DRC Monday column: Lack of playmakers hurting UNT

[Brett Vito]

Chancellor has been UNT's only big-play guy in three FBS games

[TIgreen01]

Vito mentions burning some redshirts, but doesn't mention who. Any clues? I thought that the best of the incoming freshmen were already getting PT.

[BillySee58]

Vito mentions burning some redshirts, but doesn't mention who. Any clues? I thought that the best of the incoming freshmen were already getting PT.

The only ones I could think of would be receiver Nick Schrapps and running back Jamarcus Jarvis. Jarvis may be a running back but he has the weapon of speed so maybe they try him at receiver or something.

The only other redshirt out of scholarship skill players that he could burn would be Mcnulty, which I doubt.

[UNTcrazy727]

Why does Vito continue to let Thompson's horrible play slide? The lack of "playmakers" is not this teams problem. A good QB makes solid players, as Vito calls most of our skill players, into "playmakers." Did anyone think Wes Welker was a great WR before he teamed up with Brady?

Jimmerson is a playmaker, but he won't become a stud until he gets the bulk of the carries at RB. It's obvious he's our best back, IMO.

[SilverEagle]

I seem to have a different view of this. IHMO, we have plenty of players who can make plays besides chancellor. They just need to be put into better positions (Bynes over the middle on a slant for instance, and Brown into more screens and dump passes) and they NEED SOMEONE WHO CAN CONSISTENTLY GET THE BALL INTO THEIR HANDS.

We could have three receivers who were the second coming of Johnny Quinn, Ronnie Shanklin, and Casey Fitzgerald (or John Love) out on the field and the results would be exactly the same as Saturday night. None of them could do anything without the ball being placed within reasonable reach of them.

I've kind of held my tongue on this subject until now, but the first, and main, playmaker you need out there is the QB.

If we had a Scott Davis, Mitch Maher, Scott Hall, Jordan Case or Joe Stevenson out there with our current team, we would be 2-2 (or quite possibly 3-1) instead of 1-3.

Edited September 24, 2012 by SilverEagle

[adman]

Jimmerson is a playmaker, but he won't become a stud until he gets the bulk of the carries at RB. It's obvious he's our best back, IMO.

I agree.

[glick1980]

Carlos Harris has been getting playing time. I would prefer that if we are going to burn someone's redshirt we at least throw or hand them the ball though.

[GrandGreen]

Any team that struggles has a lack of big plays not necessarily play makers. Vito is talking offense and just skill players, Jimmerson and Chancellor already are proven play makers. Delgado has become the possession receiver. Thompson was certainly a play maker against KSU.

I assume Vito is referring to star skill players a la Dunbar. No no one is at that level, but again Jimmerson and Chancellor are not bad. You are not going to have a host of big plays or play makers on the field at one time when you are running multiple te sets, particularly when you seldom throw to them.

It is difficult to tell if NT is so conservative because of lack of talent or if it is just the preferred offense. It is probably both, I think NT needs a couple more effective receivers but I am not sure they are on the team now. There are not so many walk on wrs playing because NT has been raking in the talent. It is also obvious that blocking is as much or more a criteria for playing time than speed or catching the ball.

[TK70]

Carlos Harris has been getting playing time. I would prefer that if we are going to burn someone's redshirt we at least throw or hand them the ball though.

[TK70]

I concur. I have seen this kid open several times. One example was this last game in the red zone when DT threw the ball in double coverage and #9 was open across the middle.