DRC: NT's defense looks to strip the Zips

OldTimer · September 23, 2006

UNT's defense looks to strip the Zips

Mean Green to get after Akron QB Getsy

09:14 PM CDT on Friday, September 22, 2006

By Brett Vito / Staff Writer

Jeremiah Chapman experienced first-hand what a potent pass rush can do for a team like North Texas.

UNT’s starting defensive end was a freshman back in 2004 when he recorded two sacks while playing along side other pass rushing stalwarts like Adrian Awasom, Evan Cardwell and Michael Pruitt in a win over Idaho that clinched the last of the Mean Green’s four consecutive Sun Belt Conference championships.

It’s that type of performance UNT is trying to bring back as the Mean Green head into their game at Akron today. The Zips feature a quarterback who likes to pass from the pocket in Luke Getsy, a senior who is averaging 238.7 yards in total offense a game.

“Akron is going to throw the ball a lot and has a good offensive line that uses the same slide protection scheme as Tulsa,” Chapman said of the team that beat UNT last week. “They have some big guys up front who are pretty good.”

Getting past that line and to Getsy could be the key to the game for UNT, which has gradually seen its once stout pass rush from its defensive line atrophy over the last few seasons.

UNT finished with 44 sacks in 2002 when the Mean Green ranked among the nation’s leaders in scoring defense behind a host of talented linemen, including Brandon Kennedy and Awasom, who now plays for the New York Giants.

Eight of UNT’s sacks came in a 27-0 loss to Texas in which the Mean Green pummeled Longhorns quarterback Chris Simms.

UNT finished with just 17 sacks in 11 games last season and finished tied for fifth out of eight teams in the Sun Belt Conference.

Through three games this season, UNT has just three sacks.

Chapman has been one of the Mean Green’s few pass rushing threats among the team’s defensive linemen the last few seasons. He finished with four sacks last season but has yet to get to the passer this year.

All three of UNT’s sacks have come from blitzing linebackers.

“We have had some problems getting to the quarterback with our defensive line but are doing a lot of blitzing,” Chapman said. “We need to pick it up with our three down linemen. It’s frustrating not to get to the quarterback, but if we can get in a groove we will be better. We have to keep working hard to get to where we want to be.”

Part of UNT’s slump among its linemen can be attributed to moving from a 4-3 defense into a 3-4, where more of the Mean Green’s pass rush comes from linebackers.

Junior Maurice Holman and sophomores Germaine Dawson and Colt Mahan all have one sack on the season.

UNT is hoping it can improve on that total against Akron with a better all-around performance defensively.

“We have to hold our coverage just a second longer,” Holman said. “We missed a lot of opportunities against Tulsa and should have had more sacks. If we execute and finish we will have more sacks.”

Holman has both of UNT’s quarterback hurries this season, plays that were a step away from being sacks.

Finishing off those plays is among the missing elements UNT’s defense needs to become a well-rounded big play unit.

Safety Aaron Weathers forced a fumble by SMU wide receiver Bobby Chase that set up UNT’s game-clinching touchdown in a 24-6 win in the second week of the season. Chapman and fellow defensive end Blake Burruss intercepted passes that helped keep UNT in its game against Tulsa before the Golden Hurricane ran away in the second half.

The Mean Green came up with two key sacks against SMU, but had just one against Tulsa and none against Texas.

UNT will need a few sacks and other big plays to stay with an Akron team that will be looking to bounce back from a loss to Central Michigan in its Mid-American Conference opener that derailed a solid start. The Zips hung with Penn State and upset North Carolina State before falling to the Chippewas.

“This will be their first home game, so I am sure they will be excited to get home and get back on track,” UNT head coach Darrell Dickey said.

UNT hopes to feature a big-play defense with an improved pass rush to match up with the Zips and get to the quarterback on a more consistent basis than in its first three games.

“Sacks are big plays,” Holman said. “It takes the energy from the offense, hypes up the defense and puts teams in bad situations. No one likes to be in third-and-long.”

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

Sliding sacks

North Texas has come up with a series of key plays early in the season, but has struggled to produce sacks. The Mean Green’s total has slid in recent seasons.

Year Games Sacks

2006 3 3*

2005 11 17

2004 12 26

2003 13 26

2002 13 44

*Note -- UNT is on pace of finish with 12 sacks.

