25 replies to this topic

[Harry]

I have taken a bit of a break from my post spring series on UNT’s roster, but now that I am back from vacation it’s time to get back at it. I started off with some positions where UNT has a lot to be confident about — quarterback and offensive line come to mind.

Today, we take a look at an area of concern, UNT’s cornerback spot.

UNT struggled at times last year at cornerback, despite having some experienced players — Royce Hill was a four-year starter and Steven Ford played two years for the Mean Green. By the middle of the year, freshman Freddie Warner had become a starter only to be lost to a season-ending injury.

The number that sticks out is that UNT ranked last in the Sun Belt in passing defense with an average of 265.8 yards allowed a game on the season. There is no doubt UNT had its problems in the back end. I just wonder how much of them were directly attributable to the cornerback spot. Some of them? For sure. The whole problem? Probably not, especially if you take a closer look at the team.

UNT was torched by Houston’s Case Keenum, Tulsa’s G.J. Kinne and Arkansas State’s Ryan Aplin, three really good college quarterbacks.

But when it came to Sun Belt Conference play, UNT actually ranked third in pass defense with 215.0 yards allowed a game.

Read more: http://meangreenblog...rnerbacks.html/

[Harry]

Could we have two true freshman at the starting corner spots against LSU?

[GrayEagle]

To an extent, I do not understand this problem. Marcus Trice was the 20th rated cornerback in the country when he committed to Oklahoma. He has the size and speed to play corner yet we insist on playing him at safety. He probably prefers safety but it would seem that our need is greater at CB. If D Q Johnson is anything near what we thought that he was capable of then it would seem that we would be fairly strong at corner with Trice and Johnson and the two freshmen could come in and be the backups.

It seems to me that safety is a little easier to play than corner and if I were to have to trust a true freshman to start then I'd prefer David Busby who I think is a little more touted than Kelly. However we slice it we're going to have some decent talent but are woefully short on experience.

[BIG DAWG]

To an extent, I do not understand this problem. Marcus Trice was the 20th rated cornerback in the country when he committed to Oklahoma. He has the size and speed to play corner yet we insist on playing him at safety. He probably prefers safety but it would seem that our need is greater at CB. If D Q Johnson is anything near what we thought that he was capable of then it would seem that we would be fairly strong at corner with Trice and Johnson and the two freshmen could come in and be the backups.

It seems to me that safety is a little easier to play than corner and if I were to have to trust a true freshman to start then I'd prefer David Busby who I think is a little more touted than Kelly. However we slice it we're going to have some decent talent but are woefully short on experience.

I would argue safety is the more difficult spot in secondary due to having to understand rolling coverages and usually having to be the QB of the secondary

[ntmeangreen11]

I would argue safety is the more difficult spot in secondary due to having to understand rolling coverages and usually having to be the QB of the secondary

Seconded, and despite his size he's back there because they know this young secondary is going to get beat by their WR often. They need a sure tackler to stop 20 yard gains from being touchdowns. I really hope DQ Johnson can come on strong in fall practice and win a corner spot. I'm sorry if this is too harsh, but I just don't have much faith in Hilbert Jackson, last season he couldn't beat out Royce Hill or Steven Ford yet Freddie Warner did. In my opinion you get Warner back ASAP, and get him back in to the swing of things rotating with Devante Davis and Hilbert Jackson while DQ Johnson Kevin Maduka and Devante Davis hold down the other spots until one of them proves to be solid. I really hope Laramie Lee is up to the challenge at the safety spot. Unless these freshman can contribute in a meaningful way, it will be a repeat of, oh, the last 7 years.

I think it was 2005/2006 where we had a roster completely loaded with underclassmen, and everyone expected 2007/2008 to be the years we came back. Throwing the kids in to the fire early works out one way or the other. I hope it works out for the better, and continuity with the young secondary players moving in to CUSA will be an advantage. That will be a nice chance of pace.

[LongJim]

Improved DL pressure can cover a multitude of sins in the secondary. UNT will need the DT/DE position to step up their game.

[GrandGreen]

Mentally, safety may be a tougher position; but corner-back is a much more difficult position to fill. Players with the speed and instinct to play corner are rarer than any other defensive position.

[Harry]

One thing not mentioned in the article is the position change of Zach Whitfield to corner this season. I am hearing this guy may be the fastest player on the team and they are VERY excited about what he can do for them at the corner position.

On Warner - why give a guy with his proven talent - a half season? Let him heal up, use his redshirt and give us a boost heading into CUSA.

We are going to be very young in the secondary but much more talent and speed than we had from prior years so that is encouraging.

[greenminer]

Still waiting for the second coming of Buckles/Jones. Here's hoping it can happen again someday.

[Harry]

Still waiting for the second coming of Buckles/Jones. Here's hoping it can happen again someday.

I'm not that greedy...I'd settle for Walter Priestly, Heath Moody and Jeremy Pearl

[Harry]

Vito follows up:

http://meangreenblog...secondary.html/

[BIG DAWG]

On Warner - why give a guy with his proven talent - a half season? Let him heal up, use his redshirt and give us a boost heading into CUSA.

Amen

[GrayEagle]

Totally agree with Harry about redshirting Warner.

[MeanGreenTexan]

Win any/every game you can. If Warner can help win 1 game, play him.

[greenminer]

Win any/every game you can. If Warner can help win 1 game, play him.

Fair to program, unfair to Warner?