DRC large article, QB question, practice schedules

[OldTimer]

QB question looms large for UNT

Mean Green open fall two-a-days on Monday

09:37 PM CDT on Saturday, August 5, 2006

By Brett Vito / Staff Writer

In some ways, not a whole lot has changed since a year ago, when North Texas was preparing to report for the beginning of fall practice.

The Mean Green had what coach Darrell Dickey said were more questions than at just about any point during his tenure at UNT, none of which was more critical than determining who would start at quarterback.

That same question is among the top concerns once again as UNT opens practice Monday with a workout for freshmen at 8 a.m. and a varsity practice to follow at 4 p.m.

“At certain places we feel better this year than last year; in others we felt better last year,” Dickey said. “At quarterback we were unsure of what would happen. Now we know the three guys we will be working with. Hopefully they will stay healthy and improve.”

Daniel Meager started every game last season as a redshirt freshman and is back, along with Matt Phillips, a sophomore who came off the bench and played a significant amount as a true freshman.

Woody Wilson, a transfer from Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College, is also expected to compete for the starting job after transferring at the semester break and participating in spring practice.

All three quarterbacks will have 25 days of practice to show what they can do before the Mean Green take a day off prior to their opener against defending national champion Texas on Sept. 2 in Austin.

The performance of UNT’s quarterbacks could well determine if the Mean Green are able to bounce back from a 2-9 season in 2005 and return to the form that saw UNT win four straight Sun Belt Conference titles from 2001-04.

UNT finished last in the Sun Belt in both passing, with an average of 129.3 yards per game, and passing efficiency, with a 92.9 rating in 2005. The Mean Green’s passing total was only slightly higher in 2004 at 157.6 yards per game, but UNT ranked third in the Sun Belt in passing efficiency with a 134.4 rating that season.

Quarterback play wasn’t the only problem in 2005, but it certainly didn’t help matters in a season that saw the Mean Green lose five Sun Belt games by seven points or less.

A lack of experience was a large part of the Mean Green’s struggles. UNT started the 2005 season without a quarterback who had taken a snap in a college game after potential starter Joey Byerly failed to meet NCAA eligibility requirements over the summer.

Meager was thrown into the starting lineup, even though he had missed most of spring practice, while Phillips came off the bench.

Add in Wilson, who started at Coffeyville last season, and the Mean Green have a plethora of experience compared to a year ago.

“I feel a hundred times better than I did in two-a-days last year,” Phillips said following spring practice. “The guys have confidence in me and know what I can do.”

Phillips and Wilson went head-to-head in spring workouts after Meager went down with an injury for the second straight year.

“It will be night and day from last year with our quarterbacks,” UNT offensive coordinator Ramon Flanigan said after spring practice. “There is nothing like going out there and being under fire in a game. Both Matt and Daniel had a chance to do that and Woody played quarterback in a very competitive junior college conference. We are excited about all three of those guys.”

Flanigan said UNT could rotate its quarterbacks, but whoever is on the field will work with one of the most talented supporting casts of skill position players the Mean Green have featured in several years.

UNT has former national rushing champion Jamario Thomas back at running back in addition to preseason All-Sun Belt selection Johnny Quinn. The senior heads perhaps the best group of wide receivers UNT has had in the Dickey era.

Dickey said finding a way to utilize those receivers effectively one of the key challenges of fall practice. The first step will be picking a starting quarterback or a rotation of two or three that can take advantage of opportunities to throw the ball effectively in a run-based offense.

“We have Jamario and some great receivers,” Phillips said this summer. “It’s a matter of jelling.”

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

The book on UNT’s quarterbacks

The following is a look at the strengths and weaknesses of the Mean Green’s three candidates to start at quarterback:

Daniel Meager -- The sophomore showed good speed and made a few key plays in UNT’s two wins after being thrown to the wolves last year as a redshirt freshman starter. He also has the most Division I experience of UNT’s quarterbacks.

Matt Phillips -- The sophomore has the ability to sit in the pocket and deliver the ball on time to receivers, has the strongest arm among UNT quarterbacks and has shown leadership qualities. While he is not fast even by quarterback standards, Phillips has shown a presence in the pocket and is not afraid to take a hit.

Woody Wilson -- Perhaps the fastest and most elusive quarterback UNT has had in the Dickey era. Wilson capitalizes on his speed in the running game, but also takes chances that put him at risk for injury. Wilson has a good arm and has shown the ability to do everything necessary for a quarterback in UNT’s system.

Five questions for UNT

The Mean Green’s quarterback situation is just one of the dilemmas UNT will face in fall practice. Here are five others named by coach Darrell Dickey:

Developing depth on the offensive line -- UNT will return three starters now that left tackle Josh Alexander is out for the season with a knee injury -- preseason All-Sun Belt guard Dylan Lineberry, Joel Foster and Chad Rose. Jeremy Brown was a part-time starter. UNT lacks experience beyond those players and will have to develop backups who can push the starters and step in if necessary.