Key player

Luke Getsy seemed destined to become a top college quarterback all the way back to his days playing for Steel Valley High School in the talent-rich state of Pennsylvania.

Thanks to a second chance at Akron, Getsy has met that potential heading into a game against North Texas today.

Getsy has led the Zips to an upset win over North Carolina State and a close call with No. 19 Penn State while piling up yards and touchdowns.

If the Mean Green are to pick up their second non-conference win of the season and head into Sun Belt Conference play on a roll, they will have to slow down the Zips’ top player.

“Getsy is a tall, big guy who throws from the pocket very well,” UNT head coach Darrell Dickey said. “And he has a veteran core of receivers to work with.”

The combination of a few big-play receivers and a talented offensive line has helped Getsy post a few impressive performances early in the season and claim a place among the top quarterbacks in college football. The senior threw for 243 yards in an upset win at North Carolina State and came back last week to throw for 375 yards in a loss to Central Michigan.

Getsy’s passing total against the Chippewas was the eighth-best in Akron history, but came on a night when he also threw three costly interceptions. CMSU’s Josh Gordy returned one of those interceptions 100 yards for a touchdown.

UNT anticipates Getsy coming back at the top of his game today.

“He’s a great quarterback who is very smart and makes plays for his team, whether it is with his arm or running the ball,” UNT linebacker Maurice Holman said. “He runs the show, he’s is the captain, he’s their man.”

Getsy appeared as if he would enjoy that success at Pittsburgh after he became the first four-year starter at quarterback in Steel Valley history. The Panthers signed Getsy after he was named first-team all-state as a senior.

Getsy started his first game of his sophomore season at Pittsburgh and saw action in six games but never found a role with the Panthers and transferred to Akron, where he has found a home.

Getsy redshirted his first year at Akron before developing into one of the MAC’s top quarterbacks. As a junior last season, Getsy threw for 3,455 yards, a total that ranked No. 8 among Division I-A quarterbacks.

The Sporting News ranked Getsy No. 10 in its rankings of the nation’s top quarterbacks heading into the season. The rating is one he is living up to so far this season.

Key matchups

UNT QB Woody Wilson vs. Akron DB John Mackey

North Texas head coach Darrell Dickey said this week that he would open up the Mean Green’s offense to take advantage of the speed and athleticism of Woody Wilson.

The sophomore quarterback began the season as a backup behind sophomore Matt Phillips but won the job after coming off the bench to lead UNT to a win over SMU in the second week of the season. Wilson scored on a 33-yard touchdown run against the Mustangs while throwing for 103 yards and rushing for another 74.

The former Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College standout gave the Mustangs fits by getting outside the pocket and making plays both running and throwing the ball. UNT will give Wilson the opportunity to make more of those plays against Akron after its offense struggled in a 28-3 loss to Tulsa last week.

The Golden Hurricane kept Wilson bottled up and limited the Mean Green to 89 yards of total offense.

Wilson completed 4 of 5 passes for 37 yards against Tulsa, but never found his way into the open field as a runner and lost 17 yards on eight carries.

Mackey will be one of the players Akron depends on to keep Wilson in check. The junior rover has 20 tackles on the season and is tied with linebacker Brion Stokes for the team lead in Akron’s 3-3-5 defense.

Mackey is not only one of Akron’s most productive players, he is also one of the Zips most experienced. The junior is in his second year as a starter and was a preseason All-MAC selection by Street and Smith’s magazine.

Akron RB Dennis Kennedy vs. UNT LB Maurice Holman

Akron’s Dennis Kenney is a rare running back who can do it all, from running the ball to catching it out of the backfield as a receiver, equally well.

The sophomore enters today’s game against North Texas as the Zips’ leading rusher with 209 yards and receiver in terms of receptions with 15.

“Their running back does a lot of the grunt work,” Holman said. “Their running back and quarterback are like a tag team duo.”

Kennedy has started to come into his own this season after signing with the Zips out of Stranahan High in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in 2004. The 5-11, 209-pound back spent his first season at Akron as a redshirt before serving as a backup last season.

A move into the starting lineup sparked Kennedy, who posted 117 yards and three touchdowns in a win over North Carolina State earlier this season.

Kennedy injured his shoulder last week in a loss to Central Michigan but should be ready for the Zips’ game against the Mean Green and Holman, UNT’s leading tackler.

