...is McCarney really a good coach?

foutsrouts · October 9, 2012

Defensive linemen. If our LB's and DB's didn't have to spend the whole evening attacking the line of scrimmage we could have been in that game. Nobody up front could deal with their man and also put a dent in Sims. Solve that issue and we have a chance to win.

PlummMeanGreen · October 9, 2012

I thought (and I think may have even posted) early on long before 2 a days that this season had the potential of being one that could be the equivalent of a sophmore jinx of a season for Coach McCarney. If so, it would be similar to Fry's 2'nd year at UNT when his team won only 2 games. It was Fry's 3'rd season in Mean Green Country when he started making hay.

This season is still re-cycle'able and hope it is but I hope we don't take off some redshirts of young players for this season that is mostly likely not going to produce a bowl team.

We really do have bigger fish to fry in CUSA and hope our powers that be are staffing for it across the board accordingly. We cannot operate like we did at the NCAA 1-AA or even to a great extent Sun Belt Conference level since the last 8 years football-wise have not been one that would add to the best times of our history or legacy by any means.

First thing we need to do at North Texas is start out-recruiting #23 ranked La Tech (and others) who will also have its debut CUSA season next Fall, too.

GMG!

Edited October 9, 2012 by PlummMeanGreen

UNT Mean Green · October 9, 2012

It was blatantly evident to fans the other night that Houston had superior athletes all over the field.

Remember the UH program has been winning a lot of games recently:

2007: 8-5 (loss to TCU in Texas Bowl)

2008: 8-5 (win over AF in Armed Forces Bowl)

2009: 10-3 (loss to AF in Armed Forces Bowl)

2010: 5-7 (lost top 2 QB's against UCLA in Game #3 after blowing out Texas State and UTEP by an average of 61-26)

2011: 13-1 (win over Penn State in TicketCity Bowl)

That program had Case Keenum and Robert Griffin III committed at the same time. There is clearly talent there, and they have been recruiting in a different stratosphere than North Texas for many years. It showed up the other night. Their kids were bigger, faster, and stronger as a whole. I am certainly disappointed that we did not play better when Vegas had the game at 11.5 to 13 point differential; and I believe it is great that the expectations around this program have risen. However, we have to take a step back and be somewhat realistic at times:

LSU: Severely out-classed

TSU: Much better athletes than TSU across the board (though there are a few on that team that would look good in Green---especially the FS#5)

KSU: Out-classed but not nearly as large of disparity as LSU. Out-classed more in terms of experience.

Troy: Pretty much even on athletes with Troy. Folks, this is an improvement. A few years ago we did not belong on the field with Troy.

FAU: Better athletes than FAU in some areas and not so in other areas.

Houston: Out-classed in at least 70% of the personnel matchups.

People can knock McCarney's recruiting all they want to. The bottom line is these younger players are better. #1 Power, #5 Busby, #7 Davis, #8 Trice, #9 Harris, #22 Jimmerson, #27 Lee, #49 Mason, #52 Akunne, #62 Lemon, #91 Orr, #95 Lincoln are all nice players who seemed to belong on the field the other night from an athletic standpoint. It just takes time to develop these kids. We are so much better from a strength and speed standpoint than we were; but we clearly have a long ways to go to compete with the Houstons, Tulsas, La Techs of the world (which is a realistic expectation heading into C-USA) McCarney is getting these kids with good frames who can run a little bit and is turning them over to Wintrich. We are already much improved, but let's be real and accept that we are still a ways away.

It's not easy to call an offensive or defensive game as a coordinator when you are overmatched athletically. LSU and Kansas State did not expose the defense as greatly with their running-based schemes. It was enhanced dramatically the other night with Houstons spread offense and having their players out in space. Offensively there are limitations there too. The QB has limitations and the WR corps does not have a lot of game-changing players at this time. Two times the other night #9 Harris (a freshman burner at WR) is running open well behind the player covering him and the QB did not see him or did not attempt to throw to him. What do you do about this? All you can do is keep designing these plays to get your best players the ball and it is up to them to execute.