Finding a solution at tight end -- The competition for the starting job is wide open, even though UNT has two seniors returning in Beau Davidson and Robert Harmon. JUCO transfer Brian Carlson and freshman Bryant Seidle could challenge for playing time in an offense that has used two and three tight ends in the past. UNT struggled at the position last season.

Finding a backup running back -- UNT tried to recruit a running back to spell Jamario Thomas after last season, but came up empty on national signing day. Fullback James Mitchell has contributed at tailback in the past and Deavin Cox moved from defensive back to running back in spring practice and showed some ability. Redshirt freshman Evan Robertson is also a possibility.

Sorting out the bandit position -- UNT has been working on changing from a 4-3 base defense into a 3-4 scheme since new defensive coordinator Fred Bleil arrived after last season. The finishing touch could be solidifying one last outside linebacker/defensive end spot. Senior Willie Ransom and sophomore Eddrick Gilmore were expected to compete for the job, but Ransom missed spring practice and Gilmore did not meet NCAA eligibility requirements. The job is Ransom’s to lose, but he will have to prove that he is ready and can stay healthy. The former Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College standout has struggled to stay on the field since he transferred two years ago.

Sorting out the secondary -- UNT returns one proven star in the secondary in safety Aaron Weathers, the Newcomer of the Year in the Sun Belt Conference last season. Steve Warren moved from quarterback to safety and rotated with Roderick Cotton at the other safety spot. Both Warren and Cotton return. The situation at cornerback is less certain after UNT lost both of its starters. JUCO transfer Roy Loren, Dominique Green, Antoine Bush and Desmon Chatman are among the players expected to compete for a starting job.

UNT practice schedule

The following is UNT’s schedule for practice leading up to its opener at Texas on Sept. 2. All workouts will take place at the Mean Green Athletic Center or Fouts Field.

Aug. 7 -- 8 a.m. (freshmen only) in helmets; 4 p.m. (varsity) in helmets

Aug. 8 -- 8 a.m. (freshmen only) in helmets; 4 p.m. (varsity) in helmets

Aug. 9 -- 8 a.m. in half pads

Aug. 10 -- 8 a.m. in half pads

Aug. 11 -- 8 a.m. in full pads

Aug. 12 -- 8 a.m. in full pads, 4 p.m. in half pads

Aug. 13 -- 8 a.m. in full pads

Aug. 14 -- 8 a.m. in full pads, 4 p.m. in half pads

Aug. 15 -- 8 a.m. in full pads

Aug. 16 -- 8 a.m. scrimmage, 7:30 p.m. in half pads

Aug. 17 -- 8 a.m. in full pads

Aug. 18 -- 8 a.m. in full pads, 7:30 p.m. in half pads

Aug. 19 -- 8 a.m. scrimmage

Aug. 20 -- 4 p.m. practice in half pads

Aug. 21 -- 8 a.m. practice in full pads, 4 p.m. practice in half pads

Aug. 22 -- 8 a.m. practice in full pads

Aug. 23 -- 8 a.m. practice in full pads, 4 p.m. practice in half pads

Aug. 24 -- 8 a.m. practice in full pads

Aug. 25 -- 8 a.m. practice in full pads, 4 p.m. practice in half pads

Aug. 26 -- 7 p.m. scrimmage

Aug. 27 -- 4 p.m. practice

Aug. 28 -- 3 p.m. practice

Aug. 29 -- 3 p.m. practice in full pads

Aug. 30 -- 3 p.m. practice in full pads

Aug. 31 -- 3 p.m. practice in helmets

Sept 1 -- off

[Danish42]

Will there be any other walk-on for the start of Fall Practice or is this just done in the Spring? Also very few player that walk-on stay with the team. Is this correct?

[OldTimer]

Will there be any other walk-on for the start of Fall Practice or is this just done in the Spring? Also very few player that walk-on stay with the team. Is this correct?

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I don't know the number (there is an overall NCAA limitation of all players over 100) but NT is well known for having walkons., as many as 10 some falls with only a very few at mid-term....and has had several reallly become stars. When you consider they can live at home in the metroplex, pay state college tuition instead of private schools like SMU and TCU it is much more economical to go to NT and our reputation for walk ons is well known amoung area coaches.

[FirefightnRick]

Nathan Tune, the offensive star for the North team during the Texas High School Coaches Association's All Star game is walking on.

Rick

[adman]

Nathan Tune, the offensive star for the North team during the Texas High School Coaches Association's All Star game is walking on.

Rick

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Where do you think he'll get a look? Will it be at QB or are our hands so full there the only way he'll get a shot is if someone goes down? And from what was seen in the All-Star game/HS season is he at the level that Meager & Phillips were at when they were that age?

[WeatherfordMeanGreen]

This quarterback thing reminds me of how underrated Scott Hall was.

[FirefightnRick]

This quarterback thing reminds me of how underrated Scott Hall was.

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B-I-N-G-O!!!!!!!

Rick