DRC: offseason key for NT..recruiting talk

[OldTimer]

Brett Vito: Upcoming offseason key for UNT

07:23 AM CST on Monday, November 21, 2005

Brett Vito

The timing seemed strange as the fireworks echoed through Fouts Field on Saturday night.

UNT had just lost another close game to a Sun Belt Conference opponent, adding one more blow in a nightmare season for the Mean Green. UNT fell behind Louisiana-Monroe early and couldn’t complete a late rally.

And yet, head coach Darrell Dickey took a little time to talk about what he feels is a bright future for the Mean Green.

Dickey pointed out – as he has on numerous occasions this season – that the Mean Green have several talented young players.

Quarterback Matt Phillips threw for 217 yards, marking the best outing for a freshman in the Dickey era. Sophomore wide receiver Brandon Jackson finished with eight catches for 113 yards. Both totals were career highs.

Junior Johnny Quinn cleared the 2,000-yard mark in receiving yards for his career after making a series of remarkable grabs and still has a year left to play for the Mean Green.

Junior linebacker Phillip Graves finished with a career high 16 tackles.

Sophomore running back Jamario Thomas has struggled this year but won the national rushing title as a freshman.

“I feel good about a lot of the kids on this team and what we can accomplish in the future based on what I have been seeing here as of late,” Dickey said. “We have a good future ahead of us, but so far it hasn’t been enough.”

Dickey has a point. UNT does have some talent coming back for next season.

The question is whether the Mean Green can fill some key voids over the next few months to supplement that talent. This team may have solid young players, but it also has some glaring weaknesses.

Some would like a wholesale change in the coaching staff, but that doesn’t seem likely. So in the spirit of the holiday season, here is what should be on every UNT fan’s wish list this December and the offseason.

A start in the finale for Matt Phillips

Dickey said after Saturday’s loss to ULM that there is a good chance Phillips will start the Mean Green’s season finale against Arkansas State on Saturday.

At this point, it’s the only logical scenario.

Phillips has posted back-to-back solid outings, including throwing for 138 yards against Florida Atlantic two weeks ago.

At this point Phillips deserves a chance to show what he can do as a starter. UNT couldn’t get any worse throwing the ball.

For those of you keeping score at home, UNT ranks No. 116 nationally in passing offense (120.4 yards a game) and 113th in passing efficiency (89.7 rating).

UNT’s struggles are not all the fault of embattled starter Daniel Meager, but Phillips has earned his shot.

Help up front

UNT’s offensive and defensive lines were strengths in the past but have struggled this year.

The Mean Green are undersized on both sides of the ball, which has contributed to UNT ranking dead last in the Sun Belt in rushing defense, with an average of 214 yards allowed in six conference games.

UNT also only ranks fourth in the Sun Belt in rushing offense with an average of 158 yards a game, a stunning statistic considering the Mean Green feature the last two national rushing champions.

UNT lost a group of key players up front last season, including center Andy Brewster, defensive end Adrian Awasom and interior defensive linemen Michael Pruitt and Evan Cardwell.

The Mean Green have yet to replace those players adequately and must address that problem in recruiting during the offseason.

Assistants who are dynamic recruiters

UNT will have at least one opening on its staff with the departure of recruiting coordinator/running backs coach Bruce Bell, who is retiring after national signing day.

The loss to Bell should be a scary thought for UNT fans considering he has not only coached Thomas and senior Patrick Cobbs to national rushing titles, he has also served as the Mean Green’s recruiting coordinator since 2003.

UNT signed its best class in years that season when Thomas, Jackson and five other players who are starting signed on with the Mean Green.

UNT will have to replace Bell, and who knows if he will be the only coach to leave. Whoever takes over for Bell won’t have the advantage of selling a winning program on a bowl streak.

A few dynamic personalities who could sell the program couldn’t hurt the cause.

If Dickey can address those concerns, the Mean Green could resume their place among the Sun Belt elite possibly end their non-conference struggles. If those problems go unaddressed, it could be a tough climb back to another winning season for the Mean Green, even with a host of talented young players coming back next year.

BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. His e-mail address is bvito@dentonrc.com