Charting the Improvement of the UNT Mean Green

Harry · December 26, 2013

Charting the improvement North Texas has made under Dan McCarney starts by charting the improvement on defense. In his three years as head coach, the unit assigned with stopping the ball has made remarkable progress.

Opponents scored nearly 31 points per game in McCarney's first season. That number dropped about a field goal in Year 2. Through 12 games this season, North Texas has allowed just 18.1 point - the school's best showing in 11 years.

That ranked first in Conference USA and ninth in the country. The Mean Green allowed just 14.0 points in league games. North Texas gave up 10 or fewer points in four games going into the Heart of Dallas Bowl presented by PlainsCapital Bank on New Year's Day against UNLV.

"Defensively we were in the bottom 10 in the country when I took this job three years ago," McCarney said. "Understand the leadership of John Skladany we've made dramatic improvement. We had to and needed to, and we've done that."

Skladany (pictured) is entering his second season as defensive coordinator, ending a run of three defensive coordinators in three years. That consistency in message, plus the return of UNT's top-six tacklers from last season, proved the catalyst to such dramatic improvement across the board.

North Texas is first nationally in Red Zone Defense (60.6 percent), 27th in total defensive (355.5 yards per game), 18th in rushing defense (125.1), 29th in passing efficiency defense (117.4), 14th in first downs allowed (17.7) and 15th in turnover margin (plus-0.8).

Senior linebacker/team captain Zach Orr and senior safety Marcus Trice have earned plenty of headlines this season, and with good reason. Orr, an all-Conference USA selection, led UNT with 113 total tackles (51 unassisted) to rank 28th in the country. Trice led the team with five interceptions and eight pass breakups, and his 83 tackles rank third.

"Zach Orr is our leader," McCarney said. "Marcus Trice has had an all-conference year as a safety. We have a lot of guys. We play a lot of guys and rotate and try and stay fresh. We've made some tremendous improvement on defense."

North Texas ranked third in the country with 32 forced turnovers, and nabbed at least one takeaway in every game. The Mean Green had at least one interception in the last seven games and 10 of the last 11. UNT was 6-1 in games when winning the turnover battled and 0-2 with losing it.

Though they may not get the same recognition as some of their more decorated teammates, the job done in the trenches can't be overlooked. Senior defensive end Aaron Bellazin led the squad with 7.5 sacks. The defense took down opposing quarterbacks 34 times, which was 18th nationally and the most at North Texas since 2002.

"The defensive line is the most overlooked unit on our team," Orr said. "They are a big reason we are having success defensively. They are getting pressure on the quarterback and holding up against the run."

If North Texas is fortunate enough to hold up the Heart of Dallas Bowl trophy at the Cotton Bowl Stadium, count on more than a few hands coming from the defense.

Art Garcia, the Assistant Athletics Director for Communications for UT Arlington, has spent nearly 20 years as a sportswriter. He's worked for NBA.com, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the San Antonio Express-News and the Bryan-College Station Eagle. Garcia has also written for FoxSportsSouthwest.com, ESPNDallas.com, CBSSports.com, in addition to other national websites and magazines.