TIgreen01

Agreed. 6:30pm CST canNOT get here soon enough!!

I read a quote from the defensive coordinator at SMU in the DMN this last weekend. He basically said that their defensive philosophy is not to play bend-but-don't-break defense, but to be a ball hawking defense that tries to get the ball back to it's offense. Their team relies on rhythm and tempo from their offense to carry them...if their offense is sitting on the sidelines for long stretches, they consider that a bad thing. So they attack on defense...big play be damned. ....I know DeLoach used to always run a bend-don't-break defense, but what are we doing now? Last year we didn't attack at all...we played to try to stop the big play. Now we're changing up our dline to put quick rush ends on the field, have moved a safety down to play LBer (basically putting 5 DBs on the field at all times).....is this a signal that we're going to be an attack first defense this year? If we are, then QB play is unquestionably the key to this entire season.

Instead of North Texas making a statement, I'd love for us to just "show up". It seems to me we made plenty of statements last year---"We're Stat day!!" and "We're really, really bad!" were the biggest ones. Just freaking show up, play hard, and execute....ALL game. No showing up believing we've already lost, or getting our heads down and/or quitting at the first sign of adversity. Show some d@mn pride for ourselves and our university. Do that and we have a chance... This is going to be a tough game, no matter how you slice it. Ball State may have a completely different group of oline starters and a new QB, but they will most definitely be carrying with them the "swagger" and confidence they gained from last year. These guys aren't true freshman stepping in who have no idea how to win---they were around last year, playing or not. UNT's 2005 team is the closest comparison to BSU's team this year. We may not have ultimately been very good that year, but the start of the year we still beat MTSU and carried ourselves like winners....we played hard in every game ---eventually losing our conference win streak in a close game to Troy. After that, some cracks in our confidence started to show---but ONLY after we lost a few. BSU is going to come in to this game with a lot of confidence and a lot to prove. We are going to get a VERY good effort from them. Anybody who thinks they will take us lightly is crazy. We are still too young, but we'll give them a good game. In the end, I think their moxy carries them to a close win.

Sorry, no it won't. BYU is really, REALLY slow. Saw BYU at TCU last year in person and the difference was speed. OU is even faster than TCU and will blow out BYU in a big way. That said, BYU's QB is very good and worth watching....he's just going to have a long day when he repeatedly can't find anyone open. Back on topic.....a 'C-' is a wonderful grade for us at this point. No backhanded slap in that report....we were terrible and not worth watching last year. To escape an 'F' is a victory and shows that the Dodge name still resonates enough with people to at least get a passing nod....

I am still scared to death of our special teams. They KILLED us in almost every game last year by giving up the big momentum shifting play. I hope the new approach of putting regular starters on that unit and the new coach will turn that unit around. It cannot continue to be an afterthought. I am scared of the fumble....we do it far too often....both on special teams returns and by the runningbacks. Seeing Cam fumble again in the scrimmage scares me. As good as he is, continuing to put the ball on the ground in the redzone has got to open a door for someone else to start. All that said, I don't know....we played a decent game to finish last season. Thought our defense played hard and actually made a few stops. Hopefully with another offseason under their belts and more depth on the dline, we'll just pick up right where we left off and continue to get better from there----which really wasn't all that bad considering how the rest of the '08 season went.

Come on, man. I am optimistic that this team will be improved, but let's not sugar-coat the last 2 years of complete FAIL. Worst college football team of all time was NOT a label that could just be dismissed without real debate. For that reason alone, I don't think people need to keep getting knocked on the head for being a bit cautious as it relates to the '09 version of the UNT football team. I want to see this team get off to a strong start to help build confidence. More than anything else, though, I want to see this team get into a tough game and fight back.

I have to say that my second biggest reason to look forward to the new stadium (#1 is improved sightlines) is the improvement to the tailgating that it will/should provide. I am really looking forward to seeing a plan for how it's going to work...but there are so many more options for finding nice grassy areas to tailgate on over there. Has anyone seen any kind of map/plan for how it's going to work?

Sure doesn't sound nice and rosy from the Green Gang blog from last night: Green Gang: Mid-Camp Report Don't get me wrong...I haven't seen any of this with my own eyes and hope against hope that the D will indeed "gel" before the BSU game.

When the whole team can't tackle it's probably not a problem with the players. It's hard to tell if that's the case this year (whole team not tackling well), but it certainly was last year.

