In The Spotlight - NT at Middle Tennessee State

[MeanGreen61]

North Texas at Middle Tennessee St.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

September 09, 2005

Daniel Meager is preparing for his first ever college start.

Middle Tennessee may have the most returning starters in the Sun Belt, but only one really matters: junior quarterback Clint Marks.

Marks finished last season second in the nation in completion percentage, and began this year by completing 12 of 18 passes for 117 yards and a touchdown against Alabama.

“He was probably the best thrower in our conference last year,” NT defensive coordinator Kenny Evans said. “It is a lot of short passes and a controlled passing game. They are hoping they can get it to the right people and get a block here or there and turn it into a big play.”

Last week, Marks used seven different receivers in his 12 completions, including five to senior wideout Cleannord Saintil. Evans expects a similar game plan from the Blue Raiders and hopes his young secondary can rise to the challenge.

“They are going to throw the ball a lot,” Evans said. “We have a lot of new faces out there and they are going to have to get their jitters out early and play.”

While the Mean Green is forced to deal with the conference’s most efficient quarterback, the Middle Tennessee running game has struggled. Last year, the Blue Raiders running attack finished ninth out of 10 teams in the Sun Belt, and last week the Middle Tennessee running backs gained a total of 59 yards on 19 carries. Although it may seem one-dimensional, NT coach Darrell Dickey says it is very efficient.

“Their quarterback Clint Marks is a good player,” Dickey said. “They have a good scheme with the players to do it. We are going to have to be on top of things.”

On the opposite side of the ball, Middle Tennessee may be returning ten starters, but it is the Mean Green that is confident entering the game.

“We have had some success against that defense,” NT offensive coordinator Ramon Flanigan said. “It would be different if they were returning a lot of guys that held us in check the last few years. But we have had some success and we feel comfortable with our guys doing what we do on offense.”

The Mean Green plans on using at least two quarterbacks this week, redshirt freshman Daniel Meager will get the start with true freshman Matt Phillips coming off the bench.

“They are both going to play,” Flanigan said. “We are going to see how the game goes. We want to get Phillips some action as early as we can. We have a lot of confidence in both of those guys and Kellen Haynes also if he gets pressed to play.”

With the famed NT running game, the Mean Green is expecting to see a 5-2 defense from the Blue Raiders. But Flanigan insists that even with an inexperienced quarterback, the game plan will remain the same.

“We are going to do what we have done the last few years,” Flanigan said. “We are going to run the ball if we can and if they put a lot of people in the box we are going to throw the ball.”

If forced to throw the ball, the Mean Green offense has high expectations for the performance of its wide receivers.

“Everybody in the country knows about Patrick [Cobbs] and Jamario [Thomas] but the biggest surprise is going to be how good our receivers are,” Flanigan said. “We have more speed at receiver than we have ever had. A lot of people don’t know about it yet.”

Over the past four seasons, NT leads the series 4-0. But the four games were decided by a total of 27 points. After seeing the Blue Raiders against Alabama last Saturday, Dickey expects a game similar to those of the past.

“From what I have seen of their team, and what I am anticipating from our team,” Dickey said. “It will be another close, hard fought, hard-hitting physical game that will go down to the wire.”

[PlummMeanGreen]

“We have had some success against that defense,” NT offensive coordinator Ramon Flanigan said. “It would be different if they were returning a lot of guys that held us in check the last few years. But we have had some success and we feel comfortable with our guys doing what we do on offense.”

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Exactly the same sentiments some of us have been posting about the MUTS "D",

Coach Flanagan.

GMG!

Edited September 9, 2005 by PlummMeanGreen