2014 The Big Preview : North Texas

[NT03]

The big 2014 North Texas football preview: Continuing to win is even harder. http://t.co/vyGrTSELKA

— Bill Connelly (@SBN_BillC)

March 27, 2014

This post has been promoted to an article

[Ben Gooding]

Great read, and things are looking good, theoretically and statistically.

[jdennis82]

Wow...the most thorough coverage of NT football I've ever read.

The 2014 team will have to develop a different personality in so many ways.

The impact of the special teams and the defensive line play really jumps off the page as being positives that will be incredibly difficult to duplicate with the roster changes we've experienced.

Special Teams - The numbers noted in this article back up the eye test we all enjoyed. Chancelor was a game-changer the likes of which few others in the nation were last season. The field position advantages he afforded us (not to mention the special teams scores) can't be overlooked.

Dline - We were lower than national average from a "Need to Blitz" standpoint, so our secondary was protected by the Dline's ability to produce pressure themselves.

So, how does the new squad compensate for a drop in production in these areas?

The highly-debated need for a dynamic player under center? A more aggressive defensive philosophy relying on the improved secondary play?

This will be a very intriguing off-season, for sure.

Edited March 28, 2014 by jdennis82

[jredallas]

In the four years of the Todd Dodge ear (2007-10). . .

Well, that explains it all. Only one of his ears was coaching.

[aztecskin]

While I appreciate Bill Connelly's and Paul Myerberg's reviews. It is March. We haven't had a spring game yet. We haven't had a summer full of shenanigans yet.

I suppose that' is why this one is mostly looking back, asking questions that we've all asked ourselves.

[Christopher Walker]

While I appreciate Bill Connelly's and Paul Myerberg's reviews. It is March. We haven't had a spring game yet. We haven't had a summer full of shenanigans yet.

I suppose that' is why this one is mostly looking back, asking questions that we've all asked ourselves.

It is nice to finally see an outsider article that actively keeps up with its research and is current with our roster, transfers, and incoming class.

Not that I would expect less from Connelly though.

[meangreendork]

That's a damned good writeup. Probably the best writeup not done by a UNT insider.

It's also more optimistic than I would've expected, too.

[aztecskin]

@Chris, yep. Bill did one last year LINK and for the most part was pretty spot on with his predictions.

I still hate that the only national write up we'll get will be this one in March and Paul Myerberg's USATODAY countdown in April. Then nothing until right before the season.

[chrisfisher]

Seems like a very fair, knowledgeable, and thorough review!

[golfingomez]

While I appreciate Bill Connelly's and Paul Myerberg's reviews. It is March. We haven't had a spring game yet. We haven't had a summer full of shenanigans yet.

[Don Allman]

I truely expect most of our players to come into summer practice in good condition since they are now used to coaches expectations. I do not expect more than maybe a one game difference (won-lost record)between last year and

this fall due to our coaches stiff regimine on conditioning and follow thru on plays. I believe coach will have us pleasantly surprised at how we play. We WILL NOT lay down to Texas and will have another Georgia game.

[Harry]

I truely expect most of our players to come into summer practice in good condition since they are now used to coaches expectations. I do not expect more than maybe a one game difference (won-lost record)between last year and

this fall due to our coaches stiff regimine on conditioning and follow thru on plays. I believe coach will have us pleasantly surprised at how we play. We WILL NOT lay down to Texas and will have another Georgia game.

Welcome to the site. I like the way you think!

[GOMG2013]

Pretty good preview. They have us dropping off a bit, but still going bowling. Ranked 94. Teams on our schedule that are ranked higher are Texas, SMU, Indiana, rice and UTSA. If rankings are accurate, we go 7-5 by beating up on a weak schedule.

[Ben Gooding]

Pretty good preview. They have us dropping off a bit, but still going bowling. Ranked 94. Teams on our schedule that are ranked higher are Texas, SMU, Indiana, rice and UTSA. If rankings are accurate, we go 7-5 by beating up on a weak schedule.

We'll steal at least one maybe even 2 from the 5 listed that are higher ranked. The latter 4 you named are all theoretically winnable. All 5 are technically winnable. Edited March 29, 2014 by Ben Gooding

[Harry]

All I ask is that we beat SMU at home. That win would do so much for our student and alumni morale not to mention recruiting. Not to mention there will be a TON of recruits at that game.

[NT03]

All I ask is that we beat SMU at home. That win would do so much for our student and alumni morale not to mention recruiting. Not to mention there will be a TON of recruits at that game.

Anything less than a sellout & I'll be very disappointed

[Ben Gooding]

Anything less than a sellout & I'll be very disappointed

agreed. I'm pretty sure we won't be disappointed though. However, if we lose to a pitiful SMU team early, brace yourself for a long season. Edited March 29, 2014 by Ben Gooding

[oldguystudent]

No more bullshit about merely being competitive. We win now. We beat SMU, UTSA at the very least. And for Rice? Somebody, please, for the love of all thing, piss on their stadium wall.

[Ben Gooding]

No more bullshit about merely being competitive. We win now. We beat SMU, UTSA at the very least. And for Rice? Somebody, please, for the love of all thing, piss on their stadium wall.

Heeeeeyyyyyy!!!! +1, +1, +1!!!!!!!