Unfortunately for us, a defense that can't tackle is still going to have trouble against BSU's running game no matter how dazed the QB is. I am getting increasingly more and more worried about our defense. Too many reports of bad tackling still being the primary problem with this defense.

After reading your posts for the past few years, I have to say that this is maybe your best---at least we know exactly where you're coming from. I do think there is some general merit to what you say about avoiding a buddy system so you can stay objective. However, I don't know how you can actually affect real change without developing any relationships within UNT. Maybe I'm reading your post wrong, or missed where you've listed who you stay in contact with, but simply writing emails and posting on a message board is most likely not going to yield any tangible results. Then again...maybe you are connected with just a few key people and I (and others) don't know it. Either way, I don't always agree with what you have to say but definitely agree with your passion for UNT and wanting to see it move forward.

"UNT has tried to build on the base it laid in the off-season by tackling more in practice and having its defense go against its starters on offense more often this fall. Dodge said he wants to have his players be smart and stay off each others legs, while still getting enough contact to be better prepared to tackle." What the heck does "be better prepared to tackle" mean?

Wow....that's one of the better forums I've ever visited (in terms of posters). I do think this game will be a fun one. We may still lose by 20, but it could very well be a 48-28 type game. Conversely, the greatest running back in the world isn't going to do much behind a shaky oline. We really have to hope that their line struggles and ours shows some ability to stop their run. This game will be all about who can establish the run to help take pressure of the young QBs and then control the field position. Unfortunately for us, their special teams are top notch and ours have been ....well, not.

That may be true, but we certainly know the opinions of those we talk to and that can and will impact/shape your own opinion in return. I'd wager that many of the complaints you read on the board are the regulars retelling of a conversation they had with a friend who isn't a "die-hard" fan. **ps. I have to say, though, that the new additions to the AD sponsored website are flat out awesome! I love that we get regularly(daily) updated blogs, free video, feature stories from people inside the AD. I wouldn't care if all of it was fluff (not all of it is), it's just nice to have another source for UNT athletics info/news.

If we beat MTSU, it's going to be a very good year. I think we can beat FAU, UL-pickem, WKU....so, that's 4. Throw in Army and a 5 win season sounds about right...if I'm being optimistic. Next year is the year to look forward to. This year, we need to show signs of significant progress and hopefully build some momentum for 2010.

On paper, this team HAS to be better than the last 2. So much experience returning on the oline, some serious talent at RB, loads of returning starters back on defense with the ridiculously overqualified Nelson coaching the dline. That said...I am waiting until the first game to allow myself to get excited. Last year's team had as little fight in them as I've ever seen watching organized sport at any level. ATTITUDE has to change or nothing else matters.

First, the English premier league's system of allowing anyone access isn't really as awesome as it sounds. True, in theory, anyone can work their way up to the top....but what really happens is that the absolute best teams in the EPL increasingly separate themselves from the rest. Once a team has been relegated to the second division, their attendance and tv revenue drops (b/c they are not playing the top competition anymore---it's akin to UNT having to play in the Sun Belt vs. TCU or SMU having all those years in the SWC) and they cannot afford to keep their teams running at the same level...so you have big player contracts that have to be dumped, along with coaches and staff. Basically, those teams that get relegated have a hard time ever getting back up to the absolute top of the EPL if they do make it back to the first division. So, forget the worries that the UTs and Ohio Sts of the world wouldn't accept relegation....I don't think they'd ever get close. The EPL consists of 4-6 ridiculously good teams, then the rest are mediocre to bad. Now, lots of the continued separation may have more to do with them not really having any kind of salary cap---but neither does FBS football. The big programs would simply continue to outspend the rest of the world who would then have the worry of being relegated---and having to budget accordingly if that were to happen.

Makes sense...and I agree.

I agree that you shouldn't put big expectations on players until they have proven it on the field. However, to look at every unproven player as a big bag of nothing is leaning too far to the negative. Every year different players step up and fill holes. Alot of that depends on the players surrounding the new guys. I think that when you look at this team coming into the 2009 season, there are at least 3 bright spots to look forward to that definitely were not there last year. Our offensive line, our RBs, and our LBers. Those are relative strengths going into the season that we just didn't have going into last season. We KNOW what those guys can do, whereas last year about the only returning bright spot was our punter. This season, we also return more proven letterman on defense. I think that the relative strength of our oline and running backs should make things easier on our QB, and potentially the passing game as a whole. I don't think that it is unreasonable to expect that the QB position will be better simply b/c you can expect him to be better protected this season. That goes for whoever is playing the position.

