Yet Another DRC Practice Article

[DeepGreen]

I haven't seen this one posted yet.

http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/...t.2260217d.html

Football: Mean Green start spring practice

UNT has many questions to answer on the field

08:40 AM CST on Monday, February 13, 2006

By Brett Vito / Staff Writer

In the weeks before he officially joined North Texas’ staff, Fred Bleil spent hours holed up in a film room studying the Mean Green’s defense.

DRC/Gary Payne

University of North Texas running back Jamario Thomas (20) runs the ball against Troy's Brannon Condren (28) during the second quarter of a game on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2005 at Fouts Field. Thomas and the Mean Green return to practice for their spring sessions today, hoping to put the struggles of 2005 behind them.

What Bleil saw convinced him that UNT could be a solid unit once again with a few tweaks in its approach and some added experience.

UNT’s new defensive coordinator will get his first chance to see if that is indeed the case today when UNT opens what could be its most intriguing spring practice sessions in years. The Mean Green will head out at 3 p.m. for the first of 12 practices and two scrimmages before the spring game on March 9.

“I watched a lot of tape and there is talent here,” Bleil said. “There were a lot of freshmen and sophomores playing last season. If you have good kids, and we do, that experience will help.”

One of the changes Bleil is considering is moving UNT from a 4-3 alignment into the 3-4 set the Mean Green used about 25 percent of the time last season. The way UNT develops in the 3-4 will be just one of a few intriguing storylines of spring practice.

Head coach Darrell Dickey will be back with the team just days after having his gallbladder removed, the battle for the starting quarterback job that lingered last year will continue and a few young defensive backs will have a chance to make a case for a starting job.

And then there is the most pertinent question of all: Can UNT bounce back from a stunning 2-9 finish in 2005?

UNT won four straight Sun Belt Conference titles from 2001-04 before falling off in dramatic fashion last season. Dickey promised changes after the Mean Green finished tied for last in the Sun Belt standings last season.

Dickey has already made a few changes to his staff, including bringing Bleil back to replace former defensive coordinator Kenny Evans, who was promoted to assistant head coach. UNT still has two openings that Dickey expects to fill in the next few days.

Those hires will give the Mean Green’s staff a new look. Dickey is hoping his team will also have a new look and a renewed hunger after missing out on a trip to the New Orleans Bowl for the first time in four years last season.

“I am always excited for spring,” Dickey said. “It’s exciting to see who has matured and is ready to continue developing.”

Dickey is expected to preside over practice, despite having only a few days to recover from having the gallbladder he had removed on Feb. 4. He isn’t the only one who will be recovering during spring workouts. Offensive lineman Dylan Lineberry and defensive ends Jeremiah Chapman and Willie Ransom are among a host of players recovering from injuries who will not participate.

Wide receiver Johnny Quinn is competing with the track squad and will also miss time with the football team.

UNT knows what it will get from those veteran players. The same can’t be said of what Bleil hopes will be an improved defense in his second stint with the Mean Green.

Bleil worked as UNT’s defensive coordinator from 1996-97, when the Mean Green finished among the top three in the Big West in scoring defense.

Bleil said he wouldn’t change much of UNT’s terminology, but will switch to some of the schemes he is more familiar with. One could be the 3-4 that would allow the Mean Green to get an additional linebacker on the field.

UNT outside linebackers Phillip Graves (second team) and Maurice Holman (honorable mention) were both members of the all-conference team last season. UNT will also have Shawn Early back for next season after he finishes recovering from a knee injury he suffered during spring last season.

The Mean Green do not have nearly the same depth along their defensive front. Chapman, a second-team defensive end, was the only UNT defensive lineman named to the all-conference team.

The 3-4 requires bigger defensive lineman who can take on double teams and hold up at the line of scrimmage. UNT could look to Sky Pruitt and Isaac Thomas, who both weigh more than 290 pounds, to fill that role in the 3-4. Both were limited last year. Pruitt had shoulder problems, while Thomas was never healthy after a bout with dehydration in fall practice.

“We have the right type of linemen for the 3-4,” Bleil said. “We won’t need as may of them in the 3-4 and we can move them around to make it work.”

Dickey gave Bleil the go-ahead to see how the Mean Green fare in the set.

“We have talked about going to the 3-4 more,” Dickey said. “I will let the defensive coaches decide what fits our personnel the best and works against the style of offenses we see. … We have talked about basing out of the 3-4.”

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

UNT spring practice primer

The North Texas football team will face several key questions during spring practice after finishing with a 2-9 record last season. The following is a look at a few.

Who starts at quarterback?

Redshirt freshman Daniel Meager and freshman Matt Phillips split time last season, but neither seized control of the starting job heading into the 2006 season. UNT added Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College standout Woody Wilson to the mix on national signing day. Wilson will have an opportunity to win the job, but will lack the experience at UNT Meager and Phillips enjoy. The battle could be one of the most interesting of the spring.

What will UNT’s offensive line look like?

The Mean Green struggled at times to get its signature running game rolling last season and gave up 21 sacks. UNT will bring back several players, including first team All-Sun Belt Conference guard Dylan Lineberry. The question is who will join the senior on the Mean Green’s front line. JUCO transfer Trent Stanley earned second-team NJCAA All-America honors at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College and transferred to UNT at semester. He could end up at guard or move to center. Massive 325-pound lineman Ajani Banks will also have an opportunity to compete for a spot in the rotation after redshirting last season. Both could be part of a new-look lineup.

Is Jamario ready to roll?

Jamario Thomas struggled most of last season with a hamstring injury and also weighed well over 200 pounds. The 2004 national rushing champion said late last season that he wanted to drop some weight and return to form for his junior year, when he weighed in at 195. Spring practice will be Thomas’ first opportunity to show he is back.

What about the defensive line?

UNT featured one of the dominant defensive lines in the Sun Belt Conference before falling off last season when the Mean Green ranked last in conference with an average of 220.9 rushing yards allowed a game. The total was stunning considering UNT led the league with an average of 104.7 rushing yards allowed per game in 2003, just two years prior. The falloff could be attributed in part to UNT’s defensive line. The unit will be missing several key players due to injury during spring practice, including ends Willie Ransom and Jeremiah Chapman. UNT will begin to look for solutions while those players recover from offseason surgery.

Can someone corner the market?

UNT’s starting cornerbacks Ja’Mel Branch and T.J. Covington both completed their careers last season, leaving UNT looking for a pair of replacements. Roy Loren looked like a prime candidate to grab a spot during spring practice after he committed to play for the Mean Green on National Signing Day but will now have to wait for his opportunity. UNT coach Darrell Dickey announced in February that Loren won’t join the team until the fall. That will leave the door open for a host of young players to show what they can do, including Dominique Green, Korey Washington and Antoine Bush.

Will the offense look different?

UNT coach Darrell Dickey said on National Signing Day that the Mean Green would try to work the shotgun passing game and the zone read option play into their offense. JUCO quarterback Woody Wilson, who transferred to UNT at the semester break, seems well suited to the option attack because of his speed.

What about those last five scholarships?

UNT has made a habit of signing a few players after seeing what it has on hand during spring practice. Former All-Sun Belt Conference center Andy Brewster and second team all-conference safety Aaron Weathers both signed with UNT well after National Signing day. UNT still has plenty of spots left. Dickey said he would consider using them after making an evaluation of his roster in spring workouts.

—Brett Vito