Our Assistant of the Year?

[MeanGreenMailbox aka TFLF]

Anyone?

Edited December 29, 2016 by MeanGreenMailbox

[MGNation92]

Gotta be Reffett. I know Ekeler gets the most attention but the 3-3-5 is Reffett all the way. The defensive improvement was the biggest difference IMO

[97and03]

Not GH or Filani. I don't think it is a coincidence that our two least experienced coaches struggled this year. 

[GOMG2013]

I assume you went with Nate Brown mailbox since that was the first one choosen.  Wonder what the logic was behind that choice.  The increased interceptions must be the main reason.

He would have been my absolute last choice due to technique issues with the corners.  They all had issues looking back for the ball and that should have been corrected by the position coach.  Was there really much improvement from this year to last with the corners?  The overall scheme was better and there was more experience.

My choice may be criticized though...I know his play calling was suspect, but I picked Harrell as far as position coach.  He had to deal with the least experience and had to work with two different styles.  Compared to what we had last year, I think he did a good job.  Probably the biggest area of upgrade from last year.

[LongJim]

I went with Harrell as well, although I wish I could have picked a few others as co-winners, including some defensive folks.  I think the progress made with the QB position this year was night and day improvement, though.  Especially impressed with the success UNT had with a true frosh at QB.  Impressive.

[GOMG2013]

10 minutes ago, LongJim said:

I went with Harrell as well, although I wish I could have picked a few others as co-winners, including some defensive folks.  I think the progress made with the QB position this year was night and day improvement, though.  Especially impressed with the success UNT had with a true frosh at QB.  Impressive.

Agreed. The post was who did the best job "with his unit"  Harrell's playcalling should not factor in.  I actually saw 2 different QBs improve from game to game.  Compared to the previous coach, huge difference.

[Wag Tag]

Seth came out of Spring saying our D line will be much improved! 

Thought our middle linebackers was the weak link.

With English and frosh Hamilton next year we could really have a very strong hopefully some what dominating D line.

LaBlanc can coach them now lets see if he can recruit them. Tackles ,Tackles, Tackles!

[EagleMBA]

I voted for Ek and Reff.  Given the option, I would have added Perry. I think Special Teams/Running Backs performed very well overall. Perry doesn't get the attention he deserves, IMO.

[GOMG2013]

12 minutes ago, EagleMBA said:

I voted for Ek and Reff.  Given the option, I would have added Perry. I think Special Teams/Running Backs performed very well overall. Perry doesn't get the attention he deserves, IMO.

If we are including scheme and playcalling I agree, but we still had issues from a unit/group standpoint with our linebackers.  Safety also could have played better.  McClain was steady, but Gray did not improve and probably took a step back.  I also know we had injuries at safety and linebacker but it seemed that some of the backups actually should have played more.

[MEANGREENCOACH2]

yeah I liked the youngin from Desoto out there. #4 i believe is his number.  A little lite in the britches but he would be best served as a middle of the field type of player.  BALL HAWK.

[oldguystudent]

I gotta go with all things defense.  For all this vaunted offense we were supposed to have, it was the defense that won games or kept us close. 

[GMG24]

I chose Zack Womack, dude got guys back and playing in record times in most cases.  He took care of our athletes and for the most part besides freak football injuries we didn't have any nagging pulled muscles etc.  that is 100% due to strength and conditioning program. 

[UNT Mean Green]

2 minutes ago, GMG24 said:

I chose Zack Womack, dude got guys back and playing in record times in most cases.  He took care of our athletes and for the most part besides freak football injuries we didn't have any nagging pulled muscles etc.  that is 100% due to strength and conditioning program. 

Exactly. No doubt the best, and most important assistant is Womack. Based on listening to Wren Baker last night on the Podcast, look for some significant incremental resource allocation to Strength & Conditioning and Nutrition in the upcoming months.

[GMG24]

Just now, UNT Mean Green said:

Exactly. No doubt the best, and most important assistant is Womack. Based on listening to Wren Baker last night on the Podcast, look for some significant incremental resource allocation to Strength & Conditioning and Nutrition in the upcoming months.