Great paragraph. Absolutely no arguments here. Hopefully we see proof that things are turning around this year.

No argument on the "type" of game experience he got. Definitely not equal to playing QB for a full season---but at least he got on the field and saw the size and speed up close. I never said to "expect" him to immediately upgrade the position. My opinion is that he will do just that. However, if we're talking expectations, I think you can definitely expect him to do as well as our previous Freshman QB did in this offense---Vizza in 2007. Granted there are many factors that are different now than they were then...more proven oline now, potential lack of the deep threat we had in 2007's WR corps, etc. I just think that we have seen what this offense looks like with an underclassmen running it during the past 2 seasons. Why anybody would grade this position as WORSE than those 2 seasons based simply on a Riley vs. Vizza comparison, I just don't understand....unless you give lack of experienced depth as your primary reason. We had Meager, a proven backup with loads of starting experience, last year and really nobody backing up Riley that has any experience this year. Again, the thing that stings here is that we lost Vizza. We either would have had Vizza as a junior starter (with 2 seasons starting experience), or at least as a backup who could come in if Riley struggles. When you look at it from that perspective, then this is a loss for this season. But I don't think you can look at it that way in a year on year comparison. Expectation wise, RF Riley vs. F Vizza = PUSH...not a loss, not a gain.

Holy crap!...I just read your signature. That's pure gold.

Definitely a good branch to add to this thread. Passing: I think the passing game will be better than last year, but maybe not as good as 2007. Offensive line should be vastly improved from both seasons, while receiver has question marks (but receiver was a HUGE question mark going into 2007, nobody seems to remember this---Fitz, Jackson and Stickler really stepped it up that season). The thing about Riley vs. Vizza comparisons is that you really should expect 2009 Riley to be somewhere between 2007 and 2008 Vizza....not what Vizza would be in 2009. I think people, in this thread, keep marking our QB play DOWN b/c you are thinking what Vizza 2009 (as a junior) could be. I just don't think that's fair. Vizza played as a TRUE freshman in 2007 and as a TRUE Soph in 2008. Riley is coming into 2009 as a REDSHIRT Freshman (who got some game experience last year). QB play can be expected to be at least equal to what it has been in 2007 and 2008 (considering 2008 was really a step backwards for the position), not worse. The x-factor is lack of experienced depth at the position and this has to be a PUSH b/c of it. Run: I cannot see this area as anything short of a gain. You have an experience oline. You have a senior starting RB who has proven he can make plays in THIS offense. You have options behind the starting RB---quick, fast guys and bigger, straight ahead runners. Add Riley's running ability to this mix and this is a GAIN. Also, I see improvement here as a catalyst to opening up the passing game. Special Teams: Totally agree....can't be anything other than a LOSS until proven otherwise. Replacing Spencer will be critical. Defense: Considering the number of returning letterman here, the addition of the uber-experienced Dline coach, and the depth added on the dline this is a GAIN. Coaching: Agreed....GAIN.

Wow....didn't intend for my comment to stir a Vizza bashing debate. That was not my intent. I agree that UNT "lost" when Vizza transferred out---from a QB depth perspective. Also didn't imply that simply turning the ball over less was the miracle cure for this team. It is OBVIOUS that our defense and special teams have to get better. If it's not clear, I can start doing what Vito does and regurgitate it in every single post so that nobody mistakes that I have a clear picture of the entirety of UNT football. Hey everybody, don't forget, we have the WORST defense AND special teams in the nation---and there really wasn't even a close second. We were high school bad on both units. That said, you're going to argue that throwing fewer interceptions than 7th worst in the nation ISN'T going to help this team?! Not even a little?

Sorry, dude, but if Riley comes in and throws 10 fewer INTs than Vizza did in either of his 2 seasons as the starter.....that's a HUGE improvement. I'm not saying that Riley will accomplish that, but turning the ball over less has a DRAMATIC effect on the outcome of games. He's got to come in and put points on the board, but the single biggest improvement he can make (or any QB) is simply NOT turning the ball over.