We are a few years away from really being where we want to be, but Coach McCarney and most of his staff are outstanding coaches.This thing is going to be a lot of fun in a few years, but there are going to be some really difficult bumps along the way. Let's get behind them and support them as they dig this program out of the ditch it was in and build it the right way for long term success!

GrayEagle · October 9, 2012

It was blatantly evident to fans the other night that Houston had superior athletes all over the field.

Remember the UH program has been winning a lot of games recently:

2007: 8-5 (loss to TCU in Texas Bowl)
2008: 8-5 (win over AF in Armed Forces Bowl)
2009: 10-3 (loss to AF in Armed Forces Bowl)
2010: 5-7 (lost top 2 QB's against UCLA in Game #3 after blowing out Texas State and UTEP by an average of 61-26)
2011: 13-1 (win over Penn State in TicketCity Bowl)

That program had Case Keenum and Robert Griffin III committed at the same time. There is clearly talent there, and they have been recruiting in a different stratosphere than North Texas for many years. It showed up the other night. Their kids were bigger, faster, and stronger as a whole. I am certainly disappointed that we did not play better when Vegas had the game at 11.5 to 13 point differential; and I believe it is great that the expectations around this program have risen. However, we have to take a step back and be somewhat realistic at times:

LSU: Severely out-classed
TSU: Much better athletes than TSU across the board (though there are a few on that team that would look good in Green---especially the FS#5)
KSU: Out-classed but not nearly as large of disparity as LSU. Out-classed more in terms of experience.
Troy: Pretty much even on athletes with Troy. Folks, this is an improvement. A few years ago we did not belong on the field with Troy.
FAU: Better athletes than FAU in some areas and not so in other areas.
Houston: Out-classed in at least 70% of the personnel matchups.

People can knock McCarney's recruiting all they want to. The bottom line is these younger players are better. #1 Power, #5 Busby, #7 Davis, #8 Trice, #9 Harris, #22 Jimmerson, #27 Lee, #49 Mason, #52 Akunne, #62 Lemon, #91 Orr, #95 Lincoln are all nice players who seemed to belong on the field the other night from an athletic standpoint. It just takes time to develop these kids. We are so much better from a strength and speed standpoint than we were; but we clearly have a long ways to go to compete with the Houstons, Tulsas, La Techs of the world (which is a realistic expectation heading into C-USA) McCarney is getting these kids with good frames who can run a little bit and is turning them over to Wintrich. We are already much improved, but let's be real and accept that we are still a ways away.

It's not easy to call an offensive or defensive game as a coordinator when you are overmatched athletically. LSU and Kansas State did not expose the defense as greatly with their running-based schemes. It was enhanced dramatically the other night with Houstons spread offense and having their players out in space. Offensively there are limitations there too. The QB has limitations and the WR corps does not have a lot of game-changing players at this time. Two times the other night #9 Harris (a freshman burner at WR) is running open well behind the player covering him and the QB did not see him or did not attempt to throw to him. What do you do about this? All you can do is keep designing these plays to get your best players the ball and it is up to them to execute.

We are a few years away from really being where we want to be, but Coach McCarney and most of his staff are outstanding coaches.This thing is going to be a lot of fun in a few years, but there are going to be some really difficult bumps along the way. Let's get behind them and support them as they dig this program out of the ditch it was in and build it the right way for long term success!

I like your post and agree with much of it. We have some potentially good players but a few that you named have hardly been tested. But, you can't make a 3* out of most players that you recruit. To compete beginning next year we're going to have to get higher rated recruits and develop them. Most of those committed thus far are well under the radar and only rated by one of the recruiting analysts. So far, we've lost out on the multiple rated players. One thing that this staff is doing right is getting a lot of camp/junior day attendants which should eventually pay off.

