Post Spring Two-deep

Brett Vito · April 9, 2009

Mean Green Blog

Charlie NT 73 · April 9, 2009

I have a couple of comments regarding this "offical" two

deep roster.

OT- Jeremy Bean and Matt Tomlinson were out do to injuries, which

put these two behind starters Gill and Santagio. If Tomlinson and Bean

can heal up over the summer, complete the summer conditioning

program, these two OT's will be able to compete for starting positions.

DE- Why are Gilmore and Cantly listed at the same DE position? To

me, having Gilmore on one side and Cantly on the other side, would

create a stronger DE line up. Apunku looks like he is becoming a

specialist type of DE, that comes in on passing downs. Russo is still

a good DE that played very well LY, and will continue to develop.

I have read that DE John Weber is 300lbs now. If Weber is as good

as projected, he can be another big DE that teams will trouble running

at. I remember NT fans complaining about no true DE's, no size/speed,

and depth. The DE position certainly has changed quickly, with players

that have size, and speed, and will develop a strong DE rotation.

DT- Right now, Ross and DeSoto are the starters, and they are not going

to give up their roles. I saw DT JUCO Atkinson at the spring game.

Big broad body, at 300lbs. He is huge! Add in JUCO DT Kelvin Jackson at 320.

The DT battles will be very interesting to watch. Needless to say, DT

will have a true rotation with depth. With the DE's and DT's the team has,

this DL group could develop into something special for the 09 season.

This "offical" line up has been passed on to Phill Steel. So, when Phill Steels

football magazine hits the news stands, I wonder what the NT report will say?

Usual ragging the team down, or maybe a positive report for a change?

greenminer · April 9, 2009

I have a couple of comments regarding this "offical" two
deep roster.
OT- Jeremy Bean and Matt Tomlinson were out do to injuries, which
put these two behind starters Gill and Santagio. If Tomlinson and Bean
can heal up over the summer, complete the summer conditioning
program, these two OT's will be able to compete for starting positions.
DE- Why are Gilmore and Cantly listed at the same DE position? To
me, having Gilmore on one side and Cantly on the other side, would
create a stronger DE line up. Apunku looks like he is becoming a
specialist type of DE, that comes in on passing downs. Russo is still
a good DE that played very well LY, and will continue to develop.
I have read that DE John Weber is 300lbs now. If Weber is as good
as projected, he can be another big DE that teams will trouble running
at. I remember NT fans complaining about no true DE's, no size/speed,
and depth. The DE position certainly has changed quickly, with players
that have size, and speed, and will develop a strong DE rotation.
DT- Right now, Ross and DeSoto are the starters, and they are not going
to give up their roles. I saw DT JUCO Atkinson at the spring game.
Big broad body, at 300lbs. He is huge! Add in JUCO DT Kelvin Jackson at 320.
The DT battles will be very interesting to watch. Needless to say, DT
will have a true rotation with depth. With the DE's and DT's the team has,
this DL group could develop into something special for the 09 season.
This "offical" line up has been passed on to Phill Steel. So, when Phill Steels
football magazine hits the news stands, I wonder what the NT report will say?
Usual ragging the team down, or maybe a positive report for a change?

You, sir, drink tons of koolaid. I imagine most previews will be along the line of "UNT could have some players with the potential to be solid in Belt Play. maybe better."

We're all excited again because we're starving for football. Don't let pigskin cravings cloud the fact that these kids have tons to prove.

Censored by Laurie · April 9, 2009

This "offical" line up has been passed on to Phill Steel. So, when Phill Steels
football magazine hits the news stands, I wonder what the NT report will say?
Usual ragging the team down, or maybe a positive report for a change?

Or maybe he'll just be a reporter...and report.

As for the two-deep, the offensive line position battle should be the best...and I'm hoping to see Victor Gill's name bumped down the depth chart by someone. Not meant to be a knock on Gill, but I'd prefer some more size on the edge and hopefully Bean, Menard, Santiago ect can legitimatly beat him out. My ideal line at this point would be Bean-Drake-Johnson-Feeley-Santiago from left to right.

