UNT might need to take a pass on run game

[Harry]

The last time North Texas was in New Orleans before its showdown with Tulane on Saturday, the Mean Green was in the midst of a remarkable run of success, and not just as a team.

The year was 2004, and Jamario Thomas won the national rushing title while leading UNT to the New Orleans Bowl just one season after his friend and teammate, Patrick Cobbs, reached the same milestone.

That duo was part of a remarkable run of great running backs that powered a rushing attack that never seemed to stall — at least not until the last couple of weeks.

There is little question now that UNT is stuck in neutral on the ground following a 24-21 loss to Tulane at the Superdome, where both Cobbs and Thomas were focal points for a pair of Sun Belt Conference championship teams.

UNT managed just 7 rushing yards three weeks ago in a loss to Georgia.

That was understandable.

The Bulldogs are a national powerhouse.

UNT followed that tough outing up by inching out 34 yards in its loss to the Green Wave, and 19 of those yards were picked up by quarterback Derek Thompson.

That’s a cause for concern, and maybe a shift in focus. We might have seen the early stages of that change on Saturday.

“It’s hard when we can’t run the ball,” Thompson said. “It feels like we are beating our heads into the wall at times.”

UNT is getting beaten in the process and is now nearing desperation time at 2-3 and 0-1 in Conference USA play after dropping its last two games.

read more: http://www.dentonrc.com/sports/colleges/north-texas-headlines/20131006-brett-vito-unt-might-need-to-take-a-pass-on-run-game.ece

[The Fake Lonnie Finch]

I'm hoping that the offensive line and running backs get pissed off about everyone pointed out their early season failures enough themselves to do something about, and get this thing kicked into high gear in games 6 through 12.

Edited October 7, 2013 by The Fake Lonnie Finch

[UNT Mean Green]

This lack of a running game is a HUGE cause for concern. I am not sure the lack of ability to run the ball and control some of the clock against Ohio and Tulane didn't lead to defensive fatigue at the very end of the game when we needed a stop.

[Dr. Seuss]

The reason why we can't run the ball is because we are missing Antonio Johnson. He's our best lineman and has been... They moved Lemon to tackle and McKinney at guard and it's not the same... Plain and simple

[All About UNT]

The reason why we can't run the ball is because we are missing Antonio Johnson. He's our best lineman and has been... They moved Lemon to tackle and McKinney at guard and it's not the same... Plain and simple

while of course that contributes to the problem it does not define the situation by itself. We are missing the speed and shiftyness of previous backs...plain and simple.

[Dr. Seuss]

while of course that contributes to the problem it does not define the situation by itself. We are missing the speed and shiftyness of previous backs...plain and simple.

Let's looks at the stats when Baby G is playing

Idaho 187 rushing yards

Ohio 104 rushing yards

Ball state 231 rushing yards, he got injured for 2 or 3 series and then came back in

Not playing

Georgia 7 rushing yards

Tulane 34 rushing yards

You have Lemon playing tackle, a position he doesn't play. Then you have McKinney who can't hold a block

Edited October 7, 2013 by Dr. Seuss

[UNTLifer]

We have been most successful this year when using the pass to set up the run. We have also been most successfurl running the ball when running right at the defense, north and south, instead of these runs that allow the defense to string us out from sideline to sideline. Our current RB's that are playing, Byrd, Pegram, Jimmerson, do not have the speed to run these types of plays are are much more effective when running "between the tackles."

[Green Dozer]

We have been most successful this year when using the pass to set up the run. We have also been most successfurl running the ball when running right at the defense, north and south, instead of these runs that allow the defense to string us out from sideline to sideline. Our current RB's that are playing, Byrd, Pegram, Jimmerson, do not have the speed to run these types of plays are are much more effective when running "between the tackles."

Right, Byrd is no Adrain Peterson and cannot just turn it up field with a big burst of speed.

[outoftown]

The lack of a running game is only such a big concern because the coaches are stubbornly deciding that this should be a run first team, when all the evidence shows with the talent profile of this team, this team has would be better of being a pass first team.

Also: why are we trying to kill the clock running, when we are a) better uptempo and b ) have the best depth we had in years.... we want that game to take a loong time... even our defense is well off doing that, i have seen more tired opponents offenses, than our defense giving in in the second half.

Edited October 7, 2013 by outoftown

[GOMG2013]

The reason why we can't run the ball is because we are missing Antonio Johnson. He's our best lineman and has been... They moved Lemon to tackle and McKinney at guard and it's not the same... Plain and simple

So when Johnson comes back, our coaches are gonna say, yeah, that was the reason...let try to hammer it against 8 in the box again. We have Johnson back. Hopefully it will only take one or two series to realize it wont work instead of a whole half.

Edited October 7, 2013 by GOMG2013