My other point of contention is that we don't have the luxury of a few years to try to get our house in order. Expenses have risen dramatically and we need to put a competitive team on the field now. We need all of the fans that we can scrape together. The speed of our improvement (and we definitely are improving) does not even equal the speed of other Sun Belt teams (Arkansas State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, Western Kentucky) so what will happen next year when we move up a notch?

CurveItAround · October 9, 2012

I like your post and agree with much of it. We have some potentially good players but a few that you named have hardly been tested. But, you can't make a 3* out of most players that you recruit. To compete beginning next year we're going to have to get higher rated recruits and develop them. Most of those committed thus far are well under the radar and only rated by one of the recruiting analysts. So far, we've lost out on the multiple rated players. One thing that this staff is doing right is getting a lot of camp/junior day attendants which should eventually pay off.

My other point of contention is that we don't have the luxury of a few years to try to get our house in order. Expenses have risen dramatically and we need to put a competitive team on the field now. We need all of the fans that we can scrape together. The speed of our improvement (and we definitely are improving) does not even equal the speed of other Sun Belt teams (Arkansas State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, Western Kentucky) so what will happen next year when we move up a notch?

If I understand the following information correctly, North Texas currently has extended 70 offers to potential recruits ranging from 4* to NRs. The school name to the right indicates a verbal commitment, but nothing is official until Feb 1st when they actually sign.

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/football/recruiting/school/_/id/249/class/2013/page/offers

SilverEagle · October 9, 2012

If I understand the following information correctly, North Texas currently has extended 70 offers to potential recruits ranging from 4* to NRs. The school name to the right indicates a verbal commitment, but nothing is official until Feb 1st when they actually sign.

http://espn.go.com/c...013/page/offers

Not one DT has made a verbal commitment to us. Not good.

BTW out by Berglands name it says QB-DT, on another QB prospect they have QB-PP. What does that mean?

greenminer · October 9, 2012

Not one DT has made a verbal commitment to us. Not good.

BTW out by Berglands name it says QB-DT, on another QB prospect they have QB-PP. What does that mean?

More of a pocket passer.

CurveItAround · October 9, 2012

Not one DT has made a verbal commitment to us. Not good.

BTW out by Berglands name it says QB-DT, on another QB prospect they have QB-PP. What does that mean?

QB-PP = Pocket Passer

QB-DT = Dual Threat

tylermeangreen · October 11, 2012

I have been around here 40+ years, and yes it takes time. Look at Fry's first couple of years and half the board was at aone house of worship this morning praying for his return.

This coaching staff is the best we have had since then, and they deserve more than a year a half. This team is young, had minimal depth when Dodge departed and will continue to improve. Fans jumping on and off the bandwagon like fleas on a stray dog is ridiculous. They are attempting to right over 30 years of wrongs. Nobody said it was easy being a North Texas fan, but a dose of realism never hurt.

Fan of 42 years here - and you are right-on, Lifer!

FroggyStyle · October 11, 2012

This shouldn't even be a question. McCarney won more games in a year than Dodge did in his entire tenure.

Monkeypox · October 11, 2012

This shouldn't even be a question. McCarney won more games in a year than Dodge did in his entire tenure.

Not sure you should use Dodge as the bar.

FroggyStyle · October 11, 2012

Not sure you should use Dodge as the bar.

Perhaps, but its a lot better than what you had.

MeanGreenTexan · October 11, 2012

This shouldn't even be a question. McCarney won more games in a year than Dodge did in his entire tenure.

Thank you for your courage.

Monkeypox · October 11, 2012

Perhaps, but its a lot better than what you had.

Which is a different question entirely.

Is McCarney > Dodge? Absolutely. He's a legit FBS football coach.

But that doesn't point to whether or not he's good. If being better than Dodge is the only criteria, then there's a LOT of good coaches out there who are going to lose their jobs this year.

McCarney will get his time, just as Dodge did. At the very least, he will answer the question if he is a good coach FOR US in that time. In the end, it will come down to how many Ws the Mean Green accumulate in his tenure.