You mean like our football team having their own weight room lol or a protein shake bar right outside the weight room walk out and get a smoothie made.  I know our facility is nice no doubt, but we have a long way to go to catch even middle of the pack G5 teams in some areas. 

[UNT Mean Green]

Just now, GMG24 said:

You mean like our football team having their own weight room lol or a protein shake bar right outside the weight room walk out and get a smoothie made.  I know our facility is nice no doubt, but we have a long way to go to catch even middle of the pack G5 teams in some areas. 

I am not certain if the new weight room would happen in the next couple of months, but I'd bet the plan with that weight room and facility is covered in the Master Plan. Our facility is very sub-par compared to SMU, Rice, UTEP, La Tech, etc...and nowhere near UH or the AAC schools. As a part of the IPF planning, I'd anticipate that we see Football Ops, Academics, Weight & Training Room evaluated / included as a possible part of that or a renovation to the existing building. 

The Nutrition definitely improved this year thanks to donor support (noted by Littrell several times), and that was definitely an attributing factor to the team's overall health this season. I'd expect that to take a much greater step forward, along the lines of what you are describing and having a fully funded "nutrition department" which goes well beyond the smoothie concept. 

[UNT90]

1 hour ago, oldguystudent said:

I gotta go with all things defense.  For all this vaunted offense we were supposed to have, it was the defense that won games or kept us close. 

Or lost games. Against the good offenses in this conference, the defense was pretty terrible. They were even terrible against a not so good offense in an important game  (UTEP). 

They were good against USM minus the first and second team QB, a terrible Marshall team, an FCS, and a very good Army team (1st meeting). 

Hell, they were barely good enough against an awful Rice squad. 

So let's look inside the numbers and compare this year to last:

team defense ranking 2015 - 119                           team defense ranking 2016 - 89

YPG allowed 2015 - 502.6                                          YPG allowed 2016 - 439.8

Total Rush yards 2015 - 2879                                     Total Rush yards 2016 - 3114 (one extra game)

Total Pass yards 2015 - 3152                                         Total Pass yards 2016 - 2603

Yards per play 2015 - 6.67                                                  Yards per play 2016 - 6.07

Points Per game 2015 - 41.2 (ranked 122).                            Points Per game 2016 - 32.6 (ranked 99th)

So we went from terrible to bad on defense. An improvement, no doubt, but we aren't talking the 85 Chicago Bears here...

 

Edited December 29, 2016 by UNT90

[Got5onIt]

Everyone involved with the defense. 

 

The team overall did improve, obviously, so hats off to Litrell. 

As for GH & the QB, they had a full offseason to get Morris ready, only to squash him after game one. Big block of coal in GH's stocking for that, imo. 

Edited December 29, 2016 by Got5onIt

[GOMG2013]

39 minutes ago, GMG24 said:

You mean like our football team having their own weight room lol or a protein shake bar right outside the weight room walk out and get a smoothie made.  I know our facility is nice no doubt, but we have a long way to go to catch even middle of the pack G5 teams in some areas. 

I won't go into details, but UNT has to step up identifying injuries, preventing injuries with a staff that can stretch these guys out, and better rehab.  It seems as if the bigger programs have more resources and more staff.

[Harry]

I would award this to Ekeler and Reffett.

[GTWT]

1 hour ago, UNT90 said:

Or lost games. Against the good offenses in this conference, the defense was pretty terrible. They were even terrible against a not so good offense in an important game  (UTEP). 

They were good against USM minus the first and second team QB, a terrible Marshall team, an FCS, and a very good Army team (1st meeting). 

Hell, they were barely good enough against an awful Rice squad. 

