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Posted

UNT's offense still trying to shake its slump

Pieces in place but chemistry, execution just haven't been there

09:41 PM CDT on Wednesday, October 4, 2006

By BRETT VITO / Denton Record-Chronicle

DENTON – The 2006 season was supposed to be North Texas' opportunity to leave behind its offensive struggles of a year ago.

Former national rushing champion Jamario Thomas is healthy for the first time since his freshman season two years ago, wide receiver Johnny Quinn is within striking distance of every major UNT career receiving record and the Mean Green has three quarterbacks with college experience.

So far that combination hasn't paid off for UNT, which enters its homecoming game against Florida International ranked last in Division I-A with an average of 177.4 yards of offense a game.

UNT offensive coordinator Ramon Flanigan and head coach Darrell Dickey said the Mean Green's problems have been because of lack of chemistry and repeated mistakes that can be corrected, not a dearth of talent.

"We are not hitting the panic button yet," Flanigan said. "Once we start executing, the points will come, the turnovers will decrease and we will win football games, which is our biggest concern."

UNT (1-4) beat SMU, 24-6, in the second week but has struggled since, despite featuring several all-conference-caliber players.

Thomas has recovered from a hamstring injury that hampered him all of last season and has shown flashes of the skills that helped him win the national rushing title in 2004. Quinn has 2,292 career receiving yards and is among eight returning offensive starters.

UNT struggled last season with a pair of quarterbacks who hadn't taken a snap in a college game – Daniel Meager and Matt Phillips – but brought both back this season and added junior college transfer Woody Wilson in the hope that he could spark an offense that averaged 14.3 points a game in 2005.

Wilson led UNT to its win over SMU but has struggled as the starter in three weeks since when the Mean Green has scored a total of just 16 points.

"We have the players we need to be good offensively, but we need to get on the same page," tight end Beau Davidson said. "I don't know what it is that is preventing us from getting to that point."

Dickey said UNT has made too many mistakes and has not jelled offensively. The Mean Green is averaging just 2.7 yards a carry behind a floundering offensive line and has 12 turnovers.

A missed assignment by UNT's line gave Middle Tennessee linebacker J.K. Sabb a free shot at Wilson's blind side on a blitz last week, resulting in a fumble and critical turnover on the fourth play of the game.

UNT picked up first downs on two of its first three plays prior to the turnover but never recovered in a 35-0 loss. The turn of events was a microcosm of the season for UNT's offense.

"We are not executing the way we are supposed to," UNT wide receiver Zach Muzzy said. "We should be there already, but it's taking us longer than we expected."

E-mail bvito@dentonrc.com

Florida International (0-5) at North Texas (1-4), 6 p.m. Saturday, Denton (no TV; KWRD-FM 100.7, KNTU-FM 88.1)

Posted

"We are not hitting the panic button yet," Flanigan said. "Once we start executing, the points will come, the turnovers will decrease and we will win football games, which is our biggest concern."

You think Ramon!!!! Wow I mean we are 5 games in and you do not have your kids executing yet. This falls on the coaches, yet they blame the players and take none on themselves, pretty arrogant on their part. RF's offense has not been executing for basically the last 20 games.

If RF or DD are not gone by the end of the year I will be sorely disappointed in RV.

Posted

"We are not hitting the panic button yet," Flanigan said. "Once we start executing, the points will come, the turnovers will decrease and we will win football games, which is our biggest concern."

I already hit the panic button.

Posted

In our four losses, we have scored an average 5.75 points a game. For the season, we have scored 9.4 pts a game. Our defense has given up 31.6 points a game.

I have been concerned about our offense in the fact that the offense has yet to score a TD in the first qtr and has scored a total of 10 points in the first half with a total of 40 points thus far in the season.

So, at what point do you hit the panic button?

Posted

In our four losses, we have scored an average 5.75 points a game.  For the season, we have scored 9.4 pts a game.  Our defense has given up 31.6 points a game.

I have been concerned about our offense in the fact that the offense has yet to score a TD in the first qtr and has scored a total of 10 points in the first half with a total of 40 points thus far in the season.

So, at what point do you hit the panic button?

For DD and Co., only when someone within the AD or a position of power within the university expresses that continued noncompetitiveness is not acceptable. Seeing as how "outside influences" don't effect the coaches, an ultimatum from RV might be the only way to get them to have a sense of urgency.

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