90 Grad · July 29, 2015

New black trim on the helmet?

that's not new for practice helmets.

Mean_Green09 · July 29, 2015

New black trim on the helmet?

Chico uses that with the white to see where the QBs are looking.

FirefightnRick · July 29, 2015

That is all that I ask. Please don't let these guys dwindle away on the bench all year. Don't let a written test keep them off the field. Give them a shot.

All great points. Sadly, it's year 5 and these concerns will continue until this staff proves they can develope a QB.

Rick

Harry · July 29, 2015

All great points. Sadly, it's year 5 and these concerns will continue until this staff proves they can develope a QB.

Rick

In their defense they did develop a QB with Derek Thompson although he was actually a Dodge recruit.

Staff has been here 4 and half years. McNulty was the 1st HS QB they signed I believe that is on the roster. You are correct, the QB position has been a challenge for this regime. To me, one of the downsides of running a more conservative offense is that it is harder to attract the top QB's out of high school.

untjim1995 · July 29, 2015

He should be under pressure, but I agree, he's not. However, if we struggle this year and next his seat will be very hot in 2017.

FIFY

Mean_Green09 · July 29, 2015

In their defense they did develop a QB with Derek Thompson although he was actually a Dodge recruit.
Staff has been here 4 and half years. McNulty was the 1st HS QB they signed I believe that is on the roster. You are correct, the QB position has been a challenge for this regime. To me, one of the downsides of running a more conservative offense is that it is harder to attract the top QB's out of high school.

There will be those that will argue:

That the only QB this staff developed put up average numbers on a team that had play makers surrounding him on defense and offense. Maybe go as far to say that this staff hindered his development with poor in game play calling. Did this staff develop DT to the max of his potential or just to an acceptable level to not lose games?

Mean Green 93-98 · July 29, 2015

In their defense they did develop a QB with Derek Thompson although he was actually a Dodge recruit.

I'm not sure how much credit you give Coach Mac's staff for developing Derek. . . . Coach Mac inherited him as a player who had already had 2 years of FBS experience and had worked with Coach Dodge. And I don't see tremendous advances in the Derek Thompson who played for Todd Dodge and the Derek Thompson who played for Coach Mac.

FirefightnRick · July 29, 2015

In their defense they did develop a QB with Derek Thompson although he was actually a Dodge recruit.
Staff has been here 4 and half years. McNulty was the 1st HS QB they signed I believe that is on the roster. You are correct, the QB position has been a challenge for this regime. To me, one of the downsides of running a more conservative offense is that it is harder to attract the top QB's out of high school.

LOL,..I knew you would mention that. The thing is DT was the product of Coach Dodge first, who if anything is known for QB Developement...(Maher, Vizza, Rodge, Meager to name a few), all were record setters in college and/or high school). I guess Chico should get credit for some of DT's production as well but I couldn't say by how much.

Rick

untjim1995 · July 29, 2015

My only worry about Means is that he was red-shirted last year with the worst collection of QBs that we have seen here since the Dickey era closed up. Seriously, if the coach felt it was better to redshirt Means instead of play him over McNulty last year, that doesn't give me much confidence in Mac's opinion of Means.

I know you are talking true fresman versus junior QB who also redshirted, but seriously, McNulty is not an FBS QB. Just because he beat out Greer and Dajon in no way makes me feel good about him. Instead, it just tells me that Greer cannot play at this level and that Dajon was a round peg in a square hole known as Mac/Chico's offense.

I'd have taken my chance on Means over McNulty last season, especially after the FIU game where the coach literally wouldn't let him throw a ball in the 4th quarter because he knew he would turn it over. Means could be a Derek Thompson QB eventually. McNulty has more than proven that he cannot reach even that level of busdriver.

LOL,..I knew you would mention that. The thing is DT was the product of Coach Dodge first, who if anything is known for QB Developement...(Maher, Vizza, Rodge, Meager to name a few), all were record setters in college and/or high school). I guess Chico should get credit for some of DT's production as well but I couldn't say by how much.

Rick

The McDickney offense is very much a bore to Texas HS recruits and coaches. Ask any of them and they will tell you that. They all like McCarney and his staff, but they think his offense is from the Woody Hayes era of football, a time that most of today's football coaches were'nt even alive to see. They like his hard-hitting defense and his ability to relate to offensive linemen, but they know that the spread is run by 95% of the high schools in this state. The coaches are the first ones to tell you that the McDickney offense is absolutely no fun for the kids and that maybe one school per district runs an offense that is like ours.

I suspect that you'll continue to see us having to depend on juco QBs or HS kids from out of state to agree to come here. Especially after watching Dajon get run off, other staffs are going ot have an even easier time to recruit against us for QBs than they already had, which was very easy to begin with. Even if Chico gets fired after this season and the staff somehow blames him for the QB mess, I still doubt that the G5 schools we recruit against aren't still gonna pound on Mac's offensive strategy at UNT and ask them what offesne would be a better fit and more fun to be a part of.

Whether its been 2002-2004 or 2013, two things have held true to win at UNT at this level of play. We have to more physical than the other teams we play and we have to create turnovers. If we do, we win. If not, see 1995-2001, as well 2005-2014, sans 2013.

Aldo · July 29, 2015

I think the the ground and pound philosophy as a deterrent for QB prospects is hooey.

The top dogs in the BIG 12 sure do pass a lot and sure do run a lot (pass around 40-50 a game, rush 40-50), and that's what we see in our region (on TV).

But look at the Big 10 and CUSA (pass around 25-35- sometimes 40 and rush around 40-50). Monster lines and monster rushing attacks. That's what McCarney knows, and I'm ok with hard-nosed football.

We just need an efficient (accurate) QB that can make quick decisions, and anticipate plays.

We didn't rush enough and we couldn't pass enough because we couldn't stay on the field enough (see previous point).

We don't have to run Air Coryell here. We've got the line size, and we've got the backs. Remember last year when we had a slightly heavier line than Arkansas? Pieces are in place, there's just one missing.

Harry · July 29, 2015

I think the the ground and pound philosophy as a deterrent for QB prospects is hooey.
The top dogs in the BIG 12 sure do pass a lot and sure do run a lot (pass around 40-50 a game, rush 40-50), and that's what we see in our region (on TV).
But look at the Big 10 and CUSA (pass around 25-35- sometimes 40 and rush around 40-50). Monster lines and monster rushing attacks. That's what McCarney knows, and I'm ok with hard-nosed football.
We just need an efficient (accurate) QB that can make quick decisions, and anticipate plays.
We didn't rush enough and we couldn't pass enough because we couldn't stay on the field enough (see previous point).
We don't have to run Air Coryell here. We've got the line size, and we've got the backs. Remember last year when we had a slightly heavier line than Arkansas? Pieces are in place, there's just one missing.

You bring up a good point about Arkansas. They basically run the same system that Mac does and do it well.