So let's look inside the numbers and compare this year to last:

team defense ranking 2015 - 119                           team defense ranking 2016 - 89

YPG allowed 2015 - 502.6                                          YPG allowed 2016 - 439.8

Total Rush yards 2015 - 2879                                     Total Rush yards 2016 - 3114 (one extra game)

Total Pass yards 2015 - 3152                                         Total Pass yards 2016 - 2603

Yards per play 2015 - 6.67                                                  Yards per play 2016 - 6.07

Points Per game 2015 - 41.2 (ranked 122).                            Points Per game 2016 - 32.6 (ranked 99th)

So we went from terrible to bad on defense. An improvement, no doubt, but we aren't talking the 85 Chicago Bears here...

 

Harry, Cerberus, You can give me a demerit just for what I'm thinking.

[TheReal_jayD]

3 hours ago, 97and03 said:

Not GH or Filani. I don't think it is a coincidence that our two least experienced coaches struggled this year. 

I think that wil help the most in year to with getting experience. its kinda like starting a true freshman. they will just get better with experience 

[MeanGreenMailbox aka TFLF]

1 hour ago, UNT90 said:

Or lost games. Against the good offenses in this conference, the defense was pretty terrible. They were even terrible against a not so good offense in an important game  (UTEP). 

They were good against USM minus the first and second team QB, a terrible Marshall team, an FCS, and a very good Army team (1st meeting). 

Hell, they were barely good enough against an awful Rice squad. 

So let's look inside the numbers and compare this year to last:

team defense ranking 2015 - 119                           team defense ranking 2016 - 89

YPG allowed 2015 - 502.6                                          YPG allowed 2016 - 439.8

Total Rush yards 2015 - 2879                                     Total Rush yards 2016 - 3114 (one extra game)

Total Pass yards 2015 - 3152                                         Total Pass yards 2016 - 2603

Yards per play 2015 - 6.67                                                  Yards per play 2016 - 6.07

Points Per game 2015 - 41.2 (ranked 122).                            Points Per game 2016 - 32.6 (ranked 99th)

So we went from terrible to bad on defense. An improvement, no doubt, but we aren't talking the 85 Chicago Bears here...

 

You don't have to be the '85 Bears to succeed in the C-USA and have an OOC that is SMU, FCS school, and Army.

I think what people point to is, FCS school 66-7'd us last year, while this year, we actually held many opponents to three and outs and held a few under 30. 

We had 50+ hung on us four times in 2015, 60+ twice.  This year, no one had 60+ on us, and only one went over 50...in the very last game.

That is a huge improvement.  It means the defense was getting off the field and giving the offense more opportunities.  Easy to see why people are choosing Ekeler, Reffett, or both.  I can see that, given what we witness in 2014 and 2015.

Personally, I chose Brad Davis, because when it became evident that the "Air Raid" was not going to be doing much "Raiding," the run game had to be cranked up, and that was his baby.  Probably should have made a choice that combined Davis and RB coach Perry.  Those were the most experienced coaches on the offensive side of the ball, and it showed up. 

Edited December 29, 2016 by MeanGreenMailbox

[UNT90]

19 minutes ago, GTWT said:

Harry, Cerberus, You can give me a demerit just for what I'm thinking.

Facts suck, I know.

If you throw in the fact that we played a service academy twice this year and zero last year, the yardage would almost equal out.

Army doesn't pass (disproportionate amount of less passing yards) and run continually (disporportionate amount of more rushing yards). That'd about make up the difference in those two categories.

Facts matter. Fact is we were 5-7. Fact is we have along way to go to be a contender in CUSA. Fact is Littrell worked a miracle to get to 5 wins. Fact is it was a huge improvement over last year. 

Just don't make it any more or less than what it should be: one step on a very long road to being a conference contender.

Nothing more, nothing less.

Edited December 29, 2016 by UNT90

[GOMG2013]

2 hours ago, GMG24 said:

You mean like our football team having their own weight room lol or a protein shake bar right outside the weight room walk out and get a smoothie made.  I know our facility is nice no doubt, but we have a long way to go to catch even middle of the pack G5 teams in some areas. 

This

[Travis]

I was kinda sad when I found out my football unit was smaller than some of the coaches football unit.

Yes, we contrasted and compared our football units.