Mean Green News from CBS Sportsline

MeanGreen61 · August 8, 2005

http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootball/teams/page/NTX

Notes & Quotes

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAME: At Middle Tennessee, Sept. 10 -- Many pundits feel like the Mean Green's 25-game conference winning streak could be in jeopardy against the Blue Raiders. North Texas typically starts off slow, and it will definitely face a stiff test against an experienced Middle Tennessee team that plays well at home.

THE MEAN GREEN WILL GO 9-2 IF: They survive a tough early schedule that features road games at LSD, Middle Tennessee and Kansas State. The conference schedule is favorable, with the exception of the road trip to Middle Tennessee.

THE MEAN GREEN WILL GO 5-6 IF: They don't rebound from what could be a difficult start and if they don't get solid quarterback play.

QUOTE TO NOTE

"We've won some close games in the conference early that kept us battling for something to play for at the end of the season, rather than playing the role of spoiler." --North Texas coach Darrell Dickey on his team's 25-game conference winning streak.

Strategy & Personnel

HEAD COACH

Darrell Dickey, 8th year at North Texas, 37-46.

MOST IMPORTANT PLAYER

RBs Jamario Thomas (sophomore) and Patrick Cobbs (senior) -- Each deserves equal billing because Cobbs led the nation in rushing in 2003 and Thomas in 2004. Cobbs missed last season with a knee injury, but will be back at 100 percent. Considering the Mean Green will start a quarterback with no experience, the duo's production is vital.

BREAKOUT STAR

LB Brandon Monroe -- The Mean Green have featured a long line of great linebackers, and the sophomore figures to follow suit. He is a preseason all-conference pick.

NEWCOMER TO WATCH

DE Willie Ransom -- The Mean Green lost their entire front four, but the junior college transfer could to fill one of the defensive end spots.

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP

Offense -- QB Daniel Meager, RB Patrick Cobbs (Jamario Thomas), FB James Mitchell, WR Johnny Quinn, WR Zach Muzzy, TE Robert Harmon, LT Joel Foster, LG Jason May, C Chad Rose, RG Dylan Lineberry, RT Jeremy Brown.

Defense -- DE Jeremiah Chapman, DT Chris Miller, DT Sky Pruitt, DE Eli Hutchinson, LB Derek Mendoza, LB Brandon Monroe, LB Shawn Early, CB T.J. Covington, CB Ja'Mel Branch, SS Cliff Higgs, FS Roderick Cotton.

ROSTER REPORT

Quarterback Joey Byerly, who earned the starting job in the spring, is academically ineligible and will miss the entire season. Junior fullback Chris Nevins and freshman lineman Micah West also are academically ineligible.

Inside Slant

Mean Green coach Darrell Dickey has a problem -- a good one, that is.

North Texas is the only team to have the nation's leading rusher in back-to-back seasons. The problem is one was senior Patrick Cobbs in 2003 and the other was sophomore Jamario Thomas.

Cobbs missed last season with a knee injury, but is back at 100 percent, meaning Dickey has to find a way to utilize both dynamic backs.

"In the past we've always had a featured back who was backed up," Dickey said. "We're going to play them both, not to the point where we're going to say he's getting 15 carries and he's getting it 15 carries.

"But we've had looked at the some things where they're both going to be in the game at the same time together. Plus, we want to give each of them a break so they're stronger in the fourth quarter."

The Mean Green, who have won 25 consecutive conference games and at least a share of four straight Sun Belt titles, are favored to repeat in 2005, but there are some question marks going into the season.

Joey Byerly was supposed to be the starting quarterback, but was ruled academically ineligible and will not play. Red-shirt Daniel Meager could earn the starting job, but regardless, whoever quarterbacks will have never taken a snap in a college game.

"It's a concern, no doubt," Dickey said. "At some point and time you're quarterback is going to have to make a play to win your a ballgame."

The Mean Green also lost their front four and three solid players in the secondary.

"We've got a lot of question marks that are going to have to be answered in two-a-days leading up to the season," Dickey said.

One area which won't be a question mark, though, is in the backfield.

UNTLifer · August 8, 2005

They survive a tough early schedule that features road games at LSD

LSD? The second game at Angel Dust is going to be a trip too!

(Sorry for the dad humor)

H-towngreen · August 8, 2005

I can't wait to see what DD has up his sleeve in using both J-mo and Cobbs together. I'm right there with you lifer that LSD trip sounds intresting.

Edited August 8, 2005 by H-towngreen

DeepGreen · August 8, 2005

I can't wait to see what DD has up his sleeve in using both J-mo and Cobbs together. I'm right there with you lifer that LSD trip sounds intresting.
←

I hear that Dickey is working on a couple of new draw plays when both RB's are in the backfield. I think they are designed when we're faced with a 3 and 15 or more. It's called the "double fake draw". Fake draw right to Jamario, then handoff to Cobbs after delay.