Also gotta love the potential DB depth

UNT90 · April 9, 2009

I don't count on anyone, especially JUCOs, until they are in school and in practice. Relying on JUCOs to make your team better, especially ones that aren't even enrolled, is a dangerous proposition.

The Fake Lonnie Finch · April 9, 2009

Also, what is a national publication supposed to do? Pretend that we haven't been 3-21 over the past two years, and without a winning season the last four? Pretend that our best player didn't leave the team? Pretend that we didn't lose our two best receivers? Pretend that all the question marks on the defensive line will magically disappear?

All a writer can do is go by what's there. We've got nothing to show. To the nation, we are a school whose defense leaks like a sieve and an offense whose top three players from last season are gone - Vizza, Fitzgerald, and Stickler - and being replaced with very inexperienced fellows. A national publication is supposed to blow sunshine over that?

Look, it's the same now as it will ever be in sports - you prove it out on the field. Until we prove it on the field, don't be shocked when national publications simply give a cursory "yeah, whatever" in their previews. As stated before, this team hasn't earned the benefit of the doubt of anyone over the past few seasons. We're now three recruiting classes into this experiment. The time for talk and excuses is over. Shut up and win.

Edited April 9, 2009 by The Fake Lonnie Finch

UNTLifer · April 9, 2009

Or maybe he'll just be a reporter...and report.
As for the two-deep, the offensive line position battle should be the best...and I'm hoping to see Victor Gill's name bumped down the depth chart by someone. Not meant to be a knock on Gill, but I'd prefer some more size on the edge and hopefully Bean, Menard, Santiago ect can legitimatly beat him out. My ideal line at this point would be Bean-Drake-Johnson-Feeley-Santiago from left to right.
Also gotta love the potential DB depth

Why are you bumping Bean up to 1st team? He has been injured most of the spring and hasn't proven anything yet. Based upon his size, I too hope he develops, but Gill, Menard and Tomlinson aren't going to roll over just because Bean is bigger. Being in Houston, I haven't had the opportunity to see Bean play, so what are the thoughts of you or anyone else that has seen him during spring practice?

Charlie NT 73 · April 9, 2009

I do agree with Grenminer, I am having football withdrawals, and I

do drink green koolaid. Yes, these players do have alot to prove.

We all know what potential means and I do not like using the

"potential" concept. For the first time in several years, the OL

and DL has very good players for the coaches to work with.

I am betting on Leftwich and Nelson to bring out the OL and DL

we want to see.

I do agree with CBL, yes Phill Steel will report their views about NT, as

well as all the FB magazines that will come out this summer. I do think

the interior OL players are solid. For now, Gill and Santiago are solid as the

starting OT's. Bean and Tomlinson must come in this summer, and

prove they are the top OT's and far better than Gil and Santiago, or

be happy as back up OT's. Either way, the OT position will have 4 good

OT's and a rotation package.

UNT90, I agree with you too. Counting on incomming JUCO's that have not

finished their JUCO degree's, not on campus or enrolled, and not even had

one team practice, is risky business. Especially when the team needs these

guys. Coach Dodge stated all the incomming JUCO's will arrive in June, to

participate in Coach Ausmus's summer conditioning program, which is

encouraging. Next, the JUCO's only have 4 weeks of 2 a days to learn the

DeLoach defensive system, and to learn DL play from Coach Nelson. I saw

Atkinson at the spring game. Atkinson sure looks like a major D1, DT talent.

Just like all NT fans, I will feel much better when the JUCO's are enrolled.

With the summer conditioning program, I think the JUCO's will blend right in.

Still, Atkinson, Weber, and Jackson, must earn the starting roles, and out

play several good DL players. These 3 players have strong JUCO talent,

but does that also mean strong D1 talent? Got to get them here to find out.

greenminer · April 9, 2009

Also, what is a national publication supposed to do? Pretend that we haven't been 3-21 over the past two years, and without a winning season the last four? Pretend that our best player didn't leave the team? Pretend that we didn't lose our two best receivers? Pretend that all the question marks on the defensive line will magically disappear?
All a writer can do is go by what's there. We've got nothing to show. To the nation, we are a school whose defense leaks like a sieve and an offense whose top three players from last season are gone - Vizza, Fitzgerald, and Stickler - and being replaced with very inexperienced fellows. A national publication is supposed to blow sunshine over that?
Look, it's the same now as it will ever be in sports - you prove it out on the field. Until we prove it on the field, don't be shocked when national publications simply give a cursory "yeah, whatever" in their previews. As stated before, this team hasn't earned the benefit of the doubt of anyone over the past few seasons. We're now three recruiting classes into this experiment. The time for talk and excuses is over. Shut up and win.

