North Texas Looking For Answers From Scrimmage

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Football: UNT looking to answer questions at scrimmage

09:23 AM CDT on Saturday, August 27, 2005

By Brett Vito / Staff Writer

Over the course of the last three weeks, Daniel Meager and Matt Phillips have had their arms and their egos evaluated.

They have been prodded and pressured in practice.

None of those challenges has resulted in a separation that has led North Texas head coach Darrell Dickey to make a decision on which of his quarterbacks will start when the Mean Green take on LSU on Sept. 3 in Baton Rouge, La.

The competition is still open heading into a scrimmage at 8:30 a.m. today at Fouts Field. The workout could determine how the Mean Green answer a few questions heading into the season.

“There are still positions up for grabs,” Dickey said. “We have some guys who are doing well, but we are still trying to improve and evaluate guys. We are still trying to figure out ways to get our best 11 players on the field for every snap.”

Meager started fall practice as the favorite to win the starting job due in part to the year he spent with the Mean Green as a redshirt last season.

Phillips signed with UNT late and entered fall practice as a long shot to play during his freshman season.

The former San Angelo Lake View standout has quickly overcome those odds with a solid performance that has vaulted him past players with more experience. When UNT’s two-a-day practice schedule came to an end Friday, Phillips was still in the middle of the competition for the starting job.

Both Meager and Phillips had their first chance to play in UNT’s scrimmage last week and will look to build on their performance today.

“This will be a good opportunity for both of us to show what we have to offer,” Meager said. “I felt comfortable in our first scrimmage. I just have to get used to the speed of the game.”

While the quarterback spot is the most intriguing of the position battles still taking place, it is not the only competition still underway. The following is a list of several other key questions that Mean Green will try to answer today.

Will Cobbs or Thomas start?

Running backs Patrick Cobbs and Jamario Thomas will both see significant playing time this season.

The question is who will start and how will carries be divided up? Cobbs has looked terrific throughout fall workouts and appears to be fully recovered from a knee injury that cut his 2004 season short after two games.

Thomas has also played well, but has missed time with a hamstring injury.

UNT’s coaches will get a better idea of how they will use both players against LSU after seeing them play today.

Who starts at safety?

UNT has a long history of featuring some of the best — not to mention hardest hitting —safeties in the Sun Belt Conference.

The departure of Jonas Buckles and Markeith Knowlton left both starting jobs up for grabs. Aaron Weathers has been impressive and is in position to claim a starting job in his first season with UNT after transferring from Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College.

Roderick Cotton entered fall practice listed as a starter, but has been challenged by several other players, including freshman Kartay Agbottah.

UNT’s new starters will have the advantage of playing with a pair of veteran players at cornerback in T.J. Covington and converted wide receiver Ja’Mel Branch.

“Our safeties have proved themselves all camp,” Covington said. “Aaron stepped up and Cotton will help us. We feel really good with them back there.”

How deep is the offensive line?

UNT is still trying to determine just how deep it is along its offensive line.

The Mean Green have several proven players, including guard Dylan Lineberry and tackle Joel Foster, who should start. Tackle Jeremy Brown and center Chad Rose have also shown potential.

The question UNT’s coaches want to answer is how many backups they feel comfortable turning to in case of injury or to spell starters.

Who is the next Andy Blount?

UNT will look at three or four players to rotate at tight end, which could help replace Andy Blount.

Blount was the Mean Green’s second-leading receiver last year with 427 yards and five touchdowns on 30 catches.

Beau Davidson and Robert Harmon entered the fall as UNT’s starters, but have been challenged by Northeastern Oklahoma A&M transfer Jimmy Chaney and freshman Charles Brown.

Dickey said UNT would like to rotate players at tight end throughout the season to take advantage of their strengths.

Chaney and Davidson are former offensive linemen who could help clear the way for UNT’s running game. Harmon has good size, while Brown could be a threat in the passing game.

Who will emerge on the defensive line?

UNT entered fall practice with the challenge of trying to replace four starters along its defensive line, including Adrian Awasom who is now with the New York Giants.

The Mean Green may not have a player of Awasom’s caliber this season. The change is one UNT plans to make up for with a host of players.

“We are going to be rolling guys there throughout the season as much as we ever have to keep them fresh,” Dickey said. “We have good players at each position who lack experience. We are going to try to grow them all up fast.”

UNT will look to see if another player with the ability to change the face of a game will emerge in the scrimmage or the first few weeks of the season.

Defensive end Willie Ransom is among the players with the potential to develop into UNT’s next elite lineman.

The former Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College standout is one of several players who will have a chance to make his case for a starting job today.