Ellerson Press Conference

Harry · September 16, 2010

(On whether or not he expects North Texas to play with extra motivation after last year’s game)

“We expect their best. We expect them to play (well). They have been frustrated, and that was one of those frustrating moments for them. They’ve had their share. They had one this last week (against Rice). We know we were fortunate to win (last year). Our guys remember what the (North Texas) guys felt like, and what they looked like. We remember how athletic they were, and how fast they were. We blinked and (Lance) Dunbar was in the end zone. We look at the tape and we see that we were fortunate. We know that. We also are used to being in game like that.

http://www.goarmysports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=48071&SPID=4587&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=204994225&DB_OEM_ID=11100

greenminer · September 16, 2010

The Mean Green koolaid in me says, all things being equal from last year, our defense is mo better and the Canales factor gives us the decided edge. Part of me def wants to think the Rice game was a learning experience for even Chico...but I won't know until Saturday if he has learned.

Also, the Mean Green fan in me has been absolutely whipped by special teams disasters and a few - but costly - defensive breakdowns.

So...I don't know. But Go Mean Green!

Edited September 16, 2010 by greenminer

GoMeanGreen1999 · September 16, 2010

Also, the Mean Green fan in me has been absolutely whipped by special teams disasters and a few - but costly - defensive breakdowns.

So...I don't know. But Go Mean Green!

I have come to expect it so the only way it will shock me is if these types of things DON'T happen. It really doesn't bother me anymore.

yyz28 · September 16, 2010

The guys on that team and the men coaching them just need a damn Win. This is a good opportunity for one. I hope they can make it happen for the mental state of everyone involved (including the fans...)

GO MEAN GREEN!!!

Mean Green 93-98 · September 16, 2010

The Mean Green koolaid in me says, all things being equal from last year, our defense is mo better and the Canales factor gives us the decided edge.

I haven't seen them myself, but all reports are that Army has significantly improved from last year.

BeatNavy · September 16, 2010

I haven't seen them myself, but all reports are that Army has significantly improved from last year.

Our offense is much, much better. Our defense is not -- it would be hard for them to be much better AND we're playing without our leading tackler from last year (out indefinitely with back injury) AND we lost his backup on the first drive of the EMU game.

( Our injuries woes pale in comparison to yours though. )

Edited September 16, 2010 by BeatNavy

greenminer · September 17, 2010

Our offense is much, much better. Our defense is not -- it would be hard for them to be much better AND we're playing without our leading tackler from last year (out indefinitely with back injury) AND we lost his backup on the first drive of the EMU game.

( Our injuries woes pale in comparison to yours though. )

Just my personal opinion, and I know this is disputable, but I thought the defense last week was the best performance of the Dodge era.

Green Mean · September 17, 2010

At this point I think it's a mental thing on both the players and coaching staff. These players pretty much only know how to lose in the college level. Their psyche may be so out of wack that regardless how good they play or how much better they really are...it may just turn out to be a loss anyways. Sucks man.

Mean Green 93-98 · September 17, 2010

Just my personal opinion, and I know this is disputable, but I thought the defense last week was the best performance of the Dodge era.

Allowing 32 points against a mediocre (?) C-USA team seems less than stellar, but I agree with you. Most of those points were not entirely on the defense, but came with giving up bad field position. Jeremy Phillips had an absolute monster game, Robertson was typically solid, and it seemed like just about everyone stepped it up. This is not a bad team, and the defense is really starting to come around.

Now if only the special teams would follow suit . . .

All About UNT · September 17, 2010

This is a repost...if admin deletes again...please just PM me as to why.

Reasons as to why I am optimistic

1.) Army barely got a Win over on E. Michigan (31-27)....who I wouldn't mind us playing any day of the week. If Army is so scary...I believe they should have blown them out of the water. EMU got beaten the next week (28-21) by Miami (OH) who absolutely stinks as well.

2.) Rice only put 106 yds rushing on us....truly not that bad. Clemson on the other hand had over 200 yds...but combine that first drive with the fact that they have stellar RBs in place...and that is to be expected. If Army is a rushing offense...I say let them come. Our defense has improved even since Clemson...and I am sure that trend will continue.

3.) Lance and Thompson will perform. With EMU putting 285 Rushing yards against Army with two middle of the road running backs. With both Dunbar and Hamilton healthy...I believe it is not out of line to put an average 7 yds a carry against Army when EMU put up 6 ypc. Thompson will come out looking to make plays and earn his keep. I fully expect him to put 200+ yds passing on Army...combined with another 30-40 rushing.

4.) Hamilton Hamilton Hamilton.....the guy has only had 7 carries and posts 58 yds rushing (8.3 ypc). Army expects Dunbar but they will not be expecting a dual Running Back scenario...I hope that Coach C has considered this option. Either way...give the ball to Hamilton and let him show his stuff as well. I would anticipate nothing less than 300 yds Rushing this game. If you don't think that the dual RB scenario is effective then look at EMU's stats for Rushing against Army.