Holman enters the weekend with 25 tackles, including 1.5 for losses. The junior had his best game in the Mean Green’s lone win of the season, a 24-6 triumph over rival SMU when he had 11 tackles.

Holman will start at inside linebacker for the Mean Green and will be counted on to have a big game to spark a group that will be missing a key player in backup inside linebacker Derek Mendoza. Fellow linebacker Willie Ransom is also likely out, while Brandon Monroe has been limited by turf toe.

What’s at stake

North Texas is looking to post its second non-conference win of the season and bounce back from a 28-3 loss to Tulsa last week. UNT came into its game against the Golden Hurricane on a roll after beating SMU the previous week but never got on track in a loss on the road. A win over the Zips would give UNT multiple non-conference victories for the first time since the 2003 season when the Mean Green knocked off Baylor and Troy. UNT would also head into Sun Belt Conference play on a roll with a win. Akron is also looking to regain its form from earlier in the season after losing its Mid-American Conference opener to Central Michigan last week. The Zips hung with Penn State and upset North Carolina State before dropping the last of three straight road games to open the season. A win would also give the Zips a boost in their first home game of the season.

Matching up

UNT O vs. Akron D

North Texas’ offense -- and particularly its running game -- has gone into a prolonged funk early this season while the Mean Green have searched for a new starting quarterback and tired to work out their problems along their offensive line. UNT ranks No. 118 out of 119 Division I-A teams with an average of 165.7 yards a game of total offense. UNT running back Jamario Thomas has found very little room to run and has just 161 rushing yards on the season. UNT appeared to solve one problem with the elevation of sophomore Woody Wilson into the starting role at quarterback but has several others that will be tough to address against an Akron defense that ranks 42nd nationally in total defense with an average of 287.7 yards allowed a game. The Zips held North Carolina State to 17 points earlier this season and play a 3-3-5 defense that gave UNT trouble in a loss to Tulsa last week.

Edge: Akron

Akron O vs. UNT D

North Texas’ defense has been a surprise this season. The Mean Green held SMU to six points in a win in the second week of the season and shut out Tulsa until late in the first half last week. UNT linebacker Maurice Holman and the Mean Green have come up with a series of big plays at key times, including a pair of interceptions last week. UNT will have to improve on its performance against the Golden Hurricane if the Mean Green are to knock off the Zips and their quarterback Luke Getsy. The senior ranks No. 30 nationally in total offense with an average of 238.7 yards a game. Akron has several solid skill position players around Getsy, including running back Dennis Kennedy. The sophomore is expected to be at full strength today after injuring his shoulder last week.

Edge: Akron

Coaching

Akron head coach J.D. Brookhart and North Texas head coach Darrell Dickey have seen their seasons unfold in similar fashion. Both lost their first game, posted a big win in the second and a disappointing loss in the third. UNT opened with a loss to Texas, beat rival SMU and then lost at Tulsa. Akron lost to Penn State, upset North Carolina State and then lost its conference opener to Central Michigan. Brookhart won the MAC title last season, while Dickey won four Sun Belt Conference titles from 2001-04. Brookhart has the edge based on having the latest conference title and an overall better record.

Edge: Akron

mad dog · September 23, 2006

Keys to Watch:

1). How many yards are being picked up on first down? A team that gains yards (even a few) on first down will statistically be far more likely to convert a first down opportunity. Not just from a pure distance perspective, but also as it relates to the run/pass option on second or third and short.

2). Who is making the tackles? If the DL and the LBs are getting lots of tackles, there's likely a problem with the offensive line. If the LBs and DBs are getting the most tackles, the Offensive line is doing its job and either the RB is having an off day or they are crowding the line.

3). How often does Woody Wilson have to move around in the pocket or scramble? Does he have time to set his feet and throw the ball, or is he throwing on the run?

4). Are the Zips going to run gap-responsibility contain or blitz? Keep in mind that these can look the same during the play, but the difference can be seen at the snap of the ball. Are the defensive players rushing across the LOS the instant the ball is snapped (blitz), or are they waiting, even for half a second, to read the OL step off/step back before they cross the LOS(contain)?

5). How much time does Chad Rose/Kelvin Drake have at the line to call out blocking assignments? Is Woody Wilson giving his team enough time to read the defense, or is it hurried?