So negative. I feel Vito'd.

BIG DAWG · April 9, 2009

Did anyone notice the statement...Kelvin Drake "may" start??? This guy has got to be good enough to play somewhere on that line!?!?!?!?!?

The Fake Lonnie Finch · April 9, 2009

Did anyone notice the statement...Kelvin Drake "may" start??? This guy has got to be good enough to play somewhere on that line!?!?!?!?!?

I caught that, too, and it worried me for two reasons. Either (1) the coaching staff on the offensive side of the ball is as idiotic as some of us believe, or (2) his injuries have taken more of a toll on him than anyone is letting on publicly.

GrandGreen · April 9, 2009

Interesting dilemma developing in the defensive line. New line coach Nelson is preaching that quickness is the name of the game, and basically stated big players are useless unless they have good feet. This coming after NT recruited a bunch of size in the defensive line with 4 players approaching or above the 300 pound level. They may all be quick but the odds are that players that big and available to a team like NT are not going to be both big and fast. I think the defense will be much improved but that can happen and they could still be one of the worst defenses in the nation. I see good talent levels in both the secondary and at linebacker, the defensive line still looks like a problem. I would have thought that out of Russo, Owusu-Hemeng, Cole, Sykes and Brown, NT could have found a good defensive end rotation to go with Gilmore. Obviously, whether do to injury or play done of these players have shown enough and Cantly and Akpunka started in the spring. The defensive tackle position looks even worse as the best player Thomas graduated and apparently the depth is so bad that they played Gilmore a lot in the spring. Playing Gilmore at tackle in the spring makes no sense to me unless they are serious considering using him at tackle again next year. Vito and many posters seem to think that the incoming jucos are the answer to the defensive line problems. I hope they are right but I can't even remember a juco defensive lineman that has come in and did much at NT in their first year since NT moved back into the FB division. The two best, Daniels and Pruitt did not start their first year and I can't remember any that have.

I think Riley will be an improvement at QB but there is absolutely no depth. Those that think NT has a chance of improving with any of the other QB's are dreaming. Running back and offensive line should be the strength of the team. There are both quality and quantity available. Again, I wonder why people are so concerned about Gill; he does not weight 300 pounds but he has consistently beat out players that are. Wide receiver could again be a problem area, lots of bodies but no proven play makers. I do think NT could end up with a better overall receiver corp than Dodge's first two years, who excluding Fitzgerald were below average as a group.

Based on what I've seen so far, I would think that NT will be better next year; maybe good enough to win two or three games and not get blown out of almost every game like last year. Before I am again branded as being overly negative; I did predict both of the past two years that NT would be able to compete in the Belt. I was not even close and I can't make that prediction again because although there have been a few positive steps taken by Dodge; I am not convinced he can turn this program around.

MeanGreenEagle · April 9, 2009

I caught that, too, and it worried me for two reasons. Either (1) the coaching staff on the offensive side of the ball is as idiotic as some of us believe, or (2) his injuries have taken more of a toll on him than anyone is letting on publicly.

Or maybe we're that good up front.

UNT2012 · April 10, 2009

We will be better talent wise at OL and WR (overall) but you have to be kidding about the QB. Riley will have way more to work with than Meager or Vizza ever did.

Edited April 10, 2009 by UNT2012

NTEX1990 · April 11, 2009

Again i ask, WHO ARE YOU UNT2012!!

my guess is you are Mr. Vizza, someone close to the Tunes, an old UNT QB, or Coach Dickeys kid. What r you going to do when Dodge has a terriffic year -- what will you complain about then. Go Away please