Danny Meager, Evyn Roman And Other Observations

[Censored by Laurie]

First off...this may have been the most exciting and tense UNT game I have been a part of since New Orleans in 2002...and I watched this one from my laptop in a Starbucks 2000 miles away. Two games into Dodgeball and I think the sky is the limit for this program. I've let about 18 hours elapse from the end of the game before posting and I'm attempting to add my take to the concensus of the board:

First, Dan Meager - I am a Gio fan...I think he should be playing to cut his teeth and expirience the speed of the college game before he leads us to 3 straight SBC titles. Just want to clear my bias up and leave it hanging over my opinion. I saw a Dan Meager I have never seen before last night...he seemed a lot more composed and he threw some balls that I didn't think he had in him...especially a couple of really nice deep balls. And after a guy sets damn near every school passing record...there is clearly no way he can be benched the following game...just not feasible. But for all the good...there was still a lot of classic DM. I am going to leave the 3 fourth quarter picks alone...he was trying to make things happen at a point in the game where we shouldn't have been down...hell the first pick where he missed Brock Stickler, he actually OVER-threw him...so I guess I can't be too mad about that. There were two specific passes that stick out to me that typified the night for Meager: Brandon Jackson in the right hand side of the end zone has a step and a half on the defender and if DM leads him 2 yards further its an easy six...yet he underthrew him and the corner had time to close...and Brock Stickler WIDE open on the seem and Meager gets way too much air under the pass and again the DB has time to close. There were numerous examples of both of these last night...some the WR's made great plays on...others cost UNT drives and points.

Those saying DM cost us the game...are nuts...but these are throws he's been making for 3 years and the criticism is born out of seeing the same thing over and over. I think Dodge will work hard with him over these next 2 weeks to clean up the mistakes...and I'm going to temper my Gio for QB campaign for a while.

Second, Evyn Roman - he's become everyones pariah these past two weeks...maybe because his hair makes him so noticable that its easy to direct ones ire towards him. On defense...I'm of the belief he shouldn't be playing corner on a regular basis...saw some good plays out of the true frosh Ealey and some nice tackles after completions by Antione Bush...and if we're going to praise our receivers for the great job they did...Sanders and Lowry deserve the exact same praise...they made some incredible catches. Roman also made a spectacular defensive play to stop a touchdown...and I think showed he's probably the fastest of the DBs because Lowry ran right past Bush and Weathers...and Roman didn't have the greatest of angles. If we want to a scapegoat in the secondary...its Roy Loren. If we want a disappointment in the secondary...its Dominique Green. And if we want a "I heard Dodge praising him in the off-season but haven't seen him on the field and I'm really wondering why" in the secondary...its Desmond Chapman. On special teams...Roman was a man away from breaking a KR for 6...and he's looked a lot better than Bush or K-Wash bring them out. on PRs...it was about 50/50...he needed to field about half of those that went over his head...the other ones you just have to tip your cap to the physics-defying bounces Morestead got. I would rather have a punt returner plant his feet at the 10 or 15 and play the odds that something over his head is going to be a touchback than one who tries to make a play at the 3.

Other observations - Fitz was a Walk-on!!!!!!!!! Colt Mahan was tied for second in tackles after the OU game...and he was relagated to special teams against SMU. I like Derek Mendoza...hes great against the run...but man he's slow...he should've gotten to that fumbled exchange...and with QB containment a huge issue I thought Colt would've been the ideal candidate to spy on Willis...I hope to see him on the field more. Micah Mosely will be great in two years...but right now tailback has to be one of the biggest disappointments so far. Jamario didn't touch the field once again...somebody in the medical field please make a hamstring implant and quickly install it in him. And Cam...our most highly thought of recruit saw three or four plays...I hope its a comfort thing and not a talent thing. Robert Peachey please get healthy so Adam Venegas can slide back to guard!!! He just seemed so uncomfortable on the outside...he's probably our best O-Lineman when hes in the interior...but on the edge he's a liability.

Last thing...this next week of practice the defense needs to take a look at Brock Stickler and learn how to tackle...he was clearly our best tackler last night.

Sorry for the length...wow, first time I've had to apologize for being too long

[GreenBat]

If we want to a scapegoat in the secondary...its Roy Loren. If we want a disappointment in the secondary...its Dominique Green. And if we want a "I heard Dodge praising him in the off-season but haven't seen him on the field and I'm really wondering why" in the secondary...its Desmond Chapman.

CBL,

You are right on target. I don't like to speak ill of anyone, especially when they are representing my university in a game. But you are correct, there is blame to go around for the defensive problems.

[MeanGreenBuzz]

Great analysis of the game. Explain what you mean by Brock Stickley being our best tackler? I might have missed something by listening on the radio from work...

[Censored by Laurie]

Stick saved a touchdown by Roy Williams horse collaring someone on the sideline and then made a perfect form tackle after Meager threw about 3 stories over his head on a stop route...may have saved a big return.

The other critique of Meager I forgot to mention was please....PLEASE stop throwing the deep outs across the field...he threw about 4 or 5 of them (I believe one got picked late) but the ball is in the air soooo long right out across the middle of the field...any half-way decent corner picks off 3 of the 5.