4.) Atterberry- He has got to know that last weeks short punt can cost us games. He is booting almost 43 yds each punt but I expect that average to go over 50 this game. He knows that what he does effects the outcomes of games and we saw him kicking 50-65 yd punts all offseason.

5.) Absence of playing Riley of 3rd and 2 scenarios....Coach C had better have learned his lesson because it is one we can all agree on.

6.) Last but not least....Revenge. Not a great way to win a game but it sure gets people hyped up. Anyone at Army will tell you that UNT had outplayed them last year. 5 turnovers including 3 INTs by Riley cost us the game...plain and simple. The 1st INT resulted in a FG (D held em to a 35 yd drive)...the last INT was our last drive and last shot at redemption.

Reasons we lose

1.) Turnovers- Hawaii fumbled a kickoff return at their own 24 yd line right after Army had a nice long scoring drive. This of course resulted in a TD almost immediately...the score is 21-21. Right after that??? The very next Hawaii possession on the second play.. Army sacks Hawaii's QB at the Hawaii 11 Yard Line. Of course Army scores again..now 28-21. Needless to say Hawaii gets their act together and closes it out. The point? Some commentators have said that Hawaii's defense got tired out but I am sorry when the ball is fumbled at the 24 and then the 11 yard line...what can you expect your defense to do? Those two errors cost 14 points and half of Army's score. This game should have ended 31-14 Hawaii but it didn't. Army seems to either be very skilled in forcing turnovers or gets very lucky about where they occur. EMU had a fumble at their own 7 yd line that resulted in an Army TD. You take 3 mistakes and 42 yds given to Army...and the team is 0-2...just like us.

Ibleedgreen · September 17, 2010

Just my personal opinion, and I know this is disputable, but I thought the defense last week was the best performance of the Dodge era.

Craig Robertson has been positively awesome this year.

Edited September 17, 2010 by Ibleedgreen

TheTastyGreek · September 17, 2010

This is a repost...if admin deletes again...please just PM me as to why.

This always turns out well.

Green Mean · September 17, 2010

This is a repost...if admin deletes again...please just PM me as to why.

Why would mods delete this? :unsure:

TheTastyGreek · September 17, 2010

Why would mods delete this?

I don't know, but they LOVE it when people ignore deletions and repost something that was previously eliminated.

Do not argue with the Admins about proper use and policy.

BeatNavy · September 17, 2010

Why would mods delete this?

I'm guessing because the same thing was posted in a different thread. (I think it's the EXACT wording, but I'm not going to go check.)

All About UNT · September 17, 2010

I'm guessing because the same thing was posted in a different thread. (I think it's the EXACT wording, but I'm not going to go check.)

This is true...I felt that reposting it under a different a more relevant thread was in order.

All About UNT · September 17, 2010

and one more thing...about stopping the run.

Clemson's Ellington posted 122 yds in 12 carries. We know that 1 of those carries was the 60 yard run and I went back and watched the entire game last night and esp that play. 4-5 Defensive players converging on him and the Ump is in the way....no question in my mind that he would have been tackled and sandwiched had the UMP not been there to cause confusion and chaos. Take that 60 yd play away and you have a guy who posts 62 yds on us in 11 carries...so just over 5.6 yds a carry. I believe the D can stop the rush....with the exception of miraculous plays like this. I am more confident in our ability to stuff the run than our ability to stop the passing game. I feel good going into this.

BeatNavy · September 17, 2010

and one more thing...about stopping the run.

Clemson's Ellington posted 122 yds in 12 carries. We know that 1 of those carries was the 60 yard run and I went back and watched the entire game last night and esp that play. 4-5 Defensive players converging on him and the Ump is in the way....no question in my mind that he would have been tackled and sandwiched had the UMP not been there to cause confusion and chaos. Take that 60 yd play away and you have a guy who posts 62 yds on us in 11 carries...so just over 5.6 yds a carry. I believe the D can stop the rush....with the exception of miraculous plays like this. I am more confident in our ability to stuff the run than our ability to stop the passing game. I feel good going into this.

So can we take away Dunbar's 68 yard TD run against us last year?

Without it, he averaged 5.3 ypc in the game. Of course, that's still a first down every two carries....

...as it is for 5.6 ypc.

All About UNT · September 17, 2010

So can we take away Dunbar's 68 yard TD run against us last year?

Without it, he averaged 5.3 ypc in the game. Of course, that's still a first down every two carries....

...as it is for 5.6 ypc.

Now that would depend....was there an ump in the middle of that play that blocked the defense from getting to Dunbar?

watch at 16 seconds on... but the best angle is at :36 Highlights from Clemson

Edited September 17, 2010 by All About UNT