Drc Nt's Almost New Line Readies For Sooners

[OldTimer]

UNT's almost-new line readies for opener against Sooners

12:04 AM CDT on Thursday, August 30, 2007

By Brett Vito / Staff Writer

Spencer Leftwich appears to be in a tough situation heading into North Texas' opener Saturday at Oklahoma.

UNT's offensive line coach has three sophomores and two redshirt freshmen slated to make the first starts of their college careers against one of the nation's top defensive teams. The position is one Leftwich knows well from his first stint at UNT, when he had to teach a group of relatively inexperienced players named Brewster, Zuniga, Turney and Randall what it would take to succeed on the Division I level.

The Mean Green can only hope Leftwich's latest rebuilding project is as successful as his first in 2001. His first group of inexperienced linemen developed into the core of a unit that helped pave the way for UNT's four-year run as Sun Belt Conference champions.

"We are in the same situation as when I was here the first time," Leftwich said. "We had a lot of young players that kept getting better and better. This group reminds me a lot of those guys, and when it was all over with those guys played in bowl games."

Leftwich's challenge will be even larger this time around. In 2001, center Andy Brewster started as a redshirt freshman while guard Jonah Bense ended the year as a starter after transferring from Western Arizona Junior College.

Zuniga was in his second year as a starter at guard while Turney was in his second season at tackle. Only tackle J.R. Randle had more than a year of experience in the lineup after starting the two previous seasons at tackle.

This time, the only players with starting experience Leftwich has to work with are backups Chad Rose and Adam Venegas. Sophomores Kelvin Drake, Robert Peachey and Tyler Bailey played some last season and are slated to start for the first time.

Guard Esteban Santiago and tackle Matthew Menard have never played a down of college football and are scheduled to start.

"Those are the guys who have earned their spots in the starting lineup," UNT head coach Todd Dodge said. "We know we are going to go as our offensive line goes. We are going to have to be patient at times, but I have a lot of faith in those guys."

That faith is based in part on the experience UNT's young players have gained in the past few months, beginning in spring practice. The Mean Green is moving into a spread offense this season after nine years in a run-based system.

UNT's success will be based largely on its ability to protect the quarterback.

"The biggest adjustment for me has been coming out of a two-point stance instead of a three-point stance," Peachey said. "You are already standing up, so that makes the job easier."

Menard has faced UNT's Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference defensive end Jeremiah Chapman every day in practice and said he has improved dramatically because of the challenge. Menard said feels much more confident now than at the beginning of spring workouts.

"I have learned a lot from coach Leftwich," Menard said. "I am prepared to start."

UNT will throw its new offensive line into the fire against Oklahoma, which enters the season ranked No. 8 in both the Associated Press and USA Today polls.

"This bunch has been in the same spots since two-a-days," Leftwich said. "It's not like we brought in a lot of junior college players. They know each other. It doesn't matter if you have young guys or old guys, chemistry develops as the season goes along."

And like the first group of young players Leftwich turned into a standout unit, UNT's current offensive line will have more than just this season to develop. Dodge noted a significant difference between where UNT started in spring practice and where it is now.

UNT is hoping that improvement is a sign Leftwich's latest batch of young linemen will resemble the group that anchored some of the best teams in recent Mean Green history.

"We are going to have our ups and downs, but they are doing everything we have asked of them," Leftwich said. "They have come a long way."

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

UNT's new-look line

North Texas will start an entirely new offensive line when it faces Oklahoma on Saturday. The following is a look at UNT's projected starters.

LT -- Matthew Menard, a high school defensive lineman that UNT's coaches believe has great potential

LG -- Tyler Bailey, a former backup who will get his chance to start

C -- Kelvin Drake, could be a star in the making, according to UNT's coaches

RG -- Esteban Santiago, former all-state offensive lineman in high school

RT -- Robert Peachey, played some last season, but is battling an injury*

* Senior Adam Venegas could end up starting because Peachey is recovering from a hamstring injury.